Hiring temporary employees is becoming an increasingly popular option for today’s employers. In fact, “the number of jobs in the temporary help services industry reached an all-time high of 2.9 million in May 2015, accounting for 2.4 percent of all private sector jobs in the U.S. economy.” But to make this working arrangement a success, it’s important that you provide your temporary workers with the right framework. Here are some steps you can take to smooth the onboarding process.
Provide a Welcome Package
Your first priority is to make new employees feel welcomed right off the bat and alleviate any anxiety they may have. This can be achieved by providing a welcome package that includes:
- Your employee handbook
- Company policies
- Job description
- Answers to FAQs
- Contact information
If you have any other relevant materials that can streamline onboarding, be sure to include those as well. That way temporary employees will have convenient access to everything they’ll need for orientation and familiarizing themselves with your company.
Assign a Mentor to Each Temporary Worker
Having a single person to turn to for answering questions, offering advice and lending support can be huge for fledgling employees. Not to mention, it gives them a solid relationship to build off as they gradually form connections with other staff. That’s why you should make it a point to assign a mentor to every temp worker for the first week or so while they’re getting their feet wet and finding their place.
Set Expectations Early
Any time there’s confusion or a misunderstanding, it can thwart progress and reduce the overall effectiveness of temporary employees. That’s why you should be 100 percent transparent about what your expectations are right out of the gate. For example, you might provide production quotas, explain what types of behaviors aren’t tolerated, highlight non-negotiable policies and so on. Doing so ensures that everyone is on the same page from day one and eliminates a lot of headaches.
Let New Hires Experience Your Brand
One of the best ways to give individuals an overarching understanding of your brand and its products/services is to let them experience it firsthand. If your company is product-based, you may want to allow temporary workers to actually use the product. If it’s service-based, share customer feedback or testimonials so workers can gain a deeper understanding. In addition, explain exactly what your business brings to the table and how you differ from the competition.
Even though temporary employees may not be around for the long haul, don’t cut corners with onboarding. By being thorough and providing these workers with the right tools, you can contribute to both their success and the success of your company.
Looking for more on getting the most from temporary employees and other management advice? Check out our blog or reach our to our experienced Green Bay staffing team at Encadria Staffing Solutions today.