Are Your Employees Job Hunting On The Clock?

September 20, 2013Posted by: Jenna Mathieu

Are your employees looking to make a career move? A recent study released by Robert Half International Inc. found that as many as 48% of employees between the ages of 18 and 34 said that they are likely to conduct job-search activities at work. Even the most flexible of employers are likely not going to be excited by this statistic. What can you do to prevent your employees from seeking new opportunities, especially while on the job?

Communicate regularly. Do you regularly meet with individual staff members to discuss their careers, ambitions, and frustrations? If not, you should. Many workplace issues and frustrations can be addressed in a simple meeting. You may learn of current team members that would be interested and qualified for other opportunities within the organization.
Recognize regularly. Regularly provide feedback to your employees on their progress, achievements, and contributions to the organization. Sometimes simple forms of recognition such as a thank you card, email, or recognition in front of the team can be the motivation your staff needs to remain engaged with the company.
Reward regularly. How do you motivate your staff to excel? A strong employee recognition program including awards, bonuses, gift cards, or free lunches show your employees that your organization is committed to keeping them happy and rewarding them for their efforts.

As the market remains tight for top level talent, keeping your top performers happy and engaged is critical. Click here for more information on employee retention.

Are you a stand out professional, technical professional, driver, or skilled worker seeking contingent, temporary, or long term career opportunities? Visit our job board for more information! Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of professionals and skilled workers? Contact us today!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

Are You Using Truck-Specific GPS?

September 18, 2013Posted by: Jenna Mathieu

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is continuing their efforts to help drivers reduce bridge strikes and other dangerous accidents by distributing cards to truck drivers warning of the dangers that can arise from using GPS units meant for non-commercial and smaller vehicles.

The FMCSA has posted warnings on their site and continues to bring awareness to the dangers that come from using improper equipment. A 2009 study found that about 80% of bridge strikes in New York were a result of large vehicles using the wrong navigation devices. With simple prevention, drivers can avoid these life threatening accidents that often result in serious injuries, heavy equipment damage, costly road repairs, and long delays for other motorists. Click here for a copy of the FMCSA’s GPS Selection Guide for CMV’s.

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

The Best Construction Jobs In 2013

September 16, 2013Posted by: Jenna Mathieu

With the construction industry quickly gaining speed, many contractors are quickly growing their staff to accommodate the growing number of projects on their workload. Unemployment in the construction industry has almost dropped in half in the past 3 years and continues to show improvement. As projected by AOL, here are the Best Construction Jobs for 2013:

1. Cost Estimator– With an average salary of $62,670, cost estimators are responsible for a wide range of duties including project budgeting, cost proposals, and coordinating of services with prospective sub contractors.

2. Construction Manager– With an average salary of $93,900, construction managers are responsible for the planning, budgeting, coordination, and completion of construction projects.

3. Plumber– With an average salary of $51, 830, a plumber’s duties range from analyzing blueprints, to installing, maintaining, and repairing pipes and septic tanks while remaining in compliance with building codes.

4. Glazier– With an average salary of $41,620, glaziers prep, install, fasten, seal, and remove glass for windows; often working at extreme heights.

5. Cement Mason / Concrete Finisher– With an average salary of $39,370, these roles include installing rebar and reinforcement materials, pouring cement mixtures, spreading and leveling of cement mixtures, and applying sealants.

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

Cell Phone Etiquette In The Workplace

September 13, 2013Posted by: Jenna Mathieu

With over half of the adults in the United States owning a smartphone, it’s no surprise that their presence in the workplace has created some disruptions. Most companies have policies in place that include guidance on the use of mobile devices in the workplace, that will likely grow to include more specific technology as time progresses. Even if your company does not have a policy against or limiting the use of mobile devices in the workplace, exercising proper etiquette with your mobile phone or device can have an impact on your professional image.

Here are some quick etiquette tips for the use of mobile devices in the workplace:

Don’t allow interruptions. Do not interrupt a conversation with someone either on another line or in person to accept a call or respond to a message. Showing your colleagues and clients that they have your undivided attention is important to rapport and respect building in the workplace.

Make sure your mobile device is appropriately represented in the workplace. Whether it is a personal device or a company issued mobile device, if it is making an appearance in the workplace it should be appropriate for the environment. Make sure that your device has a professional ring tone, neutral case or cover, and your background photo is appropriate for the workplace. Inappropriate covers, background photos, or ring tones may be offensive to those around you and could result in a poor professional image or discipline.

