Author: Pedro Rodriguez

Categories
Partnership

StaffWizard Partners with Defencify to Streamline Guard Training and Workforce Management

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


StaffWizard Partners with Defencify to Streamline Guard Training and Workforce Management

StaffWizard, the leading all-in-one staffing and payroll software solution for the security industry, today announced a strategic partnership with Defencify, the premier provider of online security guard training. This collaboration aims to deliver an integrated experience that simplifies workforce management while ensuring guards are trained, certified, and job-ready — all in one seamless platform.

By joining forces, StaffWizard and Defencify are revolutionizing how security companies recruit, train, and manage their personnel. Through this partnership, users of StaffWizard can now directly access Defencify’s state-approved training modules from within the StaffWizard platform, enabling hiring managers to track training completion, compliance status, and onboarding progress in real time.

“This partnership is a game-changer for the security industry,” said Conor Boatman, Founder of StaffWizard. “By integrating Defencify’s best-in-class training programs with our robust workforce management tools, we’re helping our clients save time, reduce risk, and ensure that every guard they deploy is trained, qualified, and ready to go.”

Defencify’s on-demand training includes licensing and renewal courses tailored to meet the specific requirements of each state, enabling guard companies to maintain compliance and reduce liability. Coupled with StaffWizard’s scheduling, payroll, and time-tracking tools, security firms can now handle every stage of the employee lifecycle with greater efficiency and transparency.

“Our mission at Defencify has always been to make security guard training easier, faster, and more accessible,” said Russ Willmon, CEO/Founder of Defencify. “This integration with StaffWizard brings that mission to life in a powerful way — empowering guard companies to seamlessly onboard and train employees while keeping everything under one digital roof.”

The partnership is available to all StaffWizard clients starting today. Together, StaffWizard and Defencify are setting a new standard for how modern security companies operate — safer, smarter, and more connected than ever before.

Media Contact:
Conor Boatman
President
conor@staffwizard.com

About StaffWizard
StaffWizard is a comprehensive staffing and payroll software solution designed specifically for the security industry. From applicant tracking and employee onboarding to scheduling, payroll, and billing, StaffWizard offers everything guard companies need to manage their workforce in one platform. Learn more at www.staffwizard.com.

About Defencify
Defencify Training, the leading provider of online, compliance-ready security guard training, offers a platform designed for today’s risk environment. Our platform is not just about reducing liability and improving guard performance, but also about equipping guards with the real-world skills they need to act decisively—and lawfully. From de-escalation and use-of-force protocols to report writing and emergency preparedness, our training is practical and applicable, instilling confidence in your guards and your clients.

Categories
Time Tracking

Guard Management Software and the Importance of Security Guard Tracking

Guard Management Software and the Importance of Security Guard Tracking

Guard management software is a great tool to maintain transparency and visibility on what is happening at each of your contract sites in real-time. Between reporting and alerts, supervisors can utilize guard management software, such as StaffWizard, to help with security guard tracking.

GPS and geofencing technology are the key components of accurate security tracking. This document will cover what GPS & geofencing is and why it’s important to the success of your security operation.

What is GPS & Geofencing

Global positioning systems (GPS) and geofencing go hand-in-hand when it comes to effective security guard tracking. But what exactly are they?

GPS is a satellite-based radio navigation system that orbits the earth in order to provide meaningful information about different things that are being tracked. The data that is being tracked may include historical time-stamps or real-time coordinates of a person or object. Through modern GPS technology, this data can be displayed in a visually appealing and easy-to-navigate map.

Geofencing takes the use of GPS one step further. It allows users to create a virtual-fence or outline in a designated area that uses GPS coordinates to track people, objects, or activity within that area. Where GPS alone is often used for one-off pings or location tracking, geofencing is using constant tracking.

Together, GPS and geofencing have been majorly helpful in the physical security industry, allowing security companies to better track security officers and manage what is happening at the properties they are protecting.

Importance of Security Guard Tracking Software

Guard Accountability

Security guard tracking software, such as StaffWizard, allows supervisors and admin to see where security guards are at all times during their shift. Just as important as it is to know when a guard isn’t at the appropriate post, it’s also important to prove a security officer was at their post, should a client start to question your services.

As mentioned earlier, geofencing takes GPS data one-step further, by alerting supervisors and admins when a security officer has left the designated area (as opposed to running a GPS security report that solely states the guard’s location at whatever time they were there).

