Managing temporary workers

Someone once told me “Don’t use skilled labor to do unskilled labor work!” So when I need unskilled laborers, I use laborers from a temporary service. But a word to the wise, you can not leave them unattended and expect to get your money’s worth! They must be supervised! So here are my hints to get the most work from them:

1. Treat them like a person. Remember their names and ask them about themselves. Once when I was young, I moved to a new town and was unemployed. I enrolled with temporary agency until I could find a full time job. The experience was horrible at most jobs – I was an invisible nobody! Nobody bothered talking to me – I was given a job to do and ignored. I had some excellent skills and was eventually hired by one of the companies BUT the other companies never bothered to find out anything about me therefore they never capitalized on my skills. I constantly find workers who can do a multitude of skilled labor at an unskilled laborer price – sheetrocking, painting, brick work, carpentry – all because I asked.

2. Buy them lunch and snacks. You would be surprised how much goodwill snacks and a lunch will get you. A lot of these guys are trying to get back on their feet and not having to spend an hour’s pay on lunch is really appreciated.

3. Role Model. I actually will work side by side with my laborers. Yes, I know you should delegate but I can get so much more work from them when they see how hard I am willing to work AND that I am not too good to work along side of them. Even if you don’t have the time to work constantly with them – make an effort to carry out something to the dumpster or some other task.

4. Outline what you expect to accomplish that day. First thing in the morning, I go over what I want to happen then I give them choices about which job they would like to perform first. I ask them how long they think it will take them to do the job then I ask them if they think we could do it in a shorter amount of time.

5. Bonuses. If I really have a job that I want to accomplish that day – I am not above offering them an extra $25 or so if we
complete the job that day. $25.00 can be a lot of extra money when you only make $7.00 or $8.00 an hour.

6. Have all the need tools and supplies. There is nothing more frustrating that not having the needed tools. I mark my tools and do a tool count at the end of the day. But you are wasting your time if you have to go get tools or supplies or a dumpster and they are just standing around with nothing to do.

In summary, I accomplish a lot in my rehab jobs by hiring temporary laborers. By utilizing the temporary services, I do not have to worry about workman’s comp or payroll taxes – a big headache. Nor do I have to constantly scout for workers, if they do not work out, I don’t have to use them.