Tag Archive for: employee communication

Creating a Positive Workplace

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Being considered a good place to work by your employees involves a lot of components. It’s a known thing in these times that a positive company culture is one of the most crucial aspects of a quality work environment, along with location and time flexibility as well as purpose.

With people having many options for where to work right now, standing out as an ideal workplace can be competitive. Just like your products and/or services; you want to keep up with market and industry trends that your clients and employees value, while at the same time differentiate yourself enough to catch the attention of the people you’re trying to call in.

Something that has not been considered by many companies as of yet is the power of positivity and availability.

It’s inevitable that no matter what industry you’re in or line of work you do, moments of challenge and frustration come up, and can sometimes last for seasons. However, it is in how these moments are handled that differentiate your company as the one that people want to work for and stay at.

Here are some things to consider when trying adding more positivity and openness to your company:

1. It Starts with Leadership

Everything has a trickle-down effect. If the company executives and managers exemplify a positive approach to everything they do, it will make employees more comfortable and they will also begin to demonstrate positivity. Make it a priority for everyone on your leadership team to learn how to have positive interactions with all employees.

2. There are Many Ways to Exhibit Positivity

From the language you use in your company-wide emails to the way you deliver news and explain concepts in one-on-one meetings, there is always a way to communicate in a more uplifting and/or encouraging manner. While it may take a bit of effort to tweak your communication style, it will pay off in the long run in the form of longer employee tenure, better performance, and better energy in the office or on-site.

3. It’s ok for Moments to get Personal Once in a While

As a manager, there will be things that your employees go through that affect their work in both a positive and negative way. This goes for attendance, time-management, communication, etc. While it used to be looked down upon for work and personal matters to be mixed, realistically sometimes that’s what needs to happen for a better understanding. If an employee chooses to share something from their personal life that is affecting their work life, coming from a place of empathy (instead of pushing the matter away) will give you more insight. Having perspective about why something is happening will give you and your employee the chance to come up with a solution together.

4. The Ability and Willingness to Listen is Crucial

Part of offering a positive working environment is letting employees be heard. Whether they’re coming to you with a question, concern, or suggestion; hearing them out and actually considering what they’re saying will lead to better output on their part and could even benefit the rest of the company.

If your company is in need of employees, let us at Award help you. Contact us here with your staffing needs.

How Working with a Staffing Agency Can Help You Find Meaningful Work

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While everyone has different definitions of “meaningful work”, I think we could all agree that we all want to have a job that is meaningful. Working a job that feels meaningful, makes going to work 5 days per week more fulfilling and increases employee retention as well as the likelihood of people moving up within their company.

Finding meaningful work can be difficult though as it is hard to gage what working at a certain company will be like and what their values are, prior to getting hired on and seeing for yourself. This is why we highly recommend partnering with a staffing agency to find meaningful work.

Staffing agencies work with hundreds of clients at a time and have likely toured the facilities, spoken with multiple leaders within the company, and gotten feedback from candidates and associates about what it’s like to work there. This allows them to get a good idea of what the experience will be like for employees, so they can offer input on whether or not a specific position or company will be a good fit for you.

Working with a staffing agency can give you access to:

1. Companies that Contribute to the Common Good

Recent studies have shown that regardless of how well employees are being compensated, they still want to work in an organization that gives back. Whether it’s to the local community or somewhere on the other side of the world, companies that give back get more interest from prospects and have higher employee retention rates. As a staffing agency will know their client very well, they can share what the company does to contribute to the common good and you can decided if it is a cause you want to get on board with.

2. Work that Involves Building Essential Products or Helping Others with their Needs

Despite any preconceived notions people may have about warehouse work or any type of light industrial position, many of those jobs are essential for society to function. There are many companies where warehouse employees are building medical devices, transporting essential goods, packaging and shipping important packages, and/or distributing healthy goods. If you want to directly contribute to a better functioning world, warehouses are a great place to do so. If you have something specific in mind, you can ask your recruiter what companies and positions they have that are in those lines of work.

3. Companies that Will Value You

Everyone wants to feel valued whether they are part-time or full-time. It’s truly a given that all companies should go out of their way to make their employees feel appreciated, but sadly many companies don’t. The good news is, all staffing agencies are in regular contact with their associates to check-in and ask for feedback on their new position. They know and want to partner with companies that appreciate the associates they send and can recommend that you apply and interview with the ones that do.