Respect the no phone zones. Even a company issued phone should not be present in all situations. Meetings, lunch appointments, and restrooms are just a few places that your mobile device is likely not welcome. Silence your device and keep it in your bag, briefcase, or pocket.

Be respectful of those around you. Those around you will quickly grow annoyed with the constant ringing or vibrating from your device, especially in a cubicle setting. Be sure to silence your device and step away to take personal calls.

Don’t be an under the table reader. Let’s face it those around you are aware of what you’re doing. Responding to emails, texts, or surfing the internet below the table only draws more attention to you. If you feel the need respond to an urgent message, politely excuse yourself from the group.

Consider adding cell phone etiquette into your next staff training or meeting agenda to help eliminate distractions or disruptions in the workplace. Chances are there are several staff members who are losing productivity due to their cell phone usage and causing disruptions to those around them.

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

The Costs of Delayed Reporting of Workers' Compensation Claims!

September 11, 2013Posted by: Jenna Mathieu

Does your organization make timely reporting of workers’ compensation claims a priority? Studies have demonstrated the costly effects of delayed reporting for organizations in the United States. The costs of delayed reporting will vary by employer based on the fact that each claim is different, each employee is different, and each injury may involve different circumstances. However, regardless of the nature of your business there is a direct correlation between the reporting time and the cost of the claim.

The faster a workers’ compensation claim is received by the adjuster, the faster and more controlled the process is. The adjuster is able to conduct a thorough investigation while the facts of the claim are still readily available, before the employee and any witnesses may forget key details that are critical to the claim. Prompt reporting can also help to eliminate any delays in providing appropriate medical care and wage benefits to the injured employee.

Recent data released by Sedgwick Claims Management Services Inc. found:

Claims that close within 30 days of occurrence cost an average of $287 and about 90% of those claims will remain medical-only cases.
Claims that remain open 31-90 days jump to an average cost of $722.
Claims that remain open 181-365 days jump to an average cost of $6,875

A recent study completed by NCCI on lag time also found:

Week two after the date of the incident cost an average of 18% more than claims reported during the first week.
Weeks three and four following the date of the incident averaged a 30% increase in claims cost.
After four weeks the costs increased an average of 45% higher.

Making sure your staff is familiar with the importance of quickly reporting any incidents and injuries is key to controlling your costs. Any injury regardless of it’s initial significance should follow the same reporting process that should be clearly outlined in the employee handbook and regularly posted in break rooms and other common areas.

Why Your Business Should Be On LinkedIn!

September 9, 2013Posted by: Jenna Mathieu

Whether you are just jumping into social media through other sites or have avoided a social media presence for your company altogether, your business needs to be on LinkedIn!

LinkedIn, unlike some other social media sites, was designed to be used for professional networking purposes only. From individual profiles to groups and company pages, the layout and format is intended to connect professionals with common interests. By doing so, LinkedIn has avoided many of the workplace blunders and law suits that other social media sites have become attached to. Almost 3 million companies have created Company Pages on the site and over 5.7 billion professionally oriented searches were conducted on the site in 2012 alone, making LinkedIn a powerhouse for marketing, recruiting, and career development opportunities.

Not sure where to get started? Here are some quick tips!

Create a Company Page. Make sure to include a photo, preferably including your logo for brand recognition.

Build Your Followers. Announce to your staff that your company has joined LinkedIn and invite them to follow you as well as invite additional followers who may have an interest in your line of work, product line, or general industry.

Build Your Content. Provide your followers with informative content on a consistent basis. Post articles of interest, blog posts, company updates, and job postings to keep your company name and page fresh on their mind and their newsfeed.

Be Interactive. Make sure to measure engagement with your followers and learn which topics gain the most engagement from your audience, as well as what content seems to fall through the cracks. Make sure that you respond quickly and professionally to all comments, questions, and inquiries.

As with any network, a social network following can take time to build. The more members of your team that are involved with sharing your page and content to their connections, the faster your engagement will grow. Identifying members of your organization that may have access to articles of interest, industry trends, and general discussions can greatly advance your branding opportunities.

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

Bottom Line Benefits to Safety Programs!

September 4, 2013Posted by: Jenna Mathieu

While building, enforcing, and maintaining a strong safety program can be time consuming and expensive, the repercussions of not doing so can be detrimental to your business. In addition to the safety of your staff and organization, here are some bottom line benefits to a strong safety program:

Reduced attendance issues
Decreased employee turnover rates
Higher employee productivity
Greater efficiency as a company
Increased quality of work
Decreased scrap and waste products
Increased employee morale
Positive brand image
Decreased health care costs
Decreased workers’ compensation costs

The time, resources, and planning for a safety program will vary greatly based on your line of business, company size, and exposures. Consider partnering with a third party safety organization or your legal counsel for best practices.

