Every IT manager faces challenges in managing his staff--whether it's dealing with salaried employees or hourly ones. And in many cases, businesses have added more hourly workers to help control costs. That's a good idea in some respects, and a problem in others.

Your hourly workers may be contractors or they may be workers hired for a specific project or task. In any event, it requires managing them to make sure the work is done right and on time, and you are happy with the result.

Here are a few tips from CIO magazine on ways to handle this fluid workforce. Among their suggestions:

• Hourly workers often don't mind working longer hours. It means more pay for them.
• Have a policy on your books for hourly workers and their benefits.
• Decide if you will issue items like cell phones, temporary passwords, a work station or other tools of the trade.

Don't overlook the talents of your hourly workers. They may be working part-time so they can go to school and get better credentials. They may have skills not being tapped at their hourly job, but may be able help to you at some point in their work day. You may find a few hidden gems in your hourly workers that could help you run a better, more productive shop. So stay alert and channel these workers into the best job situation possible.

For more on the hourly IT worker:
- see this CIO magazine article

Related Articles:
Forrester: IT shops stall on new tech for workers
Outsourcing is not always a dirty word
Demand growing for tech freelancers