CONNECT Transitioning To The Cloud

April 24, 2015 Through Cloud Computing, smaller companies are able to save on the cost of new servers and associated software, as well as IT services used to install and update this software. Taking company data, email, and proprietary software to the Cloud allows companies to downsize server needs while increasing connectivity. Maximizing access through wireless mobile devices, tablets, and laptops from any internet connection will change the way we do business.

HR Associates took our Microsoft Outlook email exchange to the Cloud last year to free up Ram (Available Speed) on our server. A necessary change, as Automated Business Designs continually updated our Ultra Staff software program, which was requiring more and more RAM (physical memory) to operate. We saw immediate results, as we kicked-the-can down the road in reference to replacing our aging 2008 server & even older 2003 Microsoft Sequel (SQL) Server program.

With our latest Ultra Staff update and the fact that Microsoft will no longer support SQL Server ’03 beginning this summer, HR Associates has decided to take our business to the Cloud. New features of the Ultra Staff 2015 update were not supported by our server and could not be utilized. In addition, with Microsoft dropping support for the old SQL program, replacing the existing hardware would be required to protect our extensive database which we have developed.

Any company deciding to go to the Cloud, should have an exhaustive & trusting relationship with the Cloud vendor. If you are going to trust your data to an outside source, you must review the security of the data centers where your information is stored. Automated Business Designs uses the highest rated Tier 4 data centers with 24/7/365 security with an anti-hacker tool set installed for protecting client data storage. Daily data backups are included for any possible breech that may happen. We hope there isn’t a Sony incident but I can assure you, if in the remote chance of this happening, my emails aren’t New York Times’ front page material.

Keeping in step with technology advances is one aspect of our business which we take pride in. Offering the very best service with cutting edge technology for our clients, employees, and community is important to us. Having a virtual office literally anywhere, 24/7/363, will enhance the customer service our clients have come to expect.

Moving Forward!

HR Associates Newsletter Spring 2015

In This Issue

* Transitioning To The Cloud

* The Itinerant Millennials

* Chocolate Strawberry Oasis Pie

* MEC Health Plan Added

* Eggceptional

* Around The Water Cooler

A New Office Manager

* From The President’s Desk

Testimonial

From: Ronda King

Sent: Wed., January 22, 2014 To: Heather Risner

Subject: RE: …

Hi Heather,

Thank you so much! I love working with you and am so glad that the company has decided to go back to utilizing the temp service more often…

Best Regards,

Ronda King

HR Manager/FPI Office Manager

Polysource, Inc.

May 12, 2015 America’s itinerant Millennials have come of age & employers are having to rethink their traditional workforce practices to accommodate this tech savvy, Generation Y. According to a 9,700 worker study by Ernst & Young of New York City, American workers site these 5 reasons why they would quit a job & find a new one.

Minimal wage growth (78%) with no visible path for growth comes as no surprise but the other 4 reasons can be addressed a little easier by companies. Many Millennials had to endure the Great Recession and it’s stagnant wages and now see an opportunity to set their career paths. As unemployment rates drop & wages become more competitive, this connected segment of the workforce will continue to look elsewhere for higher wages.

Lack of advancement opportunities (75%) with no foreseeable career or job options will send a Millennial running for the door. Managers need to engage with this group weekly and let them know they can be challenged where they are. In manufacturing, one HR Associates’ client rotates employees to 4 different work stations per shift. Most Millennials think of themselves as entrepreneurs and directing that energy & ideas internally can improve manufacturing processes and a company’s bottom line. Allowing self expression of ideas will benefit your team and improve employee retention.

Excessive overtime hours (72%) is an aspect of this Generation Y workforce that needs to be addressed by employers. Trying to balance the ideal number of employees, to keep company benefits costs down, and the Millennial “Swinging Door” issue is a losing battle with many companies in west central Ohio. Married Millennials, 78%, have a spouse working full time and are juggling their “Me Time” and are losing the battle. Schedule flexibility is a major issue in our market and until employers address the issue, Millennials will continue to shop jobs.

