Berks & Beyond Blog

Complaints.  Conflicts.  Crises.

As managers, we all have days when we want to just close the office doors and shut ourselves off from our employees.  But as tempting as it sounds, adopting a “do not disturb” management style comes at a price.  Over time, isolating yourself from your staff can lead to disconnected and resentful employees, lowered productivity and a toxic corporate culture.

Fortunately, you can easily avoid management pitfalls like these by staying approachable.  Use the following quick tips to keep your team happy, motivated and working for you:

• Leave your door open.  A manager who does most of his or her work behind closed doors can leave employees feeling alienated and cut-off.  So even if it means additional distractions, try to keep your office door wide open whenever possible.
• Chat up your staff.  Create an environment where workers feel you take an interest in them beyond the work they do.  A simple “Good morning, how was your weekend?” will make employees feel like you care.  If they believe you care, they’ll regard you with more respect and perform better for you.
• Set your staff up for success.  As much as possible, give employees sufficient lead-time to complete projects or tasks.  Ensure that all assignments are explained carefully.  Specify what needs to be done, by whom and within what time frame.  Make yourself available for guidance when needed, and answer employees’ questions in a way that will help them accomplish the goals you have set for them.
• Don’t punish the messenger.  Let your staff members know that they can come to you with potential problems, as well as suggestions on how to improve their processes.  Show them you realize that because they’re the ones on the front lines, doing the day-to-day work, they have valuable insights into what’s really going on.

Our Door is Always Open

Do you have a staffing question or concern?  Contact us today.  At Berks and Beyond, you can always approach us for the expert staffing advice and information you need.

Case #1:  Recruiting Challenge

The Problem:

Loretta Garner, Office and Warehouse Manager for PB Heat, experienced ongoing difficulties in both recruiting candidates and identifying people with the right “fit” for her organization.  Ms. Garner tried using several staffing agencies, but they were unable to deliver the caliber of talent this manufacturer of residential and commercial boilers needed.

The Solution:

Tired of managing the frustrations of recruiting on her own, Ms. Garner began using Berks and Beyond - exclusively.  Our staffing experts took the time to understand the skills, experience and personality traits essential to success in her company. 

We combined thorough interviewing and skills testing with knowledge of PB Heat’s corporate culture to identify candidates who would best match their diverse needs.

The Results:

As PB Heat’s exclusive staffing provider, we consistently deliver high-quality candidates with the right “fit” for PB Heat.  In Ms. Garner’s words:

“Berks and Beyond has successfully filled our orders for over six years in a timely, efficient, friendly manner.  They have consistently provided top-quality candidates for all of our diverse positions.  Since using Berks and Beyond, we have not had to utilize any other agency!  Keep up the good work, Danielle and Heidi!  Berks and Beyond is wonderful!”

Case #2:  High Turnover

The Problem:

A small manufacturing firm in Allentown, PA was plagued with chronic turnover.  The plant manager spent countless hours working with multiple staffing vendors to find reliable employees.  He even tried speaking to his staff directly about the importance of attendance, but with little success.  He turned to Berks and Beyond to end his expensive and inefficient hire-train-fire cycle.

The Solution:

Our staffing specialist suggested implementing a single-source solution.  Although this meant we would have to bid against national competitors for the client’s business, we knew an exclusive relationship was in the client’s best interest - streamlining their staffing function and reducing their turnover. 

Our bid was not the lowest; but the high quality, consistent service we’d provided this client in the past prompted them to award us their exclusive business.

The Results:

Working exclusively with Berks and Beyond has dramatically reduced this client’s turnover and minimized attendance and tardiness issues.  No longer forced to keep track of multiple employees from multiple staffing agencies, the plant manager is now free to focus on his most important priorities.

Write Your Own Staffing Success Story

Contact Berks & Beyond today to find out how we can deliver real Results at Work for your organization.

Spring is just around the corner - what kind of home improvement projects do you have on tap?

Whether you’re tackling a major remodel, or just looking for a few new plants for a flower bed, you’ll find the inspiration you need at Reading’s Home & Garden Show.  The show, presented by HBA of Berks County, runs from March 12th through the 14th at the Greater Reading Expo Center.  

The event features beautiful landscapes, building supplies, poos and spas, as well as informative seminars to ensure the success of your next project.

For more information, visit the Southeast Pennsylvania Home & Garden Show website.  Be sure to follow the link for discount coupons!

“Here we go again…”

“Why does everyone else seem to have all the luck?”

“What else could possibly go wrong today?”

Admit it.  At one point or another, you’ve had thoughts like these.  I know I have.  But while it’s perfectly normal to occasionally fall prey to negative thoughts - especially after losing a job or some other stressful event - you must guard against falling into a pessimistic mental rut.

