Michigan ranked last for hard work again. The metric that did it measures scheduling volatility, not effort. Employers should notice.
Continue readingIs Michigan Actually the Laziest State AGAIN? Based On the Criteria, Yes.
Michigan Laid $6 million on the table. Why will most manufacturers not pick it up?
Michigan just handed out $6M more in Going PRO training grants. Most eligible manufacturers still aren’t applying. Here’s why that’s a mistake.
Continue readingMichigan’s Workforce on the Edge and the Employer Strategies That Work
Discover how Michigan employers tackle workforce hardship with living wages, flexible schedules, and emergency savings to boost retention and engagement.
Continue readingGen X’s Secret Blueprint to Break Free from Full‑Time Work: Phased Retirement
Retirement today no longer means a sudden exit at age 65 with nothing on the calendar except golf. Many Gen Xers and younger Boomers view a hard stop as financially unwise and personally unfulfilling. Phased retirement offers an alternative path: a gradual reduction in work hours that combines continued earnings, ongoing benefits and meaningful engagement. This model provides a gentler transition for employees and helps employers retain critical skills.
Continue readingUnlocking Compliance and Security with E-Verify: Your Essential Guide
In today’s ever-evolving employment landscape, businesses face significant challenges in ensuring compliance with federal regulations while managing a diverse workforce. As employers navigate these complexities, E-Verify emerges as a crucial tool in maintaining legal and ethical hiring practices. Our latest eBook, “Verified Futures: Navigating E-Verify,” is designed to guide you through the intricacies of this system and help you build a compliant and secure workforce.
Why E-Verify Matters
E-Verify, managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA), is an online system that verifies the eligibility of employees to work in the United States. By comparing the information provided on an employee’s Form I-9 against government records, E-Verify delivers quick and accurate results about work authorization, making it one of the federal government’s highest-rated services in terms of user satisfaction.
Ensuring Compliance and Mitigating Risks
Compliance with federal immigration laws is critical for avoiding substantial fines, legal penalties, and reputational damage. E-Verify provides a reliable method to confirm employees’ work authorization, thereby reducing the risk of hiring unauthorized workers. Additionally, employers using E-Verify in good faith are shielded from certain penalties during audits or investigations, offering an added layer of legal protection.
Streamlining Hiring Processes
E-Verify not only aids in compliance but also streamlines the hiring process by providing results within seconds. This efficiency reduces the administrative burden associated with verifying work eligibility, allowing HR departments to focus more on strategic tasks rather than paperwork.
The Role of Staffing Agencies
Staffing agencies play a pivotal role in helping employers maintain E-Verify compliance. By partnering with agencies that utilize E-Verify, companies can benefit from expert compliance teams, reduced risk of hiring unauthorized workers, and efficient management of documentation and recordkeeping.
Building Organizational Integrity
Using E-Verify underscores a company’s commitment to ethical hiring practices and legal compliance. This dedication not only enhances organizational integrity but also fosters trust and loyalty from customers, clients, and employees.
Learn More with WSI
At WSI Recruitment and Staffing, we prioritize compliance and ensure that all workers are thoroughly verified. Our use of E-Verify guarantees that our clients’ workforces meet legal standards, mitigating the risks of hiring unauthorized employees. Discover how WSI can support your employment needs and enhance your staffing strategy by visiting our website and downloading our comprehensive eBook, “Verified Futures: Navigating E-Verify.”
Confidence Comes with WSI
Partner with WSI for peace of mind and compliance excellence. Learn more about our services and how we can help your business succeed in today’s complex labor market
Finding Employment Opportunities With a Criminal Record
Opinions and biases are changing towards those with felony convictions re-entering the workforce. According to a study from the Charles Koch Institute, over 80% of managers and two-thirds of HR professionals felt that workers with criminal records bring just as much (or greater) value to an organization as workers without records.
