Seasonal hiring is a fact of life in many workplaces. Holiday shopping, summer specials, and more can lead to a never-ending stream of temporary workers. But sadly, it can be tough to build loyalty with temps, since they’re only around for a few weeks or months. Here are some ideas to reduce turnover during your busiest seasons.
Pay Them Well
The fact that someone is only with you for a short time is no reason to skimp on pay. Remember, your competitors have a similar annual schedule to yours, and they are likely also looking for temporary help. If you don’t pay competitively, you will likely lose seasonal workers to other businesses.
Train Them Properly
It’s not fun for anyone to be thrown into a situation for which they are ill-prepared. You don’t necessarily need to put temporary workers through your full training program, but make sure to teach them what they need to know. This includes everything from how to operate your machinery to where to find the bathroom and how to call in sick. Also, set them up for success by pairing them with a full-time team member who can answer any questions that arise.
Include Them
If you host any company events, such as a holiday party or catered lunch, don’t forget to explicitly invite your temporary workers. Also encourage them to join any ongoing activities such as volunteer days or an after-work softball league. At meetings, be sure to call on your temps now and then. They bring a fresh perspective that could turn out to be valuable for your company.
Reward Them
Seasonal workers often end up doing the most thankless jobs, so be sure to express your appreciation. Consider a season-long program in which you and your full-time employees hand out small cards when you catch a temp doing something well. Then have them turn in the cards at the end of the season for a raffle drawing with several small prizes and a few larger ones. You could even hold the drawing as part of a temps-only thank-you party.
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