As a small business owner, you have many projects on your plate. There are times when full-time employees can’t get everything done, no matter how hard they work. Outsourcing is a potential solution to the problem. Using temporary workers effectively, however, takes more than merely calling a staffing agency and saying you need assistance. Here are some matters worth remembering when taking on additional employees.

Give the Right Jobs to Temporary Workers

Put ad hoc staff in charge of projects where you need the most help. It may be tempting to have them aiding departments that are falling behind, but that isn’t the most effective use of their talents. It’s better to get them handling jobs you’d otherwise have no way of completing. For instance, if your accounting department is lagging, but you need a website refresh and have no design department, direct temps toward improving your domain. 

Explain the Business to Temporary Workers

Those you’re bringing on don’t pass through your doors automatically knowing what you want. For that matter, they’re unfamiliar with your company and how it operates. Explain the purpose of the project and what you want to happen so helpers can better adjust their efforts to serve your needs. Establish a timeline complete with performance metrics to aid in keeping projects on track. Clearly explain expectations for meeting goals and wrapping up the assignment. Also, provide insight into your corporate culture. Thoroughly detail your venture’s dress code, social expectations, and potential for disciplinary action. Such information allows newcomers to better integrate with your venture, thus making the entire experience smoother.

Assign a Supervisor to Handle Temporary Workers

Outsourcing workers should take work off your hands, not add to your list of duties. Nevertheless, temporary employees require management just like those who work for you full-time. The odds are decent that you have a managerial professional already within your ranks. Place this individual in charge of monitoring temporary workers. This person inherently understands the nature of the responsibility and can provide both motivation and instruction. Make sure the manager is capable of handling the extra load. Spreading someone too thin can be problematic. Overwork might result in the loss of a trusted ally.

Outsourcing is a savvy solution for completing tasks that would otherwise be impossible. However, bringing on new employees, even temporary ones, needs to be approached wisely. Know what hiring outside workers entails before bringing them on board.