The Labor Report

3 Reason to Utilize Temporary Employees, RIGHT NOW!

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 20:27:00 GMT

Temporary employees and 3 reasons to consider hiring an agency.

Right now temporary/day labor employees are playing an important role in many companies. So, we ask the question. Is hiring a day labor agency beneficial for your company in this current situation?

We will look at 3 reasons why your company should consider utilizing temporary employees through a day labor agency.

1. Allows your business to adjust easily and quickly adapt to workload fluctuations.

Temporary help can very quickly provide your business with basic staff needed to keep the line, project or construction site moving. Some reasons companies utilize temporary employees are;

- Employee absence : Due to the current COIVD-19 Pandemic many employees are being forced to take time away from work. Utilizing a temporary employee for this case, or any time an employee is our sick, companies can keep this spot filled, while not having to take the financial burden and time of having to find and hire a full time employee

- Unexpected demand : Right now many companies are seeing their product become high in demand or they are switching to produce more essential items. Using a temporary employee during this short period of high demand may be more economical than hiring a full time employee.

2. Allows you to maintain flexibility

- Maintaining staff flexibility while keeping production high is always critical. Utilizing temps or day labor employees is another way you can offer flexibility at the same time your staff is needing time off.

3. Time and cost savings.

- When you consider the cost of employing a full time team member (payroll, paperwork, taxes, unemployment, workers comp and any benefits a full time employee may receive), working with a temp agency during a short period of time will drastically reduce your overhead when it comes to a staff.

- When you employ an agency, its not you who is the employer, it's the agency who is the workers employer. The agency is responsible for the entire financial burden that comes with having an employee. If your needing an employee for only a day, week or a month, typically it makes more sense to use a temporary employee rather than hiring full time.

Working with a temporary or Day Labor Agency, such as Labor Masters, can be a great tool for your company to utilize during this particular time.

We are available to help every day of the week and any shift you need. For more information please visit our website at labormasters.net or call our office 701-566-8755 our staff is ready and able to help!

5 Tips to Stay Safe While Working in the Summer Heat.

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 19:13:58 GMT

Working outside is a requirement for many people. We want to provide some important tips to ensure everyone has a safe and productive summer.

Summer is here and in full swing! Which means many people will now be working in the heat and sun. At Labor Masters we want to make sure everyone working this summer stays safe and healthy.

Below are our “5 Tips to Working Safely in the Summer Heat”

1. Stay hydrated

Water is your friend during the summer. A good way to keep hydrated is to drink anywhere between 12-16oz of water per hour (equivalent to a standard 12oz bottle of water every hour)

2. Avoid dehydrating liquids

Coffee, tea or caffeinated drink may taste good but are more harm than good. Avoid these drinks if at all possible.

3. Take a break (out of the sun)

Find shade or block out the sun during breaks.

4. Use sunblock

Taking care of your skin is essential. Sun burns can dehydrate your body and make working outside dangerous.

5. Be alert of signs of heat-related illness

Know the warning signs. Sweating has stopped, dizziness, nausea, loss or blurred vision are all signs of heat illnesses. Know the warning signs and find help when you notice them.

At Labor Masters we understand working outside is part of the job, but staying safe is your job too. Take the heat and sun serious and use the above 5 tips to have a safe and productive summer!

What's Our Secret?

Fri, 18 Jan 2019 16:51:55 GMT

WHAT’S OUR SECRET?

Our clients often ask, “How does Labor Masters find and retain hundreds of day laborers when we find it hard to hire even one employee?”