When you’re stuck in a mode of negative thinking, you miss out on opportunities to improve your day and your situation.  Negative thoughts drain your energy and can even threaten your health.  So if your attitude could use some improvement, try some of these tips to eliminate negative thinking:

1. Recognize when you’re thinking negatively.  Pay attention to your internal dialogue and send up a mental “red flag” when you’re thinking pessimistically.
2. Realize that negative thoughts breed more negative thoughts.  Remember, you attract what you focus on - whether it’s what you want or don’t want.
3. Remind yourself that the negative thought is only that - a thought.  In fact, what you’re thinking may have little basis in reality.  Instead, your thoughts could be the result of projected fears about situations that rarely end up manifesting.
4. Find a positive thought replacement.  Rather than fighting against negative thoughts, try to replace them with more positive ones.  Picture a different scenario; affirm something to yourself that’s positive and self-supporting; remind yourself of a recent positive experience.
5. Use humor and fun.  Negative thoughts stress you out.  Change the energy of the situation by thinking of something funny or doing something enjoyable.  The key is to not let your negative thoughts have power over you.
6. Try creative visualization.  When something goes wrong, close your eyes and visualize a positive outcome.  Let yourself see what you want to happen like a movie playing behind your eyelids.  You’ll stop negative thoughts in their tracks and focus your mind’s energy on potential solutions.
7. Take a break.  Even if you’re up against a deadline, take five minutes to stretch, take a brief walk or talk to a friend.  Any respite, albeit brief, will help you reset your attitude and tackle your problem from a more positive perspective.

One More Tip…

If you’re stuck in a negative mental rut because of your job circumstances, Berks & Beyond can help.  A small positive action like registering with our staffing service can break your cycle of negative thinking and start you on a better career path.  So take control of your situation by envisioning yourself in the job you really want - then contact us to turn that vision into reality.

Expansion Means Better Service for Area Employers

Harrisburg, PA –Berks and Beyond Employment Services, Inc. will hold the Grand Opening of its sixth office on Wednesday, February 17, 2010.  Although the staffing and recruitment firm has served the Harrisburg market for over three years, the additional location will allow Berks & Beyond to provide expanded and more responsive service to area employers.

“We see the Harrisburg office as a natural extension for our business.  Over the past few years, we’ve watched the staffing and recruitment needs of the Harrisburg market evolve; this new location will help us better meet those needs,” states Chris Garner, President of Berks & Beyond.  “We are staffing the Harrisburg office with seasoned professionals, some of whom have over 25 years of staffing experience.  These veterans will help ensure we deliver exceptional employees and customer service from the day our new office opens its doors.”

Berks & Beyond’s sixth location is located at 1505 Market Street, Camp Hill, PA 17011.  Like the existing offices, the expansion location will provide clerical, industrial, managerial, and technical staff for temporary, temp-to-perm, and permanent placement services.

While Berks & Beyond currently provides staffing solutions to employers throughout much of Southern Pennsylvania, the Harrisburg office will broaden the company’s service area to include the following towns and cities:  Boiling Springs, Camp Hill, Carlisle, Colonial Park, Dauphin, Dillsburg, Enola, Harrisburg, Hershey, Highspire, Hummelstown, Lemoyne, Lewisberry, Marysville, Mechanicsburg, Middletown, Mt. Holly Springs, Newberrytown, New Cumberland, New Kingston, Shepherdstown, Shiremanstown, Steelton, and Wormleysburg.

A little perspective is a good thing.

As a staffing firm, we at Berks & Beyond try to learn all we can about your business and industry - because better understanding leads to better staffing results for your company. 

Today, I’d like to turn the tables.  Here are a few key facts and statistics, compiled by the American Staffing Association, that will help you better appreciate our business and the U.S. staffing industry:

• Number of workers.  America’s staffing companies match millions of people to millions of jobs - every day.  On an average day in 2008, U.S. staffing companies employed approximately 2.6 million workers.  All told, staffing firms hired an estimated 11.2 million temporary and contract employees in 2008 alone.
• Industry size.  In 2008, the staffing industry generated roughly $86.2 billion in sales:  $70.7 billion from temporary and contract staffing; $15.5 billion from search and direct placement.
• Number of U.S. staffing companies.  Approximately 6,000 staffing firms, operating roughly 20,000 offices, are currently operating and have been in business a year or longer.
• Areas of growth.  The fastest industry growth is occurring in professional and technical staffing.
• Factors affecting industry growth.  America’s work force is changing.  More people are looking for the flexibility that temporary work provides.  Additionally, employers are tapping into the flexible labor market to keep fully staffed during peak periods.

Want to learn more?

Visit the American Staffing Association’s website to view and download reference documents that provide current information about the U.S. staffing industry.  To learn more about the services and benefits Berks & Beyond offers, please visit our website.

“I’m sorry, but all I can do is verify this person’s name, title and dates of employment.”

Sound familiar?

These days, getting an honest and reliable reference can be a real challenge.  HR is cautious.  Supervisors are too busy.  And often, the references provided are afraid or unwilling to give honest feedback.  So how do you get a good reference check?

