MANAGEMENT MINUTE: Things to consider before you hire a temp

Posted on June 24th, 2009 by Eli Journals

Temporary workers can seem like an easy way to get help in your department, but there can be drawbacks. Read on for the things that you should take into consideration before you call a temporary-employment agency, from Patricia Schaefer:

Training. If the temp is new to your company and the job, you will need to spend time training him for the job he’s been hired to do. This takes time out of your schedule or the schedule of the worker that will have to train the temp. You’ll also need to be prepared for any mistakes that usually occur once the temp starts the new job.
Morale. If you keep the worker on for a prolonged period of time, but still as a temp, you may run into employee-relations and morale issues, says Schaefer. A temporary employee working alongside permanent employees might get disgruntled if he doesn’t have the same benefits as your permanent hires who are doing the same job.
Safety. Studies have shown that on-the-job injuries are higher in frequency and severity with temporary workers, warns Schaefer. You should never leave a temporary worker unsupervised for long periods of time until he has shown you that he can do the job safely.
Legal Issues. You must make your contract and the work situation very clear to the temporary worker. He should understand that he is not a permanent employee and is therefore not eligible to receive the benefits of permanent employees. But treat him with the same amount of respect you give your other workers.

Hiring a temp doesn’t mean all drawbacks for your department and your company, says Schaefer. There are good aspects of utilizing temporary help.

Temps can be a great help and relief when you’re suffering from a short workforce due to illness or maternity leave. They are also generally cheaper than permanent hires. Hiring temps can also be a sort of dress rehearsal for permanent hire. You can see the temp’s abilities and test his work ethic before you decide to hire him permanently. This is a bonus you can’t get from permanent hires, because you assess them based on interviews.

If these benefits outweigh the negatives, give your staffing agency a call. If your company is concerned with a few or more of the negatives, you might want to stick to your permanent hires for a while.