A culture that doesn’t foster teamwork (66%) will also influence a Millennials decision to fly the coop. The 20-30 Somethings listen to their hearts as much as their brains. Companies need to adapt their culture to encourage more discussions that allow this generation to express themselves, they need to vocalize what makes them happy and frustrated. Millennials want to care about their work and the people with whom they work with. Teamwork promotes a sense of unity and collaboration which articulates their highly social slant. Teamwork adds passion to their work

& empathy for others on their team, which speaks to their compassionate & progressive views. Millennials need to be a part of a team environment with goals clearly spelled out.

According to a Case Foundation study, 73% of Millennials volunteered for a non-profit in 2012 with 3/4 being passionate about the cause or issue. Any employer able support & invest time to a non-profit cause will greatly improve their relationship with Millennials working for them. We discussed this idea with our client, Plastic Recycling Technology (PRT), they have decided to look for a good cause to support. An upcoming 5K Challenge, which is the final step in their employee Wellness Program, will be a great opportunity to give back through sponsorship & pledges. Having an underlying reason to excel at work to support a cause & not just corporate profits will speak volumes to one half of today’s Millennial psyche.

Inflexibility (66%) of employers is detrimental to a productive & sustainable workforce. Millennials want a flexible schedule, while still remaining on track for a promotion. Generation Y families are taking a hit by the necessity of 2 full time jobs and employers need to dial back the 12 hour schedules. Manufacturers’ employee “Point Systems” are antiquated and need to be revamped for today’s Millennial generation. Alternative punishments for infractions need to be addressed. The old & entrenched “Yearly Review” needs to be renamed “Conversation Day”, full of meaningful conversations with the employee in mind.

The Millennials, 75 million strong, is the largest generation in American History. As Baby Boomers continue to retire over the next ten years, Gen Y will soon be doing most of the working, spending, and decision making. Employers better wake up and cater to this group or the door will continue to swing.

The Itinerant Millennials

March 9, 2015 HR Associates’ introduced a new Minimum Essential Coverage Wellness/Preventive (MEC W/P) Plan in March. The new MEC Plan is in addition to our Essential StaffCARE

Indemnity Health Plan which covers basic health services. Enrollment in the new MEC plan satisfies the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Individual Mandate requirement for all US citizens & removes any individual tax penalty. This plan is in compliance with ACA rules and regulations, but it does not cover medical services or conditions caused by accident or illness. This plan does not allow enrollees to receive a subsidy from the Health Insurance Exchange.

The MEC Plan covers wellness and preventative services, such as immunizations and routine health screenings only. Plans as low as $59.16 per month for an individual but those enrolled can opt for family coverage too. With the MEC W/P Plan, if enrollees go to an in-network provider, any of the 63 preventative services will be 100% covered. If a plan member goes to an out-of-network provided, the services will only be 40% covered. To find out if a provider is in-network, visit www.firsthealth.com or call 800-226-5116.

A few key MEC Plan screenings for adults include blood pressure, cholesterol, colorectal cancer & HIV. Adult immunizations such as Hepatitis A & B, Herpes Zoster, Tetanus, & Pneumococcal are covered. In addition, for women, yearly Mammography & Cervical Cancer screenings are covered services. Plan children have Autism & Behavioral screenings as well as Immunizations up to age 18. For a complete list of covered services visit http://bit.ly/1JUvM6W .

MEC Plan Added to Health Benefits

Visit us online: www.hr-ps.com

Incoming Web Links: 12 Web Domains (Addresses)

Link 1.693 web pages to HR’s website, www.hr-ps.com .

