The hiring process is not easy and just when you think you’ve found the right candidate, you meet them in person and it’s a disaster. They don’t seem to understand your company culture and the entire interview is an awkward mess. Could this have been avoided or is it just part of the hiring process? In most cases, you can’t truly know a candidate until you’ve met them in person, and even phone interviews can be deceiving. You can’t really know someone until you meet them and see their mannerisms, hear their first-hand knowledge, and get feedback from the rest of the team.

But they Look Great on Paper!
Some candidates will have all the qualifications and then some but won’t be a smart choice for your organization for a variety of reasons. If your teams are laid-back, prank playing, work hard, play hard kind of people, someone who is a stickler for rules and protocol may not fit in with their spirited antics. It can go the other way too; if you have someone who talks a lot, or a candidate who seems to need a lot of attention, your quiet and private team members may not appreciate this new addition. When possible, have every team member meet the potential candidate and have some questions ready for the asking. Here are some to get them started:

1. What is your work ethic? Work hard, play hard. Work is an extension of your family. All work, no play. Or work as little as possible to get the job done.
2. What is your preferred work environment? No noise. Headphones all the way. Thrive on noise everywhere. Or just ignore everyone no matter what.
3. Why did you leave your last job? Annoying coworkers. Too much work. Not enough of a challenge. Couldn’t please the team.
4. Are you a team player? Work well with others. Hate team work. Do all the work. Do none of the work unless forced to.

These seem like simple questions but remind the team and yourself to let the candidate expound on their answers. If they answer in a joking manner, wait for them to clarify and if they don’t, it is safe to assume they meant their first answer. This can give you a quick overview of how they will work within the organization and the team.

Go with your Instincts!
The candidate is putting on their best face so if they come up short, it is a safe bet to say they are not qualified for the position. If they can’t seem to mesh with the team members in the interview, they probably won’t have much more success in the actual job. Yes, there are nerves involved with the interview process but they should have the necessary social skills to make small talk with your team and you, the interviewer. Their ability to communicate and observe your culture from the interview will speak volumes for their overall office behavior. 

As a manager, you can encourage employees to think long-term and establish a concrete retirement plan, which is essential to overall morale and productivity. When your team members feel secure with their future and their lives, it might be surprising to see how productive and focused they will be. Just as with any outside problems, employees can sometimes be distracted easily and not produce quality work. It could be due to the fact some people struggle with seeing the future and can only think in the short term, here and now. How can you, the employer, promote a sense of well-being and security within your staff?

Focus on the Employees
Too many times a company will focus on the perks they offer at the business rather than what they offer for the future. Sure, you may have free snacks, coffee, and even flexible scheduling but are you employees able to sleep at night because their future is secure? No one can guarantee a perfect future but you can offer ways to make it easier. While they may not express it right away, your staff will appreciate your attention to the long-term more than how many holiday parties or free lunches you provide. There’s no need for the retirement plan to destroy the company budget and communicating the benefits of it will help increase enrollment. Helping them understand why they should care is the first step in a retirement plan.

Changing Times need Changing Plans
In the past, employees used to use tools such as overtime, their mortgage, savings bonds, and valuable life insurance policies to get them through retirement; this is no longer the case. The majority of Americans don’t pay off their mortgage in full by retirement and can’t use it as equity or as a way funding their future. More and more employees are using the plans offered by their employers because it’s an easier option and usually carry tax benefits. Companies who match employees contribution are even more attractive to current employees and future ones. One of the best ways to impart the importance of future planning to your team is just simple communication. If they are aware of what is offered and how easy it is to reap the benefits, more employees will jump on board with a retirement plan.

Communication is Key
You care about your employees and want them to feel secure in their future; by simply letting them know the available plans and how it will help can convey that feeling. Gather your teams together and present the retirement plans offered, as well as how important it is to plan for the future. Most people want to prepare but don’t know how so give them the tools in order to make the best decision possible.

Have additional questions? Curious how Pinnacle Workforce can assist you and your organization? Contact us today for more information!

