Category Archives: Safety / Risk Management

Computer Ergonomics And The Workplace

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Have you ever considered the effects of your workstation on your health or your organization’s bottom line? If not, you should. According to the U.S. Department of Labor repetitive stress injuries have cost employers over $20 billion in workers’ compensation claims; factor in the pain, loss time, and loss of productivity and the numbers become astounding. While many work stations are built and assembled to a standard size, employee height, comfort, and position vary greatly. Here are some great tips on computer ergonomics that may decrease potential for injuries, increase physical energy, and increase productivity in the workplace!

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  • Keep the top of the computer screen at or just below eye level and approximately 20 inches away from you.
  • Make sure your chair is adjusted for you. Your back should remain supported, your feet should rest flat on the floor or foot rest, and your knees should be at approximately a 90 degree angle when seated.
  • Position your keyboard so that your wrists are straight and your elbows rest at a 90 degree angle. Consider a keyboard tray or wrist rest to provide additional support if needed.
  • To avoid strains on your neck and eyes, place a document holder at screen level.
  • Change positions frequently to release tension on your body. Consider standing and stretching every hour briefly.
  • Keep your most frequently used items within easy reach.

Some simple adjustments can quickly make your workplace more comfortable, safe, and productive. Speak with your employees about additional available equipment such as foot rests, wrist rests, and document holders to reduce strain and pain in the workplace.

Are you a stand out professional, technical professional, driver, or skilled worker seeking contingent, temporary, or long term career opportunities?  Visit our job board  for more information!  Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of professionals and skilled workers? Contact us today!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

 

Bottom Line Benefits to Safety Programs!

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While building, enforcing, and maintaining a strong safety program can be time consuming and expensive, the repercussions of not doing so can be detrimental to your business. In addition to the safety of your staff and organization, here are some bottom line benefits to a strong safety program:

  • Reduced attendance issues
  • Decreased employee turnover rates
  • Higher employee productivity
  • Greater efficiency as a company
  • Increased quality of work
  • Decreased scrap and waste products
  • Increased employee morale
  • Positive brand image
  • Decreased health care costs
  • Decreased workers’ compensation costs

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The time, resources, and planning for a safety program will vary greatly based on your line of business, company size, and exposures. Consider partnering with a third party safety organization or your legal counsel for best practices.

Are you a stand out professional, technical professional, driver, or skilled worker seeking contingent, temporary, or long term career opportunities?  Visit our job board  for more information!  Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of professionals and skilled workers? Contact us today!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

Job Postings That Work!

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Are you frustrated with the number of job postings that you’ve posted only to find you still don’t have qualified candidates? Are your monthly charges to job boards beginning to look like they need a P&L of their own? Now’s the time to fix it!

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With online job boards including millions of job postings each year, standing out among the competition is essential. The days of simply putting an ad in the newspaper resulting in stacks of resumes are gone. Today’s job postings must include several key components including:

  • SEO Value: If you aren’t familiar with SEO, you’re already behind in the game. SEO or Search Engine Optimization, refers to the content or structure of online content so that it will be prominently displayed by a search engine. Making sure that your job posting is rich in SEO value is the key to making sure that your job posting is even located by candidates. SEO value can be gained through strong and prominent keywords, exact location matches, and relevance between the content in your posting and what the job seeker is searching for. The more you have in common with their search statement, the more likely they are to find your posting.
  • Content is the key. No matter how great your SEO value is or how many candidates land on your posting, if the content in your posting doesn’t sell the position it won’t matter. The posting should include industry buzz words, specific qualifications, and enough information for a candidate to determine whether or not they are qualified for the position.
  • Is your job posting visually pleasing? According to HireRight, 75% of job seekers say the look and feel of a job posting influences their decision to apply. Make sure that your job posting visually appeals to the audience. Is it free of errors, includes important details, and is it easy to read through quickly? Most job seekers will not take the time to read a full length job description, make sure your posting includes the important details and nothing more.
  • Sell your job! Why would someone want to work for you? What sets a career with your organization apart from your competitors? This may be your only chance to sell a career with your company to the candidate, make sure you do it well! Include valuable information about your benefits, employment brand, and enough information about your organization that a candidate can see why a career opportunity with your organization is something they should be interested in.

