Berks & Beyond Blog

You’ve just won a three-month contract with a major new client – congratulations!  Now, you need to figure out how to get the extra work done. 

Should you pay your current employees overtime, or bring in temporary help?  Consider the following sample cost analysis.  It is based on an annual salary of $40,000 ($20.51/hr.), vs. time-and-one-half overtime, for one employee:

Cost Analysis

Although this is just a sample exercise for illustration purposes, it clearly demonstrates the economic rationale for using temporary employees.  When you need additional productive hours on a temporary basis, staffing services can lower costs, reduce burnout and improve the productivity of your direct staff.

Berks & Beyond - The Lehigh Valley’s Staffing Economics Experts

Need help assessing the cost of a staffing strategy?  Contact Berks & Beyond.  Our experts will work with you to determine the most productive and cost-effective way to get your work done.

Cost Analysis Assumptions

* Temporary staffing rates vary by market, but the relationship (ratio) between pay rates remains the same.

** Fringe benefits include:  holiday pay, sick leave, vacation pay, personal days, insurance, F.I.C.A., S.U.I., F.U.T.A., worker’s compensation, etc., based on a national average of 31%.

*** Based on U.S. Chamber of Commerce national average statistic of 12%, which includes firms that pay no benefits.  For small firms with moderate benefits programs, this cost is typically 40-45% of payroll, and for larger firms with extensive benefits programs, the cost can be up to 100% or more of payroll.

The following top candidates are highly skilled, motivated and ready to go to work for you:

ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL

Candidate Initials:  S. R.

Skills and Experience:  Extremely well-versed in all areas of administration, this candidate has marketing, HR and office management experience.  Able to multi-task; has the tenacity to stay with a project until it’s completed; unafraid to tackle what many would consider unpleasant tasks; active community volunteer.  Computer skills include:  MS Word, Excel, Outlook and Publisher, as well as several accounting programs.

Education:  College graduate.

Desired Pay:  $30,000/yr.

To learn more about this candidate, please contact Allison in our Reading office at Allison@berksandbeyond.com or call 610.376.9675.

PRODUCTION SCHEDULER

Candidate Initials:  T. B.

Skills and Experience:  Looking to join your company as a top-notch employee, this candidate has a superb background in customer service, purchasing and office clerical.  Worked for 5 years as a purchasing assistant and procurement controller.  Skills include:  switchboard, cashier, MS Excel, Powerpoint and Word.  Has been promoted several times by previous employers and would be a great asset to your company.

Desired Pay:  $19/hr.

To learn more about this candidate, please contact Heidi in our Pottstown office at Heidi@berksandbeyond.com or call 484.945.0516.

SALES PROFESSIONAL 

Candidate Initials:  M. B.

Skills and Experience:  This proven self-starter possesses over 10 years of sales experience, including advertising and inside sales through prospecting and cold calls.  Researched target companies for marketing and selling strategies; conducted marketplace research in order to generate new leads.  Strong computer skills.

Education/Awards:  B.A. in Visual Arts; Rookie of the Year Award for highest sales volume of first year.

Desired Pay:  $30,000/yr.

To learn more about this candidate, please contact Katie in our Allentown office at Katie@berksandbeyond.com or call 610.435.9270.

“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.

The following top candidates are highly skilled, motivated, and ready to go to work for you:

 BODY TECH / SPRAY PAINTER – York, PA

Candidate Initials:  T. G.

Skills and Experience:  Electrostatic spray painter and body tech skilled in painting industrial equipment.  Can perform any body work needed on vehicles or equipment.  Experienced in using HVLP guns, pressure pots, and siphoned (gravity) gun.

Education:  H.S. Diploma; York Tech

Desired Pay:  $14 – $15/hr.

To learn more about this candidate, please contact Bonnetta at Bonnetta@berksandbeyond.com or call 717.843.0031.

 ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST – Allentown, PA

Candidate Initials:  J. S.

Skills and Experience:  Excellent customer service and computer skills including data entry, Internet, and e-mail.  Able to compose business letters; outstanding interpersonal skills.

Education:  Associate’s Degree

Desired Pay:  $11/hr.

To learn more about this candidate, please contact Katie at Katie@berksandbeyond.com or call 610.435.9270.