Employee Newsletter
March 2022
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Celebrating 49 Years of Staffing Excellence! |
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Cannabis Legalization Likely in Wisconsin |
A top Wisconsin Assembly lawmaker says that marijuana legalization is essentially an inevitability in the state where the Republican-dominated legislature has routinely blocked reform.
In an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio last week, Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke (R) was prompted with new polling showing that bipartisan majorities favor ending cannabis criminalization, and asked whether the legislature might advance legalization. “It’s an interesting question,” Steineke said. “Obviously other states throughout the country are moving in that direction. I think that’s likely the direction at some point.”
He caveated that he feels enacting medical cannabis legalization will be a “more likely,” possibility as an initial step. But while adult-use legalization “has a much tougher path to get through the legislature and actually [being] signed into law, I do think we’re heading in that direction.”
Kyle Jaeger - marijuanamoment.net
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Wisconsin Judge Orders At-Will Employees to Stay at Jobs
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The legal principle of “at-will” employment refers to an employer's ability to discharge an employee at any time and for any reason, as long as the reasons for doing so are not illegal. |
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Likewise, employees have the right to leave their job at will, at any time, and for any reason. A recent court decision in Wisconsin, however, seemed to run contradictory to this principle.
Ascension's St. Elizabeth hospital recruited seven of the eleven members of ThedaCare’s interventional radiology and cardiovascular team. ThedaCare claimed that the loss of these employees to Ascension put many communities and patients at risk and could possibly lead to patient diversions that would reduce the quality of aid potential patients could receive. ThedaCare also claimed that Ascension “poached” the workers while Ascension claimed the employees applied on their own through open job postings.
Ascension responded that ThedaCare had an opportunity to make competitive counter offers to retain its former employees, but had failed to do so. One of the applicants in the dispute, said the pay, benefits, and lifestyle options offered by Ascension were better.
Outagamie Circuit Court Judge Mark J. McGinnis initially granted the temporary order on January 20th, siting the gravity of the situation laid out in ThedaCare's complaint. He lifted the order after a hearing the following Monday, and advised ThedaCare to move forward with alternative staffing solutions.
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Weathering an Economic Downturn DOs and DON'Ts |
DO save for a rainy day. Try to save a set amount out of each check. Rather than getting that $4 cup of coffee every day, you could be saving $120 per month, or using that extra money on necessities.
DO spend conservatively, not frivolously. Purchase necessities or assets that will appreciate, not luxuries, or things that depreciate.
DO look for less expensive options for things that are necessities. Generic equivalents, sale and coupon items, used or refurbished items, or buying in bulk all provide discounts. Consider going in with a friend, relative, or neighbor to purchase bulk items.
DO invest safely, and only as much as you can afford to lose. While recessions are great times to get a good deal on stocks, some may go even lower, take years to recover, or not recover at all.
DON’T tie up money you may need in the short-term in long-term investments like CDs or bonds. Keep some of your assets liquid.
DON’T waste time, energy, or food. Each of those has a monetary value and conserving all three will make your money go further.
DON’T be unkind to others. In an economic downturn many will be struggling. You may be able to lend a hand to someone, or you may need someone to lend you a hand.
DON’T forget that this too shall pass. The economy has gone through many ups and downs through the years. They don’t last forever, and when the recovery happens, things usually come back even stronger.
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Unemployment Rate Declines |
In February, the federal unemployment rate edged down to 3.8 percent from 4.0% in January, and the number of unemployed persons edged down to 6.3 million. In February 2020, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate was 3.5 percent, and the number of unemployed persons was 5.7 million.
Among the unemployed, the number of persons on temporary layoff, at 888,000 in February, was little changed over the month.
The number of persons not in the labor force who currently want a job declined by 349,000 to 5.4 million in February. This measure is above its February 2020 level of 5.0 million.
In February, 13.0 percent of employed persons teleworked because of the coronavirus pandemic, down from 15.4 percent in the prior month.
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Employment Numbers Increase
US nonfarm private employment rose by 475,000 jobs in February with gains in all sectors, according to the ADP National Employment Report.
