How to Successfully Onboard and Integrate Temporary Workers into Your Workplace

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Mixing a diverse workforce that consists of temporary employees and regular staff is not as awkward as it has historically been. Integrating temporary workers is important to their level of comfort, their productivity, and how well they interact with their co-workers at the company.

More than ever, businesses are supplementing their workforce during busy seasons by hiring a flexible workforce. Integration into your company is ESSENTIAL for success: whether you require entry level, highly skilled, or even executive-level temporary employees who will complete special projects, top-up for the demands during high season, or help lead a company through transition phases. The more you treat them like regular employees, the more productive they will be in their job.

Fact: Some full time employees may feel defensive about having temp workers in-house. It’s important to explain to full time employees why their ranks are being supplemented with temporary workers, and tie their own wellbeing, success, and ability to achieve company goals with the successful integration of the temporary staff into the team.

When everyone has buy-in, the process of integrating seasonal workers or temporary employees into the office can be very successful for the business.

3 TIPS ON SUCCESSFULLY ONBOARDING NEW TEMPORARY STAFF

1. EXPLAIN COMPANY GUIDELINES CLEARLY

  • Explain company guidelines to temporary workers as early and clearly as possible.
  • Make sure their workspace is set up prior to them arriving for their first day.
  • Have instructions or an employee manual at the work station so they can reference it when issues arise.
  • Important contacts: Ensure they know who to report to at the office and how communication should be made.
  • If appropriate, assign a regular staff member to be a mentor for the assignment employee. Knowing who to go to with questions increases their confidence and comfort level.

2. EXPLAIN YOUR CULTURE

  • Describe the culture of the department/company to them. They need to know what type of culture they will be working in so they can acclimatize their behavior and attitude to match the culture.
  • They need to know what is expected of them and how to handle themselves in the on the job.
  • You may not need to do the full onboard process for a temporary employee, but be sure they know enough about the company that they feel comfortable coming into the workplace and being a part of that culture.

 3. TREAT YOUR TEMPORARY WORKER LIKE ONE OF YOUR OWN

  • Even though the temporary worker might be at your company short-term, you should treat them as if they are a regular staff member. Temporary employees carry their experience at your company with them, good or bad, when the project is over, and they network with others in the industry who may be thinking of working with you. For this reason, it may also be suitable to excuse them from confidential internal meetings. When these circumstances are handled with dignity, awkward situations can be avoided.
  • Whenever possible, let them have access to the building like your regular staff members, welcome them to team meetings, and provide them with access to the cafeteria and other features of your company.
  • An excellent way to treat them like a regular employee is by letting them take ownership of the job tasks they were hired to do.

Ultimately, it is vital to integrate temporary workers into your regular staff if you want them to succeed when on the job.

ABL Employment and ABL Careers also provide tips to the employees regarding acceptable worksite behaviours and integration into the company culture, which will help to maximize successful outcomes.


ABL is a staffing agency specializing in filling general labour temp jobs, including packaging jobs and warehouse jobs. Contact us today to find the right staff for your needs!

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