3 Emerging Technologies for Workplace Safety

Safety is a major concern for business owners today in every industry. From office and factory floor workers to delivery and long-haul truck drivers, emerging technologies are making workplaces safer every day. Here are three prime examples of technology that’s emerging to improve safety and promote wellness in the workplace.

1)   Electronic drive logs. The industrial transportation industry is getting a technology makeover that goes way beyond adding a few creature comforts to the cabs of trucks. Long-haul truck drivers face many dangers and risks in association with their long hours on the roadways. Paperless logs of their mileage, speeds, and gas consumption may not seem to be all about improving safety at first glance, but it has quite a few unintended consequences that err on the side of safety-minded driving. That’s good news for truck drivers on the roads as well as the, passenger vehicles that share the roads with them. These electronic records can help businesses boost efficiency, cut costs, and implement higher safety standards for their drivers.

2)   Ergonomic office equipment. Ergonomics may not seem all that technological in nature at first, but there is a great deal of innovation in the products that are designed to make office spaces safer and more comfortable for employees. From office chairs with ergonomic designs to office equipment that’s designed to minimize risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome there is a wide range of emerging technology in the office that makes the office space a little more “user friendly.” But, did you know that there are also new tools and technologies for shop floors and industrial applications that involve ergonomics?  In fact, the latest advances in ergonomic technology involve push carts that are used for transporting various shop materials. Traditionally these carts have been heavy and difficult to maneuver. New, ergonomic technology leads to carts that handle much more deftly when pushing or pulling large volumes of weight allowing employees to do so without risking back injuries or overexertion.

3)   3-D visualization technology. Believe it or not, different people have different standards when it comes to safety. It’s tough for big and small businesses alike to implement a written safety policy that works across the board with the same degree of success. One man’s risk may be playing it safe to the other man. It’s all about perspective. That’s why 3-D visualization can be so useful. It doesn’t tell a story that has room for interpretation but paints a picture that’s impossible to overlook or misunderstand. This type of technology explores risks and potential consequences without putting any actual person at risk as an example.

Accidents and safety violations in the workplace cost businesses in more ways than one. The human factor, involving the injury or loss of a valuable employee, coworker, and/or friend, can be significant. However, there are other costs to the business that also need to be taken into account – damages, liability, loss of productivity, and repairs. Emerging technologies, such as the three mentioned above, can save your company time and money. More importantly, it can help protect your greatest asset: your employees.

Find out how Advance Staffing Solutions can support your efforts for a safer work environment.

5 Ways to Make Your Seasonal Hiring More Efficient

Hiring seasonal employees can be quite the challenge at times. The competition among businesses to attract top talent is fierce and heats up early during peak seasons. But, there are things you can do that will help you be more efficient and effective at finding those talented individuals to add to your roster of seasonal workers.

1)   Start the hiring process earlier than your competitors. This might seem like overkill; but it is the most effective way to ensure that you’re getting the employees that are forward thinking and ready to roll once the season begins. The most important aspect of this is that it doesn’t leave you scrambling to find workers at the last minute.

2)   Hire more workers, initially, than you believe you’ll need. For whatever reasons, most companies lose a lot of seasonal workers throughout the season. Some workers meet their personal goals and no longer need the work, others find permanent positions, and still others find that they really aren’t as suited for the work as they believed they would be. You need to be prepared for this ahead of time and have contingencies in place, such as a workforce that’s sufficient to lose at least two-thirds of its numbers throughout the season or a handy list of backup candidates to call in if needed. Some companies continue hiring throughout the season in order to replenish their numbers as well.

3)   Invite previous employees to come back. In fact, if you’ve had people who have worked well for you in the past you might want to not only invite them to come back but also to ask them for referrals. They know what the job entails and that they’ll be the ones “picking up the slack” if they don’t recommend hard workers. They are often better able to pick out and refer good, solid employees for you than most HR staff members could easily identify from a stack of applications.

4)   Hire your customers. The people who buy your product day after day and year after year are often the people who are best suited to get excited about working for your company—even if it’s in a seasonal capacity. They know your brand. They use your brand. They are in an ideal situation to help promote your brand as well. If you really want to reel them in, consider letting them know about any employee discounts or other perks you have to offer.

5)   Develop a reputation for respecting your employees. There are few things that can go further to help you get good employees, seasonal or otherwise, than developing a reputation that says you show your employees respect. It can overcome many workplace deficiencies such as only offering seasonal work, paying less than some competitors, and even offering fewer employee benefits because it’s become such a rarity in today’s businesses. Be that business and you’ll be much better able to entice talented seasonal workers to your business.

