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On business, the workplace and employee relations

Reasons to Work with an Employee Staffing Firm
With the national unemployment rate approaching 10 percent, finding a job in today's economy is clearly a challenge But there's still opportunity for flexible workers Many companies may not want to add to their payrolls, but they do want to manage their workload with an appropriate staff size As the economy improves and new orders arrive, they need additional skilled labor but they're cautious about hiring more permanent employees That's when they turn to employee staffing firms

Many career-minded individuals are connecting with staffing firms either to fill gaps between permanent jobs or as part of their own plans to be "free-agent" workers They've broken away from the rigid mindset of the past that said people worked for the same company or even the same industry their entire career Working with temporary employment firms has helped them stayed employed, learn new skills and continue to develop professionally Here are five reasons why you might want to consider doing the same

Plug those gaps The severity of the current recession is such that human resources managers recognize that many qualified people have been out of work for a long time But a wide, vacant period of time in which you weren't employed is still something to be avoided if possible Landing short-term work through a temporary employment firm can limit those gaps and show you were active in the workplace

Stay sharp Even temporary assignments can help you stay current with trends and practices in your field, which will be valuable when you're interviewing for full-time work When you join a new firm you're exposed to new ideas and techniques Take notice

Morph into something new Perhaps the industry you once worked in is in decline You can look hard for another job on a sinking ship or you can look elsewhere By exploring opportunities in new fields through an employee placement agency, you can launch your career in a new direction

Scout out a company When you're a temporary employee you get an inside look at how a particular company functions Over time you'll see the good and the bad and really develop an idea of the best place for you to work

Right place, right time While you're getting to know a company as a temp, the manager is getting to know you as a possible perm Recruiting to fill positions costs a company time and money If they like what they see in you, you'll get first shot at a full-time job when one becomes available

The Working Families Flexibility Act
A bill in Congress would give certain employees new leverage to determine when, where and how long they work in their jobs if it causes a hardship with that worker's home life The Working Families Flexibility Act (HR1274) would give workers the right to ask for flexible work options to coordinate their job and home life responsibilities Employers would still retain the option to deny the request, but they'll need to explain why

The proposal would permit an employee to ask for a change in employment terms or conditions if the request was related to the number of hours the employee was required to work; if it was related to the times when the employee is required to work; or if it has to do with where the employee is required to work

Employers would be required to meet with the employee to discuss the requested change in conditions within 14 days A written decision regarding the request would be due within 14 days of that meeting, stating the reasons for any denial and any suggested alternative modifications If the employee is still not satisfied with the employer's decision, the employee could ask for reconsideration and compel another meeting between both sides to discuss the request

The bill, which is currently in the House Judiciary Committee, covers employees who work at least 20 hours per week and 1,000 hours per year, and employers with 15 or more employees

Opponents of the measure point out that employers are entitled to set the terms of employment, particularly as it relates to schedules, locations and hours Additionally, employers make those sorts of decisions based upon the needs of their businesses

In 2007 a companion Senate bill was co-sponsored by then-Sen Barack Obama, Sen Edward Kennedy and Sen Hillary Clinton Proponents of the House bill, point to a similar law in the United Kingdom, where they say adopting a flexible workplace has been shown to reduce turnover, enabling employers to retain valuable employees

Temporary Honeymoon, Permanent Impression
Let's say your job-search is over and you've landed that job you've always wanted Now it's time to get into the flow of your new company In politics newly-elected officials are given a "honeymoon" period to get acclimated to their new position and start working effectively In most new jobs, whether you're a temporary employee or a permanent hire, you can assume a similar spirit of cooperation and understanding from bosses and colleagues who are open and even anxious to help

But not for long When you join a company that honeymoon period is also a critical time for you to set the tone for how you'll be viewed by everyone else going forward Handle it well and you'll have a bank of credibility to draw on in office relations Mess up and you'll see your effectiveness diminished and your bosses wondering if they assumed too much during the hiring process

Here are a few tips on how to get off on the right foot:

H3>Arrive ready In that period between the phone call offering you the job and the day you begin, get as much information as you can about what you'll be doing Contact your boss and ask for any background research that would help Find out whom your immediate co-workers will be and give them a courtesy call They'll probably offer an overview on projects in the works

First things first You may arrive on the job with a head-full of ideas Great But make sure you take care of any immediate tasks you're given first By handling your first assignments well you'll generate confidence in others in your skills

Be tactful About those ideas, be careful how you roll them out at first Develop an understanding of how the company or your department works before you try to make things better You might be trying to improve something that a colleague worked hard to create in the first place

Be personable, not overbearing You weren't hired because of your night club act, so don't feel as though you need to be Mr Personality to make friends By being friendly and open, while demonstrating that your professional skills, you'll fit in with the office community in short order

If you need help, ask for it You can't do your job well if you don't understand what you're doing Many new hires are reluctant to ask questions because they fear they'll sound stupid Better to ask a question and avoid a mistake then to do something wrong and need even more help correcting a problem

Get Lost, If You Can

Who can afford to take a vacation this year? With unemployment at nearly 10 percent in June, many Americans are conserving funds to pay necessary bills For others holding a job, the thought of taking a vacation when their companies are cutting positions seems risky What if I leave and they think they don't need me?

But everyone from doctors to psychologists to career counselors stress the benefits of getting away from your job - and even the stress of looking for a job - if you can manage it Fortunately, the down economy has depressed prices on lodging and airfare According to Expediacom, average daily hotel rates fell significantly in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter of 2008 Las Vegas was down 34 percent, New York was down 22 percent, San Diego was down 16 percent and Orlando was down 14 percent Average airfare prices are down significantly as well

Vacations are heart healthy A State University of New York survey found that men who took annual vacations reduced their risk of death by 20 percent Men who didn't take any vacations in five years had the highest death rate and incidence of heart disease than any other men surveyed
Vacations are mind healthy The Wisconsin Medical Journal found that women who rarely took vacations were likelier to have stress at home and sleep less Those who took frequent vacations were less likely to become depressed, tense, or tired
Vacations recharge the imagination Breaking away from the routine of your day stimulates the mind and inspires new ideas
Vacations improve productivity You can slip into a work rut and not even know it Deadlines are wearing Bosses are demanding Clients are impatient Over time the pressure builds up You won't realize it until you're away from the job