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

The Importance of Job Descriptions

August 30, 2013Posted by: Jenna Mathieu

Does your organization maintain and regularly update their job descriptions? If not, you may want to re-consider your current process. While employers are not legally required to maintain job descriptions, there are several proven benefits and legal advantages to doing so.

Formal, well maintained job descriptions, are one of the most effective tools to determine the essential job functions and requirements for each position within the organization. The job description should serve as the foundation for qualifying and interviewing of candidates for each role.

What should be included in the job description?

Job title
Pay range
Hours/shifts, overtime expectations, weekend work expectations
Exempt/non-exempt status
General responsibilities including descriptions of key tasks and their purpose
Qualifications including the experience, education, training, and technical skills necessary for the role
Additional demands including extraordinary conditions such heavy lifting, travel, prolonged standing, and exposure to extreme temperatures
Job duties and responsibilities including tasks that comprise a majority of the work to be done

A thorough job description can support an employer’s stance on a hiring decision, address exempt/non-exempt status under the Fair Labor Standards Act for wage and hour purposes, and provide hiring managers with a clear understanding of who may best be suited for a position. They also provide documentation of the mental, physical, and environmental factors necessary to complete the requirements of the position.

Having an employee sign an employment agreement upon hiring including a language that the employee has received a copy of the job description, has reviewed it, and understands the expectations of them in this role can assist employers in training, performance evaluations, and disciplinary manners. As with any working relationship both parties often are better protected and informed when there is a clear and concise understanding of the expectations of them.

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

Job Postings That Work!

August 28, 2013Posted by: Jenna Mathieu

Are you frustrated with the number of job postings that you’ve posted only to find you still don’t have qualified candidates? Are your monthly charges to job boards beginning to look like they need a P&L of their own? Now’s the time to fix it!

With online job boards including millions of job postings each year, standing out among the competition is essential. The days of simply putting an ad in the newspaper resulting in stacks of resumes are gone. Today’s job postings must include several key components including:

SEO Value: If you aren’t familiar with SEO, you’re already behind in the game. SEO or Search Engine Optimization, refers to the content or structure of online content so that it will be prominently displayed by a search engine. Making sure that your job posting is rich in SEO value is the key to making sure that your job posting is even located by candidates. SEO value can be gained through strong and prominent keywords, exact location matches, and relevance between the content in your posting and what the job seeker is searching for. The more you have in common with their search statement, the more likely they are to find your posting.
Content is the key. No matter how great your SEO value is or how many candidates land on your posting, if the content in your posting doesn’t sell the position it won’t matter. The posting should include industry buzz words, specific qualifications, and enough information for a candidate to determine whether or not they are qualified for the position.
Is your job posting visually pleasing? According to HireRight, 75% of job seekers say the look and feel of a job posting influences their decision to apply. Make sure that your job posting visually appeals to the audience. Is it free of errors, includes important details, and is it easy to read through quickly? Most job seekers will not take the time to read a full length job description, make sure your posting includes the important details and nothing more.
Sell your job! Why would someone want to work for you? What sets a career with your organization apart from your competitors? This may be your only chance to sell a career with your company to the candidate, make sure you do it well! Include valuable information about your benefits, employment brand, and enough information about your organization that a candidate can see why a career opportunity with your organization is something they should be interested in.

The battle for top talent is becoming increasingly harder in most industries. Maintaining a strong employment brand, a great employee retention program, and a proactive recruiting strategy are all great ways to stay ahead of your competition in the recruiting field.

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

Social Media and The Workplace

August 26, 2013Posted by: Jenna Mathieu

The topic of social media and its effects on the workplace have likely come up in your organization. As a relatively new topic in case-law, social media and its place in the workplace is still unsettled. What can you do to protect yourself as an individual and as an organization?

Continue reading →

Your Partner at Work

Category Archives: Construction

Are Your Employees Job Hunting On The Clock?

Are You Using Truck-Specific GPS?

The Best Construction Jobs In 2013

Cell Phone Etiquette In The Workplace

The Costs of Delayed Reporting of Workers' Compensation Claims!

Bottom Line Benefits to Safety Programs!

The Importance of Job Descriptions

Job Postings That Work!