Client Newsletter
April 2021
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Celebrating 48 Years of Staffing Excellence! |
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Effective communication is the key to conflict resolution and problem solving in the workplace. This requires a willingness to not only discuss and present your own thoughts and ideas, but to really listen and be receptive to differing viewpoints and alternative methods of addressing an issue, or performing a task. It’s possible that the best way to do something has yet to be discovered, and will come out of the conversation. |
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Amazon Workers Reject Unionization Efforts
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Earlier this month, Amazon, Inc. employees voted overwhelmingly against unionization. Many stating that they had concerns that their pay and benefits might not markedly increase with the help of a union. |
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Amazon, had organized a local campaign, highlighting the company's strengths and questioning the union's benefits. Some workers said Amazon helped steer their vote against unionization. Other employees said they didn't need convincing by Amazon and were against unionizing from the start.
Amazon pointed to its minimum wage of $15 an hour, double the state's minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, which is also the federal minimum. The company also highlighted its healthcare and retirement benefits. Workers said they were wary of the cost of union dues and not persuaded that the union would be able to add significantly to their pay or improve benefits. In the end, less than 16% of the facility's total workforce voted to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.
"I work hard for my money, and I don't want any of it going to a union that maybe can get us more pay, or maybe can get us longer breaks," said Melissa Charlton Myers, a 41-year-old employee at the Bessemer, Ala., facility that voted on unionization. "It's not worth the risk."
In a news conference Amazon organized Friday, some workers who sided against unionizing said they still sought changes at the facility, such as added training for managers. However, the workers said, they believed they could resolve issues with the company without a third party.
The Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store union that attempted to organize the Amazon workers plans to challenge the election results alleging that “Amazon interfered with the rights of its Bessemer, Alabama employees to vote in a free and fair election.” The union specifically called out a mailbox that was installed in front of the Bessemer facility, claiming that it was placed there by the U.S. Postal Service at the direction of Amazon. The company said the mailbox was intended to make it more convenient for workers to vote, adding that only the Postal Service had access to the mailbox.
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Attracting and Retaining Employees DOs and DON'Ts |
DO pay a competitive wage. Money isn’t everything, but if you’re at the bottom end of the pay scale in your market, you’re fighting an uphill battle for good employees.
DO look at your company culture and environment from the top managers to the entry-level employees. Does everyone enjoy working there, and contribute to making your company a place that people want to work?
DO recognize and appreciate your employees for the work they do for your company, and the value they add to the bottom line. Recognition doesn’t have to cost anything, and it can make, or save, your company money in the long run.
DO communicate with your employees regularly to see if they have any concerns that need addressing, or even any suggestions to improve morale (or profits).
DON’T think that good pay alone will attract and retain employees. Unless your company has bottomless pockets, there will always another company that is paying more. Smart job seekers know that pay is just one factor that makes a company a great place to work.
DON’T ignore negative reviews on sites like Glass Door. Like Google reviews for shoppers of products or services, some job seekers check reviews before deciding whether or not to apply.
DON’T take the attitude that it’s your company’s ball and field, and if an employee doesn’t like it, they can go play somewhere else. Employees these days have too many other opportunities. If you want to attract and retain them, you’ll need to figure out what small (or larger) changes your company may need to make.
DON’T tolerate poor performance, attendance, or attitude from your employees. As much as you don’t want to lose any employees during a labor shortage, retaining bad employees not only sets a bad example for the whole company, but it can drag down morale and turn your company into a place where people aren’t happy to work.
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At Flex-Staff we’re always looking to hire great employees to place in positions at our many client companies. With much of the state (and the country) experiencing an unprecedented labor shortage, finding those employees is more challenging than it has ever been. To get through this labor crises and help companies keep production going, we’re reaching out to all of our client companies to ask for referrals.
"Referrals??" You say... "But I can’t find enough employees for my own company."
Understood, but not every person that applies for a position at your company will be a fit in terms of skills, experience, qualifications, etc. At Flex-Staff, we staff for a wide range of positions at a large number of different companies in a variety of industries. Each industry, each company, and each position has different requirements. A candidate who does not meet your hiring criteria may be perfect for a position at one of our other client companies. And a candidate that does not meet another company’s hiring criteria might be perfect for a position at your company.