The above ways can make a big difference in your efforts to hire the cream of the crop when it comes to hiring seasonal workers. For even more success with recruiting seasonal temporary workers, Advance Staffing provides many excellent candidates year round.

What Workers Want from their Bosses this Summer

What can employers do to enable employees to be happier on the job? One thing they can do is to realize that summer is not when most workers want to put in long hours. Rather, a study found that in the summer, employees long for long weekends where they can cut out of work early on Fridays and flexible schedules to accommodate mid-week breaks. Is that outrageous? The same study found that employers are happy to offer these benefits.

Controlling the Schedule

There are many benefits to having some control over their schedule, employees note. A survey of 400 employees and more than 500 human resource managers provided the information. In the survey it was found that many employees expect these types of concessions during the warmer months.

  • 41 percent of all workers participating in the study desire flexible schedules during the summer months.
  • 28 percent of those who participated want the ability to leave early on Fridays.
  • Some employees desire company picnics and a more laid-back dress code during the warmer months, too.

It used to be that summer was time to roll up your sleeves and get down to business. It could be the fact that workers are putting in longer hours or it could be that more employers are hoping to accommodate the needs of their employees. In either case, employers are on board with providing such incentives.

Employers Offer Incentives

Employers who responded to the same survey were more than happy to extend some benefits to their employees during the warmer months. About 75 percent of them allowed for flexible schedules, which is the most commonly requested feature from employees. As far as Friday’s go, employers understand this need too. Accordingly, about 63 percent of them will allow employees to leave early on Fridays to get a bigger weekend in.

As for the other requests from employees, employers want to provide help there, too. About 50 said they reduced their dress code requirements and about 25 percent stated that they offered some type of picnic or outing during the summer for employees. About 6 percent stated they offered no benefits for this time of the year.

Should You?

A big question to ask then is should you be offering some type of incentive to your employees? It is a good idea to accommodate the needs of employees when it fits within your schedule and your abilities. However, it is critical to do so properly and that often means that there should be some level of supervision involved. While most will be more committed to their job when you offer incentives like this, there may be the one or two people who take advantage of it. That is why it is important to have monitoring in place.

Engage your Front Line Employees to Drive Growth

In a scenario in which management and front line employees remain distant to each other, there’s an increasing gap present in the ability to drive a business. In short, numerous studies, various research programs, and reports teach that a top-down strategy within the business environment is not a quality substitute for engaging employees and managers who operate the business at the customer-point. If this is the case, why is it still happening so often?

It’s a Tough Road

One of the reasons why so many businesses fail to take on this type of advice, of working in a front-line centered element, is that, for most situations, it is a game of staying at the top. The problem is, in a capitalism drive society, many businesses fail and even those that do not only remain at the top of their game for a short period of time. In a 2006 study conducted by John Stubbart and Michael Knight, the two looked at various firms and their history. The study found that of the six million firms included, only 10 percent were still in existence at their 40th anniversary. That study was done in 2006.

In many cases, businesses miss growth opportunities because they fail to engage the front-line worker and the managers on the scene. In fact, innovation is often unpredictable and based on unplanned connections within a business. In other words, some of the best people for finding these growth opportunities are those who work with customers on a regular basis, not top of the line (and often out of touch) management.

Think Like the Military

The U.S. military is a perfect example. While it may look like a top-down management style, it is just the opposite. Leadership and management within the military is dependent on a bottom-up design – the communication and learning within the troops comes from those men on the front lines, not those sitting in the offices. While the organizational chart displays a very complex method of managing these individuals, it is really the people on the ground that makes the biggest difference in the decision making and running of the organization.

In fact, in today’s military scenario, front line troops are given cyber technology to allow them to remain in constant communication with their leaders. These individuals have access to the top levels within the military. That is something that is not often easy to see within today’s management structure.

What does this mean for a business? It means CEOs need to create more points of interaction with their front-line workers. This type of leadership not only helps to grow a business, but it can also help to sustain it well past that 40-year anniversary so many do not make it to.