We know what our role is.
Companies in Fargo, Moorhead and the surrounding communities aren’t having a hard time finding college graduates and highly skilled employees. There is an employment gap when it comes to general labor and entry level positions. There are more open positions than there are people willing to work. Our clients are having a hard time finding that entry level employee. Which is why companies turn to us. We do what we say we’ll do: Fill those types of positions and no more.
We don’t do phlebotomist, CNA’s or Professional placements…there are other companies that specialize in that.
If you are looking for someone to fill and pack orders or clean up around your job site for a few days, we are the only company to call.
We know the local market better than anyone else.
We’ve been in the Fargo-Moorhead labor market for more than 25 years, so we have seen what works and what doesn't work.
We take pride in our reputation as the premier day labor agency in the area. Our clients know when they call us they are getting the best day labor employees Fargo has to offer.
We value our relationships with the blue collar, hardworking, hammer-swinging companies in Fargo and love supplying them with the most reliable, hardest working employees.
We treat each employee with respect and dignity.
We live by the Golden Rule. We treat our employees as we would like to be treated in their positions. We provide a clean, spacious, attractive work environment with complimentary coffee and doughnuts. We know our employees by name, know their backstories and interact with them as we would anyone else we work with.
In turn, they treat each position they accept as their own job. As a result, we have the most dedicated employees you could ask for. We expect the workers we send out to be model employees and an extension of Labor Masters—and they are!
We tell employees what to expect from their jobs.
Our employees know we are going to tell them exactly what each position involves, what it pays and how long it is going to take. We never trick anyone into working. Our employees know when they come in for the morning we aren't going to sell them on a position they can't accomplish to merely fill a job order. Putting someone on a job they can't perform doesn't work for anyone.
We tell it like it is. That’s why we hear over and over again, ”You guys are the most honest place to work,” and we take pride in that.
We tell employees what WE expect from them.
Our employees also know what we expect when on assignment. We only work with people who want to work. The people we send out on assignment aren’t people we find off the street. They are people we have spoken with, met with and gotten to know. We know their skill sets and what they excel at. That means we are able to put qualified, efficient hardworking individuals on ANY project we are asked to work on.
Whether it’s bagging leaves at your grandma’s house or working construction on the new high-rise in Fargo, we do the best with the best.
So, when you’re ready to work with a day labor agency, choose the company that does day labor the only way we know how...the right way.

3 Signs You May Need Temporary Labor

Mon, 08 Oct 2018 20:17:12 GMT

When it comes to completing a project, lightening the workload of another employee or ensuring a project gets completed on schedule the use of a day labor company may come in more handy than realized.

After working with over 250 different companies and hearing all the reasons why companies are using Labor Masters for their employment needs, we decided to share the 3 most common reasons companies are turning to day labor for help.

1. Your Entry Level Positions are Unfilled.
- One statement he hear quite often is , "we are all over these job boards but no one is replying"
One option we share with our clients it utilizing day labor to help with the gap in employment until you have hired. If you are hiring for a basic position such as; Housekeeping, dish-washing, clean-up crews or order packing on the hiring boards you could be utilizing temporary employees until you position is filled. These positions are low barrier to enter and can easily be filled by temporary employees.

2. You Have Highly Skilled Employees Filling in Entry Level Positions....Constantly
- No one wants to be moving employees around when there is work to be done. We often hear from clients they have been having their skilled employees moved off their own tasks to help clean the site up or help in basic entry level positions. This isn't only irritating to the employee who was just pulled off their work, but can be a huge set back when it comes to the completion of the project...on time! Don't move employees around if you don't have too. Utilizing a day labor company such as Labor Masters in this situation can be a great option.

3. You have a large order to fill and A Short Time to Complete it
- When it comes to e-commerce companies or warehouse positions getting an order counted, packed and loaded (or unloaded) is a make or break period. In most cases when a large order comes in a company may not have enough hands on deck to speed the process up. Which is where day labor comes in. Typically unloading a truck or packing boxes is pretty mundane, until there are hundreds if not thousands of orders to fulfill. We work with company all throughout the year and help in this exact situation.

Of course there are many reasons a company would need to utilize day labor but these are some of the most common we hear about. We want to ensure whether you need help for a day or a month we are always available to help.

If you would like more information about Labor Masters or Day Labor in the Fargo, ND are please call our office at 701-566-8775
or email to info@labormasters.net

Success with Day Labor

Tue, 02 Oct 2018 18:47:02 GMT

Local Realtor Sees Success with Day Labor Despite Recent "Horror Stories"

Local Realtor Greg Anderson recently was involved with the transaction of a property and need some extra help with cleaning up and preparing the home for his clients. Greg, after hearing about Labor Masters through local advertising decided to give day labor employees a chance over hiring the local college students. After hearing the "horror stories" from other acquaintances he had reservation about working with Day Labor but decided to give it a shot.

The following letter was wrote by Greg to the Labor Masters staff:

"Nancy,

I represented the seller of a lake property in need of extensive clean up. I considered hiring local college students to help with the work but decided it was best to go through an agency so the workers were covered with the appropriate insurance. I heard your advertisements on the radio and decided to give Labor Masters a try.

