Best Practices for Managing Contract Workers

When staff is lean and there are still important projects in the pipeline, contract workers are an ideal choice for modern businesses to keep things moving. Having contract workers on board can help you save money on overhead expenses while still having the people necessary to take care of vital work. Partnering with an employment agency like DeLong Staffing Specialists ensures that you can have the staff you need, available right when you need them. 

All that said, you probably have some questions. Well we’re here with answers. Let’s get into what employers need to know when deciding on whether or not to hire contract workers.

What Are Contract Workers?

Contract workers are similar to temp-to-hire workers in that there is a set time period that their hiring period encompasses, and that the individual serves the needs of a company without being their direct employee. The main difference is the nature of their work. For instance, while a temp-to-hire job seeker’s goal is to become a permanent employee of the company they serve, contract employees have a clearly defined or at least projected end date. Once the project has been completed, the contract worker’s employment ends, without the potential for a permanent hire. Contract workers typically fill roles that are more project-oriented and temporary in nature.

Now that we’ve answered what contract workers are, let’s briefly mention what they are not. Contract workers hired by way of job placement agencies are not the same as independent contractors. Contract workers are technically employees of the staffing agency, which handles all the legal matters, such as compliance and compensation. The business they’re helping out supervises their work but the employment agency manages the employment relationship. On the other hand, independent contractors are self-employed workers who manage everything on their own.. 

When Should You Use Contract Workers?

Contract workers are a great idea for companies who have specific needs that aren’t as easily filled by traditional hiring and employment methods. For instance, if a business is just starting out and has a lean staff but needs to build momentum, contract workers can be invaluable. If your company needs specific knowledge to solve a problem, but this isn’t something you’d need to hire a permanent employee for, contract workers could be the answer. You may also have a short term project that requires more bandwidth than your team can currently offer. A contract worker can get you where you need to be without a long-term commitment. Regardless of why you decide to hire a contract worker, it’s a great way to pay for precisely what you need, without excess overhead or strings attached. Many businesses find that contract workers are invaluable to their success.

How To Manage Contract Workers

Even though contract workers are not official employees of the company they are working for, care should still be taken as to how they’re managed. Here are some key steps for employers to take in order to get the most out of their investment in contract workers.

• Treat It As a Partnership: Managing contract workers is essentially a partnership between you and your staffing agency. You each manage different parts of the worker’s work life, so it’s important to understand who controls which areas. Good communication ensures that all parties get what they need.
• Establish Parameters & Scope: Define the project description, deliverables, and deadlines in a written agreement that your employment agency can use to find ideal candidates. Include clear goals for a project, performance metrics, and consult legal counsel for any inclusions unique to your industry.
• Effective Onboarding & Integration: Staffing agency recruiters will introduce contract workers to your company mission, culture, and safety protocols so that they are on the same page as full-time staff. Ensure that new workers have day-one access to necessary tools, technology, and facilities to avoid delays and streamline the experience.
• Active Communication & Feedback: Set up regular meetings with contract workers to go over project updates. Be specific with feedback and provide both constructive criticism and praise to keep them on track.
• Foster Inclusion & Team Culture: How do you motivate contract workers? Invite them to team meetings and events to foster a sense of belonging and collaboration between contract workers and permanent employees. Just because they’re only there for a limited time doesn’t mean you shouldn’t encourage interaction and engagement.
• Ensure Safety Compliance: Provide specific site training regarding hazards and emergency procedures. Staffing agency recruiters will review these with contract employees to prepare them for day one with your company, especially important for positions in the industrial and manufacturing sectors.
• Manage Performance Actively: Evaluate performance regularly against the contract metrics to ensure that contract workers are meeting predetermined requirements. For best results, recognize and reward strong performance, even for temporary workers.

Employers may wonder if contract workers are going to have the same dedication to the job as their permanent employees, and we’d say that yes, they can. Here’s why. At DeLong Staffing Specialists, we only choose the very best applicants who have demonstrated their abilities and commitment to their work. But that’s really just the beginning. Even the best candidate can be de-motivated by their working environment. So, how do you motivate contract workers? A lot comes down to their day-to-day treatment.

We do everything required to onboard them and get them up to speed, but once they’re in your office, it’s up to you to make contract workers feel at ease. One key factor is having all their access badges, technology logins, equipment and other supplies ready for them when they arrive for work. This makes them feel included, and allows them to get to work right away, which benefits everyone in the end.

Once a contract worker is integrated into your workforce, they should feel as much a part of the team as anyone else. Reinforcing positive relationships will help to promote trust between workmates and can lead to more creativity, problem-solving and production in the end. Workers who are encouraged to respect one another as colleagues and friends naturally become more effective teammates. This benefits the workers, but it also benefits employers, and is true whether you have a strictly permanent staff or if you also incorporate contract workers regularly or from time to time.

Common Mistakes When Hiring Contract Employees

We can easily and quickly sum up what not to do: it’s simply the opposite of everything we’ve listed above. Employers who treat contract workers differently than permanent employees, who set unclear or vague expectations, and have a general lack of communication will inevitably have less motivated and potentially even less productive workers. At least you know that when you work with employment agencies in Cleveland like DeLong Staffing Specialists, you won’t have to worry about insufficient onboarding or inadequate training–we handle everything to the highest standard. The biggest mistake you could make is trying to tackle the entire process yourself and not relying on our expertise and experienced recruiters.

Benefits of Effective Contract Worker Management

When employers find that management sweet spot, they’ll quickly learn how valuable contract workers can be to their overall success and growth. With these temporary workers on their team, employers can experience higher productivity, lower turnover and faster project completion. When employers take the time to include and incorporate contract workers with their existing workforce, they’ll foster a better workplace culture and they can even build a stronger talent pipeline–who wouldn't want to work for such an obviously great company? 

Your Cleveland Employment Agency

More professionals are deciding to choose contract work as their employment of choice, for a range of reasons. Modern organizations and companies are smart to get on board with contract employment as a viable option when they are in need of targeted workforce management. It’s also vital to know how best to manage these employees to reap the benefits of their work.

At DeLong Staffing Specialists, we’re here to help. Our experienced recruiters engage only the best contract workers and handle all the legwork involved in hiring and employing them, ensuring compliance and vetting. You outline your needs and requirements, and we find the perfect people to fill the role. If improving workforce flexibility is on your to-do list, let our staffing agency take the load off your shoulders. Think of us as your personal workforce partner. Contact DeLong Staffing today to learn more and get started.