Human resource teams often face significant hurdles when it comes to hiring and engaging quality seasonal talent. Speakap’s CEO shares tips on how to make the most of these temporary employees, have them contributing towards your team’s success and supporting what your company stands for.
Human resource teams face significant hurdles when it comes to hiring quality seasonal talent and engaging these temporary employees. Though this segment of the workforce isn’t expected to be with a company for more than a year, they make up an important part of the team. These employees are tasked with helping the organization when the workload seems overwhelming, during peak seasonal times of year or holidays, and are often the unsung heroes who fill in when regular employees are out sick or on leave. Plus, they do it all without the prospect of continuous employment with the company.
Often times employers and full-time colleagues spend less time engaging temporary employees, which can lead these workers to lower productivity rates, reduced morale, and can even affect a company’s bottom line. To get the most out of your temporary workers, don’t ignore them. Instead, try taking the following steps to have them contributing towards your team’s success and supporting what your company stands for.
1. Make the Most of Pre-Boarding and On-Boarding
Just because an employee may only be with you for a short time, doesn’t mean you can afford to skip this step. Being clear with directions, including simple things like who your temporary workers will report to, and what the breakdown of their days will be, can make them feel more comfortable and improves the likelihood they’ll continue to show up for work. It’s also helpful to share training documents and product information in advance to give this team the time they need to be prepared.
Rather than waiting for day one, you can create situations for engagement the moment an employee is hired. This is particularly important in industries in which employees are scattered in different places in various desk-less roles, such as retail, food service, and hospitality. Far from being a captive audience in front of a desktop computer, these employees are an audience to be captured, and quickly. The sooner you’re able to make them feel connected and a part of your work community, the sooner they’ll feel engaged, and the less likely they’ll be to start looking for a more rewarding work experience elsewhere.
The key is interactive communication as opposed to traditional forms of corporate communication, such as email or the dreaded bulletin board. Apps that mirror popular social networks, allowing commenting, ‘likes’, and sharing, offer the experiences the young workforce craves and is used to. Having access to familiar platforms at work will make them feel comfortable quickly and encourage quick initial engagement.
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2. Treat Them Like They’re Part of a Unified Team
Seasonal workers can often feel like outsiders among your full-time team, especially when they’re working among full-timers. When new temporary workers join your team, take a moment to show them around and introduce them to colleagues they’ll be working with.
Next, offer the same perks and communication channels that full-time employees have access to. Even the small touch of inviting these staff to social events might make a huge difference.
Additionally, digital communication provides a channel for quick connections millennial and Gen Z employees expect. HR teams can foster connections by using platforms similar to popular social networks that encourage professional interactions with coworkers, managers and even the executive suite when appropriate. The more interaction temporary workers have with their new colleagues, the more connected they will feel.
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3. Give Credit Where Credit is Due
Highlight positive outcomes — big and small. Recognition motivates people and it gives them a sense of pride and accomplishment in their work. This is especially true for temporary employees.
Engaged employees understand that their tasks are vital to their company’s mission and appreciate knowing that they have played a part in their company’s success. Creating engagement through sales benchmarks and work goals is a simple but effective way to maximize the productivity of temporary employees. When these employees join your team, share quantifiable goals they should work towards during their time with your organization. Check in with employees frequently to discuss those goals to foster progress.
The benefits of enhancing the experience for temporary employees run deeper than simply keeping ahold of good team members. If you treat your temporary workers well and stay in touch, they will speak well of your company and more than likely be willing to come back for future job opportunities. Plus, greater engagement results in increased productivity, improved organizational performance, higher customer satisfaction, and sales.
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