NFIB

How to Get the Best Out of a Temp
04/ 26/ 2002

by Kelle Campbell

When your workload becomes overwhelming or an employee takes vacation or sick leave, a temporary worker may be a good solution. Temps are also good for seasonal work, giving the help you need without having to take on full-time employees. How do you find the temp best suited to your needs?

Investigate Your Options

Lois Butler, a Maryland-based staffing supervisor, suggests getting referrals from businesses with needs similar to yours. "Looking at the quality and reliability of the temp workers is the best way to evaluate an agency," says Butler. Ask the staffing service to provide references and inquire at your local chamber of commerce or the Better Business Bureau.

Requesting an information packet and speaking with the agency's account manager will also help you determine the agency's level of quality. Take particular notice of the benefits offered to workers. Great benefits, like paid leave, 401(K) options and medical insurance attract the best workers.

Assess Your Needs

Ask yourself these questions before making contact with an agency: Do you want the agency to take over recruiting and evaluating responsibilities for a new hire? Are you sure that the employee on leave will be returning? Should the worker have certain knowledge such as legal terminology or special software? What level of skill is required?

Agency personnel will work with you to find the most suitable worker, but they need as much detail as possible. Give them a job description for the position if you have one. Tell the account manager everything about the working environment, including the office culture and even the personality of the workers' supervisor.

Don't Complicate the Process

The staffing agency is supposed to save you time by evaluating the qualifications of workers with tests and interviews. Unless you're dealing with a direct hire or your business has very strict prerequisites, you shouldn't duplicate their efforts.

Trust your account manager to make a good match, says Butler. If you feel the need for a more hands-on approach, ask for a resume and jot down any questions you may have. Forward these to the agency and go about your regular business routine until they get back to you with the answers.

At the same time, account managers should pay attention to your needs or characteristics to match a worker with a position more effectively. If you feel they haven't asked enough questions, mention the issue that you feel needs to be covered. If they dismiss it, keep looking.

Have a Set Workspace Ready

Finding space for a temporary worker filling in for a regular employee is simple enough since there is a ready-made vacancy. However, finding adequate spots for a worker who is providing extra or seasonal help can be a challenge. Make preparations before the worker arrives. Find a desk area and make sure all the necessary supplies are available.

This point is especially important if the worker will have to interact with other employees. A set workspace will ensure easier communication and workflow, ensuring much more productivity than if the temp has to regularly search for a workspace.

Introduce the Temporary Worker to Co-Workers

A tour of introduction around the office not only breaks the ice, but also emphasizes to employees that this is a member of the team. Focus especially on co-workers who will be closely involved with the temp's job function and encourage them to be supportive.

Provide Training

Spending even an hour or two training new workers will garner better results than simply throwing them into the fray. Most tasks have protocols that are specific to your office, and you'll also get a better idea of the worker's effectiveness.

Get Feedback

Get feedback from the staff member training the worker so you can contact the agency if the worker's skill levels are below your expectations. Also, ask temps if they have any needs or concerns. Some people have difficulty making requests or complaints, and you'll be able to head off potential problems.

Using these tactics should result in a satisfactory experience for both you and your temporary worker. In fact, some people have such a positive experience that they request the same temps again and again. If you're dissatisfied, notify the agency as soon as possible. If it's the first day of the assignment, most agencies will not charge you for the work performed and will provide a replacement as quickly they can.

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