I spoke with Ian Beaton at Labor Masters in Fargo and requested assistance with my project. Ian was very helpful and laid out several options for my project.

This was a two day project. it was my first experience using staffing though an employment agency. I heard several "horror" stories regarding using day labor and didn't know what to expect.

Labor Masters sent a couple employees over to my project. They arrived on time, both days. They (employees) where extremely polite and professional during the entire time on the job. (they mentioned their vehicle leaked fluids and offered to park on the road rather than on my client's driveway.)

I Gave them an overview of the project and my expectations. They jumped into the work and completed the tasks quickly, thoroughly and efficiently. When they completed the work I requested, they looked for additional things that needed to be addressed and completed the tasks quickly and efficient. One employee used his carpentry skills to make several minor repairs on the property.

Both employees worked hard the entire time they were on site and required little if any supervision Their performance greatly exceeded my expectations. I would gladly use Labor Masters for similar projects in the future and will recommend your staff to Realtor's in my office and fellow Realtor's in the area. "

Sincerely,
Greg Anderson
Cormorant Realty."

This letter is just one example of our clients seeing success when it comes to working with Labor Masters. The above response is what we strive for when we work with any one of our hundred of clients.

If you are curios about day labor or how day labor can work with your company please contact our office at 701-566-8755 or, better yet, stop by! we have a full coffee bar and if you come on the right day we may have an array of free doughnuts to accompany your free coffee!

What is the Gig Economy and Why Does it Work So Well?

Fri, 06 Apr 2018 14:39:38 GMT

On Demand Employment is changing the game for job seekers and employers

It is very evident the gig economy has officially hit America. By now, everyone associates the gig economy with Uber Drivers and dog walkers, but the gig economy goes way past the common "work now" apps. Whether earning a supplemental income is a necessity or not job seekers want to be able to pick their schedules and work when they can.

According to a CNBC report an average "gig" employee earns anywhere from $100-$300 per month. This is a great way for an individual to earn extra income by using the flexible schedule across all industries that companies like Labor Masters provides.

Gig employees are also a huge benefit to employers as well. These employees are would be considered "on-Demand" so when an employers call and need help these employees are already armed with the skills necessary to complete a job at hand.

Workers who don’t want to learn a whole new skill set to secure employment are also able to use the gig economy to their advantage. With companies like Labor Masters we make it possible for individuals to earn their supplemental income without having to commit to a rigid schedule.

Technology Leads the Way

Why is there such a massive growth in recent days from the gig economy?

This type of economy works because it connects job opportunities and job seeks without the need to walk into a company and turn a resume in. It cuts down the job search time by a massive amount. An individual can sign up with a company like Labor Masters and instantly be connected with huge amounts of part time work by just one phone call.

At the same time job seekers are online searching for the next gig, companies will turn to Day Labor and Temporary agencies to ensure that no position goes unfilled. Matching qualified prospects to a company doesn't take massive amounts of time anymore. When working with a company such a Labor Masters, these businesses let us know what positions they need filled and we can search through our employee data base to see which are qualified to help our client.

Technology isn't only changing the way business is being done, but changing the way business is being completed.

The need to work 80 hours to increase our standard of living is no longer required. In a world of instant gratification and completion the gig economy is allowing job seekers and business to thrive in the world of on demand employment.

How College Students can Benefit by Working With Daily or Temporary Staffing Companies.

Wed, 28 Mar 2018 14:10:50 GMT

While day labor and staffing agencies provide a variety of work opportunities for all walks of life, college students may reap the most benefits.

We have all heard the phrase "Broke College student", but is it possible to eradicate that statement from college campuses? Would it be possible for you, as a college student to receive work experience AND earn money on your time around your class schedule?

The short answer is YES!

In the article below we list 4 benefits college student's can expect from working with Day Labor and Temporary Staffing companies.

#1 Test the Market.

Working with an agency can allow you to get work experience without the long term commitment of employment. There are a number of opportunities for students to test the waters of the field they may be looking to work in. If the fit isn't right or the career isn't what you expected it to be, no harm no foul. Working with a day labor of staffing company is a great way to work in many different fields without having to show the dreaded "employment gap" on a resume.

You work around your schedule and ONLY your schedule.

