Ensure distraction-free driving

Backpack-laden children will soon be out in force walking to school buildings from homes and parked cars, or riding bikes, scooters, or skateboards. Unfortunately, children aren’t always the most safety conscious. That’s why it is up to drivers to be vigilant, avoiding distractions like phones, eating and drinking, or even attempting to use GPS while in motion. Pay extra attention when backing up as well, as you never know when a child might pop up unexpectedly behind you.

Beware of glare

Although most associate sunnier days with summer, it is actually in fall when the glare is at its worst, due to the sun’s position in the sky being lower during fall and winter months. The lower position of the sun hits the eyes of drivers at a more direct angle, sometimes completely obscuring a driver’s view of the road, other vehicles, and pedestrians. Unfortunately, peak glare time for the A.M. often corresponds to the times when schoolchildren might be walking or driving home from school. In order to increase visibility even when the glare gets severe, keep your windshield clean, remove any obstructions from your dashboard, and be sure to keep polarized sunglasses in your vehicle at all times.

Watch for school zones & bus stops

Although it is typically better to stick to highways and interstates to avoid back-to-school traffic, there will be times when taking backroads is unavoidable. Therefore, it is important to be aware of any school zones and bus stops you may encounter, especially when it may be less clear where schools are located when driving on backroads. When possible, avoid school zones altogether. If you can’t avoid them, give yourself extra time as the speed limit is at least 10 MPH slower.

Just being aware of these safety challenges can go a long way to improve the well-being of schoolchildren and drivers alike.

Mike D. – Appleton Construction Office

Mike started with Trillium on 11/30/2020. “He came into the office to do all his paperwork and pick up his PPE the day after thanksgiving to ensure he could go out the next Monday. Right away I knew he had the drive to get to work,” stated Ryan Thomas, Appleton Branch Manager.

• Perfect attendance
• Been with the same client the entire time and rated well above average
• Zero accidents/incidents
• Worked for multiple different foremen – all who have asked to have him back on their crew specifically
• Worked on multiple different locations so far this year, both locally and traveling
• Leads safety initiatives on site, refers new employees to the branch as well as contractors he sees on site working with us

• Comments from his foreman check ins:
  • “Mike is the first guy on the site every morning, ready to go and willing to do whatever is asked of him. No issues ever and is the easiest going guy on the site”
  • “Most dependable and long term addition to their crew”

Joe “Scott” E. – Cleveland Construction Office

Scott has been working for Trillium since 2019. He started working for the Cleveland branch in 2020 and has been working for the same client ever since.

• “Scott has been a model employee in not just his high-quality craftsmanship that he shows every day, but, his integrity and respect for his coworkers as well by leading by example on quality and safety to the point that he has been made a team leader for the same contractor for us. He has not missed one day or ever been late in the 2 years that he has been working for the Cleveland branch,” stated Walt Jones, Cleveland Branch Manager.

Joey H. – San Bernardino Construction Office

Joey started with Trillium in May 2020. His first assignment was as a Laborer and is now a Solar lead. Joey’s assignments have taken him to Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin installing solar systems all over.

• Craig D. – Owner
  “I have been working with Joey for a while now training him in the Supervisors position. It has been a pleasure working with Joey. He always answers my calls or calls me back right away. He has a positive, will-do attitude and always responds well to suggestions and feedback. He is reliable and has a calm demeanor with the crew. I believe he has the potential to grow into a solid trustworthy Supervisor”.
• Sabine S. – Human Resources
  “Joey is a polite, trustworthy employee, he has been working for us since May 2020, and went through the up and downs of many projects not only in California but also worked on out-of-state projects. He climbed the ladder from starting as a solar installer to team lead to foreman and is currently in the Supervisor training position. He is taking care of the people he’s working with, he will become a great leader.”

Joe H. – Denver Construction Office

“Joe has been the go to guy for us!  Joe has been the foundation of our project team, and has been a great leader in our combined effort to complete a very complex project.  Our customer has asked for Joe specifically to come back and help with additional work and Joe has proven to be a top talent in the electrical industry with his skills and customer relationships,” stated Brian, Senior Superintendent.

“I am grateful for receiving the employee of the year award. I thank the amazing team at Trillium for their incredible support. Without them, this achievement would not be possible. I also recognize the accomplishments of my fellow tradesmen and tradeswomen and supervisors, many of whom personally contributed to my success and professional growth. I look forward to another exciting year. Cheers to the #1 Staffing Agency!”  – Joe H.

Leon M. – Baltimore Drivers Office

Leon Marks started with Trillium in April of 2018.  Leon has always been dependable, hardworking, and honest in everything he does to represent Trillium. While working with trillium Leon did face a serious health concern but he still managed to keep in contact with his managers every day to give updates. Everyone wanted the best for Leon and couldn’t wait for him to come back to work because he was that great of an employee.

