Your business is undergoing a burst of rapid growth, or an unpredictable swing in your typical business cycle. Or maybe you’ve taken on a large, single, short-term project that will require an extra pair of hands on a contingency basis. In either case, you’re about to welcome a temporary or contract employee on board—or maybe several employees at the same time. And your full time staff will need to work with these new outsiders and possibly take responsibility for bringing them up to speed. How can you make sure your teams are prepared for this challenge and ready to welcome temporary staff into the workplace without missing a beat? Try these simple moves.

Give Ample Warning

Make sure your affected teams know the exact date that the new employee will arrive, and provide reminders as the date approaches. Don’t let the day come as a surprise, and don’t let the new employee be met at the door with confusion or unwelcoming blank stares.

Provide Clear Instructions

Will your current teams take responsibility for training the new employee? Should they expect a certain level of training and preparation from her as she walks in, or will he be starting from ground zero? Who will walk him around the office and introduce him to everyone? Who will help him access relevant databases and software tools? Make these assignments clear—Don’t expect teams to sort out these tasks on their own at the last minute.

Encourage Positive Buzz

There’s nothing wrong with generating a little excitement and positive gossip before the new employee arrives. Set the stage and describe his talents and personality in glowing terms.

Create a Complete and Fully Operational Workspace

Temporary and contract employees are paid by the hour, so don’t let them wait in the lobby for 45 minutes while you scramble to set them up with a desk and a computer. This isn’t cost effective, but just as important, it creates a weak first impression. Make sure your new employee can walk in the door and hit the ground running with all the resources he needs in order to make an impact.

For more on how to lay the groundwork for a productive and positive relationship with your temporary team members, reach out to the contingency staffing professionals at Expert.