As a college student your class schedule dictates the hours you are available to work. Day Labor Agencies have a number of jobs with a variety of projects that can fit your schedule. You can choose the days and hours you are available to work and the agency you are working with can find a job that will fit your schedule.

Make Extra Spending Cash, Fast!

Working with a day labor company is the perfect solution for any college student who is strapped for cash. You work and get paid the same day with no commitment!

Absolute Flexibility

You choose the days you work. If you only want to work 1 day/week, then that day is the only day you would need to be available for work. Not only do day labor and temp agencies work around class schedules, we let you choose the days you want to work. This is the ultimate college jobs.
1. No commitment.
2. No set schedule.
3. Instant Pay.

If you are currently in college and finding it hard to fit a part-time position that truly fits your class schedule or possibly looking to earn some extra cash in between classes or vacation breaks give Labor Masters a call. We are a Fargo based Day labor and Temporary staffing agencies with over 20+ years of experience in this industry in our area. We have clients looking for college students and multiple positions to fit your schedule.

We hope to see you and meet you soon! Feel free to swing by our office right off 13th Ave and enjoy complimentary coffee, doughnuts.

Ensuring Temp-Employment Success in 2021

Fri, 23 Feb 2018 16:39:13 GMT

Whether using a temp employee for 1 day or several days in a row, We developed a "Success Checklist" to ensure the success of your temporary employees.

Hiring temporary employees shouldn't be a headache for your company. We are here to alleviate the negative connotation that comes with working with either day labor or temporary employees.

All agencies work to do their best when it comes to getting the best possible people to your place of business. We want to be sure the employees who are temporarily working for you are an asset to your company during their time. We have found a having a company checklist/ procedure on how to work with temporary employees can and will create a great experience for both parties. We at Labor Masters want to share with you our 4 Item "Success Checklist"

Checklist:

Do You Have A Clear description of job duty and requirements.

Is there a clear description of the job(s)and what will be required for the position you are using a temp employee for? Being crystal clear about the jobs makes getting the correct employee a lot easier and increases our chances of getting you the perfect fit. But remember, these employees may or may not have been on your job site or at your office before, be sure to set them up for success and explain exactly what is required for the day or the specific job. we do give our employees an understanding of what they will be doing before sending them out but, things may change based on the day. Try and keep the surprises or frequent changes to a minimum if possible.

Do You Have Adequate supervision.

New employees aren't going to know the job site or how you want specific tasks completed unless they have been there. This is where having the adequate supervision is a key item on our list. If there is a job you want done a certain way, most of the time just giving instructions and leaving will not work and you'll find yourself frustrated or behind schedule. Your instructions may sound simple to your full-time employees because they understand exactly what you are looking for. If possible assign your temp employee to a job with another full time employee that is easy to work with and you will see your success rate of your temp-employee drastically increase. If for some reason, your temp employee(s) are going to be working alone, the next item down will help.

Do You Have a Time-line for jobs / day for Completion or Goals

Timelines and Goals are a great way to ensure everyone is staying on task. If your temporary employees are working on a project alone let them know how long the task should typically take your regular employees to accomplish. Setting the expected pace will ensure they know exactly at what pace they need to be working to keep the flow of the day going. Break the day down with when break times start and finish, when and how long is the lunch period and what you need accomplished by the end of the day. You know what goals you have for the day, make sure everyone is on the same page....Temp employees included.

Do You Have a Positive Work Environment.

No one likes working in an environment where they feel unwelcome. Being yelled at all day or ostracized based on being a temp employee creates a poor day for ever party involved. Treating everyone with respect is the easiest way to increase the success of the employee you hired for the day or project. This really breaks down to the "Golden Rule" we all learned as a child. Treat people the same as you would like to be treated.

Working with a temporary employee are essentially brand new employees to your company. Think back to a time you where a new employee, fresh on the job. How where you managed on your first day? Was it a great experience or a poor experience? If your first day was a poor, what changes would you have made to make you enjoy your day and feel welcomed?

Using the short checklist above will help with the success of working with temporary employees. The 4 items are what we believe to be foundational items that should be checked to create a great experience for you and your employees and most importantly, get the project you needed help with done on time and correct.

If you found this article helpful please feel free to spread the word. We love hearing feedback from our audience. "

Creating a Resume That Will Get YOU Noticed!

