The best managers often consider ways they can boost employee morale in the workplace. After all, employee morale is directly related to productivity. Temporary employees, however, are frequently overlooked when managers are considering ways to increase employee job satisfaction. Because temporary employees are, by definition, employed on a temporary basis, managers sometimes consider their morale of secondary importance. This is a mistake for two very important reasons: first, temporary employees are brought on board, in most cases, to increase productivity. Disregarding their morale while expecting them to operate at their peak level of productivity is simply not realistic. Secondly, you want the best temporary employees to want to come back and work for you– either on a temporary or permanent basis. So, how can you boost temporary employee morale? Consider the following tips:
Help them understand the big picture. It’s much easier for temporary employees to feel motivated when they understand why their job matters in the grand scheme of the organization. Be clear about what your company’s goals are and then discuss how the temporary employees can help you achieve them. Make them understand how their unique skill set is an asset to your organization.
Ask for input. Sometimes, despite the best intentions of management, temporary employees wind up feeling like outsiders at the office. To help combat this feeling, strive to make your temporary employees feel included. Consider their backgrounds, and then solicit their input regarding upcoming projects that are relevant to their past experiences.
Recognize achievements. Just because temporary employees aren’t permanent members of your staff doesn’t mean that recognizing them for noteworthy accomplishments isn’t necessary. All employees– temporary and permanent alike– appreciate a pat on the back for a job well done. Doing so will let them know you value their work and, in turn, will increase productivity.
Communicate. Bringing a temporary employee on board and then shutting him in a tiny office with a pile of work isn’t exactly a morale booster. Yes, you want your temps to be productive, but it’s also important to keep in mind that they’re people, not robots who simply churn out work. In order to keep your temporary employees from feeling isolated from the rest of the team, consider including them in relevant company meetings. Alternatively, you might team them up with another employee to work on a project.
Get management on board. It’s great if you are committed to boosting the morale of temporary employees, but you can’t do it alone. It’s essential to get management on board to truly make an impact. Start at the top and make sure that every member of your team is committed to making new employees– whether temporary or permanent– feel welcomed. Encourage everyone to learn their names right away. Ask senior members of the management team to stop by the desks of temporary employees occasionally to check in with them. Don’t make every topic of conversation work-related, either; show your temporary employees that you have a genuine interest in getting to know who they are.
Offer some employee perks. One of the biggest ways to boost temporary employee morale is to make them feel like they’re truly a part of the team. If you expect them to work as productively as permanent team members– and you should– then it is fair to include them in some of the employee perks your company offers. This can be as simple as inviting them to the employee barbeque after work or recruiting them to play on the company’s recreational kickball team.
If you are looking for top-notch temporary placements in the San Diego area, allow us to help you find the right match for your team. We are a boutique staffing firm, specializing in accounting, finance, and administrative positions. Contact us today for more information!