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.

1. What are we doing well and should continue doing?
2. What should we START doing that we’re not doing now?
3. What should we STOP doing that we’re doing now?

What are we doing well and should continue doing?  Every member of an organization knows what things are working, what things are helping the organization to reach it’s goals.  These things should be brought into focus as the organizations priorities.  Simply stating them brings them top of mind and causes everyone to focus on them.  There is a lot of value in doing what you do well and continue doing to do it.

What should we START doing?  Everyone in your organization has an idea on a daily or weekly basis about something that will make their job easier or delight a customer or another member.  These are the real innovative things that can propel an organization to the next level.  The leaders of the organizations should never be depended upon to be the sole innovators.  Every participant can and will come up with great ideas.  The key is to tap into them and once they’re discovered, put them into action.

What should we STOP doing?  Every member has some issue with something going on within your organization.  It could be a customer that does not add value nor profit; it could be a procedure that is outdated and needs to be revisited; it could be a dress code that everyone feels passionately about but leadership hasn’t been made aware of.

Gather your team.  Throw out these three questions and then act on them.  You’ll be a better organization because of it.

In Jason’s not for profit work and in our own offices, we’re faced with the choice of performing social work everyday or having a mindset that is socially aware and concerned.  Sometimes the easy answer is to provide all the answers to the tough questions that are being asked of those we help.  The more difficult solution is to pave the way for those to find the answers on their own.

Jason and his staff, as well as the staff here at St. Louis Staffing, work very hard finding the opportunities needed to place people into meaningful positions and satisfy their human need to work.  There are overflow needs that come about from both our work.  Often Jason must help his clientele find places to live, appropriate clothing to wear (especially on an interview) and some basic financial knowledge to make sure they can take care of themselves.  Our staff often helps our employees decide on places to live based on the work we might have for them, we have helped in making decisions for medical treatment for their children and recommended schools.

In all the examples mentioned above, there can be a temptation to do the work for those asking for it.  That is exactly the wrong message to send and the wrong attitude to take in order to help people.  Doing things for people who are perfectly capable of doing it themselves is a hinderance to the outcome of self sustainability that everyone is trying to reach with a social mindset.

If you give a man a fish, he will have a single meal.  If you teach him how to fish, he will eat all his life.  Kwan-Tzu

You inspire me because you put your family and religion first.
You inspire me because you are always 100% positive (or at least appear insanely upbeat and unweathered in the toughest of times).
You inspire me because there’s never been a person that I know of that has met you and not adored you.
You inspire me because you are extremely open to other people’s ideas and opinions.
You inspire me because you hold no grudges.
You inspire me because you put forth amazing effort to lead a balanced life with business, male friends, family, religion, exercise, rest and relaxation etc.
You inspire me because even when you are the big fish in the small business pond, you never gain an ounce of narcissism.
You inspire me because you yearn to learn more about everything and actually read, participate, etc. in new things rather than just talking about doing it.
You inspire me because you are incredibly unselfish and truly want the people around you to be happy and successful in all aspects of life; even if that may clash with your personal views or values.
Of course there’s more, but those are the thoughts that easily came to mind.

Now I have to ask you, who wouldn’t want feedback like this?  Needless to say my friend was speechless.  As he put it, “I have worked with this person for almost seven years.  We have a great working relationship and I respect her a lot as a colleague and person.  And while I believe she respects me and my point of view, I had no idea that she felt the way she did.  I’m very glad that I asked.”

Ask yourself who you find inspirational and even if they’ve not asked for it, send them a list like the one above.  It is a great way to show your gratitude this Thanksgiving.

Staffing is a leading indicator of doom and turnaround.  As I’ve written here before, our people were the first to be laid off in late 2007 and early 2008.  After all, if your orders are drying up, the quickest way to cut costs is to let the temps go and ask your base workforce to be more productive.  This just makes good sense.

Now that inventories are depleted and new orders for products are on the upswing, you need the people to get the product out the door.  A recent Business Week column indicates that temporary staffing has added 44,000 jobs since July.  This is similar to past recessions and is a clear indicator that manufacturing is turning around.

Staffing makes great sense for the manufacturing industry on a number of levels.  Answering customer demand and allowing workforces to ebb and flow with business needs are just two of the more important ones.  If your business can benefit from a more flexible workforce or if you need the expertise that a full service staffing company can offer, don’t hesitate to contact us.

• There are some brilliant people out there willing to take chances
• The most successful ideas were a collaboration of thought from different disciplines
• We all need to encourage innovation

I was impressed with practical, useful, outlandish and fun nature of the products entered.  There are too many to list here but the students recognized the need in the marketplace and responded to it well.  Some ideas were very early in the stage of development but others were ready for market and just needing an investor or the confirmation from some professionals that it had a prayer in being successful.

Invariably the best ideas had multiple team members from multiple disciplines of thought.  When business students teamed up with engineering students and included thoughts from law students as well as a sprinkling of professors, the ideas were well-rounded, believable and you could see a short path to market readiness.  There were a few ideas that came only from one discipline or another and you could tell they were pretty raw.  I believe this teaches all of us a lesson in collaboration and cooperation.  Seeking the counsel of others is certainly advisable.

As business leaders, we need to encourage all those with ideas to pursue innovation.  The cash prizes awarded in this competition were meaningful, but hardly worthy of the time spent.  Innovation is important for the good of the economy as a whole, not just the personal, monetary rewards that come with success.  Too often good ideas are laughed at or brushed off as fanciful.  Opportunity lies in the minds of great thinkers.  Everyone can dream big dreams and you never know where the next best mousetrap will come from.

Check out our Employers page for more details or click here to learn more about St. Louis Staffing.

Check out our Employers page for more details or click here to learn more about St. Louis Staffing.

Check out our Employers page for more details or click here to learn more about St. Louis Staffing.

Our conversation moved naturally towards staffing levels.  I heard from him and many others like him, a similar theme: when positions had to be eliminated and headcount reduced, the weakest performers were the first to go and are not likely to be rehired.  Does this seem alarming?  I’m sure it does to those underperformers who are still searching for a position and/or hoping their old employer will hire them back.  I believe most employers have found that they were overstaffed and used the recession and lack of business as an excellent opportunity to not just “trim the fat” but to do so in a precise manner that kept the best talent.

All of this makes great sense for companies.  The best talent always produces the best results for its customers.  Unless a company must perform according to bargaining unit rules, keeping the best and getting rid of the rest is a great first step towards higher customer satisfaction and more profits.  These two things help ensure the long-term viability of the company and everyone is a winner.

“Everyone”, you say?  What about those that have been let go and through my insinuations here, were underperforming?  These people win as well.  Long term, no matter how great the job was, if you are underperforming you will not be satisfied in your position.  This lack of satisfaction will almost certainly translate into some other form of dissatisfaction in other areas in your life.  The sooner someone is “set free” from a bad working situation the sooner they are able to find the right situation.  Standing in the unemployment line gives the person a pretty difficult perspective with which to appreciate this situation.  I have spoken with many who have successfully made it through a career transition and have echoed these sentiments.

I can’t help but think about the difficulties we’ve been through over the past 12 – 18 months as a period of pruning for business.  The branches, and therefore the whole plant, will become stronger in the long run.  However, we didn’t just bundle up the pruned limbs and through them in the fire, they have been or will be replanted and nurtured in a different manner for the benefit of the entire garden as well.