GPS & geofences help to promote accurate security guard tracking and accountability so that clients stay happy and no check-point is left unchecked. And to make it even better, all of this data is kept safe in real-time dashboards that can easily export any report that you or your client may need.

Safety & Lone Worker Protection

Bad things happen, like physical attacks or hazardous leaks, so safety and lone worker protection for physical security guards is important. Through the transparency that GPS & geofencing provides, supervisors can call in reinforcements to the exact GPS location of an incident when something transpires.

For security guards that are working a solo-shift, lone worker protection includes panic alarms and true fall detection so that assistance can be alerted immediately. Danger zone timers, for more threatening locations, can be put in place to go off if a security officer has either alerted they need assistance or that they are safe in the designated time.

Ease of Use & Resources

So how easy is it to use security tracking tools? With guard management solutions like StaffWizard, GPS & geofencing is already in your system. It’s just a simple matter of getting the properties you secure added to the system, which your dedicated customer success rep is more than happy to help with.

Once your properties have been added, supervisors and admin can go into the system to create a drag and drop geofence in the locations your team has designated. When your properties and geofences are set-up, your security team can start to pull reports and get those real-time alerts.

And if you ever need some extra tools, your security team can always check out resource hubs, such as the StaffWizard Help Center, for more information.

Closing

Security guard tracking is an important part of building a successful security company. With GPS and geofencing functionality, supervisors know exactly where their guards are and can pull reports at any time to review a shift or guard tour.

Categories
HR

Digital Positive Reinforcement

Employee recognition and awards are essential tools that employers can use to increase employee retention and morale in the workplace. By recognizing and rewarding employees for their hard work and dedication, employers can create a positive work environment that fosters employee engagement and loyalty. In this article, we will explore the reasons why awards and employee recognition are important, and how they can benefit both employers and employees.

One of the key reasons why employee recognition and awards are important is that they can boost employee morale. According to B.F. Skinner, a prominent psychologist and behaviorist, positive reinforcement is a powerful motivator that can influence behavior.

When employees receive recognition and awards for their hard work, they feel valued and appreciated by their employer, which can boost their confidence and self-esteem. This positive reinforcement can lead to increased motivation, productivity, and job satisfaction, which can ultimately contribute to higher employee morale.

Employee recognition and awards can also contribute to employee retention. When employeesfeel valued and appreciated, they are more likely to stay with their employer for the long-term. This is because they feel a sense of loyalty and commitment to their employer, and are more likely to remain with the company even if other job opportunities arise. In contrast, when employees feel undervalued or unappreciated, they may be more likely to seek other employment opportunities, which can lead to higher turnover rates.

In addition to boosting employee morale and retention, awards and employee recognition can also have a positive impact on team dynamics. When employees are recognized for their achievements, it can create a sense of healthy competition and inspire other team members to strive for excellence. This can create a positive cycle of productivity and performance, which can benefit both individual employees and the team as a whole.

Furthermore, employee recognition and awards can also contribute to a positive company culture. When employees feel that their hard work is recognized and appreciated, they are more likely to feel engaged and invested in the company’s mission and values. This can lead to a more cohesive and collaborative work environment, where employees are motivated to work together to achieve shared goals.

In conclusion, awards and employee recognition are powerful tools that employers can use to increase employee retention and morale. By acknowledging and rewarding employees for their hard work and dedication, employers can create a positive work environment that fosters engagement, loyalty, and productivity. As B.F. Skinner noted, positive reinforcement is a powerful motivator that can influence behavior, and awards and employee recognition are an excellent way to provide this reinforcement to employees.

By prioritizing employee recognition and awards, employers can create a workplace culture that is conducive to success and growth for both individual employees and the organization as a whole.

Categories
HR

Benefits of all in one HR system

As a security guard company, your employees are your most important asset, and managing their information and needs can be a time-consuming and complex task. This is where an all-in-one HR software system can be a game-changer. By providing a centralized platform for all your HR needs, it can help you streamline your operations, improve efficiency, and provide a better experience for your employees. In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of an all-in-one HR software system for a security guard company.

Centralized HR Data

An all-in-one HR software system can provide a single source of truth for all employee data, making it easier to manage and access. This can include employee information, payroll data, attendance records, training and certification records, and more. Having all this data in one place can help you avoid errors, redundancies, and inconsistencies in your HR processes. It can also help you save time and increase efficiency, as you won’t need to search through multiple systems or files to find the information you need.