• “There was no replacing Leon, he is the best. If Leon has a day off, he is always the first to ask ‘if you need me, I’m available,’ even when I asked him to drive an hour for a night run, Leon said ‘of course’ with no hesitation,” stated Lindsay Strohman, Recruiting Manager.
• “Leon is one of my favorites. He does everything I have asked him to do.” Michael J. current manager at client location.

Each winner will receive a YETI backpack cooler and an award commemorating their accomplishments over the past year. Thank you so much for your amazing hard work, dedication and loyalty!

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 and Trillium Technical. 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 35th 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 2020 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

“Many years ago when we started the company we felt that there were a couple of things that we needed to do particularly well. The first was to give great customer service, that means finding the absolute best candidate for the jobs that we have available. Today, we use a partnership approach between our candidates and our clients to find the best possible career matches,” states René Poch, CEO.

Trillium Staffing was founded in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1984, by founder and CEO René Poch. Since that time, René Poch has steadily expanded the employment service to include seven companies with over 95 locations across the nation. Today, Trillium is proud to be recognized as a national leader in recruitment and staffing, providing service to thousands of clients and employees in various capacities across the country.

The organization’s commitment to excellence has been the driving force behind its growth and expansion. Trillium is proud to employ a full time risk management team to help clients identify areas of liability and provide an unsurpassed safety program for their employees.

With a recruitment team of approximately 400 individuals nationwide, Trillium excels at attracting, identifying, and recruiting some of the best candidates in each line of work. Trillium uses the latest technology and sourcing tools available to locate and identify talent for some of the industry’s hardest to fill positions. Trillium employees have access to careers with some of the nation’s leading employers along with competitive pay and benefit options.

“We have the same commitments to each and every one of our employees as we do our clients. We have high expectations and our requirements are stringent. Once you become an employee of Trillium, we’ll do everything in our power to help you succeed and meet your career goals. When our employees are successful, we’ve done our job,” stated René Poch, CEO.

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 Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, 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 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2020 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

If you are an employer in the retail industry (e.g., pharmacies, supermarkets, and big box stores), the following tips can help reduce your employees’ risk of exposure to the coronavirus:

• Encourage workers to stay home if they are sick.
• Provide a place to wash hands or alcohol-based hand rubs containing at least 60% alcohol.
• Maintain regular housekeeping practices, including routine cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces and equipment with Environmental Protection Agency-approved cleaning chemicals from List N or that have label claims against the coronavirus.
• Practice sensible social distancing, maintaining six feet between co-workers and customers, where possible. For example, some worksites have already begun to demarcate six-foot distances with floor tape in checkout lines. Workplaces where social distancing is a challenge should consider innovative approaches, such as opening only every other cash register, temporarily moving workstations to create more distance, and installing plexiglass partitions.
• Use a drive-through window or curbside pick-up.
• Provide workers and customers with tissues and trash receptacles.
• Train workers in proper hygiene practices and the use of workplace controls.
• Allow workers to wear masks over their nose and mouth to prevent them from spreading the virus.
• Encourage workers to report any safety and health concerns.

For more information, visit www.osha.gov/coronavirus or call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742).

Thank you and stay safe!

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 Technical, and Trillium Environmental. 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 2018 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

Ten Steps All Workplaces Can Take to Reduce Risk of Exposure to Coronavirus

All workplaces can take the following infection prevention measures to protect workers:

1. Encourage workers to stay home if sick.
2. Encourage respiratory etiquette, including covering coughs and sneezes.
3. Provide a place to wash hands or alcohol-based hand rubs containing at least 60% alcohol.
4. Limit worksite access to only essential workers, if possible.
5. Establish flexible worksites (e.g., telecommuting) and flexible work hours (e.g., staggered shifts), if feasible.
6. Discourage workers from using other workers’ phones, desks, or other work tools and equipment.
7. Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces, equipment, and other elements of the work environment. Use Environmental Protect
8. Agency (EPA)- approved cleaning chemicals with label claims against the coronavirus.
9. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use of all cleaning and disinfection products.
10. Encourage workers to report any safety and health concerns.

For more information, visit www.osha.gov/coronavirus or call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742).

While a number of states across the country are still on full shutdown with stay at home orders in place, there are still frontline workers out in the middle of this pandemic taking care of the sick, working at grocery stores, hauling consumer goods, etc. For all of those deemed essential during this unprecedented time, please stay safe and thank you!

