Ryan Staffing Plans To Go Digital

Last month, Ryan Staffing VP Pam Plasky attended the 2008 VCG User Meeting. So what does that mean for you? We are transitioning our business into the digital world. Plasky went to Atlanta to come up with ideas as to how to make our shift as proficient as possible. Here, she answers five questions that you need to read:

Q: What exactly was the VCG user meeting?

VCG is our software company. They design software for temporary services, and their user meeting gives anyone who uses their software the chance to meet and bounce ideas off each other. What we did was talk about different ways to use the software and talk about what kinds of ideas for software advancements. Because it's a nationwide conference, it's nice because you don't have to worry about a competitor taking your ideas.

Q: What did you go down there to specifically find out?

I went to find out how other companies have made the move to being a paperless office. What I learned was that about 90 percent of the companies there have gone or are going paperless.

Q: Is the plan for Ryan Staffing to go completely paperless?

What we aim to do is cut down on the amount of time an applicant needs to spend filling out our application at one of our offices. We are looking to make applying with Ryan Staffing more efficient. Our goal is to make us better at getting more individuals and better at placing them into the best opening.

Q: How will this benefit Ryan Staffing customers?

The easier we make it for people to apply, the more applicants we can get. For instance, if someone wants to apply but works during the week or goes to school, it may be difficult for them to come in and fill out an application. We're trying to make it so they can fill out as much as possible online at their homes. Then, they can come in on a Saturday to sign off on a few pages and sit down for an interview with one of our human resource representatives.

With all this being online, it'll free up the staff from doing tasks such as data entry. Also, applicants will be able to update their information on their own, so we'll have the best information on them. All of this should make us better at putting the best people in the best positions.

Q: What else should Ryan Staffing's customers know about the transition?

Customers can already get log-ins and passwords so they can access their personal account via RyanStaffing.com. There, our customers can read invoices, place orders, view orders and other activities involving our service to them. But those are all things customers already can do. Our transition is really to improve our application process,

RAS President Gives First Staffing Tip of the Month

Minimum Wage: The minimum wage for Ohio employers with 2008 gross receipts exceeding $267,000 will increase from $7/hour to $7.30/hour effective January 1, 2009. Those employers with receipts under the limit still must pay the federal minimum wage of $6.55/hour. Employees under the age of 18 are exempt from the Ohio minimum wage but must be paid the Federal minimum wage.

ADA: Both sides of Congress recently passed the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 which greatly broadens the scope of who is considered an individual with a disability. The Act will overturn four U.S. Supreme Court Decisions.

Obama's Priorities: The Obama agenda on labor issues includes passage of:

• Employee Free Choice Act
• Federal Healthy Famlies Act
• Higher Minimum Wage
• Ban Permanent Replacement of Striking Workers
• Expansion of FMLA

All of these are bad for business and can only create the loss of more jobs locally and nationally.

EEOC and the Staffing Industry: The EEOC last year filed a class action lawsuit against staffing company Area Temps accusing them of racial profiling in matching workers with company requests for people of a certain race.
While this lawsuit is far from resolved it does provide a timely opportunity for Ryan Staffing to re-state its policy against discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender or national origin.
It is also important that all of our clients recognize that on matters involving EEOC issues (and others) we are viewed as co-employers equally responsible for obeying the EEOC laws of the land.

Unemployment Rate Hearing: There's still no word on our appeal of our 2006/2007 rate determination. Did you know that one of the Unemployment Review Commissioners is Sylester Patton from Youngstown. He is a former State Representative that was term limited out of office and appointed to his $100,000+ position by Ted Strickland. To my knowledge, he has no experience with UC legal issues.

Staffing Tip of the Month: DOES YOUR STAFFING COMPANY INVOICE YOUR OVERTIME HOURS AT 1.5 TIMES THE REGULAR BILL RATE?
If the answer is yes, you have a great argument to negotiate a lower rate. Here is why.
Staffing companies make more on overtime hours than straight time hours simply because the pay rate is 50 percent more. Ryan Staffing has never felt a customer should be penalized just because a need exists to work a person more than 40 hours a week.
Ryan Staffing invoices conventional overtime hours at 1.4 times the regular bill rate. It is something worth checking!
*A new regular feature. Please send your questions or comments to tryan@ryanstaffing.com.