Improved Efficiency

Automating HR tasks can save time and increase efficiency for HR teams, allowing them to focus on more strategic initiatives. An all-in-one HR software system can help you automate tasks such as onboarding, performance evaluations, and benefits administration. This can help you reduce administrative burdens and minimize manual errors, which can be especially important for a security guard company that requires a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.

Improved Employee Experience

An HR system can provide employees with self-service access to their HR information, improving the overall employee experience. This can include the ability to update personal information, view pay stubs and benefits information, request time off, and access training and development resources. By empowering your employees with self-service options, you can increase their engagement, satisfaction, and retention.

Enhanced Compliance

An all-in-one HR software system can help ensure that HR policies and procedures are consistently applied, reducing the risk of compliance issues. This can include tracking employee hours and attendance, managing leave requests, and monitoring compliance with employment laws and regulations. With an all-in-one system, you can ensure that all your HR processes are aligned with legal and regulatory requirements, which can help you avoid costly fines and legal disputes.

Better Decision Making

With access to real-time HR data and analytics, HR teams can make more informed decisions that align with business objectives. An all-in-one HR software system can provide you with a wealth of data on employee performance, productivity, attendance, turnover, and more. This can help you identify trends, issues, and opportunities for improvement, and make data-driven decisions that align with your company’s goals.

In conclusion, an all-in-one HR software system can provide numerous benefits for a security guard company. From streamlining HR processes to enhancing compliance and improving the employee experience, this technology can help you manage your HR operations more effectively and efficiently. By investing in an all-in-one HR software system, you can position your company for success in a competitive and rapidly changing marketplace.

Categories
Payroll Software

ATS Benefits

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a software application used by organizations to manage their recruitment process. ATS systems are designed to streamline and automate the recruitment process, making it easier and more efficient for hiring managers and recruiters to find and hire the right candidates.

Here are some of the key benefits of using an ATS:

I. Improved efficiency in the recruitment process

One of the primary benefits of an ATS is that it streamlines the recruitment process, making it more efficient. The software automates tasks such as resume screening, scheduling interviews, and sending out emails. This can save recruiters a significant amount of time and help them focus on more important tasks, such as building relationships with candidates.

II. Better candidate tracking and organization

An ATS makes it easier to track and organize candidate information, including resumes, cover letters, and other relevant documents. This allows recruiters to easily search for and review candidate profiles, and also ensures that important information is not lost or overlooked.

III. More accurate candidate screening

An ATS can be programmed to screen candidates based on specific criteria, such as skills, experience, and education. This can help to eliminate unqualified candidates, and save recruiters time by only presenting them with the most qualified candidates.

IV. Increased collaboration and communication

An ATS allows recruiters and hiring managers to easily collaborate and communicate throughout the recruitment process. This can help to ensure that all team members are on the same page, and can also help to avoid miscommunication or misunderstandings.

V. Improved candidate experience

An ATS can also improve the candidate experience by providing timely and transparent communication, as well as a streamlined application process. This can help to create a positive impression of the organization, even for candidates who are not ultimately selected for the position.

VI. Enhanced compliance

An ATS can help organizations to comply with legal requirements and regulations related to the recruitment process, such as equal opportunity employment laws. This can help to reduce the risk of non-compliance and associated legal issues.

In conclusion, an applicant tracking system can offer numerous benefits to organizations that are looking to streamline their recruitment process and find the best candidates for their open positions. With improved efficiency, candidate tracking, and communication, as well as more accurate candidate screening, an ATS can help organizations to save time and resources, while also improving the candidate experience and compliance.

Categories
Onboarding

How to Improve Your Employee Onboarding Process

onboarding process

You’re finally getting ready to hire employees for your business. Workers officially have the upper hand, so you need to make sure that your hiring and onboarding process leaves your new hires confident and happy so they stick around.

But how do you onboard new employees in the most effective way? Is your onboarding process really as effective as it could be? Let’s talk about it.

Read on to learn all about how you can improve your onboarding strategy in 2022.

Start With the First Email

Did you know that good onboarding begins before your employee sets foot in your workplace (or, if you’re running a remote workplace, before they even log in)? Start with an onboarding email to welcome your new employee and make them feel less anxious about their first day on the job.

So what should you include in that onboarding email?

First, give them a warm welcome. Let them know how excited you are to have them on your team and highlight a few things that made you choose them for the role. 

Make sure that you give the employee all relevant information in the email, even if they already have it. Let them know where they’re going to be working, when they should arrive, and if there’s a dress code that they need to adhere to on the first day.

