From all of us here at UNIFORCE Staffing Solutions, we would like to wish you and your family a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!
Our offices will be closed on Thursday, 11/25 and Friday, 11/26.
On Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, the fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a temporary stay or block on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on mandatory COVID-19 vaccination and Testing for the workplace. The order effectively prevents enforcement of this ETS until a final decision regarding the legality of this standard is published.
The OSHA ETS requires affected employers to comply with most provisions by Dec. 6, 2021, and with its testing requirements by Jan. 4, 2022. Affected employers include private employers with 100 or more employees
(firm- or company-wide count). State plans will have 30 days to adopt the federal ETS or implement their own vaccination standard.
Temporary Stay
The stay was ordered in one of multiple lawsuits challenging the validity of OSHA’s COVID-19 ETS. These lawsuits request a permanent injunction against the ETS. The Court justified the order because it found “cause to believe there are grave statutory and constitutional issues” with the OSHA vaccination mandate.
Impact on Employers
While the temporary stay effectively prevents enforcement of the ETS until a final decision on the legality of the standard is published, the law has not been permanently delayed or removed officially. As a result, affected employers should continue in their efforts to understand and prepare for compliance with the various provisions of the ETS. Affected employers should also continue to monitor developments of this legal challenge to learn more about the viability of, and their compliance obligations with, the ETS.
The court battles are focused on whether OSHA has the authority under a 1970 law to require companies to ensure workers are vaccinated or tested. Supporters say the move will reach millions of Americans in the workplace, expanding the number of people who are vaccinated against the coronavirus. Critics say COVID-19 isn’t a workplace safety issue, and that the administration’s use of the OHSA law is an overreach.
Source: Enquiron
Employee Background: The Administrative Support division of UNIFORCE Staffing Solutions is pleased to announce Irma Fuenzalida as our latest Employee Recognition Program Honorable Mention. Irma came to UNIFORCE in October of 2020 and she has worked with glowing reviews since that time. Irma has relevant experience in the areas of Sales Administration and Sales Proposal support. She is also bilingual in Spanish and English.
Success Story: Irma is currently working on an assignment as a Sales Administrator for a large international consumer electronics corporation located in Miami, Florida In her role, she is responsible for assisting the General Manager and VP of Latin America with the processing of sales orders, the tracking of orders as well as the creation of bid proposals for new business. Irma frequently utilizes her business level Spanish speaking skills since she supports the Latin America marketplace. Our client clearly values Irma as an essential member as she consistently provides the needed support in this growing industry and marketplace. Irma has the unique ability to understand and support her unique customer base with a customized solution. The UNIFORCE team appreciates a positive and long standing professional relationship with Irma, and we wish her many more years of success in her career!!
Next year, in 2022, the federal government is encouraging retirement savings through increase Social Security payroll tax contributions. The good news will be an increase in Social Security earnings upon retirement. The bad news may be less net wages or dollars in your paycheck.
Seniors and other Americans receiving Social Security benefits in 2022 will see the largest increase in their payments in four decades, reflecting surging inflation during the pandemic.
Next year’s cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, will be 5.9%, the Social Security Administration said Wednesday. The increase will translate to an addition of $92 to retirees’ average monthly benefit next year, bringing the amount to $1,657, the agency estimates.
Henceforth, the maximum amount of an individual’s taxable earnings in 2022 subject to Social Security tax will be $147,000, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced this week.
An increase of $4,2000 from $142,800 for 2021, the wage base limit applies to earnings subject to the tax, known officially as the old age, survivors, and disability insurance (OASDI) tax.
The growth of the Social Security wage cap from $127,200 in 2017 to $147,000 in 2022 represents a more than 15.5 percent increase over the past five years.
By the start of the new year, U.S. employers will need to adjust their payroll systems to account for the higher taxable wage base under the Social Security payroll tax and notify affected employees that more of their pay will be subject to payroll withholding.
No two days are ever the same for a Recruiter working in an employment agency, and there is never a dull moment. One glimpse behind working in an employment agency is that it’s fun, challenging, and a place where adaptability is key. How rewarding and motivating it is to help people find their dream job and change a person’s life!
Recruiters at an employment agency coordinate opportunities. A Recruiter can’t help but develop a keen sense of people and personalities, while gaining trust and becoming a relationship builder and expert Quality Control Specialist. Whew, that’s a long job description for us.