Tue, 20 Feb 2018 14:32:53 GMT

A well wrote and structured resume is an important key to launching your career. We want to make sure you have the structure in place to give you a head start over the other applicants.

When it comes to writing and structuring a resume there are key points that should be followed. What we will explain today is how to take your basic, over wrote resume and turn it into a stream lined outline of your abilities and work experience that will get you noticed by potential employers.

Before starting we should break through some of the noise and poor information that comes with writing a resume. Some of the old ideas about your resume may include; listing all of your work history, High School Sports accolades (depending on the situation), the longer the better and "fluff" aka lying. From our experience the list we will provide will be the fundamental building blocks of your new resume.

Keep it to ONLY one Page
- If you get finished with your resume and its 3 pages long, that's a sign your resume is 2 pages too long. Keeping your page at 1 page shows your employer you are clear and concise when it comes to information AND getting your information out quick and efficiently. Keeping your information to 1 page will force you to cut out all the fluff and the information you THINK the potential employer wants to see on your resume. Trust us, when it comes to a resume, less is more. ( Example; If in one of your past roles involved you making the coffee for the whole office in the morning.....keep that out. Write about the important tasks you where assigned too. )

Have a relevant "Purpose Statement" for Each Position You are Applying For.
-This is the statement that should be at the top of your resume sitting right next to your name. The reason you want this right next to your name is simple...people will read your name, then read your "Purpose Statement". There are keys to writing an effect statement however. It should be tailored to each position. No, you don't want to have a generic statement that can work across all avenues. Here's why, ask yourself which looks and sounds better for applying for a mechanic position at a landscape company.

"Hard worker searching for a full time position that I can work on engines"
-or-
"|FIRST NAME| is actively searching for a position in the small engine mechanic industry where he can utilize his 8 years of mechanic knowledge and become an asset to a company.

You will notice the second option is defining what role you are looking for and what you will become to the company. You need to think, everyone is looking for a full time position. The resume isn't about you....its about what you can offer a company. Your "purpose statement" should match what you can offer a company.

List Only Past 3 Work Experiences.
- Contrary to popular belief you don't need to list every position you've had since the 8th grade. Nothing will get your resume put to the bottom of a pile quicker than 15+ past roles. Unless the prospective employer is asking for a specific number of years work history, keep it to the last 3 positions. If for some reason you have had multiple roles in a short time period or have gone from company to company a lot, you can simply list the last 3 previous roles you held which relate the the position you are looking for. We know this may leave gaps in your employment that will raise some red flags which will more than likely come into question. This is fine, no need to panic about that "gap question" you can simply reply to this question with "I've been searching for a position that I can use my skills. In that search, I have had to work at multiple places during that time. I am hoping I can end my search with your company" All you need to do is explain honestly.

DO....NOT.....LIE!!!
- You need to be able to explain everything on your resume and getting caught in a lie will guarantee you not getting a job. We can not stress enough about lying on a resume. Don't even fluff your experience or past accolades. Be straight forward and honest. Don't start your potential employment off by lying about your abilities or past.

Print on Resume Paper
- A resume is a show case for what you can offer a company. What does is show if you are printing your resume on printer paper? We will keep this section very short.....print your resume on Resume Paper only

One of the biggest road blocks a person runs into is the structure of a resume. There are thousands of templates for resumes. A few different places to look would be MS Word and www.novoresume.com to name a few.

We are always here to help. If you have a resume you are thinking about sending out to companies and would like someone to run over it with you we are more than happy to work with you to get your resume looking right and give you the greatest chance for landing that perfect career.

If you have found this article helpful or have someone in mind you think should read this, share it out! Thanks for reading!

Terms You Need to Know

Thu, 15 Feb 2018 14:58:40 GMT

The break down of key terms use when working with a staffing company.

Whether you have worked with a staffing company or not there are a few terms and meaning attached to words you should be aware of. Knowing what theses certain terms will give you the correct idea about what type of service you are agreeing too.

While all businesses have their own type of jargon these are going to be the most important when you start using a staffing agency. Today we choose the five most important words we think you should understand when coming into an agreement with a staffing agency.

