How to Make Friends with a Robot

Preparing for the eventual overthrow of the human race

Experts agree that robotics and AI are the drivers of oncoming Industrial Revolution 4.0, so positioning yourself as a professional will turn you into an indispensable employee well into the future.

It’s been said since the 1950’s: the robots are going to take over. How many times have you heard that automation and robots will take all the jobs in the future? Sure, they don’t need a lunch break or two weeks vacation. They offer little drama in the workplace, rarely steal your food out of the work fridge, and usually don’t drag themselves into work after a long night of video games and snacks. 

Industrial robots help to remove workers from the hazardous environments and back breaking labor that has befell low-wage workers for generations. They can lift heavy payloads, prevent injuries, perform accurate and error-free repetitive tasks, and have a generally overall pleasant disposition. Yet, with all these triumphs, robots have yet to replace humans in the workplace. In fact, workers are becoming a robot’s best friend as technology advances.

The first manufacturing robot was used in 1960. “Unimate” as it was called, was used in a GM plant in New Jersey. Unimate pulled die-cast molds and welded them to automobile bodies. The noxious gases could’ve poisoned workers or involuntarily removed their limbs. Believe it or not, today’s industrial robots incorporate many of the designs and functions of the original industrial robot.

Robots have created new jobs for those who were once on production lines with programming. They have pulled employees from repetitive, monotonous jobs and put them in better, more challenging ones. They also allow US companies to remain competitive, keeping jobs local and helping the best employees see growth in their careers. 

Robots are user-friendly, intelligent, and affordable. As more industries adopt robotics in automation, the more roles the machines are finding to fill. It’s not just manufacturing. Robots are used in healthcare, farming, transportation, construction, and the military. Even the Amazon Alexa in your home is a robot. In the next decade, your Amazon Alexa might be making you breakfast. And hopefully, it can help with other tasks around the house

In an industrial setting, robots have to interact with humans in some form or another. This has created Cobots. Robots and humans interacting with each other to accomplish a task. Cobots can work side-by-side with human workers, improving their output and consistency and allowing them to support more in-line processes in a single work-space. While traditional automation requires an all-or-nothing approach. Assembly, quality inspection, dispensing are all part of the simple uses for industrial robots.

The surprising opinion is that programming robots isn’t so complicated and hard to learn. In actuality, there are few lines of code you need to make a real-world industrial robot do what it needs to do to accomplish simple tasks such as sorting and dispensing. There are many ways to get a leg-up on robotics. The idea of purchasing your own robot and learning how to program it was a fantasy just a decade ago. But robots are omnipresent these days, and the ability to learn their ways and stay ahead of our future slave-masters has never been more readily available. There are paid courses to help you learn the basics of robotics and programming. MIT’s open courseware and Stanford Engineering free video courses on robotics are the pinnacle of robotics education, and are absolutely free.

If you find yourself on the factory floor working alongside a robot friend, ask your supervisor or your mechanical engineer how the robots work and how they are programmed. Learning to control its functions and finding use for the robot in your job can only lead to positive things if you are the robot’s master. Just keep those friendships professional with your robot. You don’t want to hurt its feelings. That’s when things could get scary. 

Top Ten Non-Monetary Ways to Reward Employees

chalkboard with a message: top ten non monetary ways to reward employees this holdiay season

TOP TEN NON-MONETARY WAYS TO REWARD EMPLOYEES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

If you ask an older generation, they’ll tell you all about the “Christmas Bonus.” In a bygone era, the employee-employer relationship was reaffirmed each holiday season with a bonus check for the employee. If you’ve seen the movie Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase, you can see how problematic this became for employers, and employees.

There are many financial overtures to employees: salary, bonuses, stock options, profit sharing, and 401k match just to name a few. While your employees would undoubtedly appreciate a few extra dollars thrown their way as a ‘thank you’, there are many other ways to reward your hard working emotionally dedicated staff this season that can cost very little (or even nothing).

man double-fisting trophies
A trophy, championship belt, medal and some public recognition go a long way.

