The present world economic situation is still troublesome. I read the news and there are still many negative developments. Many people are losing their jobs and it’s hard to find decent employment with a company that pays well.  Not all workers are sure how long they can keep their jobs and they undergo the everyday stress of worrying about getting terminated or layed off.  The situation of trying to hold on to a job is not only difficult for workers but for their employers as well. It’s hard to fire people that have been loyal and an asset to the company. But with the current economic downturn, decreasing the number of workers has turned into a necessary action for most companies.

 The great news is that there’s now a solution for the dilemma of worker layoffs. Instead of firing individuals, employers have started sharing their employees, even competitors. Yes, this is not a joke and is especially popular in the UK. This new proposal, or shall we say latest trend in the work force, was pioneered by a British association, “Work Wise UK” and they tagged their program “StaffShare”. It is basically an online swap shop wherein companies can grant their staff members for a certain period of time, usually a short or medium term, like a matter of weeks or months.

 The wonderful idea of “StaffShare” was launched almost 7 months ago and was done exclusively for charities. It has proven to be a big hit for about 90 charities including big names like that of “WaterAid” and “Save the Children”. Due to its overwhelming success, “Work Wise UK” decided to offer the program to any company who needs it.

 The two main benefits of “StaffShare” are preventing the termination of employees, thus reducing morale killing behaviors and retaining your best and brightest talent without having to subject them to looking for a job elsewhere. Moreover, the company feels great about being able to share their best workers with charitable and other organizations that need their services. This is doing two good deeds in just one move – giving hope to employees and acting generous with other organizations.

 It’s easy to follow the swapping concept. Interested companies visit the StaffShare site and then check “Seller Company” for a list of employee’s skills, pay rate and availability, as well as the particular annual cost for getting someone to work for them. After which, the “Buyer Company” will have to search the database and utilize the site’s message system to examine applicants and then settle the details with the “Seller Company”. Lastly, a contract will be e-mailed.

 I love this exchange of employees because of the benefits to all parties. First the “Seller Company” avoids laying off workers and in fact, earns a fee from those they lend. Next the “Buyer Company” instantly has workers that are highly-qualified. Last, the employees preserve their jobs and will have a chance of gaining new knowledge and experience from another company. Another great example of hope during difficult times.