Top 5 Challenges of Short-Term Staffing and How to Overcome Them
There are tons of reasons for employers to turn to short-term staffing to meet their needs. Often, this route can be the most cost-effective, scalable option with reduced risk, that can grant you access to specialized skills when needed. The incentive is there for employees too, with enhanced flexibility, networking opportunities, skill development, and the opportunity to try new positions without a huge commitment.
With all of the benefits short-term staffing provides, it’s not without its challenges. Here are Top 5 challenges to consider with short-term staffing and how to overcome them!
- Finding Qualified Candidates, Quickly.
- Hurdle: The need to fill short-term positions quickly can make it difficult to find candidates with the exact expertise you’re seeking.
- Strategy: To combat this, it’s imperative to build a talent pool by continuously sourcing and vetting potential candidates, even when there are no immediate openings. This is one of the areas where we support our clients, since we have access to a wide network of pre-screened candidates.
- Ensuring a Company Culture Fit
- Hurdle: Temporary workers may struggle to adapt to the company culture during a short-term commitment, leading to potential misalignment and reduced productivity.
- Strategy: During the hiring process, assess the candidate’s skills as well as their adaptability and alignment with your company’s values. Provide a brief but comprehensive onboarding process that includes an introduction to the company culture and expectations.
- High Turnover and Inconsistent Performance
- Hurdle: Temporary positions often come with a high turnover rate, which can lead to inconsistent performance and cause organizational disruptions.
- Strategy: Offer incentives such as completion bonuses or the possibility of extending the contract to encourage temporary workers to stay for the duration of the assignment. Regularly communicate expectations and provide feedback to help maintain consistent performance. Make sure your staffing partner, if you’re working with one, is also aligned with your communication, and is proactively keeping your employee up to date and engaged.
- Compliance and Legal Issues
- Hurdle: Navigating the legal aspects of hiring temporary workers, such as classification, benefits, and labor laws, can be complex.
- Strategy: Ensure that all contracts, benefits, classifications, and agreements are clear and compliant with labor laws to avoid potential legal issues. Working with a reputable recruiting agency like Ontech Talent who are experts in the legal requirements for temporary staffing can alleviate some of the burden and risk for your team and organization.
- Managing Expectations
- Hurdle: Temporary workers may have different expectations about their roles, which can lead to misunderstandings or dissatisfaction.
- Strategy: Set clear expectations from the beginning, starting with the interview process, regarding job responsibilities, duration of the assignment, and potential opportunities for extension or permanent roles. Regular check-ins can help address any concerns that may arise.
By implementing these strategies, organizations can effectively overcome the common hurdles associated with staffing short-term positions, ensuring a smoother process and better satisfaction with the outcomes for both the company and the temporary employees. If you have any questions on short-term staffing or are looking to outsource your recruitment needs, talk to us today!
