In terms of production, there should be a seamless blend between your employees and the temporary staff in your office. Achieving this does take effort, but the foundation is a workplace culture in which both sides work together. A culture in which everyone understands their expectations and is equally equipped to meet them. So how can you establish the perfect environment for working together?
Give Notice
Employees should be treated with respect. Accomplish this goal by keeping them in the loop. Avoid notifying your team of the arrival of a staffing firm worker when the individual is literally walking through the door. The sooner you can spread the word, the better.
A lack of notice may catch your team off-guard. Making some feel as though their position is in jeopardy and that the temp job is meant to be their replacement. This confusion can create a negative work space for some employees. Share as much as you can about their arrival ahead of time.
Train Equally
Training shouldn’t be exclusive to permanent employees. If your temporary workers are performing the same role – there should be little variance in the training offered. Each side should be trained to perform their role efficiently. Contrary to the belief of some, it’s never a wasted investment to train temporary workers.
Inadequate training puts increased pressure on your permanent staff to correct errors and answer questions, both of which can lead to decreased productivity, ultimately effecting your bottom line. The efforts of a temporary worker are just as valuable to your business as those of permanent staff, and should be trained as such.
Spread Recognition
No matter their classification, the merit of a team member can largely be measured by their production and effort. When due, recognition shouldn’t be limited to permanent staff. When a temporary worker excels, don’t make the mistake of overlooking the contribution. Even for professionals, praise can boost morale and drive even greater effort.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, when permanent staff gets the credit and the efforts of the staffing team members are overlooked, it can produce the opposite effect. Constant affirmation isn’t necessary, but it’s wise to give credit where credit is due.
Establish Expectations
It’s one thing to recognize you need assistance, but it’s something entirely different to know for what specific reason you need temporary staffing. The more time spent outlining your needs, the more adequately the temp can assist.
For example, an accountant’s years of experience and training has prepared them for the role, but the needs and methods of companies often vary. Failure to offer some form of a guideline leaves them to their own devices, which might not fully meet your specific needs. Onboarding that highlights your the most critical expectations can increase chances of a successful assignment.
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