By working to help each other find the employees we need, we can all get through this labor shortage, and come out stronger on the other side.
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Get Down to Business with PSP!
Summer is just around the corner, and if your company is planning on bringing in students to help staff your open positions, consider Flex-Staff’s Payroll Service Plus (PSP) option.
With PSP, Flex-Staff assumes the employer/employee relationship and all associated responsibilities for candidates that your company has recruited, screened, and selected for summer positions. This includes onboarding paperwork such as I9 and E-verification, as well as producing weekly paychecks and year end W2’s, and assuming responsibility for providing unemployment compensation and workers’ compensation insurance, and the associated risks.
This summer, let Flex-Staff take the burden of being the employer off of your shoulders, so you can get back to business.
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Ten Tips for Workplace Safety
By identifying unsafe behaviors and conditions, you contribute to the overall safety of your coworkers. Here are 10 Tips to Keep Employees Safe:
Respect Machinery and Tools – Using tools or machinery requires training on correct usage, taking precautions, and avoiding shortcuts, no matter how tempting.
Focus on Ergonomics – If your job requires you to pick up and carry heavy loads, maintain a straight back and let your legs do the lifting; correct form protects your healthy spine. Never twist while you attempt to lift a heavy load. If it’s too heavy, ask for help.
Be Alert and Aware – To stay safe at work, know your surroundings, and familiarize yourself with the particular dangers of your job. Be aware of machinery and the potential hazards it poses.
Leverage Mechanical Help – Wheelbarrows, conveyor belts, forklifts and dollies help us avoid injuries. Take advantage of these mechanical aids whenever possible.
Make Regular Breaks a Habit – Being over-tired leads to mistakes that lead to injuries; prevent them by taking regularly scheduled breaks.
Report Hazardous Conditions – If you see something that looks unsafe or risky, or see someone doing something unsafe or risky, report it.
Know Your Exit Strategy – In an office or other building, identify where the closest exit is in case of an emergency.
Stay Sober – At work, you need good judgment, awareness, coordination and motor control. When these are impacted by alcohol or drugs, people get hurt and can even die.
Wear Personal Protective Equipment – Use earplugs to prevent hearing loss in noisy environments. Don those goggles to protect your eyes from potential flying debris. And wear a respirator to keep the air you breathe safe.
Lower Workplace Stress – Stress can cause your concentration to waver. If this happens during crucial workplace tasks, it can lead to injuries.
hurtinva.com
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Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quesadilla
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INGREDIENTS
1 large sweet potato
1 cup brown rice, cooked
8 ounces vegetarian (no added oil) re-fried beans
1 cup of salsa
1 cup fresh spinach
8 ounces black beans, drained and rinsed
¼ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon chili powder
¼ teaspoon cumin
1 jalapeño pepper, diced (optional)
6-8 flour tortillas
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Optional toppings:
Salsa
Sour cream
guacamole
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INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 375º F. Prepare a sheet pan with parchment paper. An hour before you plan to eat, peel and quarter the sweet potatoes. Bake sweet potatoes in the oven for 45 minutes to one hour, until soft. (Optional method – Cook sweet potatoes in pressure cooker at high pressure for 15 minutes with natural pressure release, then peel.) In the meantime, prepare rice in a rice cooker, pressure cooker, or on stove top as directed. Mash cooked sweet potatoes with the salsa, rice, and fresh spinach. Place sweet potato mash in a sauce pan and mix in black beans and refried beans, heating mixture thoroughly over medium heat. Add onion powder, chili powder, and cumin to taste and stir to combine. Place a tortilla in a frying pan on medium heat, and slather the side facing up with sweet potato and bean mixture. Add jalapeños if desired. Place another tortilla on top. Press down on top tortilla with spatula with pan on medium heat for about 3 minutes. Flip with spatula and cook for another three minutes. Cut into wedges and serve.
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QUOTE
“A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms." - Zen Shin
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