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Lean Office Practices – Must – Do’s for the Efficient Business

Raza Rauf on June 14, 2013

Lean office practices can be an excellent way to improve productivity and employee satisfaction, while efficiently reducing waste in the office. A common misconception of this practice is that you’re removing valuable resources for your workers, but this is not the case. It’s true purpose is to improve the efficiency of your office by only eliminating unnecessary waste in your normal business flow.

With lean office practices, employees are more open to each other and aware of how to identify waste. To implement lean office practices, follow these must do tips.

Remove Boundaries

One of the more effective ways of having a lean office is by removing boundaries. Also known as a collaborative work environment, employees don’t have restrictions or physical confinements. There are no boundaries, no walls between desks, and no obstructions. Communicate is done freely and openly, with the ability to interact with other as the need comes up.

Outlining Basic Steps

Another one of the must do’s in lean office practices is having a simple outline for basic tasks. The different areas of tasks should be in set processes, human resources, time frames, labor arrangements, improvements of phases, and asset outlining. With outlining basic steps, the tasks are simple and straightforward, allowing for ease of completing projects and reducing issues that may come up at a later date. In order to use this to your favor, there should be a specific sequence of steps for every project or assignment given out.

Visual Management

With lean office methodology, the PDCA method should be used. This method stands for Plan, Do, Check, and Adjust. This is going to close any gaps you have, and further efficiently in the office. The visual management method allows for management of the company to visually watch the workplace, having command over different operating procedures. The effect is having organization and improved processes by filling in empty space within these different procedures.

Value Stream Mapping

Value Stream Mapping (VSM) observes incoming data and keeps watch over the flow of information, tools and materials as they occur. This is to improve the performance. You may have heard of Non Value Add proceedings, or NVA. The VSM method allows you to visualize the NVA activities going on in the office, with the end result of following lean office practices to your benefit.

7 Steps

Finally, there are the 7 steps which is a valuable tool in lean office procedures. It allows you to reuse, remove and reduce different processes that are no longer necessary. Having a lean office means to reduce waste, but you must first identify it. That is what the 7 steps process is going to do. It uses a systematic approach to identifying the waste, to allow your office to move toward a paperless system.

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Time to Hire Can be Seen as a Poor Recruiting Metric – Focus on Candidate Quality

Raza Rauf on June 7, 2013

One of the long standing arguments that have gone around in the recruitment community for quite some time is the issue of time to hire as a recruiting metric. Time to hire is literally how long it takes for a recruiter to source, screen, interview, and place into an assignment for an open assignment. The shorter this time to hire, the more “successful” the recruiter is viewed.

Why is time to hire used as a measurement of success in recruitment?

There are a couple of reasons why time to hire has been considered an important metric in the recruiting business. First, the more efficiently a recruiter can manage candidate selection and placement, the less time and cost are incurred. This means more money for the recruiter for a short period of work. Second, to clients, the sooner a candidate can be located and starts working, the sooner they too can realize productivity levels and eventually, profitability.

However, there are some critics of the time to hire metric as an actual proof of good recruiting practices. These are some of the points made that point to flaws in this old school method of evaluating recruitment efforts.

  1. It puts speed before quality. Sure, you can staff open assignments at the speed of sound, but just how much time did you spend confirming that the candidates have the right stuff for the job? In many cases, the faster you place candidates, the more you compromise certain quality standards. Quality is always more important than time to hire – focus on quality candidates!
  2. It doesn’t factor in retention. Once you’ve placed all your emphasis on quickly placing candidates into assignments, time to hire is done. You are no longer concerned with any other recruitment metrics, such as employee retention rates and candidate advancement. These are serious matters that the best performing recruitment firms factor in.
  3. It takes out the human factor. Sure, having a great time to hire number seems great, but you cannot fit just any candidate into any assignment. Attempts to beat the figures can result in poor fitting hires and major problems later on down the road. Again, carefully look at the human factor and get to know each candidate better to make sure the job fits their unique skill sets.
  4. It doesn’t work with specialists. Certain industries require highly educated and trained specialist candidates, therefore the time to hire metric just doesn’t work that well. In fact, you need to spend at least 30-45 days searching for the right candidate for a specialist assignment vs. trying to get in under that percentage. Time to hire just goes out the window.