To build your team of front line employees, you need pre-screened and quality employees who can get the job done. Advance Staffing Solutions in the Toledo, Ohio and Michigan regions are there to help.

e-learning: Future of Training Industrial Workers

For many industrial employees, having the most up to date skills and training is critical to doing a good job. The problem is that getting that education may mean taking time off to go back to school. This is not feasible for most people and when e-learning comes into play. E-learning provides a simple and effective way for individuals to get the information, education and skills needed to do their job without having to travel or invest in full time schooling. For employers and for employees, it makes sense in the industrial arena.

Key Benefits to e-Learning

When it comes to e-learning, there are benefits to the entire industrial workforce, including both the employees and managers. This method of learning, which is conducted online rather than in a traditional school setting, poses a few advantages to everyone involved, making it the go-to solution in nearly all situations.

  • It is a cost effective model. Overall, e-learning is more affordable than paying any company to come in to train staff or employees. It is also far more affordable than sending individuals to school or paying for schooling on your own through a college program.
  • It is far more convenient for everyone involved. In some industrial positions, the need for advanced training is great but having the employee out of work for several weeks or longer to learn the new skill set is just too difficult. With this model, the employee is able to work and dedicate a portion of his or her shift to the training with little to no interference in the work schedule.
  • New hires get hands on, specific training from an e-learning format rather than using a skilled worker to train the employee. This means that the highly trained professional already working and vitally important to the business can remain on the floor working rather than training someone new. This increases overall productivity.

The utilization of e-learning in this method can only gain these benefits if and when the process is completed properly. In order for that to occur, it is important to implement a customized program designed for the industry or the company specifically. Measurable objectives must be put into place and there should be an evaluation of the training programs to ensure they are highly effective and working properly. There is some trial and error present in the process but in the long-term, any business can benefit from the investment in e-learning.

What to Expect Going Forward

In the industrial workforce, e-learning will become the best solution for training employees, management and even owners on new applications and systems. It will also become the most important resources for the ever changing climate in today’s industrial sector. Educating older workers who have had full careers in the field using e-learning still makes more sense in terms of productivity and cost effectiveness.

Get the scoop on the latest in career technology and temporary staffing topics here at the Advance Temporary blog. Looking for skilled industrial employees? Advance Staffing Solutions has the resources your company needs to grow.

 

 

Reasons to Turn Down a Job Offer

Anyone competing for one of the limited jobs available today understands the dilemma that arises when a less than favorable job offer comes your way. But there are times when it definitely is in your best interest to turn down a job offer that makes you uneasy.

Here are a few times when it’s actually a good idea to pass on the job offer that has been presented.

1)   An unfavorable commute. Commutes can be the bane or bonus of a job, depending on the circumstances. Some people enjoy long commutes. It’s their opportunity to listen to music or audio books, and mentally prepare for the day ahead. But other people view the commute as yet another hour on the clock. Make sure that your commute is not going to prove to be problematic for you and directly impact your overall job satisfaction before you take the job.

2)   The company and/or the job offer itself seems to be disorganized. Unless you’re the type of person who thrives in a chaotic work environment, it’s unlikely that this is going to be a good situation for very long. More importantly, it’s a sign that there are problems within the organization that go much deeper than the hole you’re going in to fill.

3)   The pay isn’t going to be adequate to meet your needs or worthy of the demands of the position. Sometimes companies want to see how little they can get away with offering, and are expecting the first offer to be turned down. However there are times when the company isn’t willing to raise the initial offer. It’s a risk, to some degree, to turn down a job because of an inadequate salary—especially in the current job market, but it can be an even greater risk to find yourself stuck in a job that doesn’t meet your basic financial needs.

4)   The company tries to make changes just before you sign the offer or come on board. This is a huge red flag no matter how desperate your need for a job may feel. It’s important to know what’s going to be expected of you before you take the job. Otherwise you may find yourself unskilled in the job specifics or stuck in a job that’s hard to fill because it’s tedious or miserably boring.

5)   When the job offer feels wrong for you. There are countless reasons a job offer may feel wrong to you. It’s time to learn to trust your “gut” on matters such as this. You can’t always put your finger on what is wrong, but if the job feels wrong at the interview stage, it’s unlikely that things will change for the better once you’re gainfully employed.

The fact that this is a highly competitive job market doesn’t mean you have to take the first offer that comes your way. As tough as it seems, there are times when it’s better to continue the job search than to take a job that’s going to cause more harm for your health and frame of mind than good.  For support with finding a job offer that will lead to a great career, be sure to check out the latest contract jobs at Advance Staffing Solutions today!