If they need to make any special first-day preparations, include that in the email as well.

If you have a training manual or any other important documents that don’t include things that the employee needs to sign on their first day, attach them to the email. Even if you give your employee hard copies later, it’s good for them to have those things before they start working so they can get a “feel” for the job.

If another current employee is willing to “buddy-up” with the new hire, consider adding their contact information so your new employee has a peer to turn to if they get confused. 

By starting with a strong opening email, you’re setting yourself and your employee up for onboarding success. 

Make New Employees Feel Welcome

Your new employee’s first day should be relatively stress-free. They may be anxious to hit the ground running, but make sure that you don’t scare them off right away!

Give them a tour and make sure that you’re ready to answer any pressing questions. Show them where they belong in the workplace, where they can take breaks, and where other departments work (if applicable). 

Introduce them to their new team so they don’t have to go through the awkward process of doing it themselves. This will make them feel more comfortable.

Consider offering some kind of welcome package, even if it’s only small tokens of appreciation like office supplies or a workplace lanyard. Small things like this make a large difference. 

Remember that this is your opportunity to show off your company culture. If your employee doesn’t feel welcome right away, they may not be interested in sticking around. 

Improve Your Onboarding Software

Are you still living in the dark ages with your employee onboarding software? If so, it’s time to upgrade. It’s easier than ever to modernize your onboarding, reduce paperwork, and even automate certain tasks. 

With our onboarding software, you can collect all of the important documents in one place. You can also conduct all of the necessary background checks on your employe before they start their first official day.

Everything is gathered in one convenient place. It’ll be easier for both you and your employee to keep track of everything. 

Go Beyond the Basics

Many employers just give their employees basic tours and instructions during onboarding, but this is a mistake. Onboarding should mean that you’re giving your employee everything that they need to succeed.

Most employees are hungry for this information. They know how to do the tasks at hand, but they don’t know how to excel without your guidance or the guidance of other employees.

Let them know what their targets are on the first day (but don’t pressure them to start reaching those targets just yet). Help them understand the path toward success and the potential avenues of growth that they have from their current position if they exceed your expectations. 

Encourage your employee to ask questions during this time.

Encourage Employees to Connect

Connection is everything when you’re onboarding new employees. Encourage your employees to connect with other new hires and your long-term employees alike. You want to foster a friendly and collaborative environment. 

As we mentioned before, it’s a good idea to assign buddies to your new hires. You can assign them a “buddy” that’s also brand new so they have someone who’s “on their level,” but it’s also a good idea to assign a current employee as another “buddy” who can answer their questions and guide them. 

Let your employees work together on tasks when they’re first getting started. Even if they’re going to be independent workers, this initial collaboration will help them grow faster and build relationships with other employees.

It’s a good idea to provide some kind of inter-office chat system so employees are able to communicate all day long. This can keep them motivated and it allows them to help each other if anyone gets stuck. 

Ask for Feedback 

At the end of an employee’s onboarding session (or even throughout the onboarding session), be sure to ask for employee feedback. This is how you can improve your onboarding strategy in the future.

If you’ve onboarded several employees at the same time, consider doing an anonymous survey or poll so no one feels called out. If not, make sure that you let your employee know that this is a judgment-free zone and that you actually want their feedback, even if some of it is negative. 

Improve Your Onboarding Process in 2022

Use these tips next time you’re going through the employee onboarding process. Onboarding should be a comfortable, exciting, and educational experience. This is when your employee learns what it really means to be a part of your company. 

If you’re ready to take your onboarding process to the next level, we have the software for you. Contact us for a consultation to learn all about how our software can help your business.

Categories
Payroll Software

8 Payroll Management Tips Every Employer Should Know

payroll concept
payroll concept on business folder

Most people do not consider payroll management to be the most fascinating aspect of business. However, there is no denying that payroll management provides incredible value for society. One indicator of this is the fact that the industry in the United States alone for payroll and bookkeeping services is worth more than $55 billion every single year!

Many people become experts in payroll management through many years of experience. In the meanwhile, they often suffer through common payroll problems.

Fortunately, you can stand on the shoulders of giants. Learning from the mistakes of others can help you to become a payroll management expert as soon as possible.

So what exactly can you do to take your payroll management skills to the next level? Read on to learn all about the most important payroll management tips every employer should know!

