Agency workers from reputed recruitment agencies are increasingly being used by companies in New Zealand to meet their hiring needs; offering them enhanced flexibility, financial efficiency, and access to a variety of specialist skills without the extended commitment.
However, as beneficial as working with an employment agency in Auckland can be for companies, it’s still important that agency workers are treated as well as permanent employees.
Here are 6 ways to make agency workers feel welcome:
- Make it easy for them to choose shifts
A simple, easy-to-use model is recommended for most agency workers, in which they scan, select and book their shifts without the need for interacting with anyone. That said, it’s also important that support is made available for them during this process, if needed.
- Make starting straightforward
Paperwork and long interview processes aren’t usually wanted by temporary workers, nor are they necessary, with most preferring to arrive onsite and simply get on with their work. Make your onboarding processes streamlined and robust, perhaps with a reduction in the amount of information workers are required to absorb and pre-existing compliance training, and you can help them with this.
- Personalize introductions
Many agency workers feel intimidated when they first arrive at a new workplace, and making them feel welcome and safe can go a long way towards enhancing their experience. Small actions such as introducing agency staff to permanent members of the team, and providing them with an opportunity to ask questions should they need to, can help them feel more like showing up the next day and being productive.
- Meet their pay expectations
It’s important to remember that agency workers typically have plenty of employer options, and working for you might not be a priority if you can’t compensate them fairly and competitively for the work you’re asking them to undertake. Match the industry standard as a bare minimum, but consider offering enhanced compensation once a certain number of shifts have been completed, or a certain period of time has been achieved.
- Offer them consistent work
Offering temporary workers consistent shifts will help them see you as a reliable employer, and make them more likely to trust you, and work more productively as a result. That said, it’s also important not to give them false or unrealistic expectations; honesty is always the best policy.
- Support their well-being
It’s a given that workers from recruiting agencies in Auckland might have a tendency to feel disposable considering the nature of their circumstances, but by focusing on providing them with enough support should they need it, you can make them feel valued and worthy. And not just during their first shift, but throughout the duration of their time with you.
Following these tips is a great way of empowering agency workers, who ultimately, should be treated as well as your permanent staff. Use this as an opportunity to assess satisfaction and productivity rates among your long-term staff members (since the two are often linked), and determine whether any changes could be made to enhance the employee experience overall, whether for your temporary, or permanent workforce.