Staffing Strategies

Great staffing results don't happen by accident. If you'd like to hear more praise and excitement about the temporaries your company uses, consider these 10 ideas for achieving GREAT staffing results!
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One of today's greatest challenges facing business operators is retaining qualified, valuable employees or staff members. The following tips will help the business operator have a "Staff that Lasts. "
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It is crucial for a manager to spot potential trouble lurking within an applicant—and also uncover skills and talents that will prove beneficial on-the-job. Here are five superb methods you can use immediately to help you hire high-achievers—and stay away from underachievers.
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In a constantly changing world, successful organizations must become more flexible. Just as the human body can react and “shift resources” when an infection strikes, successful organizations must also develop contingency plans that allow them to shift their resources rapidly.
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In times of tight budgets and low growth, managers need to think twice before hiring more staff. Hiring people is expensive, time consuming, and even a bit risky if you later find out that you don't really need more employees. Smart managers consider the alternatives that are available to increase productivity long before they start new hiring permanent employees. Here are some alternative steps to consider before you add more headcount.
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While using temporary employees is clearly a smart decision, how you use them can be an equally important consideration. To get the best results, and minimize co-employment concerns, follow these 10 best practices.
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20 years ago workforce planning was one of the hottest topics in HR, and now it's making a comeback. Companies are tired of feeling the pain from economic surprises. In the late 90's, it was the severe talent shortage. Today its dealing with the downturn in economy, and the need to trim staff while still attracting new talent.. "Do you Need Workforce Planning?" is about the benefits and "how to's" of workforce planning.
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Layoffs are never pleasant...for those on the receiving end or those on the giving end. This article offers tips to ease the pain that comes when layoffs are required including: how to stay open and honest with employees; how to be respectful of their feelings; how to support the morale of the remaining staff; and how to be up front with customers during this difficult time. This article also discusses how to avoid legal risk during a layoff, and offers ten suggestions for layoff alternatives.
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Nearly every organization today is challenged to do more with less. To succeed in such an environment, flexibility is key--especially in your staffing strategy. Flexible staffing is critical for operational efficiency and adaptability. When used effectively it can help you to manage your workload, meet strategic objectives, and fill in gaps in your workforce.
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This article highlights the benefits of improving your hiring process, and gives you an assortment of tools to help you make your hiring decisions. Once you've set up a process to recruit, assess, and interview potential job candidates, you can guarantee your hiring success.
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Costs for medical insurance and other benefits are on the rise. Companies across the nation are scrambling to find new solutions for meeting higher healthcare expenses all in an effort to avoid passing those costs onto their employees. "How to Contain..." discusses the in’s and out’s of reducing healthcare costs, controlling workers’ comp expenses, etc.
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The most important aspect of any business is recruiting, selecting, and retaining top people. However, many companies rely on outdated and ineffective interviewing and hiring techniques. This article will review the steps you can take to ensure a great hire the first time.
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Many times when companies use contract employees, they fail to provide the management needed to get the best results. This article describes why and how to best use and manage contractors. It also offers guidance on when to use contract employees, how to appeal to them, how to prepare direct staff, and how to maintain good communication with all parties.
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Intraplacement is a dynamic process that uses the tools and strategies of external search and applies them to internal candidates. This article will give you insight into how top firms have increased their internal movement. It will help you improve your current job posting system or show you how to replace it with a totally new Intraplacement system.
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The uncertainty caused by layoffs can impact both companies and employees in many ways, most of them negative. During large-scale layoffs, morale and productivity can plummet. Here are some action steps to take if your firm is currently undertaking or considering layoffs.
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According to a SHRM Retention Practices Mini-Survey, three of four employers are either “somewhat concerned”(33 percent), “concerned”(24 percent), or “very concerned”(17 percent) about the number of voluntary resignations in their organization. The Wall Street Journal reported that SHRM’s most often asked question from its members is, “How do we keep talent from jumping to our competitors?” Never before has it been so critical to focus on strategies for keeping good employees. Yet, employers are finding that solving the issue of high turnover is no easy matter.
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Wouldn’t it be great to have a seasoned insider who could help you navigate your company’s corporate culture? Would you like a personal coach who would give you practical advice about how to approach a workplace problem? As companies wrestle with ways to keep the "free agent" workforce satisfied, they are turning to mentor programs for these guardian angels. This article shares real life examples from companies who have used mentor programs.
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With all the cuts in technical departments over the past year, many organizations are now understaffed, and as such, new projects present a daunting challenge. This article offers readers five superb solutions to getting their work done on time and within budget. The article also provides a special feature section with common contract staffing questions and answers. Read this article

Successful retreats require careful planning in order to be of benefit to the organization and its leaders. What follows are the recommendations of experienced retreat consultants and facilitators, based on a history of successful retreats.
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What constitutes a good employee - a real "winner"? A winner is a person who is successful in your organization. The criteria which make up a winner should be determined case-by-case, based on what makes sense and what works within your organization. This article provides a summary of using a behavioral hiring approach to select and hire "winners" for your business. As a bonus, it includes sample questions to ask when interviewing.
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Staffing Best Practices: Creating A Staffing System

A staffing system leads people through the hiring process, showing them how to recruit, screen, interview, and hire new employees. This article explains what a staffing system is and how to develop an effective one. It also outlines the benefits of having a good staffing system.
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Staffing is not just about cutting costs. It's about effectively matching your staffing resources to the challenges and opportunities your business faces. Here are a few ideas to get you started on the path to staffing for profit…
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Difficult employees. They challenge us. They disrupt work. They test our patience. And sometimes, they're quite necessary. But, how do you deal with them—without losing your sanity? The following is a 3-step plan of action that will help you deal with difficult employees.
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The "cost-per-hire" metric. Sure it's used by lots of people, but so is astrology. This article explains what's wrong with it and how it could be improved.
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Over the past decade, many businesses have mastered the art of doing more with less. Quality, re-engineering, and right-sizing initiatives have resulted in unparalleled gains for American business. But the long-standing mantra of running "lean and mean" is resulting in costs that few anticipated. In many instances, understaffing has become a threat--one that can jeopardize future prosperity.
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By the year 2011, the U.S. will face a worker shortage of 8-10 million people. In many industries today, jobs are going unfilled. It should go without saying, if you cannot attract and keep your workforce, then you must change what you are doing or face the consequences.
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While great people are essential, you also have to offer a great work environment. Greg Smith, President of a management consulting firm called Chart Your Course International, has been kind enough to allow us to share his five-step "PRIDE system" for motivating people toward exceptional performance. A motivating environment is one that gives workers a sense of pride in what they do: * Provide a positive working environment * Recognize everyone’s efforts * Involve everyone * Develop skills and potential * Evaluate and measure continuously
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Old management tools no longer work. In the past, volumes have been written about the importance of compensation and work flexibility in motivating and retaining employees. Most executives will not argue the role these factors play. However, recent workforce trends are forcing managers to re-evaluate the tools used to keep top-notch talent. To reduce turnover, you must first seek to understand the primary causes behind it.
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Why is it, most organizations spend so little time and resources helping managers hire the right people? Help your managers avoid some common hiring traps that can trip up the most seasoned managers.
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