1. Think About the Right Way to Pay Your Employees

When some people first imagine paying their employees, they naturally imagine either paying them a salary or paying them an hourly wage. However, just because an option comes to mind first does not mean that you should actually do it. There are important pros and cons to both salaries and hourly wage alternatives.

Even if you have already started paying your employees, you can always change your systems. It can be a little bit difficult to transition your current employees over to a new system. However, you may calculate that it is worth doing.

Plus, you can at the very least create an ideal system for any new employees who join down the line.

Paying employees a salary is usually simpler. You do not have to keep track of any specific hours. That can make the payroll system easier to manage.

However, it may not be worth it to make payroll easy to manage if you have to pay for that ease in dollars. Using hourly wages will often be much more efficient for a business.

Sit down and think through which option is best for you. If you decide to use an hourly wage system, make sure you are using an efficient system to help you keep track of how many hours each employee works.

2. Choose the Appropriate Schedule for Paying Your Employees

Once you have decided how to pay your employees, you’ll have to decide how often to pay them. In theory, you have infinite options for when you will pay your employees. In practice, almost every business pays every week, every two weeks, or every month.

The most important thing is that you have a consistent system. That way, you can set up payroll practices without having to think them through every time you pay your employees.

3. Make Sure to Classify Your Workers Correctly

There are different requirements for how you pay workers depending on how you classify them. Employees have certain rights that independent contractors do not. If you have interns, they receive very different treatment from either employees or independent contractors.

Make sure that you set up separate payroll practices for each type of worker.

4. Find a Powerful Payroll Software to Help You

These days, almost anybody can manage payroll for a small business as long as they find the right software to help them. There are software tools designed for huge companies. These are probably not the right choice for a small business.

You should also avoid software designed for payroll experts. Unless you are a payroll expert, you are looking for software that will help you manage the basic functions of payroll rather than more complicated procedures.

5. Simplify Your Processes for Managing Payroll

Many people figure out their payroll system on the fly. As a result, it sometimes contains inefficiencies. These inefficiencies can be difficult to detect, especially if the payroll system is not actually written down.

Next time you go through your payroll system, give yourself some extra time. Every time you move on to the next step, write down what the next step is.

Once you are done, look over your steps. Decide if there are any unnecessary steps that you can remove.

6. Carefully Track Everything Connected to Employee Payroll

As you go through your payroll system, you will often need to consult certain documents. Make a list of every document that you ever need to examine during your payroll process. Set up an additional system to make sure that these documents are in a certain spot so that you can always reference them during your payroll process.

If you are not careful, you can set yourself up for a very difficult time come tax season. Make sure to keep all relevant documents in a predictable place to avoid this.

7. Apply Payroll Management Tips to Automate Functions

If possible, find a payroll service that will help you automate as much of the tax filing process as possible. Many payroll software tools allow you to automate both state and federal taxes. This can save you a lot of time and stress.

8. Plan in Advance for Changes in Payroll Costs

Make sure that you account for potential changes to your payroll costs. These can include changes in salary, wages, and benefits.

You should also account for your tax costs. Remember to account for employee unemployment taxes as well as Social Security and Medicare.

Apply the Most Important Tips for Payroll Management

We hope that some of the ideas in this brief article about the most important tips you can apply to payroll management have been helpful for you. Many businesses struggle with common payroll problems for years. Fortunately, the solutions to these problems have mostly already been found.

That makes learning a little bit more about common payroll practices an investment that will more than pay for itself down the line. To learn more about how to effectively manage your payroll or to speak with experts in payroll management, feel free to reach out and get in touch with us here at any time!

Categories
HR

7 Simple Strategies to Motivate Employees

Employee motivation at work

All businesses know that their success lies within their staff members. But managing multiple employees is easier said than done, and there are times when your staff is simply unmotivated. When you discover facts like how the average employee is only productive for about three hours a day, this gives you the incentive to put a little spark in your staff members.

If you’re wondering how to motivate employees at work, understand this tactic isn’t rocket science. You just have to know the right tips and tricks. Here are 7 strategies to motivate employees. These methods will help bring energy to your office, enhance commitment, and give your employees the push they need.

1. Set Measurable Goals

One of the common reasons why employees are unmotivated is management assigns them tasks and goals that are either mundane or unrealistic. In addition, some projects seem to never end. All of these issues cause employees to be stuck in a routine, which isn’t very satisfying.

This is why setting measurable goals is one of the best ways to motivate employees. Ideally, the goals should be short and easy to accomplish. These goals not only keep employees on track but will give them a boost to complete their tasks. Of course, you should always praise their accomplishments, which brings us to our next section.

