UNITEMP Blog

Social Media Helps Leading NJ Staffing Firm Connect with Clients, Employees

Hackensack, NJ – You have one new friend request.  UNITEMP Temporary Personnel invites you to “Friend” their Facebook fan page. 

While millions are using Facebook to keep in touch with friends, the leading New Jersey temporary and contract staffing firm is using this social media platform as part of their progressive internet marketing strategy.

The page allows UNITEMP to interact with clients, employees and applicants on a whole new level.  “People are spending more and more time online, and Facebook provides a convenient way to reach them,” says Ted Kissel, President of UNITEMP Temporary Personnel.  “This page helps us share real-time staffing and job posting information, and encourages our clients and employees to give us their feedback.”

Containing several interactive features, the page contains valuable information for managers, temporary employees and job seekers alike.  Visitors can leave comments or ask questions on UNITEMP’s “Wall”; browse the “RSS / Blog” tab, which displays their company blog feed; or even search for up-to-the-minute administrative temporary, contract and full-time job listings.

So why should you become a fan?  Kissel is committed to adding real value for everyone who becomes a fan of UNITEMP.  “We want to provide timely, relevant information about temporary help and the staffing industry, particularly for our New Jersey customers, employees and job seekers.  So if you want to further your career, find a job or ask a question, the page can be a valuable and fun tool.”

To become a fan of UNITEMP, just log onto Facebook and type “UNITEMP Temporary Personnel” in the search box at the top of the main window.  Select UNITEMP Temporary Personnel from the results list, and then click on the “Like” icon.

Temporary employees can be a great asset to your organization.  They can help you meet critical deadlines, fill-in for unplanned absences and free your core staff to focus on their most important tasks.

But if your company uses large numbers of temporary employees, it’s easy for your direct staff to fall into an “Us vs. Them” mentality.  And while treating temporary workers as an entirely separate workforce may seem innocuous, the practice can have unintended consequences for your direct employees. 

For example, research from the University of Arizona has found that direct employees (particularly at lower levels) are less satisfied with co-workers and bosses when working with a higher proportion of temporary employees.  Why?  The responsibility of training and socializing temporary workers on company-specific processes is often assigned to direct employees.  As a result, having more temporaries can complicate full-time workers’ jobs.

Here are a few suggestions for improving the working relationship between temporary and direct employees to achieve even better staffing results:

• Make temporary employees feel welcome.  While temporaries are, in fact, a separate part of your workforce (and must be treated differently because of co-employment laws), you and your staff can still make them feel welcome in your organization.  By encouraging social interaction (e.g., formal or informal introductions) among all workers, you can foster social ties that are essential to a cohesive workforce.
• Educate your direct staff.  Take the time to clearly explain the role and value of temporary workers.  The better your direct employees understand the benefits temporary help provides, the more likely they’ll be to work productively with them.
• Take advantage of training.  If you use large numbers of temporaries, many staffing services will develop customized orientation and training programs for specific positions.  This shifts the time-consuming burden of getting new temporary employees up-to-speed off your direct employees’ shoulders.

Bottom line, there are a number of steps you can take keep relations between temporary and direct employees positive.  And the more positive their working relationship, the better your results will be.  Contact UNITEMP today to learn more about our smart staffing solutions for New Jersey employers.

Ever feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information coming at you each day?

With the barrage of data pouring in from newspapers, TV, the internet, social media, RSS feeds, e-mails, voicemails and good-old-fashioned face-to-face meetings, finding the critical information you need amidst all the “white noise” can be exhausting.

Take the BLS Monthly Employment Situation, for example.  It contains monthly employment estimates for over 1,000 industries from its Current Employment Statistics program.  However, the changes in these overall employment levels tend to be delayed in the monthly labor reports – making it a lagging indicator of economic trends.

Sound like a lot of white noise?

Not entirely.  Temporary help employment numbers, which are part of the monthly BLS report, are generally considered to be a coincident indicator for overall employment.  This means that changes in temporary help employment tend to forecast subsequent changes in overall employment and coincide with changes in economic activity.  Why?  Many companies use temporary staffing as a means to quickly adjust their operations to meet fluctuating demands for their products and services.

Here’s how to get current data for temporary help services in the BLS report:

1. Go to the BLS Current Employment Statistics home page.
2. Then select either the HTML or PDF version of the “Employment Situation Summary.”
3. Data for temporary help services can be found in Table B-1 (page 30 of the report’s PDF version).

