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.

Some of the more interesting responses to their survey included:

• Employee was taking a sponge bath in the bathroom sink.
• Employee was trying to hypnotize other employees to stop their smoking habits.
• Employee was visiting a tanning bed in lieu of making deliveries.
• Employee was looking for a mail order bride.
• Employee was playing a video game on their cell phone while sitting in a bathroom stall.
• Employee was drinking vodka while watching Netflix.
• Employee was sabotaging another employee’s car tires.
• Employee was sleeping on the CEO’s couch.
• Employee was writing negative posts about the company on social media.
• Employee was sending inappropriate pictures to other employees.
• Employee was searching Google images for “cute kittens.”
• Employee was making a model plane.
• Employee was flying drones around the office.
• Employee was printing pictures of animals, naming them after employees and hanging them in the work area.

While their responses may seem entertaining their affect on the workplace, workplace distractions is anything but. A 2010 survey by Workplace Options reported distracted workers cost an estimated $650 billion annually. With the increase in technology and social media popularity in the years following the survey, it’s safe to say that staggering figure is not decreasing.

How can you help reduce your exposure to distracted workers? Provide tips and training on time management. Providing your staff with time management training will benefit them both on and off of the clock. Encourage your staff to take regulated breaks and allowing them an opportunity to respond to personal emails, texts, and check their social media profiles. Allowing them a brief opportunity to do this mid-morning and mid-afternoon can prevent them from repeatedly checking their phones throughout the day. Provide a work space that fosters good concentration. Centrally place restrooms, kitchenettes, and water coolers to avoid staff interrupting others to visit these facilities.Encouraging your staff to take a brisk walk around the office or parking lot during their break periods can also help them re-focus and re-energize before returning to their work spaces. Keeping healthy snacks on hand can keep employees from experiencing sugar lows and losing focus.

Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of top level talent? Contact us today! If you are a stand out in your profession and seeking contingent or long term career opportunities, visit our job seekers section for more information!

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.

According to a recent release from the Ethics Resource Center, as many as 72% of social networkers spent a portion of their workday on social networks, with a third of those reporting their activity as not work related. With access through company computers, tablets, and their mobile devices your employees have a variety of ways to access their social networks with or without being tracked. As many as 39% of those categorized as active social networks reported remaining connected the entire day! What does this mean for your organization?

As with any distraction, social media engagement for non-work related purposes will have an effect on productivity and eventually your bottom line. For those who remain connected for larger portions of the day, the likelihood of information about their work day, clients, projects, co-workers, and other work related information is likely to surface in their posts and engagements. Posts including derogatory statements, proprietary information, and other sensitive information could cause great loss and damages to your company. So what can you do?

With 38% of social networkers reporting use of personal devices exclusively, management and vigilance are an employer’s best chance of controlling unauthorized social media engagement in the workplace. Having policies in place and enforced that clearly define the expectations for social media and the use of personal devices during the workday are a great starting point. Work with your managers and supervisors to identify signs of social media misuse such as loss of productivity, loss of engagement, sensitive information going public before formally announced, and employees glued to their mobile devices. Most often, those who are engaged in social media for non-work related purposes during the work day will show signs of poor performance or productivity over time.

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.

If you are considering partnering with a staffing agency or recruitment firm for the first time, here are some advantages to consider:

• Time Saved. According to NACE, the average time from interview to offer is 22.5 days. Add the additional time of position analysis, posting the position, accumulating resumes, reviewing resumes, and scheduling interviews and you’ve quickly lost a large amount of time. Industry specialized staffing agencies have a pool of qualified and screened candidates for their positions of specialization. Executive staffing and search firms also work closely with passive candidates in their niche market, giving you access to a wider range of qualified talent. Having a partner that is proactive rather than reactive in the recruiting process quickly cuts your costly down time and additional burden on other employees within the organization.
• Money Saved.  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average direct cost for a new employee is $57,967.88 including basic wages, benefits, and taxes. Add in costly overtime during the vacancy of the position, recruiting and advertising costs, screening and testing costs, and this number can quickly grow exponentially. A staffing service can provide you with a predictable cost per hire and many offer financial guarantees to support the quality of their talent. In addition to cost per hire savings, employees contracted through staffing agency fall under the staffing agency’s unemployment and worker’s compensation claims. This can quickly decrease costly overhead due to injuries and employee turnover.
• Increased Productivity. Employers who spread extra workload across their existing staff rather than adding additional staff, can quickly see a drop in productivity. Employees working prolonged overtime or long hours can quickly become overwhelmed, unmotivated, and less alert on the job. In addition to a loss of productivity due to fatigue and lack of motivation, over worked employees are more likely to become ill or suffer from a work related injury causing more downtime for the employer.
• Increased Flexibility. Whether your need for a temporary employee is to cover a vacation, medical leave, or an unexpected increase in workload, having an established staffing partner can quickly provide you with additional resources during your time of need. Established staffing agencies often work with professionals and skilled workers who are open to short term, project, or part time work that have strong backgrounds in their field. Having experienced talent that can quickly come in and adapt to your position can provide you with great flexibility.
• A Guaranteed Hire. As many as 84% of new hires do not live up to the new employer’s expectations. Ouch. With the time, money, and resources that are associated with the hiring and on boarding process this can be a discouraging fact. Most professional staffing agencies offer a guarantee or free replacement on their talent for a certain period after hire.

With the majority of employers in the United States choosing to partner with a staffing service, there are proven benefits. If you are considering a staffing partner for the first time or are considering a change in your current staffing agency, take the time to identify and qualify your future staffing partner. Established recruiting firms will be able to provide you with testimonials, have access to a strong and proven pool of candidates in your industry, and take the time to understand your goals and objectives as a organization.

Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of top level talent? Contact us today!  If you are a stand out in your profession and seeking contingent or long term career opportunities, visit our job seekers section for more information!

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.