Trillium Staffing Recognized by 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in 2024!

Trillium Staffing is excited to announce that they have been recognized as one of West Michigan’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in 2024. The awards competition provides the regional business community with the opportunity to showcase their best practices and demonstrate why they are an ideal place for employees to work. The awards are presented to organizations based on nominations and direct feedback from employees of each organization.

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Trillium Celebrates 40th Anniversary In Business

René Poch founder and CEO of the Trillium brand of staffing companies, announced the 40th business anniversary of the Kalamazoo, Michigan based staffing business.

Originating in Battle Creek, Michigan in February 1984, Poch has grown the brand of staffing companies to extend to more than 100 locations nationwide and several brands including Trillium Staffing, Trillium Professional, Trillium Driver Solutions and Trillium Construction Services.

Trillium has received several national recognitions over the years including Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the US, Best Staffing Company to Work For, National Best and Brightest Company and more.

“We’re delighted to celebrate this major milestone in business and the growth and development of not only the business but more importantly our talented teams. Our compilation of diverse niches, client companies, talented field staff and dynamic internal staff have allowed us to continue to grow while not losing sight of the most important piece of what we do, which is helping talent grow personally and professionally”. – René Poch, CEO

Trillium will be celebrating their 40th anniversary year by conducting more than 40 acts of giving back to the communities that have welcomed and embraced their business.

 

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides 40 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, Trillium Hospitality and Trillium Techs. With approximately 100 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

Trillium Construction Announces the Acquisition of American Craftsmen

René Poch founder and CEO of the Trillium brand of staffing companies, announced the acquisition of American Craftsmen, based in Washington state effective July 10, 2023.

American Craftsmen was founded in 2015 by Jim Hyde and Kenneth Gerig who developed a diverse construction staffing business in the pacific northwest.

The addition of the American Craftsmen locations will allow the Trillium Construction team to continue their expansion in the pacific northwest region providing skilled commercial construction and industrial skilled trades talent in addition to construction managers for short and long term projects.

The former American Craftsmen locations will be lead by previous owner Jim Hyde and  Area Manager Toby Copeland who’s former company was also acquired by Trillium Construction.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides nearly 40 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions and Trillium Professional. With approximately 100 offices nationwide and more than 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts among the Largest Industrial Staffing Firms in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S.  and a repeat winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

 

Trillium named as one of the Largest US Staffing Firms in 2023 by SIA!

René Poch founder and CEO of Trillium Staffing, recently announced that Trillium has been recognized as one of the Largest Staffing Firms in the United States by Staffing Industry Analysts in 2023. This is the third year running!

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Trillium Recognized as a National Best and Brightest Company to Work For in 2023!

The Trillium brand of staffing companies is excited to announce their recognition as a National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in 2023! The awards competition provides the national business community with the opportunity to showcase their best practices and demonstrate why they are an ideal place for employees to work. The awards are presented to organizations based on nominations and direct feedback from employees of each organization.

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Trillium Staffing Recognized by 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in 2023!

Trillium Staffing is excited to announce that they have been recognized as one of West Michigan’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in 2023. The awards competition provides the regional business community with the opportunity to showcase their best practices and demonstrate why they are an ideal place for employees to work. The awards are presented to organizations based on nominations and direct feedback from employees of each organization.

Continue reading

Trillium’s René Poch Named to SIA’s Staffing 100 North America List!

Trillium Staffing’s own René Poch has been named to SIA’s staffing 100 North America List for 2023! Now in its 12th year, the annual list recognizes influential staffing leaders throughout North America making the world of work, work better.

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Layoffs Remain In Headlines, Returns To Work Delayed

Over the last few months, large corporations have made headlines with major job cuts. These cuts come on the heels of a multi-year hiring surge in most industries and an employment market dominated by job seeker demands for pay increases, remote work opportunities and sign on bonuses at increasing levels.

The tech industry has been hit especially hard, reportedly seeing the highest layoff levels since 2000. As layoffs continue and hiring cools in many industries, returning to work for some is becoming increasingly difficult.

The Department of Labor reports 826k unemployed workers remained out of work from 3.5 to 6 months in December. This was a dramatic 36% increase from April of 2022.

If you find yourself in a position of seeking new employment, here are some things to keep in mind in the current economy:

  • Talent supply is increasing while hiring demand is decreasing, as a result US wages are expected to fall back to pre-pandemic levels over the next few months.
  • Make sure that your resume is up to date and enriched with keywords relevant to your skillset. Employers in some industries are flooded with applies and are relying on search strings to quickly identify qualified talent.
  • Be prepared to broaden your job search outside of your industry. Those in technology and talent acquisition may find far less opportunities available and more talent applying for those positions than other industries.
  • Be prepared for a longer than usual return to work and to apply to more positions than usual to land a new role.
  • Remain open to contract and contract to hire roles as employers may be cautious to permanent hires over the next few months.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Accounting and Finance, and Trillium Professional. With approximately 100 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2022 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

Up In Smoke: After NJCREAMMA, Can Employers Enforce Drug-Testing for Non-CDL Holders?