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 Technical, and Trillium Environmental. 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 2018 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

[Pictured above: Chad Riphenburg left, Gary Englert right]

Chad started his career with Trillium in 1992 as a Concrete Laborer. In addition, during the winter months, Chad would also perform HVAC duct work installation to expand his skill set. His incredible mechanical aptitude during this time lead to an easy transition to the electrical trade. Today, Chad is an extremely competent Commercial Electrician that the Eau Claire office is lucky to have as a part of their team.

“I can’t say enough nice things about him,” stated Gary Englert, Trillium Construction Selling Branch Manager for the Eau Claire office. “He’s always willing to give 110% and is very safety conscious and is a consummate team player. Chad is an individual that I have no difficulty keeping busy. In fact, when he’s wrapping up an assignment, I always have a handful of clients that are more than willing and eager to put him back to work. Chad’s prophetic words that I hear so often, ‘If it’s got to be, It’s up to me,’ reflects perfectly how he lives his life. We are truly blessed to have Chad working for Trillium.”

In appreciation of Chad’s loyalty and hard work, he will be receiving a VISA gift card, Trillium jacket, an award, and lunch with our team. Congratulations on a job well done, we look forward to continuing to watch your career grow with us!

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 Technical, and Trillium Environmental. 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 35th 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 2018 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

First, you need to sit down and determine what one or two parts of your current role seem to be causing the most anxiety and stress. In other words, what tasks, if removed from your responsibilities, would help you feel less stressed out while at work. Once you have the main source of your anxiety pinpointed, determine if you can go at the project in a different way. If it is a large project, try and get it finished and off your plate. If the project has too many components and you are feeling overwhelmed in that regard, reach out your Supervisor or colleagues to see if they can lend a helping hand or ask if additional resources are feasible.

Try giving yourself a certain amount of time each day to work on specific tasks. By organizing your daily duties in a more efficient manner, this may allow you to focus on the more important and time sensitive projects first so you are not trying to do too much at once. In addition, if you feel like you are spending a large majority of your time putting out fires or helping to deal with small issues on your team, empower your team members to try and handle these issues on their own. Not all problems require escalation and the more you can limit these interruptions, the easier prioritizing your time will become.

Could part of your problem be that you are a perfectionist and that you feel your work is never up to your own standard? Surprisingly, this affects more people than you think, causing them to take longer on projects and sometimes even procrastinating just so they don’t have to handle the undue stress involved. For those of us that fall into this category, try asking yourself this question; “What is the true benefit of spending more time on this one specific project?” If the answer is not much or minimal, stop scrutinizing your own work and be done with it. Once you overcome the overwhelming need to perfect every project you are assigned, you can free yourself up to focus on more duties and tasks in a more timely manner.

Delegate, delegate, delegate. This tip cannot be stressed enough. If you have a team of colleagues that you are able to delegate tasks to, do not hesitate. Look at your currently assigned duties and determine what is truly the best use of your time. If you come across tasks that others on your team may have more time for and can handle, start assigning duties their way. It can sometimes be difficult to let go of certain tasks, especially if you have always been the one to do them, but by delegating these less than crucial duties, you will be surprised at how free you feel to focus on what is really important within your role. This can also empower your team and instill in them that they are truly an asset to you and your overall departmental goals.

A lot of the time, we can end up stressing ourselves out because we assume things regarding our role and assigned duties. For instance, you may have the assumption that if you can’t complete every single one of your task each day that you will be considered a failure and won’t be able to recover. Or if you turn down work, your colleagues may not see you as someone they can count on. While these concerns may be valid in some instances, in most cases, these type of worries just do not hold water. Try sitting down with your team and going over current workloads so everyone is aware of where they stand. By slowly debunking these assumptions overtime, you can reduce your stress and feeling of anxiety throughout the day.

Feeling overwhelmed while on the job is not a new concept but there are ways in which you can help to alleviate your own feelings of stress and anxiety while at work. By utilizing the tips above, you may be able to create a more well rounded workflow for not only yourself but your team as well.

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 Technical, and Trillium Environmental. 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 35th 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 2018 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

When reading over job descriptions, most job seekers tend to make the same mistake, they look over the basic requirements and base an application decision on that and possibly that alone. While this may result in some call backs, it can also be problematic when the basic requirements are not always what employers want applicants to focus on. If you meet the basic requirements listed for a job, that’s great, but that shouldn’t be where you stop reading. In reality, you should be reading at least a little bit of each sub section of the job description including job duties, hours, pay and any additional information that may have you making a much more informed decision. When reading through a job description, ask yourself the following questions:

• Job duties: Do the job duties listed in the job description align with what you have previous experience in or something that you can relate to? Have you performed these types of tasks in the past?
• Hours/Schedule: Are the hours listed something that you feel you can make work given your current situation? Take into account any additional responsibilities you have including second jobs or personal commitments.
• Pay Rate/Range: Is the pay rate or pay range something that aligns with what you are currently making or what you aspire to make? If there is room for negotiation, do you meet the preferred qualifications to get you to that point?
• Job Location: For many job seekers, job site location can be a make or break factor when applying for positions. Is the job location something that you can make work on a daily basis? Are you truly willing to make the commute, taking into consideration traffic and other factors outside of your control?

