Tips for Onboarding Temporary Employees Successfully
For a lot of companies, having a clear process in place for onboarding new employees is a standard thing. However, there’s not always the same level of consideration given to temporary employees.
Even if someone is only going to be with your organization for a short time, you want the time with you to be a success for both parties, so it makes sense to ensure that this happens through a clear and robust onboarding process.
Formalize the Process
Just like every other process within the organization, the onboarding process for temporary workers should be formalized in the same way as any other process that will be used.
A temporary employee is no different than a full time one when they’re just new to the company, so having a formal process that takes them through the same steps of getting to know the company and being able to perform their job effectively saves time for everyone.
Complete Select Tasks Before the Start Date
Getting everything organized for the temporary employee before they start is a crucial part of the onboarding process. This means, getting them set up with a company email account, ensuring they have access to all accounts, passwords and equipment needed so that when they start on their first day all of these things are in place.
Identify the Main Supervisor
If the temporary employee will be reporting to one person, then this is information that needs to be relayed to the supervisor beforehand. Ensure that they know when the employee will be starting and provide them with all the information and support they need in order to help the new employee get settled in on their first day.
Clearly Communicate Goals and Expectations
It’s important to not make too much of a distinction between a permanent employee and a temporary one when it comes to setting the foundation for success. Being clear about the goals and expectations regarding workload, deliverables and timeframes are important aspects of the job no matter how long it’s expected to last, so make sure you’re clear and direct with these from the very beginning.
Check In Regularly
When someone is new to the company, and no matter how long they’re expected to stay, it’s important that you check in with them to see how they’re getting on and what support they might need.
This can be especially true when, for example, the temporary employee is on a contract that may allow for progression into a full-time, permanent role, so if you see that they’re performing particularly well in one area or are displaying certain strengths, then this could be a good opportunity to consider where in the company they might fit in longer term.