Day Labor: Day labor, is exactly what it sounds like. This is typically only 1 day. If you need an extra set of hands for either the whole day or a just a few hours this will be the type of service you will be looking for. More often than not, day labor positions include; Emergency office cleaning, snow shoveling, apartment moving or even storage shed clean out. We work with many clients who keep an account with us for only day labor positions. Why? The reason some companies only use a day labor positions is because they need help right now. Usually day labor positions are emergency based.

Temp-Labor: If we break down the word of Temp-Labor we get (temporary labor) Temporary could mean 1 week or weeks on end. The types of circumstances that would be a temporary position would be; construction clean project clean ups, filling a big production line order, seasonal work. A company would use temp-labor when they have a lengthy project but it just doesn't make sense to hire someone full time for a short temp position. The easiest way to figure our if you need a temporary employee or a full time employee is think, "do I have enough work to keep this employee busy for more than 1 full year?" If the answer is no, temp-labor would be a great option.

Temp to Hire: Do you have a new position you need to fill but there is an on-boarding time? Did you get a applicant but want to make sure the fit is correct before you put them on full payroll? Have you decided to create a new position but aren't quite sure its going to work the way you thought? These are all situations where a temp to hire employee would work great for your company. Temp to Hire is a chance for your company to work with an employee to be sure the fit is correct for you or the employee without having to go through all the paper work and mess of hiring an employee to only find out in 2 weeks the fight isn't right for either party.

Now that we have covered the types of employment that are tied with a staffing agency we want to cover the 2 different rates that are associated with staffing. When it comes to billing you are going to hear 1 of 2 terms and they are, "Hourly-Rate" and "Bill-Rate". The following break downs will show the difference between these 2 items.

Hourly-Rate- The hourly rate is the pay rate that the employee is paid. Hourly rate means a lot when you are looking to hire an employee. Now when working with a staffing company this would be a great first place to look when you get a quote from a company. Any company can get you a low hourly rate but what type of work do you think you are going to get with a low pay rate compared to a high pay rate? You need to be able to trust the employees your staffing company send over to your company are going to be an asset to the project you are trying to complete. In most cases lower isn't always better.

Bill-Rate: When you get a quote from your local staffing company and see the bill rate it may seem a bit high if you aren't aware what is all included in the final price. Not only are you paying the hourly-rate, there is going to be a company margin. The company margin is what the mark-up your staffing company attaches for a profit. What many people don't understand about using a staffing employees is that fact that we take care of the workers comp, State and Federal unemployment, Social Security and Liability insurance. When you use a staffing company those items are what you are going to be billed for so if it seems high that's why. And, if it helps ease the fact you are being billed for the items just remember, They are the staffing agencies employees, you are just borrowing them for the day or time period.

We hope covering these certain terms you may or may not have been aware of we hope these terms can clear the air for some of your questions. If for any reason there are any other questions you may have you are more than welcome to give us a call at Labor Masters and we will cover any base you need. We want the companies we work with the be fully education on our service and what is expected. We hope to use these weekly blogs as a way to inform, education and show what the world of staffing is a all about. If you like the content we are putting out or find it helpful to you or think a friend would enjoy this hit the subscribe button and share this out!

We hope to see you in the future!

5 Tips to Staying Safe While Working Out In The Cold.

Mon, 12 Feb 2018 14:33:32 GMT

Working out in the cold isn't only uncomfortable, it could be dangerous. Take these 5 tips to ensure your safety.

We are in the middle of winter and the temperatures don’t seem to be on the rise. Working outside, if not taken seriously, can be extremely dangerous. We want to make sure to give you the proper tips to ensure your safety. A few common injuries that come with poor cold weather preparation include: Hypothermia, frost-bite and dehydration. If precautions are taken seriously, these ailments from the cold can be alleviated.

Let’s take a look at the Top 5 Labor Master Tips to working in the cold.

1. Drink plenty of fluids and eat plenty food.

The human body dehydrates quicker in the cold which is why it is vital to drink plenty of fluids through the day. Also, when it starts to get cold, the body is using more energy to stay warm. This is where carbohydrates come into play. Make sure you are fueling your body enough to keep yourself warm and to keep your energy levels up during the day.

2. Get plenty of sleep the night before.

This goes without saying, the less a person sleeps the more tired they become. Working outside as pointed out in our #1 Tip sucks the energy right out of us. If we start the day out low on energy, the cold will make the rest of the day miserable. Being tired and going to work and then becoming more tired from the cold can lead to some serious injuries. Do yourself a favor and get some sleep!