The rule of thumb for successful recruiting is to stop worrying so much about metrics and focus instead on quality of hire. Take the time to carefully assess each candidate and open order. Don’t rush to fill assignments, rather find the best person for the job. This will help you grow as a company and increase your success rate as a recruiter.

We hope you enjoyed this post and share it with your networks! Also, we look forward to your comments and feedback!

Want to learn more? Explore important recruitment and employment topics by reading a few popular posts from Advance Staffing Solutions!

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The Candidate Experience – Why It’s Important | Recruiting Best Practices 

Ways Teams are Built for Long Term Success 

Lean Manufacturing Advice | Real Time Data Benefits

Raza Rauf on May 16, 2013

The use of real-time data management has vastly improved processes in the manufacturing field of business. With advanced technologies made available to all, a preeminent industrialization using real-time intelligence has emerged. This has become a realization of the vision of businessman, Taiichi Ohno, often referred to as a father of Lean Manufacturing. The aptitude of “The Toyota-Style Information System”, which is now evident as a proof of real-time information effectiveness, has long become the standard in manufacturing efficiency. Learn more how one can maximize these benefits in manufacturing.

How to Take Advantage of Real-Time Information

1. Be influenced with secondary data.

Outstanding information like updated and secondary changes are made available for application to kick off improved works and contained procedures. The specified information may be in turn be the foundation of Six-sigma development and can enhance the precision of dominant info in every preparation procedure (set lead time, set expenses, etc.)

2. Prolong evidences of inclusive processes needed for entrepreneurial system aid.

This is no way similar to group-rooted entrepreneurial matters or result analyses. Data on real-time allows immediate resorting that is human-oriented, which aims on letting managing personnel to take over and customize the manufacturing processes. Despite the fact that higher members of the company do not see the need to supervise keenly on these proceedings, this potential is observably important when it comes to a crucial need for supplication matters.

3. Allows procedures to provide for connected alliances and consumers.

Putting distributors and product profit in order is a vital point to Lean benefits, despite the idea that many of Lean enhancements are centering on four foundations of manufacturing dexterities. The only means of accommodating the use of real-time information with external and internal associates is through producers that face the maximum abilities of Lean routines.

4. Maintain Kaizen

As it is known, Kaizen urges several minute procedures to alter in a Lean venture. The result of these little modifications in bordering merchandising plan, labor order, tools, strategies and human resource are all capable of being attained and turned into a ready-to-use real-time milestone. It paves a way for ready and prompt calculations of functional KPI’s throughout several dexterity to push same objectives.

5. Promote procedures and manufacturing system adjust-ability.

When partnered with an excellent potentiality of actions, real-time intelligence results in fresh and advanced stages in the procedures and distributing system adaptability. Industries these days are equipped with data that are essential for them to resort into specific business conclusions in regards to increasing suppliers, turning into other procedures and modifying supply systems to be on the call for inconsistent situations.

Taking control of real-time intelligence in the manner mentioned is guaranteed be attainable and is turning out to be increasingly useful and efficient. For a few industries, it appears to be necessary for issues concerning finances and opposing fields of the business. Effects and flourishing results of real-time intelligence for manufacturing fields are sure to come and can be evident for even years after its occurrences.

If you are looking to land top manufacturing talent, contact the experts at Advance Staffing Solutions today!

 Enjoy a previous related post on this topic

Demand Response Can Lower Cost for Your Manufacturing Facility

Do You Have a Healthy Employee Recognition Program?

