How to boost loyalty with contractors and temporary workers
Your people are at the heart of what you do and they’re the driving force behind your business’ success. That’s why developing strong relationships and increasing engagement and loyalty with your contingent workers is so important. By supporting and connecting with your contractors and temporary workers you can boost loyalty, and in turn, positively impact your workplace culture, improve performance and increase the chance of retaining top talent.
Of course, these are all things that most businesses strive to achieve! But even if loyalty and engagement didn’t have such a huge impact on corporate success, they should still be a priority.
It should go without saying that your contractors and temporary workers truly deserve to be supported and cared for while working with your business. And if you start by focusing on forming positive relationships with your people and making sure they feel valued, loyalty is likely to develop naturally.
So now we’ve covered the why, let’s move on to the trickier bit – the how!
For many businesses, boosting loyalty is already a challenge. Add into the mix the fact that your contingent workers might only be with your business for short periods, and it’s easy to see why so many businesses don’t know where to start! But the good news is that there are plenty of ways you can connect with your contractors and temporary workers and develop relationships that truly benefit both parties and build that all-important trust and loyalty. Let’s take a look at a few…
Ways to increase loyalty with contractors and temporary workers
Treat your contingent workers as part of the team
This may seem like a no-brainer to you, but you’d be surprised how many businesses don’t realise the value of properly connecting with their contingent workers! In fact, contractors and temporary workers are often viewed as being separate from permanent employees within businesses. While this may make sense for certain purposes such as payroll, contingent workers play a key role day-to-day and are often immersed in the company culture the same as permanent employees. By properly welcoming temporary employees and contractors and making them feel included and valued, you’ll build stronger relationships with your people as individuals, as well as boost your overall company culture. Win-win!
Benefits shouldn’t be a tick box or just something to look good on your website. Instead, they should be carefully selected to suit your people and their needs. And by giving your people access to meaningful benefits, you can help them really thrive – and form positive connections with your business!
Take retailer discounts and offers as an example. Or a fuel card that allows people to save on their travel expenses. They’re more than just the opportunity to save a bit of money here and there. These benefits provide invaluable support to help with things like rising living costs. Plus, they give people the opportunity to cut back on everyday expenses and make more room to do the things they truly love.
Oh, and that’s not all. The benefits you offer also give you a chance to improve your business value proposition, allowing you to stand out from your competitors and attract new talent to your business. There’s some more food for thought!
Offer meaningful benefits
Deliver personalised rewards
When people feel seen, valued and respected, they’re more likely to feel a sense of loyalty towards your business. With that in mind, another great way to boost your contingent workers and build those relationships is to send personalised rewards to say ‘thanks’ for their commitment towards your business and to celebrate special moments. Whether it’s seasonal rewards, birthday vouchers or a ‘well done’ for completing a project, there are plenty of opportunities to recognise your contingent workers and lift them up.
Plus, it’s also a chance to show your people you really know them! Whether you send someone a voucher to enjoy spending at their favourite shop or you give them the freedom to choose their own special reward, there are plenty of ways to deliver meaningful boosts that encourage a culture of recognition and appreciation. And those are the things that make people want to stick around!
As the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Your people need to feel their best to be able to give back to your business and perform to their full potential. This is why wellbeing support is so important. Whether it’s offering a 24/7 GP Helpline and private prescriptions or discounted gym memberships, there are plenty of ways to help your people boost their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing and start their journey to becoming their best selves. And by supporting their wellbeing, you’ll also encourage your people to foster a positive connection with your company that’ll last.
Provide wellbeing support
Ready to boost your contingent workers?
Now you know the importance of building strong relationships with your contingent workers and how you can boost their loyalty towards your company, it’s time to think about putting things into action. And, not to blow our own trumpet too loudly, we can help with that!
With over 20 years in people engagement, we know a thing or two about boosting people and helping them feel seen, heard and respected in the workplace. So, why not get in touch with us and find out how we can help you make a positive impact on the contractors you support and strengthen your relationship with them? Together, we can help your people truly thrive.
