The Dos and Don’ts of Hiring Temporary Staff
Did you know that employing temporary workers can significantly benefit your business?
Temp workers can boost productivity and efficiency, unburden any potentially overworked staff, help bring in specialised skills, and fill in any temporary vacancies during expected and unexpected absences.
Whilst there are plenty of benefits to hiring temporary workers, there’s also a right and wrong way to go about it! From not doing due diligence during the screening process to treating temporary workers differently than your full-time staff, many mistakes can lead to a less-than-ideal experience for all.
What should you be thinking about when hiring temporary staff?
Your process of hiring
When hiring temporary workers, it’s essential to carefully prepare a job description and person specification for the job role carefully; making sure you think about the roles that need filling and the main tasks and responsibilities.
Think about the experience, knowledge, skills and qualifications you require from the temp that will be stepping in, while also considering which are desirable and essential.
What are the benefits of hiring temporary staff?
Suppose you are looking to hire temps for long or short-term work. In that case, there are plenty of strategic advantages worth considering if you’re considering before jumping on board with temporary recruitment.
Efficiency
Temporary staff are familiar with being in a mix of working environments, so short-term employees can quickly adapt their skills to learn their designated role and the business etiquette without needing too much of a nudge in the right direction!
Perspectives
It’s always encouraging to see new faces to connect with, and sometimes it takes just one fresh perspective to change how a business operates positively. Having worked in many companies amongst a contrast of people, temps can bring new knowledge and positive attitudes into a workplace and may even introduce broader perspectives and ideas your team might have not yet considered.
Flexibility
A widely acknowledged quality of employing temps is that they’re flexible. Having a temp or two on speed dial means you can respond quickly to any issues, meaning you’re never left short of staff or business.
Cost Effectiveness
Temporary employees are, by definition, a temporary solution. Typically paid at an hourly rate, short-term workers don’t require an annual salary or the benefits and perks of a job, so hiring a temporary employee can be massively cost-effective for both you and your business.
The Do’s for your business when hiring temps!
Engage a Temporary Staffing Agency
Working with a temporary staffing agency can make the process more accessible than ever when employing temporary workers. There are many advantages of going through an agency. You’ll save time because its recruiters will do all the legwork. You’ll save on advertising, testing, and screening costs because the agency will shoulder these expenses. You’ll enjoy faster hiring because the firm will already have pre-screened and pre-approved candidates for you to choose from. You’ll also save on administrative time and costs because the agency will also take care of this.
Consider cultural fit
Culture at work can be defined as a blend of the values, beliefs, taboos, symbols and rituals that all companies develop over time, but what is a ‘cultural fit?’
Cultural fit means employees’ beliefs and behaviours align with their employer’s core values and company culture. You may think that cultural fit doesn’t need to be considered when employing temporary workers, as they won’t be around long enough for it to matter, but nothing could be further from the truth!
Considering company culture can help retain talented full-time employees and attract and keep part-time, temporary and seasonal hires. By creating a positive place of work that is enjoyable for all, strong work standards will be kept steady and consistent!
Consider temps’ qualities.
It is important to remember that not all temps will possess the same skills or personal attributes. When employing temporary workers, you face the same hiring risks as permanent, full-time workers. Whether long or short-term, hire the wrong candidate, and you’ll face the consequences!
Great temps are punctual, self-starters, and independent. They’re quick learners, and there’s usually little to no time for training. Whether you’re recruiting or receiving assistance from a recruitment agency, make sure to look for these characteristics in your candidates. This will increase your chances of hiring top temp talent and avoiding unreliable temporary staff.
The Don’ts for your business when hiring temps!
Don’t wait until the last minute
Whether you’re handling the recruitment process alone or with the help of a staffing agency, it’s essential to try and anticipate your staffing needs ahead of time, so don’t wait until the last minute to find replacements!
Getting ahead of the game will ensure you have enough time to screen and test candidates to narrow down your search and find the perfect long- or short-term fit for the position. At MASA, we carefully assess and analyse which candidates are best suited to different roles. Our dedicated staff are also always around to help every one of our clients find exactly the kind of people they seek to best suit their business needs!
Don’t treat temps as expendables
Although temporary workers might only be at your workplace for a short time, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be treated any differently from the rest of your team.
Do your best to create a welcoming and positive working environment to help temps feel needed and respected while demonstrating your appreciation for their hard work.
Don’t offer a full-time role you can’t guarantee
It might be tempting to offer a full-time role to a temp that performs well and fits in well with your business culture, but don’t get too ahead of yourself and offer a permanent position if it’s something you can’t guarantee.
Though many temps enjoy flexible, temporary work and aren’t necessarily interested in full-time positions – some may be actively looking for permanent employment, so making false promises will only cause disappointment later down the line and could possibly harm you and your business.
Need help employing temporary workers? With over 40 years of industry experience placing the best-fit candidates to companies across South Africa, why not contact MASA and let us help solve your temporary staffing needs?