Raza Rauf on May 8, 2013

If you were to take the temperature of your current employee recognition program, would it end up hot or cold? In many workplaces, the addition of employee recognition programs become an afterthought – most often spurred by production challenges and falling retention rates. Yet, an employee recognition program can be a boon to your business for many other reasons.

When well-managed, an employee recognition program can support a workplace that is actively engaged in the betterment of all employees. This leads to higher levels of productivity, innovation, and collaboration. All of these factors help make a business grow strategically with the best employees who are on board for success.

To develop a healthy employee recognition program, here are some steps your company can take right now.

Evaluate the current incentive and recognition program.

Before you tackle the challenge of updating your employee recognition program, take the time to review what has been in place and what is being taken advantage of by employees. This should give you a good basis for developing an improved recognition program.

Conduct a 360 degree survey to find out what drives your employees.

Another way you can develop a healthier employee incentive plan is to ask your employees in a confidential way. Use a 360 degree survey to do this and you’ll be sure to get to the core of the incentives that your employees are looking for. After all, if incentives don’t mean anything to your staff, then they are not worth the time to implement.

Work with a staffing agency to improve your incentive plan.

If cost and time are factors in your hesitation to add more items to your employee recognition program, you can find support from a quality staffing agency. Ask what perks or bonuses can be obtained for contracting a temporary workforce. Ask for more ideas that will work well given your current employee population.

Look for low cost, easy to manage employee recognition ideas.

The best employee recognition programs are easy on the budget and your schedule. Find those that are simple and manageable. Focus on value and consistency rather than on dollar figures. Remember, employees like to be appreciated so make sure your management team is thanking them often in many different ways.

 Learn More from Advance Staffing Solutions: 

What is Your Competitor Doing? | Employee Compensation 

 

Taking a Closer Look at Employee Performance Management

Raza Rauf on April 19, 2013

Employee performance management systems have long been considered a foundation for successful human resource management in the business world. Yet, some critics argue that performance metrics are not always the most accurate way to measure human capital ROI.

An interesting study, conducted in the summer of 2012 by Ed Lawler, George Benson, and Michael McDermott at the University of Southern California – Center for Effective Organizations, pointed out that, “Performance management systems are effective when they are based on goals that are jointly set and are driven by an organization’s business strategy.” The study revealed that as few as 10 percent of the 100 organizations surveyed for this study had updated their performance management systems in the last five to ten years. That means, there was a clear breakdown between the performance of their employees and the ways in which they are evaluated. In fact, some of the performance measurements were so outdated and inaccurate, they could not be relied upon to give a true picture of success.

Performance management is only as good as the way in which it delivers results in the increased engagement and productivity of employees. When employees are carefully recruited during the selection and interview process, they will be one step closer to being able to productively contribute to the organization. Likewise, when these new hires are trained well and provided with all the tools they need to succeed, they can perform up to organizational expectations. Herein lies the real issue.

Over-reliance on any performance management system will not motivate or inspire any employee. In fact, it will likely have the exact opposite effect. Negative feedback can seem like a stab in the back to employees who work hard and sacrifice personal time every day. Performance systems that are overly generic lack meaning to employees. Perhaps the worst case scenario is a performance management system that is not delivered in a consistent or fair manner, but instead is a tool used by managers to avoid rewarding employees who have demonstrated a commitment to the business. Favoritism still exists and it’s damaging to any business.

Despite these challenges, performance review systems are not going away. Rather, they are being viewed as one of many different tools that HR departments can use to measure the success and growth capabilities of their staffers.

If you are looking for top talent to manage your work force or join your team, contact the staffing experts at Advance Staffing Solutions today!

Attract the Best Talent to Your Business with a Defined Brand

Raza Rauf on April 4, 2013

Your business thrives because of the good people you employ. But have you given much thought to how your company brand may be affecting the experience of candidates who walk through your doors? This is something you must plan for because of several factors taking place in the job market.

  1. Specialized skill sets are getting harder to find in the candidate pool.
  2. Baby boomers are retiring at the rate of 10,000 employees per day.
  3. Industries need talent with advanced technology skills to maintain innovation.