Healthcare has always been a major perk for the American employee and for some, it is the only reason to stay with a particular company. Along with salary, health benefits rank near the top of the list for those seeking new employment or to improve their quality of life. With the implementation of The Affordable Care Act (ACA), companies may have to choose between paying the fines, decreasing the full-time personnel numbers, or figuring out where the extra money will come to pay the healthcare demands according to the law. Some companies may feel that hiring temporary workers will solve the problem; after all, it’s just the full-time, 30+ hours a week employees that require healthcare, right?

• Temporary, Not Part-Time
  Staffing agencies are an excellent resource for business owners who need the extra hands but not the extra hassles. Those who perform temp work usually do not work more than 30 hours a week and the company is not required to provide benefits. However, it is important for the temp worker to understand if they work more than that allotted time, the staffing agency is required to offer them health insurance under the ACA. If you want to hire temporary workers to stay under the 50 member staff requirements, working with a staffing agency can be a smart option. Keep in mind that temporary and part-time are two different roles and hold different requirements.
• Helping Small Businesses
  While the larger companies are able to navigate through the ACA with help from their on-staff attorneys, healthcare experts, and even a full HR department, the smaller companies will be left to figure it out on their own. If they are unable to work through the problems and afford the requirements, they may decide to just hire temporary staff for the time being. Small businesses rarely have the funds available to decide, on a whim, to hire more team members or change their status from part-time to full-time. The decisions take longer and require more planning, making temporary employment a great option for them to remain in compliance with the ACA.
• Moving Forward in 2014
  The new healthcare laws will be implemented in full by 2014 and whether or not you like it or agree with it won’t matter. It is part of the healthcare reform that is passed and will be enforced. Whether you have a need for temporary workers or you are a temporary worker, weigh your options before jumping into new employment or taking on new employees. There are plenty of viable and cost effective ways to comply without causing financial harm to your future.

Pinnacle Workforce has the ability to provide you with the information and team members to suit your needs. Not only can you expect to be treated with professionalism, you can also learn from the educated staff at Pinnacle on the best way to handle your staffing or employment needs. Contact us today for more information!

It’s the time of year when people begin to think about getting into better shape and improving their overall health. Maybe it’s been a long year of illness and injury, or you’re just tired of feeling tired and lacking confidence. If your employees are expressing a desire to improve their health, as their employer, what can you do to help? This time of the year can be a great season to evaluate your employee health and wellness program to ensure it is meeting the needs of your staff. If you have a wellness plan, consider what you can do to improve it and even ask those who take advantage of it what they would like to see in the program. You may be promoting a feature that no one in your organization needs or wants; save your money and resources by utilizing only certain health and wellness features.

Is it Time to Start a Health and Wellness Program?

Regardless of any desire expressed by your employees, helping them achieve a healthy lifestyle is a gift you can give to them. If you don’t know where to start, begin by thinking as an employee and implement the ideas. Here are some to get you started:

1. Keep a well-stocked break room. Healthy snacks don’t have to be expensive. Buying the items in bulk can save money as well as provide wellness. Things like bottled water, baked chips and pretzels, mixed nuts, and even fruit can be bought for a reasonable price. Employees will perform better when they are happy and healthy. Physical issues like dehydration, hunger, and sugar spikes can wreak havoc on your productivity in its own way.
2. Allow employees to work standing up at their desks or create breaks for the various teams. You can’t have the entire team on a break but encouraging each member to stand up, walk around, even get some fresh air will go far for their mental clarity and overall health.
3. Promote exercise or at least breaks throughout the day. From a Ping-Pong table to darts, this is one area that can be fun and inexpensive. Simple games lend the ability for team growth in a short amount of time. Think about how encouraging it would be for a team to play a quick game while brainstorming or they can talk a walk while coming up with the next big thing.

As the person in charge of the company, you are responsible for what happens on the inside. It is up to you to help promote health and wellness. In other words, if you want healthy, happy employees, you can make it happen with a positive attitude and allowance for things that help improve your employees. That will, in turn, increase productivity and your business will thrive.

If you want more information about how to implement a wellness program or to work in a facility with a top-notch program, contact the professionals at Pinnacle Workforce. Not only can you be healthier, you can achieve your personal and career goals.

