Fall is here

Fall is here, it's time to put an end to the many outdoor projects thatyou' ve optimistically started, but won't be able to finish until next year. Its time to nestle under a blanket in front of the TV every weekend to watch your favorite football team! Then when Monday comes, it is finally time to start rebuilding your workforce! The temperature is slightly falling, but the job market is steadily rising! In recent weeks we have experienced a solid increase in requests for permanent and temporary contract employees.

While we are still not quite at the demands from 2 and 3 years ago, it's certainly a reversal of the trend we have seen thus far in 2009. We are anxious to fill any position within your organization, with many qualified candidates eager to jumpstart their careers, let DES' wide array of specialized placement services help you rebuild your team to accommodate the large amounts of business that lie ahead. Don't forget about DES Complete, our new payroll, HR and benefits division that is guaranteed to save you money - use DES' resources to write your entire payroll, just a department, or maybe even just your seasonal help. Ask your DES representative for more details. We look forward to serving you in the near future - our service is second to none - we invite you to take the DES test - you will not find another staffing company who gives you more for the money.

Recognition is King

As companies struggle to make profits by reducing staff levels and cutting salaries, remaining employees are putting in more effort and working longer hours, often with less pay, to keep up with employer's expectations. If companies don't show appreciation and recognize employees during these times, it could hurt their bottom line even more.

When it comes to company profitability, recognition is king. Companies that are good at recognizing employees are three times more profitable than those who are bad at it, according to the New York Times Bestseller, The Carrot Principle.

In today's business climate employee recognition and retention is very important. Even if resources are limited, employers need to be positive and recognize every employee (contract and full-time) for their productivity, their attendance, their ability to increase morale and to help keep the company profitable.

One of the most effective forms of recognition is to reward employees with gifts for varying levels of achievement. Gifts could range from cash, paid time off or additional benefits and incentives.

Here are some tips to consider when rewarding an Employee...

When developing an employee recognition program have a well thought-out plan to make the recognition effective:

Consider what employees want. It's about more than fitting into a budget.
Recognize employees with items they will be happy to receive and will use.
You want them to be proud to receive the reward and show it off to others.

Give gifts as a symbol of recognition. Gifts are powerful motivators. But if you just hand it to your employees without meaning it won't really motivate them. Let them know they're appreciated and they've earned their reward.

Sharing gifts is nice, but giving as a sign of tangible achievement is more meaningful. The gift should stand for something and be a reward for an achievement. For example, you can reward employees who worked for three months without an absence with a t-shirt with your company logo.

Make recognition visible. Reward employees in front of others. Presenting the award in front of an audience and stating exactly what it is being received for makes a big impact (for the recipient and those watching).

Recognize everyday performance. While they're important to recognize, don't wait for milestones (5-, 10-, 15-year anniversaries) to reward. Smaller achievements deserve attention too. If an employee finishes a big project ahead of schedule or under budget or comes up with a cost saving idea reward them with a gift of appreciation.

Don't let budgets hold you back. In budgeting for employee recognition gifts you don't have to spend a fortune to make it meaningful. Gifts don't have to be expensive to be appreciated. You can reward with smaller, inexpensive items, but make a grand presentation or include a personal, handwritten note of thanks.