The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Things to consider when bringing in temps
Work is piling up, and employees are at the breaking point or breaking the budget with overtime requests. A supervisor suggests bringing in a temporary worker, but will it help or just add to your staffing woes?
Using temps can increase flexibility in your workforce, provide for short-term coverage, simplify the hiring process, and even let you try out a worker you might later decide to hire. But do your homework before proceeding.
7 factors to keep in mind
Consider the following factors when bringing in temps.
There is no maximum length of time a temp can work for your company. A temp could be assigned to your company for years without creating an obligation to hire the person as your employee.
Your employees might question whether getting to know their new coworker is worth the effort since temps are, well, temporary. Some employees may even worry that you’re planning to outsource their jobs. Explain why you’re using temps.
Some people work for temp agencies while searching for permanent full-time employment. Other temps are students. If your temp gets a job or a new class schedule, you’ll start over with a new temp.
J.J. Keller & Associates
The staffing agency you partner with usually provides this coverage. Check the service agreement, though.
According to OSHA, host employers and staffing agencies share responsibility for worker safety and health. Problems arise when both assume the other is providing the safety training.
Hiring a temp with the needed skills reduces training time, but they still need training on how your