2. Praise Their Work

Your staff members put a lot of effort into their work. Always remember to praise them for a job well done. Even though you likely only expect phenomenal work from your staff, everyone likes to know they’re doing a great job. Acknowledging them is very positive and will keep them productive.

How do you recognize great work? Bonuses and raises are traditional methods. While your staff won’t say no to extra money, throw some additional tactics in there. Give shout-outs at every staff meeting. Buy them lunch one day. You can also encourage peers to praise others’ work so this acknowledgment is not only limited to management.

3. Provide the Equipment

BYOD (bring your own device) is a common tactic that helps get the job done while decreasing overhead. However, there are issues with the BYOD setup. 

BYOD is a major security risk but also may be the reason for lack of productivity. For example, developers need complex programs in order to do their job well. These products can be expensive and they may settle for a cheaper product that doesn’t produce the results you want.

Instead, provide the right equipment. This will save your staff money and will make them more efficient.

Even if your staff doesn’t have technical jobs like developers, providing the essentials will matter more than you think. High-quality chairs can prevent back problems down the line and ergonomic desks will make them more comfortable. You can also offer a standing desk if your staff prefer to stand while working.

4. Ensure Your Workplace Is Healthy

While this seems like simple advice, office politics and drama can make any workplace toxic. A healthy and positive work environment will only make your employees feel more comfortable, motivating them to provide their best work.

How do you achieve this? The easiest thing you can do is build rapport with each staff member. Keep your office door open if your staff members have any concerns or suggestions. Making them feel like part of the team, who can contribute a lot to your organization, will matter more than you think.

In addition, stay calm and be honest. Resist challenging your staff members or assigning extra assignments if they’re visibly uncomfortable. Let your staff members decide their work.

Transparency is also another quality that will result in a healthy workplace, which brings us to our next point.

5. Stay Transparent

Trust is the factor that will separate an engaged employee to, well, one who will leave your business to work for a competitor. In order to build trust, stay transparent. You should not only focus on transparency between management and staff but also between staff members.

How do you build transparency? As stated in the previous section, let employees know your office door is always open for questions and concerns. When you respond, don’t be defensive. Instead, simply explain.

Access to information is also an easy way to stay transparent. Send weekly newsletters so your staff members are all on the same page. Everyone will be on the same page as far as requirements and goals are concerned, so there’s no guessing. This will all help motivate your employees.

6. Promote Teamwork, But Also Understand Solo Work

Teamwork is one of the most classic ideas to motivate employees. That’s because teamwork has many benefits. Teams comprise multiple different personalities and work preferences. Everyone can work together in their own way to accomplish a project. Teamwork generally results in overall better planning and sharing ideas, which can help solve problems.

However, teamwork doesn’t work for all projects and it certainly doesn’t work for anyone. Certain personality types simply work better on their own. Working in teams is also distracting for some since there are likely conversations occurring that aren’t work-related.

For some goals and projects, understand when solo work is best. This also includes accommodating employees who would rather work remotely.

7. Offer Clear Advancement

What motivates employees the most? A promotion. While we all like our jobs, there comes a time when we want to move up. That’s why all businesses should be transparent on advancement opportunities for all roles. This way, your staff can make their own personal goals and can do what it takes to bolster their individual roles.

Clear advancement is also a plus for you. Productivity and engagement increase, since your staff has their own goals they’re working toward. Depending on the role, your staff can also exercise all of their creativity, resulting in innovation.

Use These Strategies to Motivate Employees

If you’re not accomplishing your business goals, you may want to look at your staff. When you motivate employees, you give them the space to perform their best work. Not only that, but your employees want to know they’re appreciated at their place of work. Use these tips to have a more productive and motivated staff.

There are other ways to motivate your employees. An effective HR team, better shift management, and improved employee benefits can all make a difference. We offer all of these services and more. Contact us today to find out how StaffWizard can help.

Categories
Recruiting

Recruiting Strategies: How to Attract Top Talent in 2021

2021 Recruitment strategies

Are you looking for better ways to attract and retain top talent? Employers everywhere are searching for the best candidates in an ever-changing world. 

Today, recruiting new talent takes more than posting an ad on a job board and hoping the right candidate comes along. The best talent is out there but expects more from employers than ever before.

You need the right recruiting strategies in place. Here are some ideas for attracting and retaining top talent in today’s job market.