The battle for top talent is becoming increasingly harder in most industries. Maintaining a strong employment brand, a great employee retention program, and a proactive recruiting strategy are all great ways to stay ahead of your competition in the recruiting field.

Are you a stand out professional, technical professional, driver, or skilled worker seeking contingent, temporary, or long term career opportunities?  Visit our job board  for more information!  Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of professionals and skilled workers? Contact us today!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

Job Hunting? Clean Up Your Online Presence First!

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Are you ready to begin a job search? Before spending hours completing the perfect resume, locating interview attire, and searching the countless job boards, take some time to clean up your online presence first. According to behiring.com, as many as 68% of employers will locate you on Facebook alone. Does your Facebook profile resemble the same person you are trying to portray in an interview?

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About 1 in 3 employers have rejected a candidate based upon what they learned about them online. Often times your professional strengths, accomplishments, and skill set can be overshadowed by content or photographs located online; quickly costing you your dream job. So what can you do to protect yourself?

  • ·         Make your non-professional profiles private. Create separate profiles for your professional and non-professional social networks and keep non-professional profiles private.

  • Make sure your professional profiles sell you. Do you have a LinkedIn profile? Make sure it is complete with endorsements, a professional photo, detailed information about your duties and accomplishments, and is connected to others in your field.
  • Network. Network. Network. Take advantage of social networks. Connect and more importantly interact with others in your line of work. Participating in groups, answering questions, and posting content that is relevant to your line of business will all help you gain professional rapport and be seen as a knowledgeable in your field. Let those around you know that you are open to career opportunities and let your social networks work for you.
  • Check and re-check your online presence. Before you make the assumption that you have cleaned up your social profiles, test it. Have others search for you and see what they are able to view on your profile. Don’t forget about profiles that may exist on sites that you no longer use such as Myspace. Lastly, don’t forget to run an online search including an image search for yourself. This is a great way to locate any forgotten profiles, tagged photos, etc.

While companies are struggling nationwide to obtain the top talent in their industry, most are not willing to take a chance on someone with an online presence that could damage their professional image. Taking a few moments to prepare before marketing yourself could make the difference between yourself and another candidate landing your dream job.

Are you a stand out professional, skilled trades person, or technical professional seeking contingent, temporary, or long term career opportunities?  Visit our job seekers section for more information!  Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of professionals and skilled workers? Contact us today!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

Distracted Driving Remains A Deadly Epidemic

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Despite a 2011 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulation prohibiting the use of handheld phones while driving for bus and truck drivers, distracted driving is still a deadly epidemic on our roadways. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as many as 660,000 automobile drivers are using a cell phone or manipulating an electronic device during daylight hours.

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What does this risk factor amount to? Here are a few statistics from the CDC:

  In 2011, more than 3,300 people were killed in distracted driving related crashes

  • In 2011, more than 387,000 people were injured in distracted driving related crashes
  • In 2010, nearly 1 in 5 crashes that resulted in injury involved distracted driving

    • With professional drivers facing fines of almost $3,000 per offense and even loss of their license for repeat offenses for the use of handheld phones while driving, the FMCSA is working hard to combat the deadly issue. Unfortunately these consequences are not significant enough for some drivers. Companies who employ drivers must take additional steps and efforts to help enforce the safety of their staff and others. So what can you do?

    • Create and enforce policies in your employee handbook to prohibit distracted driving

    • ·         Place phone numbers on your vehicles allowing other drivers to report distracted or poor driving behaviors

    • ·         Regularly communicate the dangers of distracted driving to your staff and provide safety tips to prevent it

    • Make safety a main priority for your organization
    • Recognize and reward drivers for safe behaviors and compliance with your safety rules, state, and federal regulations

    Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of professional drivers? Contact us today! Learn more about our Dedicated Driver Services here! Are you a safe and professional driver who is seeking a rewarding career? Visit us here to locate a driving career in your area!

    Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.


     

    Finding A Recruiter Who Works For You!

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    Whether you are seeking a new career path or are seeking to hire the newest talent for your organization, finding a recruiter who works for you, not with you will make or break your experience. A recruiter should work as your agent and should exhibit the same qualities that a sports agent provides their talent.

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    Not sure how to qualify your recruiter?

    Here are some simple steps to get you started.

    • Determine their qualifications. The recruiting industry has the highest turnover rate of any industry with approximately 90% turnover within the first year.  Recruiters makeup a large majority of the profiles on LinkedIn, if your recruiter does not have an active and complete profile with a large number of connections take caution.  A recruiter’s LinkedIn profile is an excellent place to pre-qualify them. Do you they specialize in your line of work? How long have they been in the industry? The longer they have been in their role the larger the network and career opportunities or top level talent they can connect you with.

     

    • Conduct a mutual interview. A proven recruiter should be confident, almost arrogant about their abilities. If they aren’t able to sell themselves how can they sell your qualifications as a candidate or sell your position and organization to the industry’s top performers? Simple, they can’t. Be perfectly clear about what your priorities are and what items would make or break the perfect match for you. Inquire as to what their network in your industry looks like and what types of similar positions they have filled in the past.

     

    • Make sure their greatest strength is listening. If the recruiter is more focused on talking than listening, they’ll likely miss important details that are crucial to making the right fit for you. Make sure they ask you great questions, take notes, and have an attention to detail. Finding the perfect match can’t be done if they don’t have the details needed to make the match.

     

    • They should be busy. Especially with the recent surge in staffing, if your recruiter is available to take your every call that may not be a good sign. The staffing industry has seen a consistent surge since the economic recovery, if your recruiter excels in their field they should be extremely busy balancing candidates and clients.  While they should be busy, they should also set clear expectations of when they are available and how best to reach them.

     As with any business partner, if you feel that you are not connecting well with your recruiter it may be time to look at other options. Often times the best way to locate a top notch recruiter is to seek referrals from others in your line of business. As many as 90% of companies have partnered with a staffing agency in the past for recruiting support, therefore it’s very likely that you know someone who has hired a recruiter in the past for recruiting services or that you know someone who has located a position through a recruiter.

    Are you a stand out professional, technical professional, driver, or skilled worker seeking contingent, temporary, or long term career opportunities?  Visit our job board  for more information!  Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of professionals and skilled workers? Contact us today!

    Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

    Trillium Staffing Owned By René Poch, Recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts

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    René Poch founder and CEO of Trillium Staffing, recently announced that Trillium was listed in the top 25 of Staffing Industry Analysts’ 2013 List of Largest U.S. Industrial Staffing Firms and in the top 70 of their 2013 List of Largest U.S. Staffing Firms!

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    Trillium Staffing was founded in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1984, by founder and CEO René Poch. Since that time, René Poch has steadily expanded the employment service to include six companies with over eighty locations across the nation. Today, Trillium is proud to be recognized as a national leader in industrial staffing, providing service to thousands of clients and employees in various capacities across the country. Trillium was recently recognized in the top 25 of Largest U.S. Industrial Staffing Firms and in the top 100 of U.S. Staffing Firms by Staffing Industry Analysts for 2013.

    “Many years ago when we started the company we felt that there were a couple of things that we needed to do particularly well. The first was to give great customer service, that means finding the absolute best candidate for the jobs that we have available. Today, we use a partnership approach between our candidates and our clients to find the best possible career matches,” states René Poch, CEO.