Be Smart about Workers’ Comp – Reducing the Costs of Claims

As an employer, your bottom line comes down to keeping staffing costs low and productivity high. This is partly achieved through providing a safe environment in which employees can do their best work. Unfortunately, workplace accidents can and do happen – costing your company a hefty sum in workers’ compensation claims and lost work hours.

While you cannot 100 percent prevent all accidents from happening, there are ways to develop a policy on safety that can help your organization to avoid being involved in frequent and expensive workers’ compensation claims.

  • Provide Safety Training Sessions – from the very first day of employment, make it a priority to give employees the information and training they need to avoid accidents or injuries at work. Teach employees the proper way of lifting and carrying objects, the safe operation of all company equipment and vehicles, what to do in a crisis situation, and how to limit exposure to harmful work elements such as chemicals, fumes, and heat. Hold a monthly safety meeting and send out frequent reminders on safety topics, inviting employees to see more information as needed to prevent workers’ comp cases.
  • Hazard Communication Procedure – This is an area that many companies forget to emphasize, however it can be beneficial in preventing accidents and injuries in the workplace. Establish a procedure for reporting possible hazards on the job, and make sure that all employees understand what to do if they spot a problem. Make sure your employees know where to find the latest information in the MSDS book in case of chemical exposure. Even office printer inks and cleaning chemicals should be included.
  • Evaluate Workplace Ergonomics – Since repetitive stress injuries, like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and back strain, are growing as a source of workers’ compensation claims in many organizations, making changes to the work environment makes sense at times. Take the time to observe your workers in process, and note the strain they experience by standing on hard floors, using their hands to perform strenuous tasks, and the state of their chairs and desks. You may be able to cut down on the number of workers’ compensation cases merely by investing in more ergonomic equipment.

Remember, if an accident occurs on the job, the key is to make sure that the employee gets prompt medical attention to avoid a lengthy and costly workers’ compensation claim. Have an occupational medicine center nearby to refer employees to and be sure to document everything immediately to reduce the chances of an injury becoming worse than it has to be.

Another option for reducing workers’ compensation claims is to work directly with a staffing agency like Advance Staffing Solutions to manage a contract workforce for you.

 

Robotics and Its Effect on Manufacturing

Who, or what, is working next to you? Sooner or later, it is likely to be a robot rather than a human. In the eyes of many, the use of robots is long overdue. In fact, even ten years ago, people in the industry were warning that people would soon be doing far less work and robots would be doing much more. Keeping that in mind, individuals may need to take into consideration how robotics will play a role in the manufacturing industry going forward.

Robotics Isn’t New

It is important to keep in mind that the use of robotics in the manufacturing industry is not something new. In fact, robots have been in the business since 1961. That’s when General Motors introduced Unimate into their production lineup. This 4,000-pound arm did a great deal of work that would have taken humans much longer to do. Dangerous and boring tasks are no problem for Unimate. These machines are not late for the job and they perform without needing to take breaks. That makes them better, you would think.

However, these systems are not always the best option. In fact, robotics is not always a good option in manufacturing. In any task requiring decision making, it takes a human brain to make it happen. This also includes tasks where creativity is important or where the need for adaptation is critical. In some situations, a simple task is just not what needs to be done. That’s where these robots become limited.

What Robotics Does Offer

Keeping in mind the limitations, there are still many situations in which robotics make sense in manufacturing.

  • Productivity is never higher than when a robot is doing the work. Program them, turn them on and let them go.
  • Quality improves as well, especially when precision in each piece needs to be spot on. There’s no mistakes made in this process.
  • For businesses that need to increase productivity and decrease costs, the hiring of these robots, instead of paying unskilled workers, makes sense. It makes these manufacturing businesses able to compete with the low cost of labor in countries like China.
  • New machines are able to learn and expand on their skills. Though they are unable to make decisions without some level of input, it is now possible to apply robotic technologies in more applications, even in more complex processes requiring decision making.

The effect of robotics on the manufacturing industry is nothing short of profound. With 60 percent or higher increase in productivity, there’s no doubt the use of robotics is here to stay. Yet, that does not mean the human’s job is on the line, at least not yet. For many businesses, there is still plenty of time to move beyond the limitations in the manufacturing process and to push forward with the aid of robots.

6 Ways the Job Search has Changed

Job searches have come a long way in the past decade. The more prevalent mobile phones and devices are becoming in society, the more the job search is evolving. Of course there are quite a few different contributing factors to the ever-changing job search process.

Here are a few things to keep in mind so that you can take advantage of these changes.