#10 – The Trophy

Sure, it’s a little hokey. Maybe your employee would rather have the $20 you spent to get a plate engraved. But a trophy, or medal, or championship belt will stand the test of time. It will be set front and center at an employee’s workstation/desk.  Having a moment with a trophy presentation in front of co-workers (do it on a monthly basis) can create a positive and memorable moment of recognition. It also has a dual effect on other co-workers to try and claim this moment for themselves down the line.

Many of these rewards and recognition are far more memorable than a cash gift or generic big box gift cards, add a personal touch and build relationships to help keep your team engaged. The holiday season provides employers a chance to connect intimately with their talent.  Studies show that an employee is three times more likely to have negative feelings about their employer without occasional recognition. So, show your staff some love this season.

#9 – Food and Drink

A gift card to a popular restaurant or a $50 gift card to the grocery store can go a long way to helping an employee. While this is technically a ‘monetary’ gift, it requires some thought and a personal touch from an employer. Sending someone out to dinner, or getting them a bottle of their favorite spirit shows your employee that who they are matters. Another simple idea is to have food and/or drinks brought in for your staff to enjoy. Do this early in the week to boost morale.

#8 – Outside the Office Experience:

Give an employee or employees a chance to do something for the day outside of the office.  Take someone golfing, to a movie, or maybe a concert. You could even go for drinks on the company after work hours. If you can, make sure the employee is on the clock. Those few hours clocked in and getting paid for something fun will stay in their heads and hearts for many weeks and months to come.

A nice pullover or hoodie makes for a wonderful employee gift.

#7 – Social Media Shoutouts

Some people aren’t going to be into having their face plastered on your Facebook or Instagram. If they are camera-shy, have them send a picture they like of themselves. Then make sure that you’re tagging them by name on your social media channels with details of how important they are to your operation. This public acknowledgement lends employees to feel secure and well loved at their job. This will promote overall performance moving forward.

#6 – Comfort and or Company Schwag

Make it more than a mug. Get something really nice for an employee that maybe isn’t available to everyone or at a price point that most don’t go near. A hooded sweatshirt, even with your logo on it, is a gift that everyone will enjoy. You can give a gift of comfort to an employee as well. It could be a blanket or maybe some nice work boots for outdoor and industrial work. Give your team member something they can use everyday that shows they are part of a team and that they are valued.

#5 – Time

It’s the only thing better than the paycheck. Give your employees time back in their lives to increase their contributions to your operation, and to themselves. Give them an extra mental-health day, or PTO days near a holiday weekend to give them an additional mini-vacation during the year. If you want to give them time during the workday, another popular idea is to let your employee spend the day volunteering at their favorite charity or allow them to work on their own projects on company time. Google lets employees spend 20% of their work time on personal projects. They know this benefits the mental health of the employee and usually benefits them as well from an R&D perspective.

#4 – Autonomy

One of the things people love most about a job is being left alone and not micromanaged. They can do their job with little supervision, and you should be able to recognize employees who can perform at high levels independently. In addition to autonomy, you can also reward employees with responsibility. While that doesn’t sound like a reward, showing your employees you trust them to handle more important tasks in their workload can give them a sense of connection with the team and purpose in their job.

#3 – One on One Time

Simple face time with the boss can go along way. It helps the employee know that they are valued because your time is important and you’re choosing to spend it with them. It gives them ownership of the team by being able to put ideas into management’s head. One-on-one lunches, weekly mentoring sessions, training on jobs beyond their current role and other private opportunities not only make them feel valued, it gives employers a chance to get a fresh perspective and retain employees long-term.

#2 – Education and Well Being

Nobody wants to feel stuck in job. If you want your employees operating at a high level, make sure they’re moving forward professionally and personally. Offering your employees a chance to develop their professional skills or to focus on their health benefits everyone in both the short and long term. Give your employee a paid afternoon off on a nice day, or send them to a spa for an afternoon for a treatment.

You can purchase (or reimburse) your employee for online classes (like LinkedIn Learning or Udemy) to grow their skills. These classes can be as cheap as $10 a course. Be sure to give them time to study and develop while they are on the clock. That Gordon Ramsey Masterclass in cooking might get you a special plate of Beef Wellington in return.

