Insights with Insiders

Background screenings are a critical part of the candidate hiring process. Since they are typically done by a third-party provider, the experience can feel disjointed and lengthy compared to the rest of your staffing company's process. Julie Ann Bittner, TRICOM CEO, discusses this critical part of the hiring process in this month's Insight with Insiders podcast with Joe Doyle, Vice President of Sales for InCheck. With over 24 years of experience in the HRTech industry, Joe brings a wealth of expertise in background screening solutions, SaaS technologies, and driving consultative customer success across multiple industries with staffing being a major focus.

Joe explains how the background screening process can be unified with the rest of the applicant process to create a more branded, streamlined experience. He also details how managing expectations in terms of how background parameters can impact the timeline of the search, as well benefits of digitizing as many of the forms as possible, can make the process go more smoothly. Digitizing can also help with compliance, as well as enhancing the mobile experience (including texting capabilities!), since these days few candidates apply from a desktop computer. Finally, Joe outlines strategies for choosing a background check provider – one that will help you win the War for Talent.

In this Insight with Insiders podcast, Toby Malara, Vice President of Government Relations for the American Staffing Association, joins Julie Ann Bittner, TRICOM CEO, to discuss the latest burst of legislative activity that impacts the staffing industry on the federal and state levels. Toby advises on all staffing-related legislation and regulation, including the Affordable Care Act, immigration/I-9, paid sick leave, sales tax, and per diem issues. Toby also directs the association's political activities through its political action committee, StaffingPAC.

The new administration has brought a level of uncertainty not seen in the business world in many years. With the flurry of executive orders, it can be hard for businesses to know how to react to best protect their interests. In this podcast, Julie Ann and Toby discuss federal level changes to immigration, and specifically I-9 compliance, as well as the customer request that can cause staffing companies to run afoul of federal law if they comply. They also speak about the biggest challenge in terms of independent contractors (hint: it involves mis-classifications), and how AI tools geared to help staffing companies match their candidate pool to specific job openings are starting to come under increasing (and expensive) oversight. In addition, Toby addresses non-compete clauses and how states are taking the lead on reigning in improper usage, as well as paid leave and pay transparency. This wide-ranging conversation focuses on topics with a direct impact on staffing companies – you won't want to miss it!

In this Insight with Insiders podcast, TRICOM CEO Julie Ann Bittner is joined by Jason Turner, Chief Investment Strategist for Great Lakes Advisors. In this role, Jason authors market and economic commentary, regularly presents in the media and to professional conferences, and works with client portfolio managers to support institutional and private clients. As the Head of Multi-Asset Strategy, he is responsible for portfolio strategy and asset allocation, as well as oversees the firm's manager due diligence and selection efforts. He is also a member of the firm's Operating Committee and Management Committee.

With the onset of the new administration and a flurry of executive orders, many are wondering about the economic outlook for the coming year. What will be the economic impact of new tariffs and immigration policy? Is the Fed considering additional rate cuts? How will all this impact the Staffing industry? Jason addresses these issues and more and looks at industries impacted by these topics including manufacturing, retail, construction, and agriculture. He identifies specific opportunities and challenges for Staffing companies, as well as potential for growth in an area the media isn't talking about.

In this episode of Insight with Insiders, Julie Ann Bittner interviews Tom Erb, a staffing industry expert, about the state of the industry in 2024. They discuss the job market, wage pressure, new opportunities in niche markets, the role of AI in staffing, mergers and acquisitions, legislative involvement, and the importance of accountability. Tom provides valuable advice for staffing business owners and emphasizes the need for proactive engagement with industry associations. He encourages listeners to have a positive mindset and strategic approach to achieve success in 2024.

In this Insight with Insiders podcast, TRICOM President / CEO Julie Ann Bittner is joined by Jason Turner, Chief Investment Strategist for Great Lakes Advisors. In this role, Jason authors market and economic commentary, regularly presents in the media and to professional conferences, and works with client portfolio managers to support institutional and private clients. He is also responsible for portfolio strategy, asset allocation, and oversees the firm's manager due diligence and selection efforts. Jason's insights have historically been highly accurate, and in this podcast, he shares his thoughts into the current and future state of the economy.