4. Organizations with a Good Company Culture

Today, company culture is more important than ever. Since people spend so much time at their place of employment, they want to be in a place where there are good relationships between colleagues and management, and where they can feel comfortable going in and not like they are walking on eggshells every day. A good company culture starts with leadership and since recruiters are always communicating with their clients, they know the places that have the best company culture. Since they have seen the facilities and can tell you whether or not the environment is clean, what the noise levels are, and how closely you will be working with others, you can use that to make your decision.

5. A Company that Honors what is Important to You

Different things are important to different people. Some people want to work for a company with plenty of overtime opportunities, while others want to work for a company with generous PTO and flexible schedules. Some people want a place where they are offered a 9-5 schedule; others want an overnight shift to accommodate their lifestyle. If you share with your recruiter what is important to you, they can determine which companies match what you’re looking for and the right way to tailor your résumé to get an interview with that company.

If you or anyone you know is looking for a job, we update our job boards regularly. Click here for a list of our current open positions.

Why the Right Employees Make All the Difference

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No matter what type of business you run, or where you are located in the United States, it is no secret that there are many more job openings than there are people willing to fill them. The pandemic has allowed people to reconsider what is most important to them and as a result, many people have become more particular about the positions they take. Knowing that there are many options out there that would allow them to work from home and having had the time to start their own income generating projects, a large percentage of the population has chosen to either look for a position that doesn’t require their physical presence or leave the workforce entirely to pursue their own venture.

Of course this has business owners and hiring managers in a bind and has significantly slowed down production of all products and services on a national level. This can make it tempting to employ any and all people who apply to your company. However, as inclined as you may be to do that, being sure that you take the time and consideration into hiring the best/right employees is what will be of the biggest benefit in the long run. Here’s why:

Work Ethic

This may just be the most important quality an employee can have. This means they are someone who arrives to work on time, makes productive use of their time, gets their tasks done, and produces quality work. Without work ethic, you will end up wasting payroll on employees that are not getting the job done. It will be better if you hold out to hire the right people than to spend money on a revolving door of employees.

Social Skills

If you choose to hire just anyone who you think can get the job done, you may find yourself with either; an employee who does not get on well with the rest of the team, or someone who does not do well with clients/customers. Although disagreements between employees are inevitable, it’s important to make sure that the people you bring on can get along with others. In the case of needing your team to collaborate on something or communicate often, it’s important to have people who can work well with one another.

Dependability

Having employees that are reliable is a key component in having a successful operation. This means they show up every day and you as a manager can trust that they are doing their job. Someone who is not dependable will call in at the last minute, have excuses why things aren’t getting done, and may even one day randomly disappear and not come back. This isn’t a good use of the time you spend onboarding employees and you will find your company with plenty of work that still needs to be completed once the days are over. Avoid this by doing your best to find dependable employees.

Communication

People with excellent communication skills are often hard to find. There are so many different facets to communication from email and text responses, to being able to get a point across effectively in person. Having a team of people who all have good communication will ensure fewer errors, will result in prompt responses, and will enable you to have a team that is always on the same page.

Adaptability

As the past year and a half has taught all of us, things are inevitably going to come up unexpectedly. Having employees who understand that instead of insisting that “we’ve always done it this way”, will be a major advantage to you and the rest of the team. People who are adaptable are willing to modify their jobs as needed, shift their schedule occasionally if the business needs it, and are open to hearing new ideas. As an employer, it is important to let adaptable employees know they are appreciated, because otherwise they will feel that their flexibility is being taken advantage of and may take their skills somewhere else.

Self- Motivation

People who are self-motivated, do not constantly need to be told what to do. They know what their job is and will see what needs to be done and take the initiative to do it themselves. Having people like this on your team will keep the flow of operations going as well as save you time as you won’t have to regularly stop what you’re doing to give them direction.

Company Culture

In today’s society, company culture is one of the most valued traits a company can have according to employees. It is one of the number one contributors to employee happiness, therefore it is important that when you’re hiring, you look for people who will fit and contribute to your company’s culture. This means people who have a similar mindset about the company’s mission, people who participate in company events, and people who actively work to keep the energy and the environment positive.

If your company is in need of employees, we at Award Staffing are here to help you! Contact us with your staffing needs here.