A brand is the message that you communicate to the rest of the world about your business, what it stands for, and the culture of the workplace. Do this right and your business can attract top performance candidate. Do this wrong, and you’ll encounter an overflow of unqualified candidates.

In a special report released in the third-quarter of 2012, LinkedIn ‘s The State of Employer Brand indicated that many employers are concerned with their employer brand as a way to attract better talent. The figures in this report, gathered from over 3,000 global employers, revealed a recruitment brand strategy.

  • 83 percent of the polled employers said that a well-defined corporate brand can attract higher quality candidates.
  • The leading factor in the decision to invest in corporate branding is efficient candidate acquisition 61 percent of the time.
  • More than half of all employers in the report are actively taking steps now to improve their corporate brand strategy to attract candidates.

There are several ways to define your brand so that it becomes an effective candidate magnet. These social branding methods can give you access to the cream of the crop in terms of future employees, which can give your business a leading edge in your industry.

Create consistency with your brand – Your brand should be the same across all outreach methods and online marketing campaigns. Keeping a brand message consistent proves that you are in touch with candidates and the objectives of your company.

Establish your brand as the best – A well-defined brand also speaks volumes about your company leadership as the experts in your industry. Make sure all corporate communications reflect this to impress high performance candidates.

Demonstrate your corporate culture – One of the ways your brand influences targeted talent pools is by giving a glimpse into what daily life is like within your business. This is especially important as new generations of workers are looking for fun and collaborative workplaces to build a career.

What is Your Competitor Doing? | Employee Compensation

Raza Rauf on March 22, 2013

When it comes to boosting employee compensation, it’s a good idea for businesses today to be very aware of what the competition is offering their employees. The labor market is growing tighter by the hour and if you want to stay ahead of the competition, you need to be bringing top talent into your fold without concerns over losing them to your competitors who have sweeter compensation packages.

The rub in all this is that most businesses today still aren’t ahead of the recession enough to have endless reserves of money and benefits to throw at candidates. More importantly, uncertainty over taxes and health care coverage has many businesses reluctant to overextend themselves by offering too much in the way of compensation and benefits.

So, where does that leave you as a business owner? The bottom line is that you need to find out what your competitor is offering so that you can remain competitive without getting into an outright wage war that only damages both businesses. But, how can you learn this information?

Consider Third-Party Salary Survey Resources

These resources offer a wide range of options to research when checking out your competition. What you’re looking for, in this particular situation, relates completely to the compensation your competition is offering employees in the way of pay and incentives. Don’t forget, however, to factor in other considerations that can impact the salary, job satisfaction, and total compensation such as these:

  • Job Description – in some cases this is the game changer that takes someone from a five-figure to a six-figure salary without a fancy title to go along with it. Companies use tactics such as this all the time in order to tilt the compensation scale wildly in their favor. That’s why it’s so important that you’re making apples to apples comparisons when comparing jobs and salaries.
  • Commitment Expectations – some companies prefer so many hours of work each week at a minimum. These expectations are factored into salary offerings rather than offering overtime pay and keeping records of the hours worked. This practice is something else that can make the compensation packages of competitors seem so much more than what they really are.
  • Localized Salary Figures – some companies include salaries from around the world in their facts and figures as well. While that may work in your favor if your office is located in one of the traditionally higher paying regions (California, Hawaii, or New York City, for example) this could actually work in your favor. However, for most of the country, the averages make the companies look like they’re offering larger salaries and/or compensation packages.

Employee compensation is so much bigger than salary alone. It’s always in your best interest to avoid trying to create a dollar for dollar match of other company’s compensation plans. Keep in mind that there are too many additional ways your business can be the superior company to work for. For more information about employee compensation planning and providing the best to your staff, be sure to review our previous posts on this topic here.

