This annual competition, sponsored by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and Baird Holm, recognizes a select number of companies based on employee surveys which measure employee satisfaction and engagement.  C&A, parent company of AurStaff, has been named in the category of organizations with more than 250 employees.

At C&A, our mission is to be the staffing provider and employer of choice by helping people and companies achieve their goals.  We’re proud to once again be a recipient of this significant honor.  And, we know that it’s due to our outstanding employees that C&A has become the great organization that it is today.

Here’s how to break the cycle without compromising your career prospects:
• Examine your attitude. What are you afraid of when you say no? The answer will help you understand what drives you: the approval of others, the desire to prove yourself, the need for control, or whatever. Once that’s clear in your mind, you’ll be able to set priorities more effectively. What kind of control do you really have, if you’re too busy to get things done?

• Discipline yourself. As with any other habit, resisting the urge to say yes calls for self-discipline and control. Teach yourself to pause before answering a request. Remember that you have other responsibilities. Think through the implications of a positive response before committing yourself.

• Offer an alternative. Instead of saying no outright, make some kind of counteroffer: “I can’t lead that task force, but I’d be happy to look at the final report before you submit it.” This lets you contribute without tying your hands.

• Negotiate. See whether you can delegate or eliminate something from your to-do list in exchange for saying yes. You’ll free up some time, and the other person will realize just how much you’ve got on your plate.

Choose from among these categories:
• Factual. “What did you have for lunch?” or, “What is 357 times 62?” Some questions have only one correct answer — truth that can be objectively confirmed.

• Interpretive. “What does that painting look like?” Even if a question has more than one correct answer (“A blue cow,” or “a blue dog”), an interpretive question calls for evidence, some kind of supporting material that others can validate.

• Evaluative. “Do you like eggplant parmigiana?” Questions regard­ing opinions or beliefs have no correct or incorrect answer, but they can tell you a lot about the other person’s point of view.

• Empowering. “What would you do about Sarah’s problem?” Sometimes you want to urge someone to action, without directly telling him or her what to do. In these cases, ask ques­tions to show you’re interested in the other person’s ideas and trust his or her judgment.

• Broad vs. focused. The questions above can be asked in different ways, depending on whether you want a lot of information or a single answer: “How many different animals could that painting look like?” vs. “What specific animal do you see?” Think before you ask, so you don’t have to backtrack.

• Follow-up. “What do you mean by that?” This is one of the best questions you can ask in almost any category, because it invites the other person to think more deeply and share more information.

• Know the hazards. Different workspaces have different hazards. Make sure you know where the danger zones are—from cords that run across the office floor to other objects you could trip over.

• Use shock-absorbing insoles. This is especially important if you do a lot of walking or standing on hard floors at work.

• Wear the right shoes. When it comes to feet, choose comfort over fashion. Safe shoes have an inner side that’s straight from the heel to the end of the big toe. They should grip the heel firmly, allow you to move your toes, and have a low, wide-based heel.

• Buy with care. At the store, measure both your feet, as they’re frequently different sizes. Get shoes that fit the larger foot. Try on and buy shoes late in the afternoon when your feet will be their largest, especially if you’ve stood on or walked on them throughout the day. And buy a shoe that really fits—don’t assume a tight shoe will stretch in time.

AurStaff was the proud winner of the team Customer Development Award, having won the award four of the last five years. In conjunction with the awards luncheon, individual employees were also recognized for their years of service at a special ceremony the day before. AurStaff is honored to have two employees, Kevin B., sales manager, and Stephanie N., operations manager, who have been with the company for 10 years each. 

“Stephanie and Kevin are a valuable part of the AurStaff team and each bring a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience to the group having served in numerous roles during their time with the company,” AurStaff Division Manager Jim O. said. “As team leaders, Stephanie and Kevin’s commitment to customer service and dedication to AurStaff candidates serves as motivation to others and is unmatched.”

These employees and so many others at C&A continue to illustrate how hard work and dedication can garner amazing results. Congratulations to Kevin and Stephanie and all of AurStaff for their achievements throughout the year!

The AurStaff awards dinner followed National Staffing Employee week, this year held September 14 – 20, which is a time to recognize the hard work of the 2.66 million people employed by staffing companies through out the US on any given day. At the AurStaff awards dinner we give thanks to our contract employees and recognize the achievements of one employee who stands out from the rest. We are excited to award Howard Lee Walker for his accomplishments this year.