Consider Your Employer Brand

Toxic work culture will destroy morale and send your best employees running for the door. One of the best ways to attract new talent is to demonstrate a positive and welcoming company culture.

Make sure new hires and all employees know they are appreciated and valued. The way you treat your employees and customers is part of your brand. 

A positive work culture can have a significant impact on your ability to attract new talent. Fostering strong relationships, respect, and trust is crucial for attracting and retaining strong candidates.

Tap Into Diverse Talent Pools

When you advertise for employees or post available positions, you want to place an emphasis on diversity and inclusivity. Employees are looking for companies that make a diverse workplace a top priority.

Make it clear with your wording and content that your company values employees of every race and background. Make your listings clear and don’t include unnecessary skills or competencies that could discourage talent from applying for the job.

Recruit From Within

When you’re looking for the best talent, don’t overlook your current employees. Recruiting from within is a smart strategy that benefits the company and employees alike.

An in-house recruitment strategy plan can speed up the hiring process, improve new hire productivity, and boost employee engagement and retention. If you have great employees in the same position too long, they grow bored.

They’ll look elsewhere for opportunities unless you provide them. Before you begin a search for new talent, consider the wealth of talent you already have.

Start an Employee Referral Program

A strong employee referral program can be your secret weapon for attracting top talent. Some benefits of a referral program include:

  • Better quality hires
  • Low turnover rates
  • Faster hiring process
  • Easier onboarding 
  • Lower hiring costs

An employee referral program allows your current talent to recommend like-minded individuals for the job. This can help you reach young, talented candidates you may have missed otherwise.

An employee referral program saves you recruiting dollars and provides fast results.

Reach Out to Former Employees

Sometimes former employees are perfect for a new position with the company. If an employee leaves on good terms, they may be interested in their old job, a different role, or a better-paying position.

In some cases, they may not be happy with another company. They may have fond memories of their old job and will consider coming back.

You can benefit from new skills they’ve learned at another company. Hiring a former employee shortens the onboarding process. They already understand company policies and company culture.

If a former employee had a good experience in their former position and is a good candidate for the job, it’s a win-win recruitment strategy to hire them again.

Offer Flexibility

Remote workers aren’t just a current trend. They’re here to stay.

If you find the right talent but the location is a factor, consider offering a flexible or remote position. As technology advances and companies adapt to managing remote workers, the possibilities are endless.

Many workers who went remote during the pandemic plan to stay remote. Companies around the globe realized that remote workers are often happier in their positions and more productive as well.

Remote opportunities offer flexibility for working and single parents. For many job seekers, the opportunity for a flexible or remote position is a big draw.

In order to attract the best talent, make sure you are offering flexibility as an option.

Lead With Compassion

Today’s candidates appreciate a community-minded company. They want to know the company they work for has a larger purpose or commitment for doing good in the world.

Take steps to support a cause, promote environmental awareness, and take an active role in your local community. Social awareness and community are important to young workers today.

Demonstrating a commitment to the greater good will help you attract top talent who are dedicated to your company’s vision.

Leverage Technology in the Hiring Process

A slow hiring process will deter good candidates and send them straight to your competitors. For a smooth hiring and onboarding process, use technologies that can assist in the process.

Recruiting software with AI and machine learning can modernize the hiring process and help you locate and hire the best candidates quickly. You can scan resumes faster, screen candidates, and improve candidate engagement with the right technology in place.

Reassess Employee Perks and Benefits

Today’s employees have choices. The benefits you offer can make all the difference for a candidate. 

Candidates are looking for a variety of perks, including:

  • Comprehensive health plans
  • Financial incentives
  • Flexible work schedules
  • Generous vacation days
  • Help with student loans 
  • Advancement opportunities
  • Education and training

If you want to reach top candidates, take a look at what you can offer. Use these incentives to draw and retain top talent.

Implement the Right Recruiting Strategies 

The world of recruitment is always changing. You must consider the needs of the candidate if you want to attract the best talent. Find the recruiting strategies that work for your company and use them to your advantage.

Our goal is to help you manage the employment process from start to finish. We love making your job easier. Contact us today to learn more.

Categories
Learning Management Systems

How Learning Management Systems Can Help Employees and Your Business

Happy-employees-lms-engaging

Can you name the number one reason why good employees leave a company?

Surprisingly, it has nothing to do with a higher salary or better benefits. According to a recent LinkedIn survey, 94% of workers would stick with a company if it invested in helping them learn and grow.