1)   Technology. This is perhaps the biggest change in the way job searches are performed. Technology has brought many powers to our fingertips through mobile devices and the power of the World Wide Web. Whether you’re using a laptop at home or your mobile phone (or tablet device) at the neighborhood coffee shop, the power of the web has made the job search a much more streamlined process than it was in the days of circling “help wanted” ads in the newspaper.

2)   Scope. The other difference is that your job search is no longer limited to a certain zip code on the map due to the logistics of long distance interviews and assessments. This is once again thanks to the power of technology but the ability exists now to interview, at least initially, across long distances. This opens a whole new world of positions for job seekers and talent for business owners.

3)   Competition. The “great recession” has had a massive impact on jobs and how the search goes. Today’s job search is much more aggressive than those in years past. Job seekers really have to get out there and market themselves in order to get the jobs they want. It’s a common expression that a job search is a full time job in and of itself. Today that is an undisputable fact.

4)   Leverage. In order to get the “cream of the crop” jobs that everyone is in serious competition for, it’s necessary to leverage the power of the web along with social networking sites to really make your presence felt by a company. Social networking, personal branding, and even blogging – as long as it is professional blogging that shows off your talent and expertise – are all necessary components in the process of finding quality jobs in today’s competitive market. The more tools you leverage to assist you in the search, the better your odds of getting hired are.

5)   Customization. Resumes were once a one-size-fits-all-jobs proposition. That isn’t the case today. You need to do your homework on the company and make sure that your resume is specifically tailored for the specific job that’s available with that company. Every company seems to have its own wish list of strengths and weaknesses from employees. Find out what they are and create a resume that highlights your strengths according to the company’s desire. It will make a huge difference in the hiring process and make you more likely to be called in for the all-important interview.

6)   Interviews. In the past, interviews were typically yawner affairs. That’s not the case today. The interview today requires you to be at your best, alert and ready for anything that’s thrown your way. These aren’t the softball questions your grandfather answered. These are hard-hitting questions worthy of an experienced reporter looking for the barest hint of grit in the story.

The job search has changed in many ways. Many of them are definitely for the better. Keeping all of these aspects in mind will help you to be more competitive in this competitive market during your job search.

Pros and Cons of ERP

There are many advantages to using an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) model in several industries, including technology and manufacturing. Likewise, there can be some setbacks that can occur. There are two typical methods of supplying large numbers of skilled staff: one is by partnering with a specialty staffing agency, the other is by working with a systems integrator or consultancy firm.

When considering using an ERP system for bringing on quality staff, it’s natural to use the approach of trying to manage this on your own with your meager HR team. However, it becomes quickly apparent that your company needs the support of a technology or manufacturing staffing agency to bring on qualified candidates to fill key assignments.

In this article, we will review some of the pros and cons of the ERP model, so you can make the best decision for your company.

Pros of the ERP

An ERP system can give you fast access to a larger candidate pool of pre-screened talent who are ready to fill critical positions within your company. This can give you the ability to grow faster, and take on more rewarding projects.

ERPs are managed by a team of skilled technology and manufacturing recruiters who understand your industry’s unique needs. There’s no substitute for this experience when it comes to sourcing great candidates for assignments, because you need the best skillsets among your contract employees.

You can choose to bring on temporary staff to support large projects or short term growth initiatives. Most ERP’s provide this service in an affordable way, with no long term commitments. You can even have some contractors replaced if you are unsatisfied with their initial performance.

When working with a consultancy type ERP, you can be assured that the agent has the skills, experience, and credentials to do the job well. This is often backed by years of previous work and references from other similar companies.

Cons of the ERP

What some see as a potential negative in the ERP model is that you may not have the ability to meet with contingent staff who are assigned to work for your company in advance, due to time and project constraints.

With an ERP system used on a large scale, costs can also add up over time if not carefully managed. For example, bringing on 50 full time contractors from a staffing agency in one period can bring with it a significant contract rate. The good news, however, is that you can control costs by using pre-vetted candidates staged out over the life of the project, who do not burden your company with recruitment or screening costs – this is all handled by the staffing agency.

Another potential setback to  using an ERP is when you are dealing with a private consultancy firm that comes with a hefty price tag. You can offset this by using a specialty staffing agency to send contract workers who have the same skills, but at a much more affordable rate that guarantees a profitable project.

When making the decision to use an ERP to staff your project needs, it makes best sense to use a contract workforce managed by an industry specific staffing company. Find out more about how ERPs work by contacting Advance Temporary Staffing today.

