Category: Industry Highlight

Getting America Back to Work

A door with notes that read "Sorry we are closed. Covid-19."

“There are seldom, if ever, any hopeless situations, but there are many people who lose hope in the face of some situations.” – Zig Ziglar

We are certainly all experiencing Covid-19 fatigue by now, and the accompanying uncertainty of when we can all return to life as we once knew it is yet another quandary without a clear answer. If we adhere to the idea that the one single constant in life is change, then dealing with a new normal will be easier to accept. As Zig’s quote above reminds us, we are not in a hopeless situation, but the loss of hope is what can drag some people down.

If you’ve lost business, been laid off, or if your company has gone under completely, then it’s understandable that you’d be less than hopeful at this point. Couple that with the fact that shelter-in-place orders are being extended nationwide, and it gets all the more frustrating.

But, we all need to face the facts and deal with these realities in an effort to bounce back and overcome these challenges. If this includes a long look in the mirror and a frank gut check, so be it. No one said life would be fair, but a very wise person once said, “it’s not what happens to us, it’s how we deal with what happens to us that matters.” Not sure that person was Zig Ziglar, but it’s a phrase that bears strong consideration.

Here are some other things to consider, and plan for, as we all get to the task of getting America back to work.

The road less traveled by

If you’ve lost your job, now’s the time to do some soul searching and determine how you’re going to start working again. Your industry may now have an entirely different look and feel as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. Are you prepared to make those adjustments? If you have successfully been able to work from home, is that something you may want to continue? Can business function effectively without face to face meetings and handshakes? Can we use Zoom or Microsoft Teams to conduct all of our meetings? Should you take this opportunity to get into an entirely new line of work? The point here is that we’ve all been pushed into a crossroad and need to choose a path or navigate the direction our particular industry or company will head in. This is a time for self-reflection in terms of leveraging your particular strengths in an effort to determine what your work life is going to look like as we all move forward.

Mask, check. Gloves, check. Hand sanitizer, check.

What will going out in public look like? Will you be required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at work? Have your temperature checked? We all need to be prepared for changes in this area, and we all need to be prepared for interacting with others who will rely upon their own individual choices concerning the use of some, all, or maybe no PPE, despite the advice of noted medical experts. Being prepared for this will be necessary, along with continued guidance on what’s recommended to protect yourself and others in the workplace, and in other public places.

May I have this dance?

People are social creatures. We generally enjoy and seek out the society of others, but what about jumping on a crowded elevator in an office building? Can you hold your breath all the way up to the 25th floor? How will you get to work or to meetings? Subway? Car? Bus? Airplane? Bike? Walk? Does your work require you to be in an office full time or even part time? And that’s to say nothing of someone serving food in a restaurant, bar, or a sporting venue. How, when, and where you work or interact with clients, customers, and associates may be just as important as what you choose to do for work. Consider the options and decide accordingly.

The cure may be killing us

We may not be able to solve the worlds’ problems in a short blog, but we do need to consider the costs of not returning to work in a timely manner. This is not to say we do so in a cavalier fashion, void of all precaution, but our overall economy sitting idle is not a good thing. We all need the challenge offered by meaningful work in order to be fulfilled in life and every day we don’t engage in that beneficial activity is another day lost. If you’ve been able to function and make your contributions from home, great, but a large majority of people earn their livelihood in a manufacturing plant, warehouse, restaurant, barbershop, etc. Each business that provides valued goods and services is essential and should be allowed to reopen. We don’t have time here to address the ramifications of shelter-in-place orders, in some cases leading to substance abuse, growing concerns about obesity, or domestic violence as a result of people being forced to stay at home rather than work, but these are serious issues added to the mix.

In summary, let’s not lose hope in our ability to meet challenges in challenging times. May our government bodies work in the best interest of the constituents they’re obligated to serve and form reasonable policies that respect our rights and safety, but allow the freedoms we enjoy as US Citizens, one of which is to be gainfully employed in our chosen field of endeavor.

All of us here at STS Staffing understand the need for getting America back to work, so please contact us if you’re looking for a job or if your company needs employees to help your organization prosper and grow as we emerge from this economic pause.

10 Reasons Why Becoming a Contract Nurse Is Your Best Option

Two female contract nurses standing next to each other in their scrubs inside a hospital

Today’s guest post comes from Catherine Burger, BSN, MSOL, RN, who has worked as an RN for nearly 30 years. 

There are many reasons why nurses choose to work on a contingent basis for companies that specialize in staffing services. These agencies are created to fill both short-term assignments for per-diem nurses and also assist those seeking permanent assignments. Many people work for nurse staffing agencies in addition to a permanent schedule with an organization, while some nurses are exclusively on contract.

Already interested in learning more?  Contact STS Staffing today!

What Is a Contract Nurse?

Contract nurses are guaranteed full-time hours by hospitals and other healthcare facilities for as long as their contract goes. These contracts can run for as short as 1 month or as long as 26 weeks. After the contract ends, the nurse is free to do what they want, whether it’s taking a month-long sabbatical, signing another contract or moving to another city to pursue another nursing contract. 

Here are more reasons why people become contract nurses.

Why You Should Be a Contract Nurse

1. More Freedom

Nurses working for contract agencies can pick and choose their own schedules and worksites to fit around their lifestyle.