As a business owner, no doubt you’re interested in retaining your best employees. If you’re on a tight budget or have limited resources, though, employee training can easily fall by the wayside.

It doesn’t have to be that way. These days, you can use learning management technology to give your employees exactly what they want. Keep reading to learn all about learning management systems and why they’re the perfect solution for your company.

What Are Learning Management Systems?

Just in case you’re new to the concept, let’s briefly outline what learning management systems (LMS) are.

In a nutshell, LMS are tools to educate your new hires and current employees. It creates a virtual setting for your employees to log in and complete any courses you assign to them. You can also track employee progress, generate reports, or take corrective action from one centralized location.

This is a great solution for small to medium-sized businesses because it eliminates the need for traditional training methods. You don’t have to invest in a physical classroom, live experts, or costly training materials. Instead, everything your employees need to learn is right at their fingertips.

You can create a custom onboarding quiz or any other content to meet training or compliance needs. To save even more time, you can also choose from ready-made courses on a variety of topics. Our training videos show just how easy it is to create and launch your own LMS courses.

Signs Your Business Needs LMS

If you’re like 78% of companies, you still use the traditional in-person, classroom model for training your employees. This approach has its place, but there are more effective ways to teach nowadays.

Here are three sure signs it’s time to modernize your training methods.

1. Lack of Time

The same study cited above reveals that making time for employees to learn is the second-biggest HR challenge companies face. To be sure, it can be difficult for employees and managers to take time out of their workday to attend a training session.

Over time, though, this excuse can create a host of internal problems.

Team members who do the same work may have inconsistent training or skill gaps that are never addressed. High performers may get frustrated by the lack of opportunities for growth or advancement. Meanwhile, older employees may get overlooked, while part-time workers could miss out on training altogether.

2. Outdated or Irrelevant Content

Have you heard of the “Forgetting Curve?” Research shows that at least 80% of what we learn we also forget within 90 days.

Think of the billions of dollars companies spend on learning and development each year. How much of that time, energy, and expense simply gets wasted? Another report found that only 12% of employees use and apply new skills they learn during company-sponsored training.

If your training content isn’t highly specific and relevant to your employees’ roles, they’ll forget the information as soon as it’s presented to them.

3. Compliance Concerns

Compliance and regulatory reporting are a headache for every business, no matter the size. For example, your employees may need annual workplace safety training. Meanwhile, healthcare professionals may need to complete continuing education or renew their licenses or certifications.

If you’re trying to keep track of everything manually, it can become a logistical nightmare. Payroll software can help with compliance concerns, but LMS takes everything to a new level. Even better, you can offer your employees the exact courses they need to remain compliant and do their work effectively.

Benefits of Learning Management Technology

Can you relate to some of the challenges presented above? If so, consider how LMS solutions can solve all your training problems.

1. Freedom & Flexibility

With LMS, your employees are free to log in from any device and complete their training at any time. They can complete their courses on their lunch break, late in the evening, or even during their commute to the office. You can also make it available after their training is complete so they can revisit the material anytime.

2. Streamlined Onboarding & Training

Today’s employees expect to receive login information to internal resources shortly after being hired. With LMS, you can customize and speed up the onboarding process so your employees have the knowledge needed to get to work. You can also easily upload and share relevant presentations, white papers, or webinars.

3. Save Time & Money

Say goodbye to rented facilities and equipment for in-person training sessions. You also don’t have to worry about overloading your servers with data-heavy video conferences. Learning management systems help you save valuable time and money while boosting your employees’ performance.

4. Create New Content on Demand

Did your company adopt a new policy? Was there a recent update to HIPAA or OSHA compliance regulations? Are you rolling out a new product or service? Any time you need to update your staff on important changes, you can do so seamlessly through your LMS.

5. Incentives to Make Learning Fun

Some LMS solutions offer gamification features to encourage participation and nurture friendly competition. You can set up your courses to award bonus points, unlock extra training, or be entered into a raffle or prize drawing. That way, your employees aren’t just learning valuable new skills — they’re having fun too.

Where to Find the Best LMS Solutions

As we’ve discussed, LMS can completely change your approach to business management. It streamlines every part of the onboarding process and helps your employees to gain new skills.

Best of all, learning management systems are affordable for you and effective (and enjoyable) for your employees.

Here at StaffWizard, we offer more than just payroll services. Our learning management software is customizable to suit the needs of any business — including yours!

Contact us today to learn more about our LMS solutions and how we can help you retain happier, more knowledgeable employees.

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