(Source: Majestic.com)

Ingredients: For Crust: Pam nonstick oil spray 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter 1 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped 7 oz. chocolate wafer cookies (30) 1 pint strawberries, trimmed & halved For Filling: 2/3 cup cane sugar 1/4 cup starch 2 Tbsp. Hershey’s cocoa powder 1/4 tsp. ground ginger 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg Pinch of salt 6 large egg yolks 2 1/2 cups whole milk 6 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped 1/2 Tbsp. Pappy Van Winkle’s Bourbon 1 tsp. vanilla extract Directions: Lightly spray a 9-inch pie dish with

nonstick spray. Place butter & chopped chocolate in microwave on high for 30 seconds or until melted. Stir until smooth. Finely grind cookies in processor. Add chocolate mixture and process until evenly moistened. Press crumb mixture into prepared pie dish. Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes. May as well try a little Pappy’s while you wait. Arrange strawberry halves in single layer in the bottom of the crust.

For filling, whisk sugar cornstarch, cocoa powder, spices, & salt in a heavy medium saucepan to combine. Whisk in egg yolks to form a thick paste. Gradually whisk in milk, then whisk over medium-high heat until mixture thickens & boils for one (1) minute. Remove from heat. Add chocolate & whisk until smooth. Whisk in bourbon and vanilla. Cool five (5) minutes, whisking occasionally. Pour filling over strawberries until level with the top edge of the crust. Chill until set, @ least two (2) hours and up to one (1) day. Top with Cool Whip & more strawberries. Enjoy!

(Source: loveandoliveoil.com)

Chocolate Strawberry Oasis Pie

Around The Water Cooler

New Office Manager

May 22, 2015 After 5 years as HR’s Receptionist/Admin Assistant,

Michelle Horner (MJ) has been promoted to Office Manager. MJ

has excelled at every task set before her. Our Ultra Staff Back Office

training has been a top priority for MJ.

MJ’s little Dominic is up to 16 lbs. @ 4 months & is 2’ (nothin’) 3”

tall. Dominic is developing his own unique personality & has begun

spitting his food out for fun. Yuk!

New to HR’s staff, Megan Byram hails from Bradford and has taken over the front

desk duties. Megan is busy training on Ultra Staff, watching a webinar as we speak.

Showing initiative, Megan created an alphabetized client document folder to be able

to answer new associate questions. At 17, Megan began a 3 year stint @ Cracker

Barrel in Piqua and was a receptionist for 6 months @ Harley Davidson of Bowling

Green, Kentucky before returning home. Megan has a 9 year Army career brother,

Jason, currently stationed in Alaska. She hopes to be able see her 2 nephews & meet

her niece real soon, instead of the occasional Skype video call.

From The President’s Desk

May 26, 2015 HR Associates has been negotiating the specifics of Cloud based staffing software with Automated Business

Designs of Chicago. President, Heather Risner expects the data transfer will take place mid-June and an easy transition

over to Cloud Ultra Staff.

Heather has been busy filling summer openings with College students for a client in Sidney. Included with the

placements, was her oldest son, a Junior@ Wright State, home for a couple of months. Several Direct Hires for clients

have been on the President’s desk, which have always been a favorite challenge.

On The Home Front

The Boys: All 3 boys are @ very different places in their youth. As mentioned, Heather’s oldest is experiencing his 1st

full time, 3rd shift job. Not a better wake up call for a young man, than to finally understand the meaning of hard work.

Heather’s middle son attended Covington High School’s Commencement on Sunday, May 24th. “D” was inducted into the

National Honor Society and made the Edison Community College Dean’s List for a second year. “D” plans on attending

Wright State in the fall and share an apartment with his older brother. News about that venture to come later. Heather’s

youngest wants his permit & will be taking Driver’s Education this fall as a Sophomore @ CHS. Need we say more?

Contact us today for more

information about our

services.

HR Associates

314 N. Wayne St.

Piqua, Ohio

45356

Office: (937) 778-8563

Fax: (937) 778-8569

Email: info@hr-ps.com

Visit us on the web @

www.hr-ps.com