Working with a staffing company is designed to make your life work easier, but in the initial stages, it can be a little chaotic. By taking a little time to get prepared and get ready to integrate will make the transition process much easier and ensure that everything goes smoothly.

The first step is ensuring that the communication between yourself and the firm are at the highest level possible. If you start from the first that everyone understands their duties and that you have an open line of contact with their main supervisor, this will cut down on any confusion that may occur during the initial stages as well as throughout the project.

Next, you’ll need to clearly define the roles you want the staffing firm to play within your organization. If everyone knows from the get-go what is expected, this will keep everyone on task and performing at the levels you expect. One of the main reasons that staffing firms run into issues is due to a lack of clear information and expectations and taking the time to delineate the expected tasks will solve this problem.

It is also important to discuss the issue with your current staff so that they understand fully that the incoming staffing firm is not replacing them. In some cases, staffing firm employees are treated poorly by the regular staff due to tension. By explaining to your staff that this is a temporary measure, made to ensure that your company meets a specific deadline or need, you can assuage their potential fears and ensure that everyone is treated properly.

Staging on on-boarding day is also an important step in managing your project with a staffing firm. This gives everyone time to familiarize themselves with your unique systems and can also be used to help set up expectations and get to know everyone better. Simply by taking one day to focus on this, rather than throwing everyone into the midst of a project will make the transition smoother and set up a clear line of communication for everyone involved.

Working with a staffing firm is a great solution, particularly if you are on a short deadline and need to accomplish a project quickly. Simply taking a few steps in the beginning of the process will help you meet those goals and keep everyone happy.

Need advice on working with a staffing firm? Contemporary Staffing is here to help!

If you’ve never considered hiring temporary staff members, now is a great time to see if this solution is right for your company. There are several instances where a staffing service can help you with common workforce problems.

1. Fluctuations in Demand. Whether you have a seasonal business, or you foresee a dramatic but temporary increase in demand, instead of hiring full-time employees, you can meet this need with a staffing service. They can provide extra staff for you when you need it, and when the demand slacks off, you can simply go back to your regular staff level without any problems.

2. Turnover Issues. If there are specific positions within your company that have high turnover rates, you can temporarily fix the issue by contracting with a staffing service. They can supply a highly trained person to fill the position and may even be able to assist in training a new hire. Instead of getting stuck with an empty position, you can use a temporary staffer until you can get the issue addressed.

3. Specialized Skills. This is particularly common in IT departments, and other specialized areas within a company. You may need someone with specialized skills — but you may not need them all the time. Instead of trying to carry a full-time employee, a temporary staffing solution is ideal for this situation.

4. Immediate Needs. If you have a position that suddenly opens up and you know it will take you several weeks to find the right candidate, a staffing service can help you fill the position right away with a highly trained worker, giving you the time to find the right person for the job. This is particularly important for positions that are highly necessary within your organization.

5. Rising Costs of Labor. Not only are wages getting higher, but employees want more benefits to go with the higher pay. This can easily break a smaller company and even large companies can feel the pinch. Subcontracting out a position to a temporary staffer can easily solve this problem — you don’t have to pay them benefits, and you get the person you need for the job.