3. Plan for Breaks

Long exposure to frigid temperatures isn’t good for our skin. When we are outside too long or exposed to the elements for an extended period of time frost-bite becomes a real concern. When you know working outside is in your schedule, be sure to plan at some point in the morning and afternoon for a “warm up” break. This will allow you to re-energize and get your body temp back to where it’s supposed to be.

4. Stay Dry

Your body is already cold, don’t speed up the process by wearing clothes that have become wet. Being cold AND wet will only make hypothermia more of a reality. If you find yourself in a situation that your clothes have become wet, find a way to get dry clothes ASAP. This goes for any clothing, hats, gloves or boots.

5. Dress for the conditions.

If you are going to be working in the cold be sure you are dressed appropriate. This means wearing layers. A general rule of thumb is “a person can always take layers off” Meaning… It’s better to over dress and having to take a layer off, than being under dressed and trying to stay warm. Don’t forget about your hands and feet with this rule. Hand and Foot warmers are great investments for very little money. The best part about these awesome inventions is, as long as they package isn’t damaged you can keep them in your coat until you need them. We recommend keeping a few of these in your vehicles and coat at all times. You never know when you’ll need them.

Working in the cold shouldn’t be taken lightly. Take the proper steps to ensure you can perform and stay safe during this time of year.

Our Day at Labor Masters

Mon, 12 Feb 2018 13:07:07 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Our office, by 5:45 am will have 20 employees already in our office waiting to get their time card and head off to the job. From this point forward we are in the middle of a chaotic morning that would make most people's head spin. Between the time of 5:30 am and 8:30 am we are sending anywhere from 70-100 employees out for the day. On top of time cards running constantly through the printer and checking people in for their job we are constantly answering calls from our clients looking for more workers.

At any given time in the morning we will have 23 different jobs to fill with varying positions and employee count for each one. These positions and jobs range from: final cleaning on a new office building, shoveling, filling customer orders in their warehouse or general construction help. These companies are turning to us to help them fill these positions or help them out of a bind. This is the part of the morning we all love. It's go time, time to fit all the puzzle pieces into place making sure all our employees get to their assigned work place and are an asset to the company.

If you where to walk in our office during these 3 hours in the morning you would probably think "how could you possibly get all these people out to a job, checked in and still have time to answer client phone calls,employee questions all while smiling and joking with each other" -well that's what makes this company special. We make it happen, every day.

Between 9 and Noon the office has slowed down for us to look at each other and laugh about something that happened that morning as we refill our coffee mugs. At this point we get caught up on all the payroll from the day before and file away the work tickets that have been filled from the day before. The air is never clear however, as clients are always calling in last second fill ins and to line up jobs for the next day.

The afternoon isn't as hectic as the morning but we still have a number of afternoon jobs to fill. But, we have found that not all afternoons are the same. We have had some afternoons as busy as the morning and some afternoons that we have every job filled to the point all we need to do is print work tickets and hand them out.

Walking in our office between Noon and 3 is what we would consider the calm before the evening storm. During this time we are emailing companies employment verification forms, making phone calls and interviewing candidates for possible long term employment. We also take this time to fill the repeat jobs for the next day. We have a number of assignments that are days or weeks long. If we are able to get all the employees confirmed for the next day we write them down so there is no confusion as to what jobs people are or are not going to the next day.

Once the 4 o'clock hour hits we are in the midst of printing payroll for the 100 employees we sent out in the morning and printing work tickets off for our afternoon and night shift employees to be sure they get the their assignment on time. Our office is open until 6 pm each day. One of the reason we stay open longer is to make sure we can get most if not all our morning employees paid for the day and confirmed for their assignment for the next day. The other reason is to make sure that if their are any late changes to a job order we can take care of the fix or issue before the morning. We want to be able to open each day with a clear route for success.

We take pride in the work we do and the ability to help our customers with their temporary employment needs. Labor Masters is the premier temp and day labor company in Fargo/Moorhead because we have premier employees and customers. This short blog was to give you a 30,000 ft view of what happens in our office every morning. If you ever want to stop in and see what the action live we invite you in! We always have hot fresh coffee and cookies readily available for anyone who needs.

Its nice to meet you and welcome to the Labor Masters Blog!