How To Increase Employee Engagement

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In any place of employment, keeping employees motivated and engaged must be a priority, because it’s what will lead to employee commitment and longevity. Studies have consistently shown that only about 15% of the workforce is entirely engaged in their position and company. When employees are engaged, they will put their best effort into doing anything they can to help the business thrive. It can mean the difference between someone who does just enough to get by and the person who goes the extra mile when they see the opportunity.

1. Give Recognition, Incentives and Rewards

Every employee will be more inclined to go above and beyond and more likely to remain with a company if they know that their efforts are appreciated by others. It can be as simple as a “thank you” or “nice work”, email. That being said, words can only go so far for so long. If you truly want your employees to show up their best every day, it is important that they get something in return other than a paycheck. If incentives and rewards become a known part of your business model, you as a company will also get the reputation of a good place to work. It can also add a little friendly competition into the mix. Some good incentives are: gift cards, cash, PTO, bonuses, etc. Also items like flowers and baked goods on birthdays can go a long way.

2. Offer Feedback in Real Time

Especially when an employee does something commendable, nothing feels more gratifying than getting recognized on the spot. Additionally, if an employee is doing something that could use a little tweaking or improvement; sharing how they can change it in real time is what will have the most impact. In both cases, they will know exactly what scenario you are referring to versus having to remember is because it was something that happened weeks ago.

3. Provide Mentoring

Every employee wants to feel like they have a personal relationship with their colleagues and management. There will also be times when employees have questions or concerns but are reluctant to bring them to your attention. Having scheduled meetings/mentoring sessions with your employees both formal and informal will give employees the opportunity to voice their concerns and share ideas. Ideally, it should be in both a group setting and a 1:1 setting for all employees and it can be both while working and a designated time set aside to offer feedback and listen to concerns. 

4. Give Individual Attention

Believe it or not, part of being an inclusive company is giving employees individualized attention. No one wants to be seen as just a number or a cog in the machine. Every employee is important to the business in some capacity, therefore must be treated as such. Employees will perform their best when they are able to bring a part of who they are into the organization. It is part of your job as an employer to make them feel welcome and comfortable enough to do so. Some ways you can do this are: schedule 1:1 meetings with each employee (even if they’re short), make sure every employee knows they are welcome to offer feedback and/or ask questions, check in with every employee to make sure they are updated on the latest company news, and acknowledge every employee when they come in and leave for the day.

5. Invest in Employee Development

There is nothing that can dull a job quicker than an employee doing the same remedial tasks every day.  Eventually they’ll start to feel like their job is insignificant and they are not a big enough contribution to the common goal. Feeling like they are growing and expanding on both a personal and professional level will keep them feeling emotionally connected. This can look like cross-department collaboration, paying for continuing education or courses employees are interested in, offering to increase their responsibilities and job description, and keeping them updated on advancement opportunities.

If your company is looking to bring on more employees, we at Award are here to help you. Contact us here with your staffing needs and questions.

How to Attract Millennial Employees

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It is no secret that millennials have been changing the workforce for several years now. Back in 2016, they became the largest fraction of the U.S. workforce, making up over one-third of the working population. It is projected that by 2025, they will account for up to 75% of the working world, which means that if you want your business to continue successfully growing and operating, bringing millennials onto your team is essential.

Although there are commonly held stereotypes surrounding this generation and their work ethic, they are also known to be good communicators, positive change makers, and the most up-to-date on current information and technology. While they may be a generation of high expectations, if they feel they are being accommodated in the workplace and valued as employees, they will go beyond their due diligence to drive results within their company.

Because there is no scarcity of jobs in today’s market, millennials have the option to be particular about where they choose to work. Therefore, attracting them to your company will be an art in and of itself. Here are some of the fundamentals millennials search for when choosing a company to work for:

 

GOOD BENEFITS

Time and time again, surveys have shown that millennials prefer good benefit packages over pay increases. Due to reaching adulthood in a time of sky-high rents, five-figure student loan debt, and the rise of digital devices, despite a decent salary, millennials do not have the reserves to purchase their own benefits or pay high deductibles when it comes to their health nor put away large sums of money for their retirement plans. When posting a job ad, it is important to highlight your company’s medical benefits as well as non-monetary benefits such as PTO and flexible scheduling.

 

 PURPOSE

For the millennial generation, a job is no longer just about a paycheck. As Gen-Y is the generation that purchases from, promotes, and works for organizations that have objectives outside of high revenue and brand visibility, it is of your benefit as a company to implement a cause you are supporting somewhere into your business model. While past generations had the mentality of “show me the money”, millennials have the mentality of “show me the purpose”, with studies showing that over 75% of them would take a pay cut if it meant working for a company that demonstrated a desire for positive change and impact. This also means that you should emphasize ethical business practices and be completely transparent about company culture when recruiting for a position.

