Nov 07, 2023

Companies that have to handle eras known as “busy periods” often count on a seasonal workforce to lighten the load. The loose definition of a seasonal employee is a worker who is typically hired into a temporary position. The employment period is usually over the same part of the year, such as the summer, and is usually around six months or less in total during their time at said business.

Seasonal workers can provide employers with benefits such as providing support during busier work periods and fulfilling gaps for shifts. However, there tends to be increased turnover numbers of seasonal workers. One of the biggest reasons for this is an improper onboarding process. Seasonal workers need the right tools and training for the job, yet they also need to be integrated as quickly as possible in order to help businesses handle their busy periods. You don’t want to jam as much information into a short time period, yet you also want to get new team members working as efficiently as possible.

The right solution for onboarding seasonal workers is to simplify the process. Finding a proper balance is vital to getting the most out of your increased staff while providing the support they need to be successful on the job.

We’ll take a closer look into three ways your business can simplify onboarding for seasonal workers to help lead to a higher level of employee satisfaction and reduced turnover rate.

Plan Ahead for a Smooth Transition

Onboarding a seasonal team can be a challenging process for any organization, but with the right preparation, it can be a smooth and successful transition. Planning ahead is the key to ensuring that your seasonal team is fully integrated into your company culture and is equipped with all the necessary tools to perform their roles effectively. The ultimate goal should be to reduce employee and employer stress during this transition.

To start, it's essential to establish a clear onboarding process that outlines the specific steps that your seasonal team will need to take to become fully integrated into your company. This process should include everything from orientation and training to employee support and feedback. It's also important to ensure that your seasonal team understands the company's mission, vision, and values. This in turn will help them to understand the importance of their role and how it fits within the larger organization.

Another key aspect of onboarding your seasonal team is providing them with the necessary training and support they need to perform their roles effectively. This might include providing them with access to training materials or offering on-the-job training and mentoring. It's also important to establish clear communication channels so that your seasonal team can ask questions and receive feedback as needed. When planning for onboarding your seasonal team, it's important to consider the unique needs and requirements of each individual. This might include providing accommodations for disabilities or language barriers or offering flexible scheduling options to accommodate personal commitments. Planning out the training process ahead of time can be a key aspect to quicker assimilation.

It’s also vital to establish clear goals and expectations for your seasonal team. This might include setting performance targets or outlining specific projects that they will be responsible for. By setting clear expectations, you can help your seasonal team to focus their efforts and stay motivated throughout their tenure.

Streamline the Training Process

Another big aspect of simplifying the onboarding process is being able to better streamline your training timeline. At the bare minimum, seasonal workers need to know the basic functions of what exactly they are expected to do. Here are three ways to help better assemble this process:

1. You can first create detailed training manuals that outline all the necessary steps and procedures. This will ensure that all workers are trained consistently and efficiently. Be sure to not only update these for new hires but to also provide that new information for all current workers so that everyone can stay on the same page.
2. Secondly, you can utilize online training programs that can be accessed from anywhere at any time. This will save time and resources, as workers can complete the training at their own pace.
3. Finally, you can assign an employee or supervisor to each new hire, who can provide additional support and guidance throughout the training process. Having your permanent staff members congregate with your seasonal team can make them feel more at home and give them a chance to meet the whole team and have someone to go to for questions.
   
   

Foster a Positive Team Environment

Your seasonal staff should feel like they belong, even if their time at your company isn’t as long as their permanent worker counterparts. It’s important to find a way to keep your team connected and encouraged while they’re at work. As a business owner, you know that your team is the backbone of your company's success, and that includes your seasonal team.

In order to create a positive team environment, it's crucial to make sure that your seasonal employees feel welcome and valued from the moment they step through the door. Communication is an extremely important part of fostering the type of workplace you want. Make sure that your new hires know what is expected of them and that they feel comfortable asking questions. Encourage open and honest communication amongst the team, and make sure that everyone feels heard.

The ultimate goal should be to create a sense of belonging amongst your seasonal team members. This can be achieved by organizing team-building activities, such as group lunches or after-work events. Encourage your seasonal workers to get involved by listening to ideas they may have for events like these as well.

The simplification of the onboarding process for seasonal workers can lead to long-term profits while lowering employee turnover. Creating better solutions such as this is what we do here at Heartland. Contact us today to learn more about how our team of experts can help optimize your business today.