    The organization’s commitment to excellence has been the driving force behind its growth and expansion. Trillium is proud to employ a full time risk management team to help clients identify areas of liability and provide an unsurpassed safety program for their employees. As experts in industrial staffing, Trillium has incorporated stringent hiring requirements, testing, and background checks to ensure only the best qualified skilled trades employees are placed on assignment with their thousands of clients nationwide. Trillium’s commitment to placing only the safest and most qualified talent on assignment provides not only Trillium, but also our employees and our clients with added protection and security. Prior to being placed on an industrial assignment, Trillium employees complete a comprehensive safety training. “There really are no accidents, awareness is the key! You don’t get injured because you are aware of the hazard,” commented Jamie Ellis, Safety Manager for Trillium.

    With a recruitment team of approximately 250 individuals nationwide, Trillium excels at attracting, identifying, and recruiting some of the best candidates in each line of work. Trillium uses the latest technology and sourcing tools available to locate and identify talent for some of the industry’s hardest to fill positions. Trillium employees have access to careers with some of the nation’s leading employers along with competitive pay and benefit options.

    “We have the same commitments to each and every one of our employees as we do our clients. We have high expectations and our requirements are stringent. Once you become an employee of Trillium, we’ll do everything in our power to help you succeed and meet your career goals. When our employees are successful, we’ve done our job,” stated René Poch, CEO.

    Are you a stand out professional, technical professional, driver, or skilled worker seeking contingent, temporary, or long term career opportunities?  Visit our job board  for more information!  Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of professionals and skilled workers? Contact us today!

    Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

     


    Maintaining A Strong Rapport With Your Staff

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    When was the last time that you connected with your team on an individual level? Do you take time outside of your usual performance review process to acknowledge and connect with them? If not, you should. Maintaining a strong rapport with your staff is a critical part to managing and advancing your team and their efforts.

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    A strong rapport with your staff can reveal inefficiencies in the organization, departmental processes, and help to identify issues within your staff that may result in turnover if adjustments are not made. Communicating openly and regularly with your staff also allows for the generation and implementation of new ideas, guidance opportunities, and employee recognition. Not sure where to start or how to fit it in with your other countless duties? Here are a few quick tips:

    • First and foremost you have to make it a priority. As with anything on your to-do list, if you don’t make it a priority chances are you won’t make time to meet with your staff. Mark it on your calendar as any other important appointment and stick to it.
    • Keep it simple. Sometimes informal meetings can be even more productive and revealing than a structured meeting or progress meeting. Step outside of the office to a mutually comfortable setting such as a restaurant or coffee shop and make yourself available and free from distractions such as your phone and email.
    • Prepare for the discussion and remain open minded. Do your homework. Be sure to acknowledge specific accomplishments your employee has achieved since your last meeting. Be open to their feedback, both positive and negative. Often times the best ideas, changes, and suggestions come from those who work in the trenches day in and day out. Remain objective and avoid becoming defensive of any constructive criticism.
    • Make a follow up plan. Did you discuss ideas or changes that may need to take place? Are there things that you may need to investigate further or additional tools that may be helpful to the team? Be realistic and up front with what your team member can expect from you. Give them a timeline in which you plan to consider the points of your discussion and when they will hear back from you. Create an action plan for simple executable items to get the ball rolling.
    • Thank them. Make sure your employee understands that you appreciate them making the time to meet with you and let them know the best times for them to reach out to you if they have things that they would like to discuss further. If your staff feels that the meeting was something done out of obligation rather than a genuine interest in their development at the organization, they’ll be less likely to engage with you in the future.

    Even the best leaders and managers can experience failure if they don’t have the support and dedication of a strong team behind them. Keep in mind that every member of your staff brings an added value to your organization and deserves recognition and acknowledgement on a regular basis. For more information on employee recognition, click here.

    Are you a stand out professional, technical professional, driver, or skilled worker seeking contingent, temporary, or long term career opportunities?  Visit our job board  for more information!  Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of professionals and skilled workers? Contact us today!

    Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

    Achieving A Great Work-Life Balance

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    Do you find yourself struggling to find a fair balance between your work and your personal life? You are far from alone. Changes to the traditional workforce following the recent recession, have resulted in employees handling more of a workload than their roles had required in the past.