Manufacturing Skills Gap or Management Skills Gap?

All manufacturing companies experience a shortage of qualified workers from time to time, due to various challenges that can include poor staff management, lack of educational support, and high-demand for specialized skills. However, when this occurs, HR departments are put into overdrive, trying to compensate and oftentimes falling short of project needs. This is when they turn to management to come up with a solution to proactively address the staffing and development needs of the company – to prevent this kind of scenario.

At times, HR managers may be asking if the problem is due to manufacturing employee skills gaps or something within the management skills that are lacking? There are a few ways to determine this.

When There is a Skills Gap

One of the ways you can determine if the problem exists among your staff is to conduct a skills inventory to determine how well your job descriptions match up with the actual duties and skills of your employees. This will tell you if you are accurately hiring the kinds of people you need to be successful in their roles. If you see marked gaps in skill levels, it’s time to revamp your recruiting efforts.

Then you need to take the time to visit local educational centers to see if they are offering programs to prepare the coming generation of workers to meet the demands of your industry. New graduates can be a valuable source of new employees so it’s important that the schools you recruit from have the updated skill development programs you need from future candidates.

Your in-house staff have already proven to be valuable assets to your company, that is if you are taking the time to develop their skills to higher levels and promoting from within. Set up the time to find out where skills are lacking, and then either hire a trainer to come in to teach these skills, or provide employees with learning incentives to get this education on their own.

When Poor Management is to Blame

There is a common saying among HR people: “People don’t leave jobs, they leave managers”. This is certainly true in the manufacturing world, where there may be little time for managers to foster positive relationships with employees on the job. However, if there is a continual turn-over issue present in a specific department, it can mean it’s time to evaluate the people skills of that department manager.

One of the best investments any manufacturing company can make is in its management, at all levels. This means from your newest to your most seasoned managers, everyone should be continually getting trained and updated on industry topics. This includes training on tough personnel issues, like onboarding and employee development.

 

 

While a manufacturing skills gap can be caused by a little of both aspects, there are ways to manage staffing within manufacturing in a more positive way.

One is to bring on quality staff who have the right skills to do the job well. This can be accomplished by working directly with a manufacturing staffing agency, to provide pre-screened candidates suitable for all levels of manufacturing work.

The second is to give management the support needed to become better at their jobs, by offering management training and development initiatives. Back this up with incentives to cut down staff turnover and build more engaged teams.

 

 

 

Modern Day Compensation: What Do Employees Value These Days?

Modern day compensation is not all about the money. While many companies are focusing on driving key professionals into their organizations, if they only focus on providing a paycheck, they could miss the best professionals in the market. While a salary needs to remain competitive, it is far from the only thing that today’s professional wants to switch jobs or to accept one offer over the other. For any employer or HR recruiter looking for a top-notch candidate, there is more to dangle as a carrot than just a high paycheck.

What Else Candidates Want

Employees value a great number of things. Just a few years ago, employer loyalty was enough. Those who had a job were not tempted to leave for another offer because they were happy with what they were doing. Now, it is easy for employees to go from one company to the next especially when the incentives to do so are better than where they are right now. How can your business be the greener grass for those employees you are after?

Take a look at some of the other values employees have a desire for in today’s workforce. If your company cannot or does not offer these, it could be missing out.

  • Employees want to have the ability to make decisions. From simple ones to more complex project management decisions, employees want to be trusted enough to do their job. By empowering employees, they perform better, too.
  • Employees want job security. In a company that is struggling, it will be hard to entice a key player into the ranks. Job security often translates into a company they will want to work with for a long period, too.
  • All employees want respect. They want to know that you value their opinion and that their abilities matter to the company. Actions and words make a big difference in whether a company is worth working with for the long term.
  • They want a challenge. Sometimes, the company that can offer the experienced executive the biggest challenge with the best reward can also be a better option than the easy job. If an employee does not feel they are using their skills in their current position, they may be willing to talk to another company who can challenge them.
  • They want perks and incentives, but they want to do their job their way. Having access to MP3 players on the job or being able to incorporate a more laid-back attitude is important especially to the younger generation. A business that wants to find great employees needs to communicate with those employees about their desires.

For those businesses and HR managers looking for the best of the best in talent, remember it is more than just money that candidates want. Have confidence in the employee. Give them the freedom necessary to do their job their way. In the end, the company ends up benefiting by attracting better employees who are happy to stick around.