Continue readingToys For Tots Toy Drive
For many parents in West Michigan, the thought of not being able to provide toys and gifts for their children at Christmas is devastating. That’s why the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots program has been there to help over 270 million children since 1947.
The need for Christmas magic is always growing. WSI and Toys for Tots are teaming up to make Christmas morning a bit brighter for those less fortunate this holiday season. In 2020, more than 12,000 toys were delivered to over 10,000 children in the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek area alone. Without your generous support of Toys for Tots each year, these children may not have a gift under the tree.
We’re asking our clients, associates, staff members, neighbors and friends to donate a new unwrapped toy at our Toys for Tots drop-off boxes located at our offices listed below:
Kalamazoo – 3497 S 9th St, Kalamazoo, MI 49009
Battle Creek – 201 Fritz Keiper Blvd, Battle Creek, MI 49037
Grand Rapids – 1960 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508
Holland – 12972 James St Suite 40, Holland, MI 49424
If you’d like to make a donation, you can click here. All donations made at this link will stay in the local area and are not redistributed throughout the National Campaign. It’s a one step online process that will help bring a smile to a child in need this Christmas. You can donate through PayPal for security and ease, or even donate Cryptocurrency. Thank you for making the holidays bright for children in West Michigan.
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.
DENSO Onsite Hiring Event
[Battle Creek]: WSI (Workforce Strategies, Inc.), an award-winning recruitment and staffing agency, will be hosting an onsite hiring event at DENSO Manufacturing on Wednesday, March 3rd from 3 – 5 pm.
WSI is teaming up with DENSO to fill Assembly and Warehouse positions on first and second shift. DENSO is a leading manufacturer of thermal components for all major carmakers, heavy-duty manufacturers, and the automotive aftermarket. Associates of the company enjoy additional $150 weekly premiums, a $500 sign-on bonus, overtime opportunities, and a free, onsite GED program. Associates are eligible to be hired-in after 30 days where they will then receive a great benefits package and advancement opportunities. Starting pay rates for these positions range from $15 – $16.25/hour.
“What’s unique about our partnership with DENSO is that WSI has an onsite presence at their manufacturing facility,“ says Ashley Wertz, WSI Onsite Account Manager. “By being onsite regularly, we’re able to minimize the growing pains that are bound to come with being a new employee. I’m here to coach, counsel, and assist all of our DENSO associates with any questions or concerns they may have.”
Due to COVID-19, all applicants will have their temperature taken with a temporal scanner prior to 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:
- Job Fair, WSI Workforce Strategies, Inc. & DENSO Manufacturing
- 1 DENSO Road, Battle Creek, MI 49037
- March 3rd, 2021
- 3:00 – 5:00 pm
- Job seekers should bring 2 forms of identification
Please contact the Battle Creek WSI office with any questions.
Michigan Reconnect: Free Tuition Program
Because our purpose here at WSI is to empower others to live their best lives, we’re excited to share a new education program available for Michigan residents!
The State of Michigan has recently announced a program allowing Michiganders, aged 25 years or older, the opportunity to receive a tuition-free associate degree from their in-district community college or complete a skills certificate. The program offers scholarships through more than 70 private training schools with 120 different programs that offer certificates in industries such as manufacturing, construction, information technology, healthcare, and business management.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Michigan Reconnect Program:
- You must be at least 25 years old to apply
- You have to have lived in Michigan for at least one year or more
- You need to have a high school diploma
- You cannot have already completed a college degree (associates or bachelor’s)
- The program is also available to those currently in community college, as it will pay the remaining balance of tuition and fees
In a recent press release, the Acting Director of Michigan’s Labor and Economic Opportunity Department, Susan Corbin, stated, “Reconnect offers a path for so many Michiganders hoping to begin – or complete – their education and career journey. This program, like so many others we’re focused on, will help expand opportunity for all Michiganders and make Michigan a better place to live, work, and play.”To submit your application and learn more about the Reconnect program, please visit Michigan.gov/Reconnect.
