June 18, 2013
Most people take for granted that their food is safe, and put a lot of trust into food companies when they say that their products are this-, that-, and the other-free. More and more, health concerns and dietary restrictions need to be communicated to consumers in a clear, effective manner—and that needs to be backed up by certifications within all of the packaging plants that the product travels through all the way through the process …
June 12, 2013
[Photo by flickr user klearchos]
Summertime is nigh, and many of the industries we work with are already pushing ahead with more production and more staffing activity seasonally than in previous months. But what if your industry isn’t quite there yet? What are some of those key personnel spots that could become an issue in the coming weeks?
We thought we’d review three key areas related to each of our three business divisions to highlight some staffing needs that may arise during this time frame of both weather & work heating up:
√ STAFF VACATION FILL-INS
You’ve got some full-time staff members, and turns out they’re going to use their PTO over the next couple of months. Instead of accepting that the workload will be clogged up while they’re gone and will be bogged down upon their return, consider hiring a clerical temp worker or two to help process some or all of their workload while they’re gone. No HR concerns from your point of view—just onboard for the time period you need for reception, data management, processing, filing, you name it. Your business and your staff will thank you for it.
√ PREPPING FOR BACK TO SCHOOL
You may think it’s a bit early to be thinking about Back to School time when school’s just getting out, but not in the food industry, office supply industry, or other industries that thrive in August and September. Get set for those rush periods now by getting ahead of the game with temporary workers to process your merchandise. Whether it’s food processing, order picking and selecting, or warehouse management, a bulk of temp staff right now can really get your business ahead of the game, anticipating more and more rush orders to be delivered late in the season. Don’t wait until the last minute.
√ SUMMER SPECIAL EVENTS
Whether you’re hosting a company BBQ, Board of Directors or shareholder meeting, or customer appreciation picnic, you know that people are your most important asset—and, of course, their security and safety are at a premium. Why not hire a temporary Security Professional to monitor the meeting? Beyond just safety, Security Professionals can manage reception, act as customer service-driven greeters for your guests, and help manage the logistics of the people flowing in and out of the event, so that you know your key people are secure and, of course, can enjoy themselves.
Want to learn more about some of the creative ways businesses use personnel to boost their summertime business? Send us a note.
June 2, 2013
Sustainable Brands ’13 starts today in beautiful San Diego, CA, and we’re excited to be attending the foremost conference on leveraging the role of brands in shaping our sustainable future.
We’ve always merged our business and our social responsibility, namely in employing people with disabilities and other overlooked and under-leveraged, viable workforce groups. With the formation of our Food Packaging division and the birth of our new private label brand Lost Coast Snacks, we’ve had an eye on environmental sustainability, too.
We’ll be attending Sustainable Brands ’13 in the hopes of making some great connections concerning supply chain sustainability—both for people and the planet—with some of the world’s best brands. Stay tuned for a report, and follow along on Twitter at @depaulind or with the hashtag #sb13con!
May 28, 2013
As a customer of a Temporary Staffing agency, you’re looking to the agency to provide the top candidates for the position at hand, while ensuring that everything from an HR perspective is handled by the agency. I mean, that’s what you’re paying for, right?
The best centralized option on the market today for ensuring that businesses are in compliance with the Federal Government when it comes to work eligibility is E-Verify. Through a partnership between the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration, E-Verify is simple: Each employee that comes through our doors gets cross-checked in a government database to ensure that our customers receive only individuals authorized to work. It’s a simple concept, but one that several staffing agencies don’t use due to the paperwork involved.
E-Verify is instant, saving time on the placement side, while still being the only service that verifies employees’ data against millions of government records. As a temp staffing firm customer, you can be sure to receive only qualified, verified individuals who are legally allowed to work in the U.S. when working with us or any employer that uses E-Verify, eliminating this liability risk to your business.
Want to learn more about the benefits of E-Verify? Get in touch.
May 16, 2013
It’s often a little tricky to describe just what DePaul Industries is about, as we’re at the confluence of a lot of different businesses, structures, and ideas. To give a little perspective, here’s a round-up of three upcoming public happenings that uniquely involve three of our key components as a company:
Dave Shaffer, our President & CEO, will serve on the Board of Directors of the Northwest Food Processors Education & Research Institute (ERI). ERI works in innovation, workforce development, and strategic alliances to enhance the economic health of the Northwest food processing cluster. With DePaul’s Food Packaging & Processing division slated to top $14 million in FY 2014, our opportunities to expand in the Northwest Food Processing arena are greater than ever.
Speaking of the Pacific Northwest, we’ll be meeting with SkillUp Washington to discuss potentially opening a Staffing office in Seattle proper focused on working with employers to align workforce training with industry needs and developing job opportunities for marginalized populations. Bolstered by our presence in food processing and packaging, our Staffing division represents the core of DePaul Industries’ operations and is a model for being a conduit between business and social good.
Rounding out the third key component of DePaul Industries’ model as a business-driven force for good is Dave’s appearance on a panel at the Social Enterprise Alliance Summit ’13 on May 19-22 in Minneapolis. Driving the goal of building our economy on a purpose greater than profit, the summit will feature DePaul Industries precisely because of our aforementioned staffing model that drives both business success for the customers we work with and social good for employing the individuals that work for those customers. Check out Dave’s session on The Role of Debt in Social Enterprise and the schedule for the summit.
Learn more about these unique organizations focused on workforce development and change:
Northwest Food Processors Association
SkillUp Washington
Social Enterprise Alliance
