How to hire temporary staff in 6 simple steps

In the ever-changing business landscape, temporary employees often need to be hired. Whether it’s to meet an unexpected surge in demand or cover a permanent employee’s absence, enlisting the help of temporary staff can be a lifesaver. If you’re wondering how to hire temporary staff for the first time, you’ve come to the right place.

Understanding the Types of Temporary Employment

Before we delve into the hiring process, it’s essential to understand the types of temporary employment available. Each type of temporary employment has its own benefits and use cases, so it is important to understand which one is right for you. 

Fixed Term Contracts

Fixed-term contracts are employment agreements with a definitive end date. They’re ideal for seasonal demands, specific projects, or maternity cover. 

Seasonal Contracts

Seasonal contracts are often used during periods of seasonal demand, such as the holiday season for retail businesses or summer for tourism and hospitality sectors. They help businesses manage the increased workload during these peak periods.

Zero Hour Contracts

Zero hours contracts offer maximum flexibility. Employees are not guaranteed work, but can be called in when required. They’re perfect for businesses experiencing unpredictable demand.

Freelance Contracts

Freelance contracts are unlike the other contracts on our list. A freelancer is self-employed and, instead of signing an employment contract with the company, charges a fixed rate for services. This means that they can be easily brought in on a project-to-project basis. Freelancers usually have a number of years of experience and are experts in their field.

How to Hire Temporary Staff in 6 steps

Once you’ve identified the type of temp worker suitable for your needs, it’s time to move to the hiring process.

Step 1: Define Your Needs

Clearly identify your business needs. Is this a short-term hire or do you anticipate a longer-term requirement? What tasks will the temp staff be responsible for? Answering these questions will help you decide on the best course of action.

Step 2: Understand the market

The job market is constantly changing, and with inflation continuing to rise in early 2023, it is important to understand what a competitive salary is. The easiest way to understand what is expected of potential employees is to talk to those recently hired or working within the recruitment industry. 

Step 3: Choose the Right Hiring Route

There are various routes to hire temporary employees. You could use a staffing agency, which is a fast and reliable way to hire quickly, especially if you’re looking for temp workers on short notice. Alternatively, you could opt for direct recruitment. This could save on some costs but requires more time and resources.

Step 4: Draft an Effective Job Description

Your job description clearly communicates the role, responsibilities, required skills, and duration of the contract. This is also an opportunity to advertise your business as an attractive workplace.

Step 5: Understand Legal Obligations

Remember, as an employer, you’re required to consider certain legal aspects such as tax and national insurance, ensuring the national minimum wage, and understanding the rights of your temporary staff.

Step 6: Onboarding

Once you hire temporary workers, make sure they feel welcomed and supported. Providing necessary training and clearly communicating their roles and responsibilities is a great proven way to motivate temporary staff. 

What are the benefits of using an agency?

A recruitment agency or Temp Agency are often the easiest and fastest way to find staff to fill your role. They have the experience, and knowledge to assess the role and find the right experienced workers. Many agencies will have a list of workers that are ready to start work at short notice and have gained work through the agency previously; these are called Agency Workers. 

Agency Workers

Agency workers, often referred to as temp workers, are sourced from recruitment agencies. They are ideal for meeting short-notice needs and can be employed for varying lengths of time. 

Agency workers often have a range of experience working within similar areas and can help you fill a place at short notice and can gain a better grasp of training and new situations

Considerations when Hiring Temporary Staff

Bringing in temporary staff can provide a wealth of benefits for your small business. It offers flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and the chance to evaluate potential permanent employees in a real-work environment.

However, it’s important to consider the balance between full-time and temporary staff to maintain harmony in your workforce. Additionally, be aware that temporary staff are entitled to certain benefits, such as annual leave, based on their work hours. Like all new hires, there are advantages and disadvantages to hiring temporary staff. 

If you are ready to hire a new temporary member of staff or want to know more about the process, our team of experienced recruiters will be more than happy to guide you through the process. Contact our teams at 01242 505400 or email at hello@rerecruitment.com.