Companies interested in gauging employee morale may need to look only as far
as their project employees. Increasingly, managers are finding that
temporary professionals can provide a refreshing, unbiased perspective on
their company's corporate culture. Project employees offered through a
staffing firm may also prove a valuable source of advice on how to increase
productivity, since many of them have worked in a variety of environments
and are able to offer useful suggestions based upon their past experiences.
This feedback can prove especially valuable in today's high-employment
market, since retaining talented staff members and ensuring optimal
productivity are increasingly important to business success. How can you
tap into this valuable source of information? The easiest way is to talk to
project professionals directly. Just as you might conduct exit interviews
for full-time staffers who leave your company, initiate the same practice
with temporary workers at the end of their engagements. Try to obtain
answers to the following key questions:
-- Would you recommend this firm to others as a good place to work?
By asking a project professional whether he or she would recommend your
company to job seekers, you're essentially trying to find out whether it has
a positive corporate culture. If there are grumblings of dissatisfaction
among the ranks, chances are project workers have heard them - and their
answers will likely reflect their observations. If the person's response
is unenthusiastic or vague, ask more specific questions. Do employees
generally appear to be happy? Is management responsive to their needs? Do
workers seem adequately challenged?
If a project professional says he or she would recommend your company to
others, it's a good idea to ask why. Just as identifying areas in which you
could use improvement can be helpful, so can knowing what you're doing
right. This enables your company to continue to benefit from positive
practices and expand upon them where appropriate.
-- Did you receive the guidance and feedback you required?
Accessibility to someone who can answer questions and offer input on a
temporary assignment is critical to getting the job done correctly and
showing the project professional his or her work holds value. The same
holds true for new employees - poor supervision and lack of communication
erode long-term morale and productivity. If your project professionals are
not receiving adequate direction, you could be neglecting your full-time
staff as well.
-- Do you have any suggestions on how we can improve our procedures?
Project professionals - as well as new employees - bring with them a fresh
perspective gleaned from previous work environments. They may have money
saving or productivity enhancing ideas that could easily be applied to your
firm, or they might offer practical suggestions for improving job conditions
and employee enthusiasm. Listen carefully to their suggestions, and look
for patterns in their replies. If several people offer the same
recommendations, it's probably time to initiate action.
No matter how much of an open-door policy you may have as a manager, candid
conversations on broad morale concerns may not be forthcoming from full-time
staff. Unfortunately, these issues - if not resolved - can compel talented
individuals to look elsewhere for work. By interviewing project
professionals as they prepare to leave for new assignments, you can obtain
fresh perspectives on your company's corporate culture and business
practices. This knowledge can lead to higher retention rates and enhanced
productivity, both of which contribute to your competitive edge.
Robert Half International Inc. has more than 250 locations in North America,
Europe and Australia, and offers online job search services at
www.rhii.com.