Effectively manage the economy’s highs and lows with UNITEMP.

Our temporary and contract staffing services for New Jersey employers can help you run lean – while providing on-demand access to the talent you need to meet surges in demand.

Help your staffing service help you.

Continuous improvement should be a goal of any business relationship – your relationship with your staffing provider is no exception.  Help your staffing firm deliver better results by providing them with frequent, measurable feedback.  By letting them know what they’re doing right, as well as how they can improve, you can make your staffing function even more efficient and cost-effective.

Ask internal staff who supervise temporary employees to periodically fill out a simple report card for your staffing service.  It can evaluate quality of fills, ease of working with the staffing specialist, timeliness of service, etc.  Then, share the feedback with your staffing provider.  They will use the information to identify opportunities for improvement, to further customize the service they deliver, and to make your job as easy as possible.

Here are a few sample questions to consider:

The Staffing Firm

1. How well does the staffing firm demonstrate an understanding of your business?
2. How well does the staffing firm meet your expectations?
3. How would you rate the staffing firm’s service, as compared to other services you’ve used?
4. How would you rate your staffing service representative?

The Employees

1. How well do the employees fit the assignments?
2. How would you rate the employees’ attitudes toward their work?
3. How punctual are the employees?
4. How prepared are the employees (i.e., how quickly do they get to work)?

How well are we doing?

At UNITEMP, we pride ourselves on the quality of both our service and our employees.  We want to know what we’re doing right and where we can improve.  Please contact us with your feedback, so we can deliver even better results for your organization.

Recently downsized or laid off?  New to the workforce?  Looking to earn extra cash?  Trying to break into a new field?

Consider working as a temporary.  Today’s staffing firms employee millions of individuals in virtually all fields of work, from day labor to executive, and offer a variety of advantages:

• Flexible work options.  Work when and where you want to work.  You can work only during school hours, take the summers off, or take an extended break.  As a temporary employee, you have the freedom to accept assignments that work with your schedule.
• Employee benefits.  In addition to a paycheck, many temporary staffing agencies provide benefits to their workers.  These benefits typically include vacation pay, sick pay, access to medical insurance and a 401(k) plan, and are available to employees who fulfill certain employment requirements.  Be sure to inquire what benefits are offered when you apply or interview.
• Opportunities for direct employment.  Temporary assignments allow you to get a foot in the door with an employer.  If an employer is impressed with your skills, work ethic and job performance, he can work with the staffing firm to offer you direct employment.
• Gain experience.  If you’re a recent graduate, re-entering the workforce, or would like to make a career transition, working as a temporary can help you gain valuable on-the-job experience.  In addition, many staffing firms offer free training to build or enhance your skill set.
• Variety.  If you enjoy new experiences or are unsure about your career path, temporary work can provide the variety you need.  You can test out different jobs, companies and industries – without long-term commitment – and find out where you fit best.

Ready to take the next step?

Join the UNITEMP team.  We’ll provide you with a rewarding temporary assignment that offers the variety, flexibility, benefits and job experience you need.

Over the years, so many companies have called UNITEMP and placed and order for a temporary employee on a temp-to-perm basis.  The “try before you buy” concept does work in some cases; but frankly, I don’t think it’s the most effective way to consistently produce the best hires.

Why?

Consider how likely it is that the superstar employee you’re searching for will be interested in starting as a temporary employee.  And if this individual is willing to work as a temporary for you, consider how committed he will be to your company.  In reality, he will have one foot out the door and will be looking for a full time job, too.

In my experience, companies that place temp-to-perm orders want to “hold all of the cards.”  But in reality, they often lose out by choosing this option.  So what’s the best way to consistently make the best direct hires for your company? 

My advice is to get a temporary immediately and simultaneously begin your search for your full-time employee.  If the temporary works out to be THE person, that’s great – you can address the option of converting that individual when the need arises.  But in the long run, temp-to-perm is not the best way to find the superstars your company needs.

Need a great temporary employee for an immediate vacancy while you search for a full-time replacement? 

Contact UNITEMP, New Jersey’s Temporary Help and Contract Employment Specialists, today.  We’ll quickly locate a qualified, hard-working individual to fill the opening while you conduct your search.