#1 – Flexibility

It is by far the most in-demand job benefit in 2021. People want to work where they are comfortable. If you can give an employee time off early to help them not spend money on child care, or let them work remotely a few days a week or create their own schedule—do it. You’re going to be giving them something that means far more than the dollars on their paycheck. It may not be attainable for every business, but whatever you can do to allow people to balance work vs. life, you’re going to be loved by those who work for you.

Take a moment to recognize those who make your operation successful. You don’t have to break the bank to do so. Just remember that your employees are people, and anything you can do to not be just “a job” is going to make them better employees, which makes your operation better.

March Company-Wide Hiring Events

WSI (Workforce Strategies, Inc.), an award-winning recruitment and staffing agency, will be hosting company-wide hiring events across all participating branches on Wednesday, March 10th, 2021 from 10 am – 2 pm. Interviews will be taking place at the following locations: Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, and Sturgis, Michigan, Marysville, Ohio, and Tipton and Albion, Indiana. Job seekers should bring two forms of ID and plan on chatting with staffing coordinators for about 45-minutes about their work history, their preferred type of job, and schedule availability. 

Candidates are needed for full and part-time positions in manufacturing, general labor, warehouse, production, and more. Hundreds of jobs will be available with immediate start dates. Apply today and start working tomorrow!

“With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, we hope we’ll be LUCKY enough to find hundreds of people a job just right for them!” laughs Erica Bohms-Coon, WSI Director of Staffing Operations. “With the variety of positions we have available, there is something to fit every job seeker’s needs.”

There are jobs for people with all types of experience, education, and skill levels. These roles offer the ability to be hired-in after a trial work period, where employees will enjoy a range of incentives, dependent on the job, such as competitive benefits, vacation time, THC-friendly options, and more. 

Due to COVID-19, strict safety measures will be enforced. All applicants will have their temperature taken with a temporal scanner before entering the building. Face masks are required inside – if you don’t have one, WSI will provide one for you. Interior areas will be marked with 6-foot distances, areas are cleaned and sanitized frequently, and hand sanitizer is readily available and encouraged for use.

Highlights:

  • WSI Recruitment & Staffing
  • Company-Wide Hiring Events
  • Wednesday, March 10th from 10 am – 2 pm
  • Hundreds of open jobs available
  • Job seekers should bring 2 forms of identification

Please contact your local branch with any questions.

WSI HIRING EVENTS | GRAND RAPIDS

[Grand Rapids, MI]: WSI, Workforce Strategies, Inc., will be hosting two upcoming job fairs at our Grand Rapids office. Join us on Wednesday, December 2nd from 9 am – 3 pm, and on Saturday, December 5th from 10 am – 2 pm. Bring two forms of ID and come chat with our talented team of staffing coordinators who are ready to get you to work. WSI is recruiting hard-working individuals for full and part-time positions in food manufacturing, general labor, warehouse, and more.

“We understand that with all of life’s other responsibilities, it can be difficult to navigate scheduling conflicts. That’s why we wanted to offer job seekers two opportunities to attend our job fair,” says Ana Post, WSI Branch Manager. “We have roles in a variety of industries with ranging shift times to accommodate even the busiest of schedules.”

There are jobs for people with all types of experience, education, and skill levels. These roles offer a range of incentives, dependent on the job, such as competitive benefits, vacation time, THC-friendly options, and the ability to be hired-in with good attendance. Pay rates for these positions range from $12 – $18/hour. 

Additionally, WSI is currently conducting a lucrative referral program where job seekers can earn money referring others to work for WSI. Referees have the chance to win $200 per referral.

Due to COVID-19, all applicants will have their temperature taken with a temporal scanner before entering the building. Face masks are required inside – if you don’t have one, WSI will provide one for you. Interior areas will be marked with 6-foot distances and there are hand sanitizer stations throughout the building.

Highlights:

  • WSI Workforce Strategies, Inc.
  • 1960 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508
  • Wednesday, December 2nd from 9 am – 3 pm
  • Saturday, December 5th from 10 am – 2 pm
  • Hundreds of open jobs available
  • Job seekers should bring 2 forms of identification

Please contact the Grand Rapids WSI Office with any questions.

WSI Workforce Strategies, Inc., is anticipating a large turnout at both job fairs. To help expedite the process, job seekers should bring two forms of identification and be prepared to pass a drug screening. Applicants can also call the WSI office at (616) 957-8199.