CAREER GROWTH

From the get-go, millennials want to know that they will have a career path to follow and about how long it will take them to advance. Known by the expression, “millennials want to matter”, this generation is much more likely to envision themselves with a company long-term if their professional life feels significant. In the interview process, be sure to articulate the different potential avenues of how they could move up should they perform well and choose to stay with the company. This could look like management trainee programs and upskilling employees to take on more responsibilities as they excel and feel more comfortable in their positions.

COMPANY CULTURE

This factor plays a huge role in attracting millennials to a position or corporation. More than any other generation, this group values their work environment and the people in it. Studies show that when asked, millennials rate company culture an 8.5 out of 10 in terms of importance. This includes things such as a comfortable workspace, a sense of community, good communication, core values, and having a voice within the company. Marketing a healthy company culture will not only attract top talent that is dependable and eager to perform, it will also retain the employees you already have and result in more productivity and high employee morale.

FLEXIBILITY

Millennial or not, no matter what the industry, most employees feel that a strict 9-5 workday is outdated. In fact, over 50% of employees say they wish their company was more flexible. While it can appear that people want flexibility out of laziness and self-interest, it is actually found that it reduces workplace stress which then results in more productivity. Although not all industries are able to offer flexibility in the form of working remotely, there are several ways to be flexible, such as offering unlimited PTO, being flexible with time in and time out, having a four day work week, and having a lenient dress code. Having a number of these options will not only improve employee wellbeing, but will also enhance your reputation as an employer.

 

 

As a top 150 workplace for 6-years in a row, we know the importance of creating a great environment to attract the right talent. If you are looking for a staffing partner that can help you showcase your job openings and company culture to rising talent, reach out to our account management team today!

How to Survive at Work When Your Coworkers Talk Politics

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We’re still more than a year away from another presidential election, but plenty of candidates, pundits, and even your coworkers are making their political opinions known. As Midwesterners we’re taught it’s polite to avoid certain topics like politics and religion; however, it may seem unavoidable nowadays when everyone is constantly plugged into the news and sharing their political opinions on social media.

If you’re unsure what to do the next time your coworker asks you about 2020 or the latest trending topic, there are a few tactics you can use to navigate the workplace.

Change the subject

If you’re not comfortable speaking about politics with a coworker or your boss, politely change the subject to another topic. Allow the speaker to finish his or her thought and nod politely. If the coworker presses you on your opinion, say you need to get back to work. If necessary, politely but firmly say you aren’t comfortable discussing politics at work.

This may be especially difficult if you don’t agree with what the other person is saying. You may worry that by not pushing back, you are agreeing with your coworker’s opinions. You can respond thoughtfully if you are comfortable (more on that below), but your priority should be successfully completing your work and not educating your coworker. If you don’t usually respond during discussions, your coworker will likely take the hint.

If you’re comfortable, share your thoughts

Some people enjoy discussing politics and current events, and your coworker may be looking to have a thought-provoking conversation. You may not change minds, but you will likely learn interesting insights along the way. If that sounds like something that appeals to you, feel free to join. Remain respectful and stick to the topic at hand without criticizing your coworker as a person.

Don’t ever let a thoughtful discussion become a heated argument. Even if you and your coworker like the back-and-forth, you may be making other coworkers uncomfortable and creating an environment that’s unsafe for employees to share their opinions openly for fear of angry exchanges. Save the big debate for after-work happy hour.

Talk to HR or your manager

If someone is saying something that you feel is harassment or a threat, you should be able to report it to your human resources manager or supervisor. Harassment is when a coworker creates an environment that is hostile or intimidates another coworker based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability sexual orientation or genetic information. It’s no longer just talking politics when the work environment is unsafe.

Find a better fit

If you feel like your politics don’t fit with your coworkers, or if you’re not aligned with your employer’s mission, it might be time for another job. Seek an employer who does work you can get excited about. Research organizations ahead of time to see what you can learn about their workplace culture.

Award Staffing is able to connect you with the top workplaces in the Twin Cities to help you find a supportive and rewarding environment. Contact us today and together we can find your future.