2023 has been a year of unexpectedly strong growth in the overall economy, with unemployment around 3.8 percent and consumer spending remaining solid. However, the Staffing industry has slowed, seeing a 15 – 20 percent decrease year-over-year. What does this mean for the rest of 2023 and 2024? Will general economic growth continue? Will Staffing rebound, and if so, what industries hold the most growth potential? Will the Federal Reserve continue its focus on rate increases? Are we in for a soft landing or a more serious, lengthy recession? Jason addresses these issues, and more, and shares the economic indicators that support his predictions. He also speaks to how outside factors such as political turmoil, labor strikes, global unrest can impact economic markets and shares the positive economic news that often goes unreported in the media. Additionally, Jason gives specific advice to staffing company owners in these uncertain economic times. You don't want to miss this podcast filled with thoughtful, relevant economic analysis that will impact the months and year to come.

Andre Young, a professional speaker, author, leadership trainer and founder of You Evolving Now, LLC., joins TRICOM's President / CEO Julie Ann Bittner for a discussion about leadership. Andre has written two books on leadership, 7 Ways to Lead and The Leaders Toolbox. He and Julie Ann discuss the difference between Work/Life Harmony vs. Work/Life Balance, as well as the concept of "Head Up, Eyes Up, Smile and Move with Purpose." They also identify the Five Points of Your Day (and why this is critical), the Five Types of Leaders and Employees, including how to motivate each type. Discover what type of leader you are, as well as the essential aspects of leadership required to effectively lead, connect, build, and succeed as a team.

As the frequency and associated costs of data breaches has risen significantly, more companies are exploring ways to help mitigate losses and risk. Contributing to these trends is the increase in remote workers, risks associated with vendors and outsourcing, cyber extortion, and more.

In this podcast. TRICOM President / CEO Julie Ann Bittner is joined by Sarah Davis, Of Counsel with Becker LLC, Bob Thompson, Vice President at WorldWide/PHLY, and Jerry Grady, Managing Partner for UHY LLP, as they discuss emerging risk trends, recommendations for mitigating risk of data security breaches, and more from a legal, tax, and insurance perspective. They also explore examples of actions that companies may be partaking in without realizing how it exposes them to cyber security data breaches, as well as common misunderstandings about cyber security exposure.

#Business #Security #Risk Management #Staffing

Since the start of the pandemic, there's been a lot of focus on mental health and wellness, specifically in the workplace. Employees' anxiety has reached the highest point since the pandemic began and the rate of depression has tripled, yet the C-suite isn't always in tune with where their employees are at in terms of wellness. This has become a critical challenge for employers – not only because of the desire to have happy and healthy employees, but also in terms of lost productivity and increased absenteeism – to the tune of over $51 billion.

In this podcast, Julie Ann Bittner, TRICOM President / CEO, is joined by Alli Arndt, Wellness Manager of Assurance's Risk Management Team, and Austin Morgan, Account Executive for Assurance's Staffing Employee Benefits Team. Assurance is one of the largest and most awarded independent insurance agencies in the U.S. Julie Ann, Alli and Austin discuss how a supportive work environment, where managers reinforce a sound wellness strategy, can keep employees motivated and engaged.

There's been a lot of talk about the economy lately. From inflation to employment and wages, to rising interest rates, and more, 2022 is starting out as a year where economics is set to take center stage. In this podcast, Julie Ann Bittner, TRICOM President & CEO, sits down with Jason Turner, Chief Investment Strategist of Great Lakes Advisors to talk about the economic outlook as it stands today, what it tells us about the current environment, and what the year may bring in terms of changes and trends. They discuss "the Great Resignation" of 2021 and how that's impacted employment supply and demand. They also discuss wage growth and whether or not wages will increase to meet the shortfall between job openings and hiring, as well as workers demands due to the rising cost of living. Learn what the media is not talking about, as well as other factors that may influence the direction of the economy in 2022 and beyond.

People can form judgments very quickly: within a matter of minutes they can start to form lasting judgments about you, your approach and your organization. Part of these judgments stem from "cognitive biases," which can influence every decision we make personally and professionally. In this podcast, TRICOM President & CEO Julie Ann Bittner speaks with Rob Mosely, Managing Partner for Next Level Exchange, a global learning collaborative dedicated to the Executive Search and Staffing industry. Rob and Julie Ann discuss specific cognitive biases that consistently play a role in complex business decisions such as loss aversion, and status quo bias, and speak to ways to reframe conversations. Rob also reveals his LACES model, which helps someone successfully communicate and implement essential skills to overcome resistance when speaking with prospects. This enlightening discussion will help you navigate bias in conversations with customers and prospects with greater ease.