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’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.

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.

Trillium Recognized as one of the 100 Largest Staffing Firms in the US in 2022!

René Poch founder and CEO of Trillium Staffing, recently announced that Trillium has been recognized as one of the 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the United States by Staffing Industry Analysts in 2022. This is the second year running!

“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 100 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 Accounting and Finance, 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 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.

How Trillium Maintains Safety Standards in a Difficult Driver Recruitment Climate

The American Trucking Associations estimates the driver shortage in 2021 topped 80,000 drivers, and experts are worried that number could skyrocket to over 160,000 by 2030. While this shortage can be attributed to several causes, there is one thing that we can state definitively—no matter how challenging driver recruitment and retention become, Trillium Driver Solutions (TDS) will never cut corners on safety.

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Trillium Awarded on the Forbes America’s Best Temporary Staffing Firms 2022 List

Trillium is excited to announce their appointment to the Forbes America’s Best Temporary Staffing Firms 2022 List!

“It remains a humbling experience any time our incredible staff is recognized for their performance. Our teams work exceptionally hard to partner the best possible match of talent and career opportunity so this award being based off of the direct feedback of clients and job seekers is incredibly special to us.” -Jenna Mathieu, Director of Marketing

Trillium was ranked 113 out of more than 22,000 nominations in the country. The award ranking is based on an independent survey of peers and clients. Feedback from external recruiters, hiring managers at client companies and job seekers are considered. The full list of winners is available on Forbes website.

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 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 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2021 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

 

How You Can Prevent Workplace Violence: 5 Warning Signs of Escalating Behavior & How to Respond

Everyone has been talking about that Oscars slap. Less is being said about the reaction and de-escalation efforts of presenter Chris Rock, but Rock’s response is one of the main takeaways from the situation. It’s essential to keep a cool head when violence in the workplace starts to emerge, and all organizations should provide best practices to deescalate and even prevent workplace violence, especially in these troubling times.

A Violence Epidemic

According to the National Safety Council, a leading non-profit safety advocate for the workplace and roadways, over 20,000 assault-related injuries and 392 deaths resulted from workplace violence in 2020. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reported in 2021 that violence is the second leading cause of death in the workplace, closely behind vehicle accidents, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), homicide is the number one cause of death for women in the workplace.

These sobering statistics raise the question of what can organizations and employees do to stop workplace violence in its tracks before it becomes another troubling headline?

According to Eric Waidelich, Manager of Operations and Business Development at Rizikon, a risk management consulting firm, the number one step anyone can take to reduce workplace violence is to recognize the warning signs of escalating behavior and respond promptly with the appropriate de-escalation tactic.

What is Behavior Escalation?

Behavior escalation means that a person is showing a certain pattern of behavior that can get worse over time and follows a specific pattern. By responding with a de-escalation tactic, that pattern may be interrupted and hopefully, a resolution can be reached. Keep in mind that not every person will go through these stages in this exact order, and your response also should adjust accordingly. When confronted with a person showing these warning signs, be sure to assess your own physical safety before proceeding.

The 5 Signs of Behavior Escalation and How to Respond Source: Eric Waidelich and OSHA Academy

Stage One: Confusion

Warning signs:

● Bewildered or distracted appearance

● The subject seems unsure or uncertain of what to do next

● The subject may seem overwhelmed

Helpful Responses:

● Listen attentively. Don’t directly challenge.

● Ask clarifying questions to seek understanding (example, “What I’m hearing you say is ______”

● Give factual information

Stage Two: Frustration

Warning signs:

● Impatient and reactive behavior

● Resistant to information you are giving

● Appears defeated

● May try to bait you into an argument

Helpful Responses:

● Continue to listen and offer factual information

● If possible, relocate to a quiet location (try to have another person with you whenever possible and always an escape route in mind)

● Provide reassurance

● Make a sincere attempt to clarify concerns

Stage Three: Blame

Warning signs

● Subject places blame for problems on everyone else

● Critical of the actions of others

● Subject may accuse you or hold you responsible

*Here the subject may cross over into potentially hazardous behavior

Helpful Responses

● Disengage with the person and bring a second party into the discussion

● Use a teamwork approach

● Draw the person back to the facts

● Show respect and concern

● Focus on areas of agreement to help resolve the situation

Stage Four: Anger

Warning Signs

● The subject will show a significant change in body posture

● The subject may engage in aggressive behaviors like shouting, screaming, cursing, pointing fingers, pounding with fists, placing hands on head & closing eyes

*Anger behaviors are red flags that your safety may be at risk. Assess your physical safety before continuing to engage.

Helpful Responses

● Don’t argue with the person

● Maintain a safe physical distance and know your escape route

● Don’t offer solutions – rational discussion is over

● Ask the person to leave – be firm, but calm

Stage Five: Hostility

Warning Signs

● Physical action or threats seem about to happen

● There is immediate danger of physical harm or property damage

● Out-of-control behavior shows the subject has crossed the line

Helpful Responses

● Disengage and evacuate the area entirely or to a secure location

● Attempt to isolate the person if it can be done safely (put a barrier between them and you)

● Alert proper authorities and contact your supervisor

The statistics above paint a grim picture of the reality of workplace violence all around us, but awareness of the warning signs is a major step in the right direction. As you approach a person displaying the above warning signs, it is essential to project calm confidence rather than confrontation. Avoid criticizing or lecturing; rather, focus on the feelings, themes, and motivation revealed by the speaker. Fortunately, in the recent Oscars scandal, Chris Rock was able to quickly assess the problem and respond in a de-escalating manner. Sometimes being a hero requires only some empathy and a listening ear.

Trillium Recognized as one of the 100 Largest Staffing Firms in the US!

René Poch founder and CEO of Trillium Staffing, recently announced that Trillium had been recognized as one of the 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the United States by Staffing Industry Analysts.

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