Nursing isn’t the first profession you think of as one that allows for travel. When you think of nursing, you probably think about being in a medical facility all day; while you may have flexible schedule, it’s not exactly one that provides freedom outside of the center. If you want to travel and enjoy caring for patients in their home or other facilities, it may be time to consider a career change; traveling nurses can not only deliver excellent care but will have the opportunity to see the city or state in which they live. Because traveling nurses are necessary to their patients, the demand is high and the salaries are one of the perks of this career.

Reasons Nurses Travel
Nurses are adept at making choices on a daily basis, choices such as how to deal with emergencies, how to work with difficult patients, and even how to break bad news to families. A nurse may not always have the ability to change their pay, once they decide to practice in a certain health facility but what if you did? Would you choose location over pay, freedom over steady salary? What if you didn’t have to? What if you could live in your dream location and also be paid for your skills? This is one of the reasons nurses are jumping into the opportunity of becoming a traveling nurse.

Adventure ranks as the top reason to start a career in travel nursing as 38% of those surveyed stated that was their main reason for deciding to work in this capacity. Money was the second choice at 28%. Many of the jobs taken are based on contract opportunities and it is usually a high demand, high need area. The incentives are there for the travel nursing professionals and many take advantage of it in hopes of looking for an exciting change, more money, and the chance to work with others who need their expertise.

A Career Outside of the Box
As a nurse, you may feel that you miss out on seeing your family or friends over the holidays but for a traveling nurse, you could take a special assignment to be near your family around certain times of the year. By embarking on a career that takes you outside of buildings, affiliated centers, 25% of travel nurses were able to take on a contract to be near their family. In many situations, the job includes room and board; in fact, a travel nursing job can include an hourly rate, housing and travel expenses, and even tax benefits. What are you waiting for? Not only can you take on a stimulating job change but increase your salary and skills by learning from others in your field that may be in a different area of the country or world.

If you are looking for a career in travel nursing, contact Pinnacle Workforce today. We have a wide variety of options for your nursing career, as well as opportunities for you to try this career change.

Staffing companies are able to procure some of the best talent on the market today. Whether it is for trade jobs, management positions, technical contracts, or even healthcare facilities, employment agencies work to continuously produce results for their clients. Are some agencies more adept at finding certain types of candidates or are they all the same?

Specific Industry Related Experience
There is a big difference between candidates for a tech company and those for a hospital or medical facility. While both require specific training and skills, one candidate will be a stronger match for that position than another. An employment organization will be in greater demand if they specialize in a specific market such as tech or healthcare for the following reasons:

1. The recruiters will know the right keywords to listen for in an interview to save time and money for the client. The can place the right candidate based on their own knowledge and their history of working in that field. When talking to a candidate in the beginning stages, an industry recruiter can gage right from the start if they know what they are talking about and actually have the abilities required.
2. They will have a larger network from which to draw specific talent. In the healthcare field, they can pull the exact talent from their network such as a traveling nurse, pediatric office assistant, or a medical coder. Healthcare jobs require a unique skill set and when your agency finds candidates to match the skills, they can be placed within a new position. These healthcare professionals usually have friends and acquaintances in their network with similar skills that can be a referral at a later date.
3. The agency will have an excessive screened candidate pool. Because healthcare is a crucial part of society, candidates can’t be just any person off the street, they must be thoroughly screened in order ensure they hold the skills, experience, and reliability demanded by the healthcare clients.

Choosing the Right Employment Organization
The right team member can make or break your facility. If you blindly find potential candidates, the results could ruin your team. Utilize the services of an employment agency that specializes in healthcare placement and get the talent you need, when you need it. Your facility will need replacements on a regular basis and the right staffing agency can give you the talent you need on short notice.

If you are unsure about the risks of hiring a candidate from an agency, rest assured that Pinnacle Workforce offers a carefully screened candidate, backed by a 90 day guarantee so your candidate choices can be made with confidence. The innovative healthcare staffing options provided by Pinnacle Workforce can keep your facility, large or small, running smoothly. Have additional questions? Contact us today to see how a partnership with Pinnacle Workforce can benefit your organization.

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