Enhancing Employee Relations with Contract Workers: Recognition and HR Initiatives

Dear Sirs,

As we all know, contract workers play a key role in every industry, and their numbers are higher compared to permanent workers. In order to foster better relations with contract workers, could you suggest any HR initiatives to improve ownership and attachment?

Regards,
GIRI

Contract workers act as auxiliary pillars to a company's workforce. Review their performance, appreciate their good moves, and encourage them to perform better. Find out their abilities and assign tasks accordingly. This prompts them to contribute more. You would be hailed as an employer for identifying their contribution and rewarding it suitably, though of less significance. Stints with contract workers may be short-lived glory, but what stays on and is carried over time with both the employer and the employee makes a difference.

Dear Giri,

There are various ways of recognition for contractual manpower, and if you really want to increase their productivity, you have to appreciate their efforts, skills, knowledge, and dedication towards their work. Ways of appreciation are:

1. Employee of the Week/Month/Quarter/Year (Based on their production output)
2. Guru of the Week/Month/Quarter/Year (for those who ever utilized their knowledge to upgrade the process)
3. Employee of the Week/Month/Quarter/Year (Based on Attendance)
4. Employee of the Week/Month/Quarter/Year (Based on self-driven/independent, etc.)

Similarly, there would be various areas where you can appreciate them to feel motivated, considering your organization setup/process.

Regards,
Jitender

Hello Giri,

No doubt, contract workers perform a great supportive function in the mainline operations. However, in law, they are treated as workmen of the contractor, not that of the principal employer. While your concern for maintaining good relations with contract workers is appreciated, you need to remember that what you do to please them shall not stand as evidence that you are their employer.

B. Saikumar

Dear Giri,

As mentioned by Mr. Saikumar, the principal employer should not directly intervene with the contract workers. If you wish to provide support, consider offering good family accommodation (separate from staff accommodation), subsidies for their children's schooling. By providing a letter to the school explaining that the worker is employed by a subcontractor servicing your company, the school may offer free or discounted rates, with billing directly to your company.

Offering direct benefits to the workers could potentially establish an employer-employee relationship between you and the contractor workers. Therefore, exercise caution when extending benefits to them.

Kind regards, [Your Name]