Something else to keep in mind is if you are trying to apply for positions that may be one step up in your career from where you are now. If this is the case, the same type of concepts apply but doing your due diligence and research on the roles you are applying for will help you greatly. Check out various job descriptions and companies with similar job listings to make sure that this type of role is right for you. The main take away here is that a job posting is simply a guideline for job seekers to work off of. The job description will not give you every single detail of a job, nor will it fully explain whether the job is a good fit for your skill set. This is information that you have to determine on your own given your previous experience and what it is you’re looking to do to further your career.

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 Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, and Trillium Techs. With approximately 90 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 2015 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

Why do you want this job? While the question is simple, the answer may not be. Our first instinct is to be transparent, regardless of what that means. Of course the underlying reason for the majority of us trying to get a job is the money. However, as this is a very obvious answer, employers also want to make sure that there is more to your motivation than bringing in a pay check. In addition, your next thought may be to flatter the company you are applying for by listing out all of the reasons why this is the company for you. This is also not the best route to go as the hiring manager typically already understands their company’s’ perks. What you want to do is outline how you feel this job may help to better yourself professionally and how your skill set will bring something special to the table. An employer will appreciate the idea that you are striving to improve your skill set through work at their company. The idea of self motivation and growth is huge in the eyes of an employer.

What type of questions do you have for me in regards to the job or our company as a whole? This particular question may appear in a number of different forms but the reason behind all of them remains the same. The employer is trying to gauge your eagerness to know about their company and the position and your willingness to do some research regarding what they offer. Regardless of where you are interviewing, you should always be prepared with at least a couple of questions regarding either the role itself or the company. Ask for clarification regarding benefits offered, job duties, company mission, etc., but make sure to use this time wisely. Most hiring managers are on a schedule and you don’t want to eat into their time too much with too many questions, at least initially. You can always save additional questions for a follow-up email after the initial interview. As long as you are focused on questions that pertain to the position specifically or better help you understand the role and how your skills may fit, the employer will will be more than accommodating.

The bottom line here is that we should all go to an interview prepared, regardless of the industry or position. However, it sometimes can come down to the quality of your responses and how they pertain to your skills rather than the length of your employment history or overall years of experience.

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 Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, and Trillium Techs. With approximately 90 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 2015 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

Being productive means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. For some, being able to accomplish your daily task list is productive enough but for others, only when you go above and beyond what is expected do they feel as they have had a productive day. Whichever group you fall in, according to Forbes.com you can increase your daily productivity by keeping these 4 tips in mind.

1. Prioritize your workload based on your energy. Not every day is created equal in terms of how energetic you feel. In fact, your energy level even fluctuates depending on the time of day. With this mind, try to work on your most important tasks or duties when you are feeling the most energetic. Surprisingly enough, some studies have shown that mornings seem to be the best time of day to focus on the most time consuming projects. This may not be true for all, however, so focus on how you are feeling and get to work!
2. Find peace and quiet away from your coworkers. This doesn’t mean to completely isolate yourself from inter office relationships. Studies have actually shown having positive work relationships can garner an overall happier working environment. However, it is important to create a little separation between you and your coworkers, especially when you have important, time sensitive projects to work on. Try and plan on seeing and socializing with coworkers during breaks or on your lunch hour and dedicate the remaining time to what projects need your attention the most.
3. Create a workspace that inspires you. What inspires each of us can vary greatly but typically, regardless of the type of layout an office has, having somewhere to go where you can have a little peace and quiet to concentrate can help tremendously. If your office doesn’t have a space you can go to, to get away from the hustle and bustle, try and create your own version of solitude in your workspace. Try investing in noise cancelling head phones to drown out background noise and really let your creative juices start flowing.
4. Get into a musical mix that helps you focus. Listening to music while working can do wonders when it comes to concentration. To boost your your level of productivity even further, try combining noise cancelling headphones and music. Choose whatever type of music or melody that gets you into the right mindset of focusing on each project as needed.

Start small and slowly integrate this tips into your daily work schedule. You will be amazed how such small changes can truly affect your mood and ultimately your overall productivity while at work.

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 Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, and Trillium Techs. With approximately 90 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 2015 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.