Perhaps you’ve received annoying calls from a Recruiter from an employment agency trying to entice you away from your current job. Surprisingly, the idea may unfold into a hidden opportunity, one a candidate had not previously considered.
Recruiters need to use research strategies that are inventive and resourceful, for both active (looking) and passive (working) candidates. Simply relying on regular recruiting tools – Monster, CareerBuilder, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn may not always provide the perfect person for a position we’re working hard to fill. It’s a race against time when a position comes in, and the early bird catches the worm.
An employment agency keeps a proprietary database of candidates and employees as a resource for their Recruiters. When voicemails are not returned, and emails are ignored, crucial delays raise the stress level of a Recruiter, especially when we know the candidate ideally fits this job, ‘as a perfect fit’. A generous number of hours are spent exploring and pursuing a good candidate, so it behooves a candidate to be responsive.
Recruiters don’t let rejection get them down. A Recruiter from a reputable employment agency continuously makes new connections and networks with decision makers, on behalf of job seekers. There’s no time to rehearse ‘what if’ or ‘what else could I have done’. Life moves onward and upward with no hard feelings.
It’s crucial for a Recruiter to probe what a candidate really wants without wasting time guessing. An employment agency professional collaborates with the candidate to ensure that the new job opportunity is a constructive next step in the candidate’s career path. The discussions are in depth, can require family member discussions and input, and tailored to serve the candidate’s best interests.
A successful Recruiter will also learn skill sets inside various industries in order to guide people looking to change a career. In-depth research on a client company is vital. This investigation lets a Recruiter prioritize and pose the right questions to a candidate during a rehearsal or mock interview, further increasing candidate Quality Control. They probe into each and every accomplishment, administrative or technical skill, education, past job, type of company they’ve thrived in, references, and salary requirements.
Employment agency Recruiters live in the details. A Recruiter provides its clients with pros and cons of a candidate prior to agreement of interview. Next, an extensive ‘over-the-top’ Q&A by the Recruiter prepares each candidate for that position. If recruiters are not thorough and put a candidate ‘through the ringer’ giving them crucial interview tactics, the candidate may just crumble when things get tough. A Recruiter prepares the candidate in order to avoid uncertainty or brain freeze on the phone or in-person at client.
Maintain contact, keep ‘em warm! This is the biggest mistake a Recruiter can make post-interview, especially when the process stalls on the client side, for unknown reasons. Always return the job seeker’s phone call – don’t leave them hanging and frustrated. Use that Quality Control method. When a Recruiter calls, it’s a good idea to pick up the phone. You never know what lies ahead in the path of life!
Employee Background: The Information Technology Division of UNIFORCE Staffing Solutions is pleased to announce Simeon Heath as our latest Employee Recognition Program Honorable Mention. Simeon came to UNIFORCE in July of 2020 and he has worked with glowing reviews since that time. He has relevant experience in the areas of Customer Service and Information Technology.
Success Story: Simeon is currently working on an assignment as a Customer Service Network Technician for an international security solutions corporation located in northern New Jersey. In his role, he is responsible for assisting customers who have purchased security products that provide surveillance technologies. Simeon handles customer inquires about their software programs as well as questions about hardware performance. Our client clearly values Simeon as an essential member as he consistently provides the needed support in this growing industry. Simeon has the unique ability to assure customers that their valuables are secure and safe. The UNIFORCE team appreciates a positive and long standing professional relationship with Simeon, and we wish him many more years of success in his career!!
It is beneficial for a job seeker to consider partnering with an employment agency. Choosing one that mirrors your integrity, work ethic, and similar core values. This match allows an employee’s skills to shine and deliver a positive influence to an employment agency’s client.
The ability to influence others is a challenging skill to master, yet an effective one. It encourages one’s career advancement, boosts credibility, and allows one to build a higher impact on the team and company. This skill set is an asset for an employee on assignment at an employment agency. The key is to make values and expertise impossible to ignore!
It’s a worthwhile idea for a job seeker to research local temporary employment agencies, in order to determine if it is a worthwhile ally. Partnering with the right agency will allow an employee to explore employment opportunities with a client that shares the same values as the job seeker. The benefit of working in a temporary-to-hire position provides an opportunity to try out a company and determine if talent is recognized and given the opportunity to shine. All of these components help to create an engaged worker; a worthwhile strategy to seek a competitive advantage.