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    Employees who struggle to find balance between their professional and personal lives can suffer from poor work performance, stress, exhaustion, illness, and depression. Often times employees who are unhappy with the balance between their work and personal lives are likely to experience turnover in their careers. Finding a suitable balance for yourself and your employer may be easier to do than you think. Here are a few tips to get you started:

    • Have a clear understanding of your professional obligations. Make sure that you are aware of what your employer expects of you and what they consider as above and beyond. Chances are some of the added stress and responsibilities that you find yourself overwhelmed with are not expectations for someone in your role.
    • Find out what workplace flexibilities are available to you. Does your employer offer flex time? Do they allow employees to work remotely on occasion? Today’s workplace offers more flexibility than ever before. With the technology available, employers are able to allow more staff to work from home with the same capabilities and accountability as working in the office.
    • Determine if you are working as efficiently as possible. Do you find yourself working overtime regularly? Chances are there are process improvements or delegations that could significantly cut down on your need to work over. The average worker spends as much as 28% of their day working on email! Set specific times of the day to check and respond to email, allowing you to be more efficient throughout the day. Unless your role requires you to be available after hours, consider turning off your email on mobile devices during your personal time. Remaining focused on your personal activities during your off time can help you make the most of your down time.
    • Create and maintain priorities for yourself. Realize and accept that you can’t always be involved in everything. Determine work and personal life priorities and create a plan to help you accomplish those tasks before taking on additional obligations. Communicate to those around you that while you’d love to be involved in everything that’s not realistic for you right now, you are setting priorities that will allow you to dedicate yourself to certain important events or projects.

    While admitting to yourself and others that you cannot do everything is difficult, the ramifications of a poor work-life balance can be far worse. Be honest with those around you about what you are available for and accept the things that you cannot handle at the moment. Remember to take time for yourself. Most positions provide  vacation or personal time off, taking the time off that you have earned is important and can allow you to return to work refreshed and refocused.

    Are you a stand out professional, skilled trades person, or technical professional seeking contingent, temporary, or long term career opportunities?  Visit our job seekers section for more information!  Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of professionals and skilled workers? Contact us today!

    Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

     

    Safety Concerns As Construction Season Booms!

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    With construction in it’s peak for most of the country, now is a great time to assess your risks and safety protocols. As recently as this week headlines are filled with work related injuries including work related fatalities. How can you avoid putting your staff at risk?

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    This week the construction of the new “Levi’s Stadium”, future home of the 49er’s was plagued with a work related fatality. A local contractor lost one of their long time elevator workers when he was struck by a falling counterweight while standing on a ladder at the bottom of an elevator shaft. Even with 43 years of experience on the job and what has been reported as appropriate PPE for the job, this 63 year old was lost. The $1.3 billion project with approximately 1,000 tradesmen on site was shut down for two days. How can you protect your team before it’s too late?

    Host and engage your staff in regular safety meetings. Even the most qualified and experienced of tradesmen need to be reminded of safety procedures, cautions, and be aware of what is taking place on the job site. Regularly screen employees for PPE and question them on their safety precautions. Encourage all contractors on site to report any safety concerns or possible dangers to the on site safety manager immediately. Some of the safest sites include those who offer bonuses to those who report safety concerns and offer rewards for long periods of time on site without injury.

    While maintaining and regularly evaluating your job sites for safety concerns can be time consuming and cost additional investment dollars, the return on investment is undeniable. Simple investments such as reflective vests, bright colored hard hats, additional safety fencing, and mirrors can save costly injuries quickly. Be sure to include all temporary workers who are on site in your regular safety meetings and practices. Everyone on site, regardless of their length of employment should have a part in maintaining a safe job site.

    Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of experienced construction workers? Contact us today!  If you are a stand out skilled trades worker seeking short or long term career opportunities, visit our job seekers section for more information!

    Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.