Do's and Don'ts When Hiring Temporary Staff

Hiring temporary staff is not always as easy as it looks. Oftentimes, it requires a different approach than hiring permanent staff. Temporary workers have varying skills, work expectations, and employment arrangements compared to permanent employees, and organizations need to be prepared to navigate these differences effectively. Whether you are hiring from a temporary staffing agency or not, the challenge of hiring temp staff exists. Hence, we rounded up this list of the do’s and don’ts when hiring temporary staff to make the hiring process easier. 

Who Are Temporary Staff?

Hiring temporary staff has been a growing trend in the corporate world. Temporary staff are workers who are employed by a company or organization for a set period of time or until a project has been finished. They may also be hired on short notice to fill in for employees during unexpected emergencies. 

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Temporary staff, sometimes referred to as "temps" or "contract workers,” may be hired directly by a company or through a staffing agency. They are known to improve productivity and efficiency in the workplace and ease the workload of existing staff. 

Why Do Companies Hire Temporary Staff?

Over the years, more and more companies are opting to hire temporary staff due to their flexibility and cost-effectiveness. Unlike permanent employees, temporary staff can be hired for short periods of time. This allows businesses to avoid committing to long-term contracts and paying employee benefits. Hiring temp staff also gives businesses the freedom to scale up or down whenever they need to. In addition to flexibility and cost-effectiveness, companies also hire temporary staff for their specialized skills or expertise. Temporary staff are used to working in different settings and can easily adapt to various work conditions and cultures as well. 

Do's and Don'ts When Hiring Temporary Staff

Have you had hiring mistakes in the past? Don’t let those mistakes hold you back. To help you hire the best temp staff for your business, here are the do's and don’ts you should take note of before hiring. 

Do:

Clearly Define the Job Duties and Responsibilities for the Temporary Staff Position

Before officially hiring any staff, make sure that you communicate their assumed roles and responsibilities and that they have fully understood what is expected of them. This helps you and the applicant to set clear boundaries and prevent any misunderstandings in the future. 

Consider Cultural Fit Even if You Are Only Hiring for a Temporary Position

Cultural fit is the extent to which a person’s values, beliefs, and behaviors align with the company’s culture and work environment. Considering cultural fit is essential to foster positive work relationships and maintaining consistency in the company's culture and values. Additionally, temporary staff are more likely to stay with the company where they fit in, reducing the risks of having to rehire or retrain new staff. 

Set Expectations for Performance and Provide Feedback When Necessary

When you set expectations for your temporary staff, oftentimes, they become more committed to providing higher-quality work. Besides setting expectations, you should also provide feedback to your temp staff to help them identify where they need improvement. This will benefit not just your temp staff but also the company. 

Treat Temporary Staff With the Same Respect as Permanent Staff

Whether you decide to hire the temporary staff you’re interviewing or not, it is essential that you show the same respect you show to your permanent staff. Showing respect s not just a reflection of your character but can also impact the image and professionalism of the company. 

Provide a Safe and Healthy Work Environment for Temporary Staff

Every worker deserves a safe and healthy work environment and a temporary staff is no exception. In many states and countries, companies have a legal obligation to provide a safe and healthy workplace for all employees. Failing to comply with this duty may result in legal penalties and damage to the business’s reputation. Besides complying with legal duties, having a safe and healthy workplace can boost the morale of the company and create a positive work culture. It also reduces the risks of workplace-related accidents. 

Hire Candidates That Are Punctual, Self-Starters, Independent, and Quick Learners

You want a temporary staff who will increase productivity in your workplace and do not require too much supervision to carry out tasks. Having punctual, self-starting, independent, and quick-learning staff increases the efficiency of your business and enhances your business processes. 

Don't:

Don’t Overlook the Importance of a Thorough Screening Process; Always Conduct Background and Reference Checks

Even if you are just hiring staff for a limited period of time, you should still conduct background and reference checks. Running background and reference checks can help identify potential issues that may affect the safety of the work environment. It is also essential for verifying the applicant’s qualifications, such as their previous work experience, education, and skills. 

Don’t Treat Temporary Staff as Disposable

While temporary staff are hired for just a limited period of time, that doesn’t mean that employers or other staff members can treat them as disposable. Do take note that during the contract duration, the temporary staff member is considered a part of the company and should not be subject to any prejudice or discrimination. 

Don’t Make Any Commitments to Provide a Full-Time Position if There Is None Available at the Moment

Temporary to permanent positions have been a popular employment trend for companies nowadays. However, if you are only hiring for temporary positions, make sure to only stick to that. You should not give any impressions of a permanent job if there is none available at the moment. Setting false expectations just leads to disappointment and frustration and may even damage the company and staff relationship. 

Here’s More About Temporary Staffing

Now that you know more about temporary staff, it is time to discover more about temporary staffing agencies. Temporary staffing agencies specialize in providing temporary staff for client companies and events. If you want to learn more about them, make sure to check out our post on how we work with temporary staffing agencies here. 

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If you are running a temporary agency yourself and looking for more efficient recruitment and onboarding of staff, you may also want to consider StaffConnect for your business. StaffConnect is a business management platform that streamlines tasks and automates processes such as recruitment and onboarding. Do you want to know more about the features of StaffConnect? Schedule your free demo today and get a first-hand experience of its advanced tools and features.