Temporary employees from an employment agency regularly can contribute unique and constructive skills, with competence and proficiency. They can share their past experiences from various previous contract/temporary assignments from both large and small employers. In summary, temps can become a positive influence in the workplace.
When temporary/contract employees successfully complete previous assignments, they arrive at their new assignment eager and ready to go. They exemplify flexibility, a desire to start tasks quickly, and meld into the company environment. In fact, clients of employment agencies agree that minimal training was required when hiring an employee that demonstrated the same values and became a positive influence. Despite the new company environment, employees are off and running, fulfilling the technical and soft skill goals of the new assignment. Often, their talent and influence is welcomed.
For the employment agency client, a fulfilled worker with a satisfied and energetic attitude, adds stability, productivity, and innovation. This successful match can enhance the company culture with the full time employees. Additionally, when an employment agency client has a positive outcome with a temporary employee, assignment end dates can be extended.
Employees who seek that their values align with the mission statement of an employment agency are more likely to find a position that fits their career goals. Employees can look to their employment agency as an advisor. Together, both parties work closely to align each other with the right client company to make the perfect fit. When Human Resources departments review resumes and observe the same employment agency on several previous employment positions, that’s a recipe of success. A good match between the employee and employment agency has been made.
Since last year, according the to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of job openings in the U.S. have nearly doubled, reaching a record level of 8.1 million in March of 2021. As in the pre-pandemic days, employers are ready to hire again due to growing business demands and the need to return to normal staffing levels. Employment agencies are also busy with assisting their clients with the same staffing needs.
There are several reasons why it is difficult to find employees right now:
1. Unemployment Benefits
The federal government is awarding unemployed workers an extra $300 per week on top of state unemployment benefits. The total unemployment benefit can exceed an employee’s previous job’s weekly pay. While this is a helpful program, unfortunately, this dilemma may be disincentivizing people to return to work. This coming September, the additional federal benefit will end and the result may be a catalyst for people to return to work.
2. Health and Safety
While vaccines are widely available, many employees choose not to get them. Additionally, some employees prefer working in a remote environment. There have been some remote workforce job opportunities, but the trend UNIFORCE is hearing from clients is a preferred mostly in-office working experience.
3. Skill sets are shrinking
It is becoming more difficult to find employees with the required skill sets (e.g. training, education, technology tools, etc.).
4. The Blue-Collar workforce is shrinking
In the past, the baby boomer population provided much of the light industrial or blue-collar work. Those workers are now leaving the workforce and statistics show that young adults are either avoiding trades or pursuing college instead. Staffing Industry Analysts, a staffing industry research association, predicted there will be a labor shortage of blue collar workers through 2030.
There are ways to attract more candidates. Increasing worker pay is a proven way to incentivize workers and share worker values. Employees also want some form of promise of advancement or an opportunity to grow within an organization. Working the same job for a long time is not ideal for many.
Employment Agencies are always an excellent tool to pursue when seeking the right job opportunity. Many employment agencies are full service and provide contract, temp-to-hire and full time or direct hire job opportunities. These staffing firms also have a “direct in” with their client so they can provided valuable insight in to the career path within an organization.
While it is still very difficult to find employees, a reputable employment agency adds value by building relationships with its candidates. A staffing firm takes the time to educate future employees about job opportunities, pay rates, salaries, and career growth. Partnering with an agency that will align the job seeker’s career goals with the agency’s and client’s goals is the ideal way to pursue the ideal career opportunity.
Employee Background: The Medical Office Support Division of UNIFORCE Staffing Solutions is pleased to announce Raymund Rodriguez as our latest Employee Recognition Program Honorable Mention. Raymund came to UNIFORCE in November 2020 and has worked with glowing reviews since that time. He has relevant experience in the areas of Information Technology and Lab Accessioning.
Success Story: Raymund is currently working on an assignment as a COVID Lab Accessioner for a Pathology Lab in northern New Jersey. In his role, he is responsible for receiving and accessioning COVID specimens from medical facilities such as hospitals, doctor’s offices, and nursing homes. Raymund also provides data entry support by inputting patients’ demographics into the lab’s system. Our client clearly values Raymund as an essential member as he consistently provides the needed support in expediting COVID lab testing and results during this pandemic. The UNIFORCE team appreciates a positive and long standing professional relationship with Raymund, and we wish him many more years of success in his career!!