Attract Candidates with Socially Responsible Company Policies

What Workers Want from their Bosses this Summer

Social Tools to Improve Employee Onboarding

Raza Rauf on March 7, 2013

The first few days and weeks at a new job are critical for each new hire. This experience can leave a lasting one that either gives the employee the encouragement to be productive or the disappointment to become just another cog in the wheel. The Aberdeen Group released the Onboarding Benchmark Report which advised that 90 percent of all employees make their decision to either stay or leave a job during their first 6 months of employment. That means, the onboarding experience is your first chance to impress employees enough to stick around.

How well you manage your new hire onboarding processes depends on the methods and resources your HR team uses. Automating these processes can be helpful, especially if you are recruiting on an ongoing basis. Since so much of the onboarding experience is tied to the social culture of the workplace, one of the many possible ways you can create a positive employee onboarding experience is through the use of social tools. Let’s learn more.

Making the Workplace More Social

There are several ways that the HR and recruitment team can provide an environment where social connectivity tools are encouraged. First, the recruiter can reach out to potential candidates by way of social networks, like Facebook and LinkedIn, which helps the candidate to feel a connection to someone at the company. This same person can facilitate any applications, telephone screening, and on-site visits where this becomes the personal point of contact for a future employee.

Once a candidate has accepted a position, there’s likely to be several weeks while they are getting adjusted to living in a new city or learning about the culture before their first day. The recruiter can provide access to a wide range of resources using social tools. Consider that the new hire will appreciate being introduced to others on the team, having information about the local community, and advice on the best places to shop, dine out, and even social hotspots to make this a smoother transition.

On the employee’s first day, make this as social of an experience as possible. Introduce the new hire to key personnel and give them access to the resources they’ll need to be successful. This can include being set up on the company’s intranet and email systems, as well as corporate instant messaging. Have the new hire’s team mates send invitations to connect on the IM platform, and take the new hire out to lunch using a social app to send out a reminder.

New hires are generally eager to get started on their tasks, yet they are nervous about this prospect. Ease their mind with frequent social synching using company email, in person meetings, and access to an internal help community. In fact, you should encourage all employees to share resources and tips for doing the job more effectively using a secure community environment, where employees can set up personal profiles and connect.

Managing New Hire Tasks with Social Tools

As for the paperwork and training that goes along with onboarding, social tools can be a great way to streamline things. Set up a web-based document system that allows employees to complete and upload their new hire paperwork. Use this same portal as a central resource with a downloadable employee handbook, access to benefit enrollment, training materials, and general company information.

You’ll find that using social tools can be a very helpful aspect of managing all your employee onboarding activities. Choose the resources that provide the most value to your company and your new staff.

Enjoy a previous post on this topic from the team at Advance Staffing Solutions:

It is Time to Fully Embrace Social Media for Your Business | This is no Time to be Shy

Big Data Intelligence to Help Your Business

Raza Rauf on February 28, 2013

The IT sector is all a-buzz about big data. Even so, many businesses are finding it hard to actually use big data analytics in their organizations. There is no doubt executives want to beef up data management, as many worry it will lead to problems such as lost revenue. Many are interested in putting new strategies in place to minimize this risk.

Who Needs Big Data Intelligence?

Big data is something that is attracting the attention of many, including those in the areas of finance, sales, marketing, operations management, and within compliance roles. Within these areas, executives hope to use this data to:

  • Help to drive down overall costs
  • Improve the company’s cash flow
  • Improve revenues
  • Drive sales
  • Reduce the risk of compliance errors.

While many executives want this information, many use methods that are prone to errors to managing data. That’s just not cutting it.

What’s Coming and Why Does It Matter?

Many experts believe that a meshing of business intelligence and big data analytics is one the way. Many IT leaders are working to tap into these large data fields and use this information to benefit themselves.

Some experts looked at the similarities found in business intelligence (which is also known as applicant-drive intelligence) and in data-driven intelligence (more commonly known as big data.) What they found is that there is a wide range of similarities already in play. In application-driven intelligence, the data fills a very specific type of need. An example of this is in supply-chain management. It also applies to online transaction processing or to customer relationship management.