Howard started with Aurstaff in 2005. He has stared in 51 “performances” ranging from warehouse/logistics to manufacturing/production and has been a great asset to Aurstaff. All of our clients have recognized that he can help their bottom line and have commented that you can set your clock by Howard as he is always early and ready to start. He goes above and beyond to help where ever needed and we are proud to honor him as this year’s Employee of the Year. Congratulations, Howard!

AurStaff Branch Manager, Annette Pace, and Regional Manager, Jim O'Connor, pose with the Employee of the Year, Howard Walker, after the awards dinner.

• Manage your sleep during the day—not just how long, but how soundly.

• Don’t take any caffeine, sleeping pills, alcohol, or nicotine before going to bed.

• Get rid of all distractions, especially the phone.

• Try to sleep at the same time every day.

• Keep sleeping temperature about 68 degrees.

• Use earplugs to keep noise at bay. You can also muffle noises with a fan or “white noise” machine.

• Accept the change. Don’t try to maintain your normal routine; keep social events and family outings at times that fit your new shift-work needs.

• Eat light at night and get extra servings of veggies, cereal, rice, pasta, fruits, and juices.

• Try to nap at least a half-hour just before you go to work. After your shift, go to bed as soon as you’re relaxed enough to sleep.

More troubling results, from researchers at the University of North Carolina:

• 53 percent of workers have lost time at work over worries about a previous or potential confrontation with a colleague.

• 28 percent have lost work time in their attempts to avoid confrontations.

• 37 percent are less committed to their employer because of a hostile workplace altercation.

• 22 percent say they’re putting less effort into their work due to conflicts at the office.

As a manager, make sure you stay on top of workplace gossip to eliminate any potential risk of conflicts developing. Consult with your employees often to make sure they are comfortable with their work environment and quickly respond to any concerns.

To assist with your inspection, consider creating a checklist like the one when you click on the link to make sure you identify all potential hazards. This one is a general list of what to look for, so you may need to add more specific items to reflect the nature of your work area and the hazards that exist for you. Here is a general list to get started:

• Is the general work area clean and neat?
• Are the walkways clear of obstructions and debris?
• Will co-workers and others working in the area be creating hazards you need to be aware of?
• Are your workstation and the area around it in orderly condition?
• Are personal possessions stowed safely away where they won’t be in the way or misplaced?
• Are the items you use most during the day within easy reach?
• Have other tools and materials been stored in their proper place?
• Are trash and scrap containers empty?
• Do you have the personal protective equipment (PPE) you need for the day?
• Is PPE clean and in good condition?
• Are containers of hazardous materials kept tightly sealed and safely stored?
• Are material safety data sheets (MSDSs) that you will need during the day readily available?
• Are machines and equipment clean and in good operating condition?
• Are machine guards in place and operating correctly?
• Is electrical equipment properly grounded?
• Are electrical cords and plugs in good condition?
• Have you avoided overloading electrical outlets and circuits?
• Is emergency equipment, such as fire extinguishers and first-aid supplies, in their proper place in case they are needed during the day?

Web 2.0 and the social media wave is changing the networking game. A recent Business Week article cited that there are now 150 million Facebook users, and the number grows exponentially every day as more and more “adults” sign on to the site. The increase in usage and popularity of Facebook and similar sites such as LinkedIn and Twitter make personal marketing, and the ability to connect with friends, professional contacts, and now businesses, even easier.

Once you’ve got your network firmly in one place (or a few places depending on how you use social networking sites) it’s easy to share tips with each other, forward interesting articles, and keep up on what those in your network are doing right now, including when one person is looking for a job or has a job available. The great news is that people are having success using social networking sites to find jobs. Click here to read David Murray’s success story. David used Twitter to find a new job, but other social sites can be used in similar ways to track down new opportunities.

Don’t forget that the old rules for finding a job still apply. Job seekers must be professional, have the skills required for the job, and be willing to put in the time to find a new job, but it doesn’t hurt to let the power of social networking work for you.

Connect with AurStaff online and let us help you (and your network) find that next outstanding opportunity! Become our fan on Facebook to stay on top of AurStaff news, job information, and career tips.