Part-time doesn’t mean staff members deliver a fraction of the results of full-time employees. In fact, some people who work 25 hours a week are more productive and focused than someone who works 40 hours a week. Considering that your part-time people are a valuable component to your staff – even though they’re not with you all week – how can you keep them engaged and motivated?
Here are a few tips to consider:
Help them get up and running.
When you first hire a part-time employee, make sure you offer some type of onboarding so they can get up to speed faster. In addition, make sure their computer is set up on their first day and that you introduce them to all their new co-workers. They’ll perform better if they feel like part of the team.
Give them adequate equipment and workspace.
Don’t make part-time employees work in the cramped corner space on the oldest computer in the building. You need them to be as productive as their full-time counterparts – and they need the right resources and sufficient work space to do that.
Agree on schedule expectations.
If you let an employee work Monday, Wednesday and Friday, agree to that schedule ahead of time. Also, communicate any additional needs; for instance, if you might occasionally need them on a Thursday. Otherwise, if they’ve taken a second job or have small children at home, they may be unavailable.
Go out of your way to communicate.
You need to communicate more with part-time employees than full-time ones. That’s simply due to the fact that they’re not in the office each work day and may miss out on important information. Set up a system that allows you to gather and communicate the necessary information and keep part-timers in the loop.
Treat them as valuable employees.
Part-time workers shouldn’t be treated with any less respect or consideration when compared to full-time staff. That means including them in all company events, as well as providing plenty of feedback and praise.
Keep in mind, it costs just as much to hire a part-time staff member as it does to hire a full-time one. It’s therefore vital to properly train them, as well as keep them fully engaged and motivated.
Need help finding top part-time or temporary talent for your company? Call Future Force. As a leading South Florida temporary staffing agency, we have a broad network of skilled and reliable people, ready to go to work. Contact Future Force today to learn more.