The recreational use and sale of marijuana was first legalized in the state of Colorado in 2012. Since then, 19 other states have joined their ranks in terms of recreational use, with a total 38 states, plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam allowing the medical use of marijuana. However, as most people know, the use, sale, and possession of any cannabis or cannabis-derived product with more that 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is illegal in the U.S. at the federal level. These state vs. federal discrepancies create something of a legal paradox.

Marijuana legalization is creating the same kind of problem regarding what to do about professional drivers who test positive for marijuana. For CDL drivers, it’s easy. It is prohibited for CDL drivers to use marijuana under any circumstances, even if the substance is legal in the state in which they reside. Even if a driver consumes a prohibited cannabis product in their off hours in a state where it is legal, if they test positive for it later, they may still be in violation of the Department of Transportation’s zero-tolerance policy at the federal level.

For non-CDL drivers, the employer testing is optional. However, if a driver with a CDL license tests positive for marijuana use, they are also prohibited from driving non-CDL vehicles until they pass the return-to-duty test: another drug test administered under direct supervision. Does that all sound confusing? That’s because it is.

Add to this already tangled web of marijuana laws and efforts to keep the roads safe from drivers under the influence the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Enforcement Assistance and Marketplace Modernization Act (NJCREAMMA), passed in February of 2021. Among other things, NJCREAMMA prohibits employers from taking adverse employment action against employees who test positive for cannabinoid metabolites in their blood or other bodily fluids.  In theory, this means that an employer cannot refuse to hire, fire, or discipline an employee who has been shown to have used cannabis. However, NJCREAMMA also upholds the right of employers to maintain a drug and alcohol-free workplace. Therefore, the regulation allows employers to make rules regarding the consumption, use, or influence of marijuana or marijuana products while at work.

At the time of the Act’s original issuance, employers could require employees to submit to a drug test under the following circumstances:

  • Upon suspicion of impairment from cannabis/cannabinoid substances while performing work duties
  • Upon finding any observable signs of marijuana/cannabinoid use at work
  • Following a work-related accident

Under NJCREAMMA, the term “drug test” has been redefined to mean a process using reliable, scientific drug-testing methods administered at work, during work hours (blood, urine, saliva tests) AND an evaluation of person certified as a Workplace Impairment Recognition Expert (WIRE). If both the bodily fluid test and the WIRE evaluation show the employee is under the influence during work hours, the employer may then take adverse employment action. The problem? The state had yet to issue guidance or training protocols for the WIREs.

To that end, the state issued interim guidance in September of 2022 until WIREs can be identified and trained for each workplace. The interim guidance essentially upholds the previous legislation regarding prohibition of adverse employment action unless evidence-based documentation of physical signs of cannabis use or signs of impairment are present. This stop-gap guidance also provides suggestions to help identify signs of impairment due to marijuana use, according to SafetyNews Alert.

California has also recently passed similar legislation preventing adverse employment action against employees who test positive for cannabinoid metabolites. The New Jersey and California laws do not apply to those in certain industries (including CDL holders, as well as federal agency contractors and grantees) and cannot preempt any state or federal laws that require a clean drug test as a condition of employment. However, non-CDL drivers can theoretically use cannabis outside of working hours within these states.

Drug test manufacturers and concerned employers are looking for ways to test for actual impairment on the job, such as employee tests against their own baseline performance and tests for the presence of active THC, the compound that creates the high, in the blood. Until these testing methods have been established, employers must keep a watchful eye out for signs of employee impairment in non-CDL drivers in New Jersey and California.

Disclaimer: This document and any discussions set forth are for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice.

Trillium Announces Expansion of Professional Division, Promotion of Paul White

Founder and CEO of the Trillium brand of staffing companies René Poch, recently announced the expansion of the Trillium Professional brand and promotion of long time employee Paul White.

“Paul White has been with our Trillium Driver division as an Area Manager for 7 years and has had a remarkable track record during that time. Paul owned and operated a successful professional staffing company in California before joining Trillium so he brings a wealth of knowledge with him. He is both excited and passionate about this opportunity.” – René Poch, CEO

 

Trillium Professional previously specializing in the recruitment of accounting and finance, will also now include the Trillium Technical division who has been providing IT and engineering recruitment since 1984 under the Trillium Technical and formerly Computer and Engineering Services brands. As part of this strategy Paul White Area Manager with Trillium for seven years, was promoted to the position of Vice President of Trillium Professional.

“A CEO at a large firm in Peoria, IL said to me after we started a search for a controller for her ‘ I didn’t realize that I could get this level of service and delivery from a search firm.’ I told her you can’t except from this one.  We’ve been throwing life preservers to executives for years. We placed 2 direct hire candidates and 2 contractors with her in 6 months in three business verticals accounting, engineering and technical. Consolidating the power of our professional services, just makes sense. It allows our clients a seamless process to hire professionals in multiple verticals without starting from scratch in educating a firm on their company culture and priorities in a candidate.” – Paul White, VP of Trillium Professional

 

For more information on Trillium Professional, please visit www.trilliumprofessional.com.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Accounting and Finance, and Trillium Professional. With approximately 100 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2022 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.