Inside Express

Happy Veterans Day to Our Veterans

In the United States, Veterans Day is Nov. 11. First proclaimed “Armistice Day” by President Wilson in 1919, this day was created as a celebration with a parade, public meetings, and brief suspension of the business day. In 1938, Nov. 11 became an annual legal holiday to honor America’s soldiers.

Today, Express Employment Professionals is proud of our veterans and we want to wish everyone a very happy Veterans Day!

Express__veterans2_FB_large

If you’re a veteran who is currently looking for a job, check out these Movin’ On Up articles for tips on how to use your experience to help you:

Veterans and the Job Search
Use Your Military Experience to Find a Job

And to our friends in Canada, we wish you a happy Remembrance Day! A memorial day observed to remember the members of Canada’s armed forces who died in the line of duty, Remembrance Day is sometimes known as Poppy Day and is also celebrated on Nov. 11.

RemembranceDay_Facebook

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

The Results Are In: How Do You Wish Your Company Showed Appreciation to Employees?

results_show_appreciation_webThe holiday season is quickly approaching, and many companies are deciding how they’ll show appreciation to their employees this year. In a recent poll, we asked Movin’ On Up readers how they wish their employers, or future employers, showed appreciation this time of year.

According to the results, 29% of respondents would most appreciate a cash bonus, while 23% reported pay raises would be better incentives. Aside from monetary gifts like gift cards (6%), 16% of respondents picked days off or shortened holiday hours as their top choice.

Holiday parties received 6% of the vote, followed by non-monetary gift items at 1%. An additional 15% of respondents reported that a combination of items would be best received.

Participants also selected “Other” and respond with their own thoughts, including:

  • “Work-life balance”
  • “Incentive vacation time for employees with no sick days”
  • “Well-developed systems”
  • “Better benefits”
  • “Company profit sharing”
  • “A turkey or ham at Christmas to take home”

An overwhelming majority of people requested one thing in particular – appreciation. Responses included:

  • “Praise and acknowledgement”
  • “Just to hear someone from management say, ‘Thank you for doing a great job’”
  • “Respect”
  • “A thank you would go a long way”
  • “I’ve never heard a thank you”
  • “Saying thank you or I appreciate you”
  • “Email or verbal appreciation on a regular basis”
  • “Recognition”

These results are not far from last year’s, which revealed that 27% of respondents would most appreciate a cash bonus, followed by 13% who selected pay raises, and 9% who chose days off. Last year’s results also revealed that appreciation would go a long way with today’s workforce. In 2014, 31% of those who selected the “Other” option wrote that they wanted appreciation from their supervisors. This year, that number rose to 42%.

The results of the Movin’ On Up poll reveal some of the most powerful gifts are the easiest to give. From a turkey at Christmas to a thank-you email, sincerity is the gift that keeps on giving this holiday season.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Poll: What Are Your Job Market Predictions for 2016?

MOV_POLL-ICONWith 2015 coming to a close, it’s time to reflect on the year and look forward to a new one too. Last year, we asked Movin’ On Up readers what they predict the job market to look like in 2015, and 35% said they believed the market was stable enough to try for a new job, followed by 27% who reported the market was going to get worse before it got better. Readers who were confident they’d get a job offer in 2015 made up 17% of respondents, while 11% planned to stay where they were in their career paths.

This year, as we look toward 2016, we want to know if your expectations have changed. Do you think the job market will grow, remain the same, or plummet? Do you feel the same way as our readers did last year, or did your year affect your outlook on 2016? Let us know by voting in our poll!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Poll Results: What Factors Lead to Teamwork Breakdown

results_job_satisfaction_webTeamwork is an important part of any company’s success, and it’s a skill every job seeker should possess. But, not every team works perfectly. There are a number of reasons why teamwork can break down, and we asked Movin’ On Up readers what they thought was the biggest factor for teamwork break down.

With more than 400 votes, the results are:

  • (delete extra space) Poor leadership – 26%
  • Poor communication – 22%
  • Disengaged team members – 19%
  • Unclear goals – 15%
  • Narcissism/One-upmanship – 13%

In addition, 5% of readers selected “other” and cited reasons including:

  • Lack of recognition
  • Hostile work environment
  • Trust issues
  • Gossip
  • Attitude problems
  • Commitment
  • Lack of support
  • Unequal pay

According to a similar poll on Refresh Leadership, Express Employment Professionals blog for business leaders, employers agree. Business leaders cited the number one reason teamwork breaks downs as “poor communication” with 30% of the votes, and “poor leadership” with 26%.

Why do you think poor leadership and poor communication lead to teamwork breakdown? Share with us in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

U.S. National Staffing Employee Week: Thank You!

National Staffing Employee Week is Sept. 28 – Oct. 4 in the United States, and we want to show our appreciation for the millions of men and women who make up the temporary and contract workforce in the United States every week, and especially those who work for Express every year.

Whether you’re employed by a staffing firm or considering pursuing a new career path, use this week to take pride in the integral part you play in not only furthering your career, but also building a stronger economy. Express Employment Professionals salutes your hard work and dedication.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.us_staffingweek_2015

Poll: How Do You Wish Your Company Showed Appreciation to Employees?

MOV_POLL-ICONAs we approach the holiday season, many companies are beginning to decide how to show appreciation to their employees this year. From cash bonuses to holiday parties, the ways employers compensate, or don’t compensate, their employees’ hard work varies. Like last year, we want to know how you wish your employer, or future employer, showed appreciation to you and your co-workers this season.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Congratulations to Our Next Round of Job Jackpot Winners!

job_jackpotAt Express Employment Professionals, we know our associates are what make us successful, and we’re privileged to have put more than 465,000 people to work in 2014. To show our thanks this year, we’re awarding 30 associates $1,000 each in our new sweepstakes, Job Jackpot.

As part of Job Jackpot, associates are given a scratch-off ticket. Game pieces can be returned to participating Express offices to be entered into a grand prize drawing to win $1,000.

Grand prize drawings are held bimonthly, and the most recent drawing just took place. Congratulations to the following Express associates:

  • James from Tennessee
  • Sandria from Alabama
  • Nikki from Arkansas
  • Samson from Kentucky
  • Kari from Minnesota

If you’d like a chance to be our next winner, stop by your local Express office and talk to your staffing consultant today!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.