One way a company can reduce its payroll is by hiring temporary employees. Seasonal workers will help during times of peak demand or for specific projects and periods of intense growth.
However, hiring temporary employees is not as simple as calling a temp agency and asking for workers. The following are some tips to help you hire and manage temporary employees:
Understand Your Requirements
Before you even begin hiring temporary employees, you should determine what you need them for in your business. It would be best if you also understood precisely what a temporary or leased employee is.
What Are Leased Employees?
Leasing employees involves a business acquiring employees from a staffing firm for a season or a specific job. The employee will work for you, but they will receive their pay from the leasing agency.
The difference between leased employees and temporary employees is that the former usually have a specific skill set and can handle complicated jobs. In contrast, temporary employees usually handle simple office tasks such as mail delivery.
Another difference is the state laws that pertain to leased vs. temporary employees.
Now that you know what a temporary and a leased employee are, you should know what you need them for in your business. You will have to consider various factors, including the skills you require in the employee, how long you want them, and legal infractions.
A crucial consideration to make will be how the temporary employee will work with the rest of the staff if they will be working together. For example, a temporary worker can handle menial tasks to free up the other workers to handle more complicated tasks.
Job Descriptions and Project Briefs
An excellent tip for hiring temporary employees is to write job descriptions and project briefs beforehand. The hiring process for temporary workers is typically faster than other employees, and they will select jobs based on job descriptions and project briefs.
The clearer and more specific your job description and project briefs, the better because it will eliminate all unqualified workers and make your job easy. Therefore, ensure to include the academic background, necessary skills, experience, and physical demands of the job.
Consider the Cost
Though many companies hire temporary employees as a cost-cutting initiative, they often end up spending just as much as they would with a more permanent option. Even though it is short-term help, you should always consider how much it will cost you.
Therefore, have a budget to guide your spending before starting your search for temporary or leased employees. However, don’t only consider the low-cost workers as you may end up with unqualified staff who may cost you little in wages but more in damages or missed opportunities.
Set an acceptable hourly rate for the temporary employees. Also, consider any other issues that may pertain to employees you pay on an hourly basis.
Find a Cultural Fit
Your organizational culture is one of the most vital elements of your business. Even though you may be looking for a short-term employee, you should always consider how they will fit into that culture.
Every organizational culture includes various characteristics, and hence you should look for the same attributes in a temporary employee. If they are a cultural fit, you will have a better time with the employee than otherwise.
You should especially find a cultural fit if you look for a temporary employee who could end up a permanent one if they perform well. An employee who connects to the company’s culture, mission, and values will be beneficial in the short and long term.
Choose a Reputable Agency
The primary way of sourcing temporary employees is through a staffing firm or agency. Therefore, the agency you use will be of tremendous importance to the employee you receive.
You should first evaluate the intermediary and determine if they have the necessary values you need. If they do, you should receive an employee who shares the same values and will bring them to your business.
Examine their reputation and the temporary employees they have sent to other firms. If they fit the bill, it should be a great fit.
Finding temporary employees is much harder than many business owners think. If you haphazardly choose a temporary or leased employee, you will regret it. Use the tips above to find employees that will benefit your company, and feel free to find others.