In data-drive intelligence, the software aids in the management and the analyzing of huge amounts of already collected and processed data. This difference, in the data used, does not limit the overall importance of using this data properly. Bringing the two forms of data together could mean big things for any business.

A third option is already on the table. Some news sources are using what is known as data-centric data. This type of data is a hybrid of the two. In this method, it is possible for business decisions and IT decisions to be made with a combination of capabilities, including big data analytics and business intelligence. In this manner, it is possible to determine which solution offers a better fit for the business based on the current functions.

In short, businesses need to consider what big data means to their needs and then implement the best methods for utilizing information to achieve business goals. Doing so could mean reducing risks and increasing profits across the board. That is something that all business leaders are working towards implementing.

 Enjoy a related post from Advance Staffing Solutions:

Why Your Manufacturing Company Should have a Blog

It is Time to Fully Embrace Social Media for Your Business | This is no Time to be Shy

Raza Rauf on February 21, 2013

Social media isn’t going anywhere. There are a lot of small businesses out there that have been hoping social networking is just a passing fad that will eventually go away. That isn’t happening however. Business owners who don’t rush to embrace social media run the risk of being left behind by those who have invested in this course for their businesses.

Why is Social Media a Business Must?

If you’ve waited this long to join in, there’s probably a small part of you that thinks it can’t be all that important. For some people, their understanding of social media is that it is nothing more than playing games on Facebook or some giant online chat room where former high school friends and “frenemies” get together to compare notes twenty years later. There are a lot of myths out there about using social media in the business world.

The truth of the situation, however, is that social media represents so much more than chatty encounters and unwelcomed distractions for employees. It’s a tool for building relationships with your customers that goes far beyond anything that’s ever been available to business owners before. It’s a means of giving your customers access to you as the business owner so their voices can be heard. More importantly, it gives your customers access to you so that they can feel as though their opinions, questions, concerns, and even complaints matter to you.

Why Doing Nothing Doesn’t Work

Doing nothing has been the “go to” choice for many businesses in the past. It has worked – to some degree. Now, however, customers expect businesses to offer a social connection of some sort. If you’re not actively participating in some form of social media that’s widely accessible to your customers, then you’re likely to lose some of your customers to businesses that are available to them via social media.

It’s also becoming increasingly difficult for businesses to build a significant web presence without the boost social media provides. The bottom line is that your business can’t afford to skip social media. It’s too important for your success.

How to Make Social Media Work for You

Of course, walking blindly into the world of social media could completely backfire on you. That’s why you need to set goals for the social media outcome you’re interested in achieving. Then you need to come up with a substantial plan designed to help you achieve those goals. These are a few things you can do that will utilize social media in a meaningful and positive way for the sake of your business:

1)   Raise awareness about causes, campaigns, products, and services.

2)   Start conversations about important issues and upcoming events.

3)   Ask customers what solutions they’d like to see from your business.

4)   Point out worthy causes and influential people in your industry.

Perhaps the most important reason for you to take the reins and control the social media conversation about your business is that if you don’t control the conversation, your competitors will. No business today can afford to let its competition control its social media presence.

 Enjoy a previous post from Advance Staffing Solutions on this topic here:

Attract Candidates with Socially Responsible Company Policies

Attract Candidates with Socially Responsible Company Policies

Raza Rauf on February 8, 2013

As a hiring manager, you could see more of the top candidates for positions flock to your business by updating your current company policies to be more “socially conscious”. Why’s that?

It comes down to one simple fact. If you want to compete for the best talent, one of the must-do steps is to show that you care about being socially responsible as a business – for both your community and your employees’ benefits. Put aside your business bottom line for a moment and really consider what this means to you.

Know the Facts

Consider a few important facts about being socially conscious as a company as well as what it means to your business’s ability to draw in the best talent.

