How Can Companies Foster Belonging for Agency-Hired Employees Feeling Left Out?

Hi,

I wanted to know something about the sense of belongingness in the company. In fact, what I intend to know is how the company should act when a chunk of its employees feel that they are not actually a part of the company, which I understand is especially true for those workers who are not under the direct payroll of the company. The employees who have been hired through some agencies and working for some MNCs fail to identify themselves either with the agency or that of the MNC.

I would like to know what should be the policy of the company in this regard.

c_dg

Getting a sense of belonging is not a matter of formulating a company policy. The company needs to develop a culture of engagement – as Vinay has pointed out. In short, when it comes to contractors, supervisors and managers will need to treat them as much like an employee as possible. This includes inviting them to participate in meetings, social events, goal-setting, etc, to name but a few activities.
A number of consultancies have run international engagement surveys over the years. Part of the purpose of these is to find out what engages employees, and are a rich source of actionable items that companies can use to engage their own people. You can look up the work of BlessingWhite, Gallop, Hewitt, Seek, Corporate Leadership Council and Towers Perrin.
Vicki Heath
Human Resources Software and Resources
http://www.businessperform.com

You can read about Employee Empowerment, Employee Engagement, and Organizational Citizenship for solutions.

Regards,
Dr. Prageetha

This is a long-drawn process. You need to continuously demonstrate that there is no difference between the company and outsourced (hired) employees. They need to be treated equally in working time, facilities usage, and other compensation and facilities areas. It should not be like a citizen and green card holder treatment to mention in known parlance. HR should play a major role in reducing the psychological gaps by arranging frequent interactions and emphasizing their importance and contribution to the business. They should find an equal place in all annual day, recreation activities, special events, and company functions. This should be a continuous effort.

ravichandar m v 8)