2. Less Politics

Contingent workers such as nurses have the benefit of not getting involved with the daily politics of a department or organization. They can come to work, provide excellent care, and leave the drama when they clock out.

3. Availability of Work

Most nurses find that if they have the knowledge, skill, ability and willingness, they will always be able to quickly pick up work for nursing shifts.

4. Colleagues Are Happy to See You

For most departments and facilities, staff members are always grateful to see a per-diem nurse arrive on the unit to share the workload.

5. Nurse Leaders Are Happy to See You

Organizations that hire contingent nurses know that the workers have been thoroughly screened and have the skills needed to care for the patients. They also count on the fact that these nurses are under contract with the organization and so there is less chance of the nurse calling in sick or not showing up for the shift.

6. Geo-Flexibility

Moving? Nurse staffing agencies can be found everywhere from small towns to large cities. Nurses can easily sign on with a short-term or per-diem contract in any area to either bridge the gap of a permanent job or supplement income.

7. Insight Into Organizations

Nurses who pick up assignments at varying hospitals or clinics get to see how the organization is managed without the commitment of a permanent assignment.

8. Reap the Benefits of the Gig Economy

It is estimated that as many as 40% of workers in today’s economy identify as being freelance or gig workers. Nurses, or knowledge workers, are no different. Designing a schedule that fits around your life is becoming more popular, especially when a partner is able to carry health insurance coverage for the nurse.

9. Tax Breaks

Many states offer tax breaks or incentives to contract staff to include uniforms, continuing education credit, and mileage. Nurses should check with a tax authority to reap all possible benefits.

10. Less Burnout

Having the ability to control your schedule and place of work leads to higher satisfaction, so the chance of burnout is less likely. Nurses can choose from a variety of settings within an agency’s postings, which can offer nurses a frequent change in vocational scenery.

The contract nurse has a plethora of reasons to work as an at-will or per-diem employee. Nurse staffing agencies provide an excellent home-base for nurses seeking this stable, yet flexible career pathway.

How Job Placement Agencies Help You Find the Perfect Employee

A male engineering training a new engineer about how to use the machine
As a business owner, you understand that efficiency is the key to optimizing productivity. An area of business that’s difficult to streamline is the hiring process. Think of all the steps involved from creating the job posting to vetting interview candidates.

Job placement agencies are used to relieve that pressure and give you more time to focus on improving your business. Here’s how job placement agencies help.

How Do Job Placement Agencies Work?

Job placement agencies are hired by companies to find employees for a specific role. The company will send the agency a position they are hiring for and the job placement agency will perform a search of their proprietary database and may also post the job on a board that is closely followed by its network of people looking for employment.

The reason companies hire job agencies is to gain access to the agency’s network of candidates who are ready to fill a specific role sought by the company. Job placement agencies can also vet and interview these candidates for the companies, saving them time and other resources.

Companies partner with job placement agencies because they can connect to real people sooner than posting a job description next to hundreds of other job postings on the internet. And people looking for work flock to job placement agencies for a variety of reasons:

  • It’s free for people to use
  • They will bring the jobs to you instead of the candidate searching for a job themselves
  • A variety of companies in different industries use job placement agencies
  • They get people prepared for specific industries
  • They know the market and can provide valuable insights

What Is the Difference Between a Job Board and an Aggregator?

The difference between a legitimate job board and an aggregator site is that job aggregators collect different job openings from across the internet and put them in one spot.

Job boards have positions sent to them from trusted companies they have worked with in the past. Many job placement agencies have their own job boards that are targeted toward a network of candidates interested in a variety of industries.

The trusted relationship between job board host and company gives them the advantage over job listing aggregators like Google or Bing. These search engine giants can’t vet candidates before they apply for a position at a company, which leads to stuffed inboxes and more resumes for the human resource department and hiring leads to sift through.

Why Companies Use Recruitment Agencies

Companies use recruitment agencies because of their numerous resources and their knowledge of the hiring process. Instead of wasting time and money internally, companies use these agencies for many reasons, including:

  • Faster hiring process
  • Experts in hiring
  • Access to a network of candidates
  • Save companies money
  • They relieve stress

Are Recruiting Agencies Worth It?

The simple answer is yes, and the biggest reason is that it saves you money in both the recruiting and training process — 2 of the biggest financial factors for companies big and small when it comes to finding and hiring new talent.

Turnover not only affects a company internally, but it can also hurt the company’s bottom line by spending top dollars to find a replacement. Marketing the job opening, internal recruitment-related tasks and time spent conducting interviews, drug tests, etc, all cost your company when hiring. Even replacing a minimum wage employee can cost a company $3,500.

Consider this: According to Training Magazine, companies spent nearly $1,900 per year on training every new employee. This includes the time spent by current employees bringing a new hire up to speed on internal processes and on-the-job training.

How Can a Job Placement Agency Help My Company?

You can cut the cost of advertising your position and vetting candidates with a job placement agency like STS Staffing. We give you the tools and resources your company needs to keep the cost of hiring as low as possible.

If you’re ready to work with a job placement agency and fill an open position right away, contact our team to find your customized solution. We have provided temporary and permanent staffing services for numerous companies and we can’t wait to help yours.