Running a company that relies on a large percentage of temporary employees has its benefits. It can also have some risks. One of those risks involves employing temporary workers who are not 100 percent motivated to get the job done right or on-time. Why is this? Because temps know they are working on borrowed time. The other issue is when companies treat temps like “warm bodies” instead of valuable members of the team. These problems can easily be avoided, in order to provide a solid return on investment.

If you follow the tips here, you should have no trouble motivating your temporary employees.

Offer Bonuses

Not many companies do this, but you should consider offering temporary employees bonuses. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this. In fact, it will motivate your temp workers beyond belief. When they have more than just a paycheck to work for they will find ways to be productive at the office. When you treat them like your regular, full-time employees, they will feel valued and part of the office too. If you do create a bonus system for temp workers, be sure to offer bonuses that can be paid in a timeframe that meets their contract.

Have Full-Time Workers Train Temp Workers

Another excellent way to motivate temporary workers is to have your full-time employees train them for the position they were hired to work. This will show the temp worker that they are a valued member of the organization. It also will help you have an extra set of eyes and ears on the floor. When you have a full-time employee monitoring a part-time worker, you won’t have any trouble missing when they do something extraordinary. This makes it easier to praise them for their work, which will always motivate a temporary worker.

Let Your Employees Have Fun

Consider creating a fun environment for your employees, both full-time and temporary. Some of the most successful companies are known for the parties they throw for their employees. Even when companies struggle during tough economic times, they might slash their prices for customers, but the most successful ones will never touch the budget for employee perks. This keeps employees motivated and focused on doing the best they can each day.

Treat Temp Workers Equally

Make sure you treat all of your temp workers the same way you treat full-time employees. This begins the minute they step foot onto your campus. Give them a tour of the facility, introduce them to people in every department and let them know where they can go to have any questions answered. The more you involve them in daily operations and introduce them to co-workers, the more motivated they will be when at the office. Also, when you introduce them to full-time workers, never introduce them as being temporary employees. Just introduce them by their name, what position they were hired for and in which department they will be working.