Beyond the standard length of employment/position/job responsibilities questions, here are a few unexpected ones you can try asking.  Designed to start conversations, these open-ended questions may entice a reference to ”drop his guard,” and help you solicit more candid feedback:

1. Did the candidate ask your permission to be a reference for him?
2. What was his greatest strength?  Weakness?
3. What circumstances frustrated him the most?
4. How well did the candidate manage time?  Pressure?  Crises?
5. What did he learn during his time with your company?
6. If you could give him a single career suggestion, what would it be?
7. What was his biggest accomplishment while working for your company?
8. Would you rehire this person?  Why or why not?
9. Is there anything else I haven’t asked that you would like to share with me?

Thankfully, you don’t need to ask questions like these when you work with Berks & Beyond.  You can rest assured that every candidate we refer has been carefully screened, tested and reference-checked for you.  To learn more about the measures we take to ensure candidate quality, please visit our website.

Flexibility.  Extra income.  Work experience.  An avenue to direct employment.  The reasons people choose temporary work are as diverse as the assignments they select.

But whether you are looking to earn some extra cash, or are seeking full-time employment, here are several things you can do to make the most of temporary assignments: 

1. Dress the part.  You will fit in, perform, and feel better if you’re dressed appropriately for the type of work you’re doing.
2. Act as if the job is permanent.  Give your best effort on each assignment - you never know where it might lead.  If an employer is impressed with your performance, he can work with your staffing service to offer you direct employment.
3. Learn all you can.  Each assignment provides fresh opportunities to learn.  From practical job skills to industry-specific knowledge, capitalize on every chance to gain valuable skills and experience.
4. Test the waters.  If your career path is uncertain, temporary work affords you the ability to try out different jobs, at different companies, in varied industries.  Find out where you fit by accepting diverse assignments.
5. Network.  A temporary assignment puts you in a unique networking position.  While at work, you have the opportunity to interact and develop relationships with business colleagues whom you might not otherwise meet.  Leverage this “inside track” access by sharing your career interests and goals with managers you encounter on the job.
6. Communicate.  If you enjoyed an assignment and would like to work for the employer again once it’s over, say so.  Your staffing consultant and supervisor can look for additional opportunities for you to work in a different area of the company.  And if the assignment was not right for you, consider why.  Try to understand why the job or the employer didn’t meet your needs, so you can choose an assigment that’s a better fit the next time.

We want to help you get the most from your experiences as a Berks and Beyond temporary employee.  Please visit our website to learn more about the services, support, and resources we provide.

We at Berks and Beyond Employment Services send you wishes for a safe, happy, healthy, and prosperous 2010.

Happy New Year!

When it comes to effectively staffing your business, the options are endless - and can be, frankly, a little overwhelming.  Today’s post is dedicated to straight talk about a strategic staffing service that may be of real value to your organization:  planned staffing.

The 101

So, what exactly is “planned staffing”?

Simply put, planned staffing is the strategic use of temporaries to accommodate workloads known to vary in seasons or other cycles.  Traditional planned staffing strategies typically allocate between 10 and 20 percent of the total workforce as supplemental (temporary) employees.

To implement a planned staffing solution, a company’s decision makers meet with a highly trained staffing professional to discuss how the organization’s workload changes throughout the year.  The staffing professional then analyzes the company’s workforce needs, and designs a comprehensive plan for managing the peaks and valleys with supplemental staff.

When business surges, temporaries are brought in to handle the additional business volume.  Once the peak cycle is completed, the staffing firm reassigns its employees to other companies.

Planned Staffing Benefits

For businesses with (at least somewhat) predictable surges in demand, a planned staffing option offers a number of benefits:

• Flexibility.  Bringing in supplemental staff allows you to handle surges in demand without impacting fixed expenses.  Your workforce stays lean and flexible.
• Less risk and expense.  Using temporaries during short-term peak periods is less burdensome, risky and expensive than hiring - and then laying off - direct employees.
• Instant access to the help you need.  Your staffing provider will recruit in advance of your needs, to ensure you have qualified candidates ready to work - right when you need them.  At your request, the staffing firm can even develop customized orientation materials to get temporaries up-to-speed more quickly.
• Fewer layoffs.  When business slows, it’s the temporaries who go first.  As a result, core employees enjoy increased job security.
• Less burnout and overtime.  Using supplemental staff reduces overtime and eliminates the burn-out overwork can cause.
• Hiring benefits.  When you implement a planned staffing solution, you have the luxury of hiring employees from a pool of temporaries who are already trained, and have proven their dependability and cultural fit.  Discuss your temporary-to-hire options with your staffing provider.

Is a Planned Staffing Option Right for Your Business?

If your business experiences frequent and/or predictable changes in workload, contact Berks and Beyond.  We’ll discuss your needs, help you weigh your options and determine if planned staffing is right for your organization.