The leisure and hospitality sector posted the largest boost in February with a gain of 170,000 jobs. Large businesses added 552,000 jobs and midsize businesses (those with 50-499 employees) added 18,000 jobs. Small businesses struggled to compete for workers, and lost 96,000 jobs in February.
Despite beating expectations, the February jobs gain was actually the weakest since August.
Staffing Industry Analysts
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How to Become Indispensable at Work
1. Maintain high standards – Try to aim for excellence in everything you do, and demonstrate a constant work ethic. Review employer and client expectations regularly, and measure yourself against them.
2. Go beyond expectations – Accepting extra responsibilities will show you are dedicated to your role and the company. Another great way to do more than expected is to read the job description for the role above yours. You can also ask your supervisor about any available opportunities such as taking the lead on a project, starting a team initiative or leading team building activities such as lunches, parties or outings.
3. Know the office dynamics – Pay attention to your surroundings and how different roles in the office function. With this knowledge, you can better understand how you fit into the dynamic and identify needs that you can help address. Consider asking coworkers if they need additional help if you have time.
4. Develop an exclusive skill – Try to find a task that your team needs to complete and become the best person or only person who does it. You can be the one who others go to for help with this particular task or skill. For example, master a certain spreadsheet technique or computer program your company uses.
5. Be trustworthy – You can demonstrate your trustworthiness by consistently completing your assigned tasks correctly and on time.
6. Add value to every transaction – Whether it is an important client meeting or a casual conversation during lunch, try to leave a positive impression on people you interact with. Show interest in other people’s lives and work. This attitude may make people feel inclined to include you in future projects and decisions.
7. Collaborate – Make a practice of including others. Listening to and implementing input can help you become a great team player. Teamwork is often key to success, and working well with others will help make you indispensable.
8. Generate new ideas – Look for ways you can improve any aspect of your role or work environment, and take your ideas to your supervisor. For example, if you notice your team could save more time on a lengthy process, talk to your manager about your solution.
9. Develop relationships – Try to cultivate relationships with coworkers, supervisors, and clients to engage in your work community. It is helpful to maintain a professional network to gain a fresh perspective and new ideas.
10. Stay focused – Pay attention to any distractions you experience during the workday, and then make a plan to eliminate them. You can accomplish more and demonstrate your dedication when you give your full attention to your work. Keep in mind that it is normal and healthy to take regularly-scheduled, short breaks—in fact, it will likely increase your productivity overall.
11. Stay up to date on best practices – Research, practice, or take courses to ensure that you are up to date on all the skills you need for your position. You will be indispensable if you are knowledgeable in the areas your team focuses on. See if you can learn something new that could expand your role or improve your company.
12. Cultivate communication skills – Written, verbal, and nonverbal communication skills are all essential to maintaining an active role in the workplace. To practice, pay attention to the way your coworkers respond to your conversations. You can also ask for constructive feedback. For nonverbal communication skills, remember to maintain good posture and make eye contact to show you are engaged in conversations.
13. Be adaptable – The ability to accept change is vital to staying relevant and necessary in your work environment.
14. Appreciate and acknowledge – Find ways to show your appreciation of others. For example, if someone assisted you with a task when you were busy, thank them for their help. If a team member exceeded expectations, compliment them on their hard work. Acknowledging your team's efforts will show that you are invested in their success.
15. Be a negotiator – Good negotiation skills can improve your performance and your relationships with clients, coworkers, and supervisors.
Indeed
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Kourtney Keberlein
Staffing Specialist
Green Bay
2 years
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Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole
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Ingredients
1 package (24 ounces) frozen O'Brien potatoes
2 cups cubed, fully cooked ham
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 small onion, chopped
2 cups sour cream
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cheddar cheese soup, undiluted
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of potato soup, undiluted
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup breadcrumbs (optional)
Directions
In a large bowl, combine potatoes, ham, 1/2 cup cheese and onion. In another bowl, combine sour cream, soups, and pepper; add to potato mixture and mix well. Transfer to a greased 9 X 13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheese, and top with bread crumbs (if desired). Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 60-65 minutes or until bubbly and potatoes are tender. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
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QUOTE
Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will. – Mahatma Gandhi
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