If you’ve recently fallen victim to downsizing or or a layoff, you may be tempted to file for unemployment benefits.  But in my opinion, temporary work is a much better option.  Here’s why:

• Keep your skills sharp.  If you don’t use it, you lose it.  No matter what field you work in – administrative, technical, professional or industrial - temporary work helps keep you in-touch and on-top of your game.
• Keep your morale high.  In today’s job market, it’s taking nearly twice as long as normal to find work.  When you sign up with UNITEMP, we can get you back to work quickly.  And when you’re working, you’re more likely to have a positive outlook on your situation.
• Get your foot in the door.  In many cases, our temporary employees are eventually hired by our client companies.  If you want to work for a particular company, a temporary assignment is a great way to make internal contacts and get your foot in the door.
• Try out a new career.  Ever wanted to try a different type of work?  Now is the perfect time.  Temporary assignments give you the freedom to work in a variety of positions and industries – to find the perfect new career fit for you.

Bottom line, choosing temporary work over unemployment is a smart move.  Over the years, I can’t tell you how many people I’ve met who have changed careers, improved their lives, become independent, and made more money in the long run than they expected to by working as temporary employees.  I even know some who transitioned into full time jobs, found business partners, made great contacts, and actually met the person they married by accepting temporary work over unemployment.

As far as I know temporary work does not interfere with unemployment.  Yes, you have to work for your money.  But in most cases I’ve seen, the unemployment benefits are extended if the work stops.  And, worst-case scenario, one of the good things I mentioned earlier happens while you’re on assignment.  So what do you have to lose?  Contact UNITEMP today or search our office/clerical, technical and professional opportunities.

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.

UNITEMP – New Jersey’s Staffing Economics Experts

Need help assessing the cost of a staffing strategy?  Contact UNITEMP.  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.

If your business is like most, you’ve already tightened your belt, trimming your core staff and budgets, to weather the recession.  You’re running a ”lean and mean” organization - with just enough people to get the job done.

This is a great position to be in from an expense standpoint, but what are your plans when business picks back up?

Now is the perfect time to explore the business advantages of temporary on-demand personnel:

• Get the skills you need – only for as long as you need them. A staffing service can provide individuals to work part time, full-time or overtime, any shift you require.  You pay only for their productive work hours and never have to worry about layoffs or unemployment claims once their work is done.
• Quickly staff-up to handle business surges. When business picks up, it takes a significant amount of time to recruit, hire and train workers.  On-demand staffing allows quick access to the skilled temporary employees you need, so you can capitalize on upturns in business – before those opportunities pass you by.
• Make a staffing budget – and stick to it. On-demand temporary personnel provides the additional capacity you need to get work done, without additional personnel expenses (payroll processing, overtime, benefits, etc.).  You may even be able to beat your budget by ending assignments early, once the work is done.
• Take the pressure off your direct staff. Running “lean and mean” is great for controlling expenses, but it can take its toll on your direct employees.  As their stress increases, so do problems with quality, output, attendance and turnover.  Temporary personnel can alleviate the pressure.  They can help your staff avoid burnout, improve quality and productivity, all while keeping turnover to a minimum.

UNITEMP:  YOUR NEW JERSEY EMPLOYMENT AGENCY

Maximize the benefits of on-demand temporary personnel with UNITEMP.  Since 1969, we have helped New Jersey employers like you quickly access the finest administrative, technical and professional temporary and contract employees.

The time and costs associated with recruiting, screening, testing and hiring employees are significant.  So why do it? 

If your personnel needs are short-term, seasonal or project-oriented, consider working with a staffing service.  A staffing firm can provide access to the talent you need, while eliminating many employment related expenses, including:

• Recruiting.  A staffing service can assume responsibility for advertising, posting positions online, screening résumés, interviewing and checking applicant references.  Most will also administer drug testing, when required.
• Training.  Temporary employees come to your firm armed with the skills and experience needed to do the job.  If necessary, many staffing firms will custom-design training and orientation programs to meet your needs.
• Benefits.  A temporary worker is an employee of the staffing firm.  As such, the staffing firm assumes responsibility for any benefits their employee may receive.
• Administration.  By using temporary employees, your HR department eliminates the added headaches associated with payroll processing.  The staffing firm handles all legal and administrative responsibility for payroll processing, paying workers’ compensation and unemployment premiums, and managing tax and government reporting.
• Bad hires.  If you aren’t happy with a temporary employee’s work ethic or performance, you have the right to end the assignment any time.  And if you need a direct hire, consider starting potential employees as temporaries.  This way, you can find out if a new employee has the skills and attitude you need before making a hiring decision.

For more information about our temporary staffing services for New Jersey employers, please visit UNITEMP’s website.