  • About 66 percent of workers will take a lower salary if this means they will work with a company with more sustainable business practices (according to a study done by Bain and Co.)
  • Social responsibility is the 3rd most important employee engagement driver (according to Towers Perrin).
  • When it comes to your company’s commitment to the community, according to Deloite , a whopping 70 percent of people say that’s important to their decision to work with one company or another.

People want to work for companies that show they care. They don’t want to work for a money-grubbing business that has power suits at the head.

How to Change Your Company Policies

How can you change your company policies, then, to attract these highly talented workers? There are a variety of steps you can take, including the following.

  • Make a commitment to going green. From reducing paper use to installing new lighting fixtures, taking every step you can to reduce the impact on the environment is critical.
  • Become active in your community in some way.  It’s more than just donating something. Do something that makes a difference and impacts those who you work for – the community and customers.
  • Put in place a volunteer program. Find a way to help someone or something in your community and engage your employees in the process.

Perhaps even more important is to put in place a transparent culture. This means ensuring that rather than having the boss locked in the upper offices, he or she is on the floor, interacting. This shows that the boss is not just a number crunching person, but rather someone that the employee can work with, get to know and go into battle with on a regular basis. By putting policies like these in place, the business becomes more socially aware and capable.

Is your business doing everything it can to be socially conscious? If not, put in place new policies that encourage this. When you do, and let the world know about it, you will begin to draw in better talent. Additionally, work with a staffing agency, like Advance Staffing Solutions, to source great candidates and develop a solid recruitment strategy. In many cases, you’ll bring in even better talent than you have had in the past. That can make a big difference in your productivity and bottom line.

Preparing for the New Workforce | Recruitment to Replace Retiring Employees

Raza Rauf on January 29, 2013

Think about the figures – over the next 19 years, about 10,000 people each day will enter the official retirement age of 65, according to the Pew Research Center. Nevertheless, your staff is getting older and you need to prepare for a new generation in your workforce. What does this mean for your company?

What Will Change?

There are likely to be a number of changes evident over the coming years. There is likely to be a shortage of some qualified workers, for example. Yes, unemployment figures remain very high, but with your older generation retiring, few young people will have the experience and know-how to help you to fill those gaps. You’ll need to get their training up to speed.

A secondary change will be those new workers themselves. It’s a different world today than it used to be. These workers:

  • Expect and need constant and ongoing feedback.
  • Prefer instant gratification.
  • Enjoy casual dress and attire so employees can be themselves.
  • Provide more flexibility with scheduling and are flexible in where they work.
  • Value the importance of work sometimes more than the pay or the benefits.

It’s going to take some changes on your part as a manager in this field. With shorter attention spans and more desire to be themselves, you’ll need to find new ways to reach this group.

What to Do Now

Managers can do many things today to ensure that their staff fits the mold when the time comes. What can you do to ensure that this transition is a smooth one?

  • Do a demographic risk-analysis of the current team. What does the team lack? What are the ages and talents of various team members currently?
  • Put in place, and then accelerate, training as well as transition planning. Even if you have a yearly process of assessing talent and creating some type of succession plan, don’t put it off. It’s important to put plans in place sooner rather than later.
  • Create an environment for success. It’s also necessary to put in place a plan that will build on the environment to make it more accepting to new works. This may include adjusting to flexible work schedules, engagement of talent and even making the job more enjoyable. These are traits the new recruits are waiting and watching for.

When it comes down to it, the Baby Boomer generation is here and knocking on the door to retirement. With those farewell parties will come big changes to any business. The question is, do you have the right game plan in place to accommodate the new generation? If not, it may be time to focus on making some changes to encourage this. Otherwise, you may be caught with less talent and an environment that doesn’t conform to the needs of your younger staff.

Advance Staffing Solutions can support your recruitment strategy as you begin to plan for workforce aging out. Consider the benefits of working with a quality temporary staffing agency in the Michigan area now.

Contact us