Why Your Employees Should Provide You Feedback

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As an employer, you should be asking your employees to give feedback regularly. You can do this in a variety of different ways or during different time periods, but it’s important that they can do so. Here’s why your employees should provide feedback:

You Can See Problem Areas

If you’re running the company and focused on the bigger picture, it can sometimes be hard to drill down to what the actual problem areas of your company are. If your employees provide feedback for you, you will be getting real insight into what the problems your employees are facing on a daily basis. This information and intel is absolutely crucial to you, helping you to run your business effectively.

You Can Reward Employee Honesty

If your employees are providing helpful feedback by being honest, you can reward employee honesty. It would be hard for you to do so in any other forum other than one in which they were providing feedback. If you want to incentivize your employees being honest, you can give them the option to provide feedback anonymously, so they aren’t worried about repercussions. Of course, this would negate employee-specific rewards, but you can always reward departments who give the most effective feedback.

Make Necessary Changes

The biggest reason why your employees should provide feedback is so you can make necessary changes. If you aren’t learning from your employees and adjusting your strategies, you aren’t doing it right. Feedback is meant to be taken in, thought about, and new strategies implemented.

If you are looking for new employees who will be able to give you valuable feedback, contact Award Staffing. We will be able to help you identify and hire these employees.

 

FINDING YOUR TALENT

Want to learn more about how Award Staffing can help your organization with your staffing and employment needs? Start by providing our team with a few pieces of information about yourself, and we will take care of the rest.

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How to Improve Employee-Employer Communication

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As an employer, it’s your job to make sure that there’s positive employee-employer communication happening. This is crucial not only for your business but also for the well-being of your employees. Here are some ways that you can improve employee-employer communication.

Have Weekly Meetings-

One of the best ways to communicate well is to do it regularly. For some of your employees, this may involve weekly meetings. We recommend hosting your meetings on Monday mornings or Friday afternoons, so everything from the past week is fresh and ready to be discussed in preparation for the upcoming week.

Keep an Open Dialogue-

Don’t have your work be an environment in which employees think they can’t talk to you. This usually ends up being counter-productive in that they will sit with issues and not communicate until one day when they let everything out at once. Make sure to remind employees that you regularly welcome feedback, suggestions, and even complaints to help the entire office run smoothly.

Have a System to Communicate Notes-

It can be tricky to remember different notes or comments in between meetings, so make sure you implement a system in which you can remember your notes throughout the week. This could be through the use of a new technology program such as Slack, or through the use of good old-fashioned sticky notes. Whatever you do, make sure you do it well, and your communication will follow.

If you’re looking for a new employee, contact Award Staffing. We can help you find an employee who is perfect for your company culture and who will be a good fit for your fellow employees. It’s our specialty.

 

FINDING YOUR TALENT

Want to learn more about how Award Staffing can help your organization with your staffing and employment needs? Start by providing our team with a few pieces of information about yourself, and we will take care of the rest.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Improving Employee-Employer Communication

/in

As an employer, it’s your job to make sure that there’s positive employee-employer communication happening. This is crucial not only for your business but also for the well-being of your employees. Here are some ways that you can improve employee-employer communication.

Have Weekly Meetings.

One of the best ways to communicate well is to do it regularly. For some of your employees, this may involve weekly meetings. We recommend hosting your meetings on Monday mornings or Friday afternoons, so everything from the past week is fresh and ready to be discussed in preparation for the upcoming week.

Keep an Open Dialogue.

Don’t have your work be an environment in which employees think they can’t talk to you. This usually ends up being counter-productive in that they will sit with issues and not communicate until one day when they let everything out at once. Make sure to remind employees that you regularly welcome feedback, suggestions, and even complaints to help the entire office run smoothly.

Have a System to Communicate Notes.

It can be tricky to remember different notes or comments in between meetings, so make sure you implement a system in which you can remember your notes throughout the week. This could be through the use of a new technology program such as Slack, or through the use of good old-fashioned sticky notes. Whatever you do, make sure you do it well, and your communication will follow.

If you’re looking for a new employee, contact Award Staffing. We can help you find an employee who is perfect for your company culture and who will be a good fit for your fellow employees. It’s our specialty. If you’re searching for more tips and trick on how to improve your company’s workforce, check out our hiring solutions blog.

 

FINDING YOUR TALENT

Want to learn more about how Award Staffing can help your organization with your staffing and employment needs? Start by providing our team with a few pieces of information about yourself, and we will take care of the rest.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.