No one understands the adage “time is money” more than a business owner. When time is being wasted on activities that aren’t central to the core business, it usually costs the company money. One of the biggest drains on time can be the recruitment, hiring, and training of new employees, especially for a small business that doesn’t have access to a dedicated HR department. That’s where a service company like The Agency can help.
“To onboard a new employee generally costs around $5,000 when all factors are considered,” said Mark Simpson, an Account Manager with the Sault Ste. Marie location of The Agency, a trusted full service staffing partner. “That’s an average that changes from industry to industry. That’s a big expense and time commitment for your HR department, your managers, and everyone required to bring this new person on.”
Getting it right the first time is the objective of The Agency, a company that offers customized staffing solutions for temporary employment, full-time employment, temporary-to-permanent employment, direct hire and headhunting services. That’s an important function that can help reduce the expenses related to finding employees.
“When we’re bringing someone on as a new hire at a company, we don’t want to just place anybody,” said Simpson. We want to be sure it’s a good fit because then the employee will be happy, and the company will be happy. The next time they’re looking to bring someone on they’re going to be thinking of our service because we did a good job at finding the right person the first time.”
One of the unique aspects of the staffing services offered by The Agency is the fact they are completely free until the company chooses to move forward with a good candidate. Any fees associated with the hiring are clear, transparent, and communicated upfront before the search begins. Account managers at The Agency conduct an exhaustive search process that offers takes them beyond the immediate market to find the best candidate for the job.
“A few years ago we had a client who runs a rock quarry who was looking for people to work at their facility,” said Simpson. “When we were unable to source candidates locally, we went to Newfoundland to source skilled labour directly. We are always willing to go the extra mile to ensure we are connecting the right people with the organization.”
The Agency provides services to all industries and sectors, but Simpson said they have vast experience in hiring general labour, heavy equipment operators, and administrative positions at all levels. The service is especially valuable in times of economic uncertainty, because working with an employment service like The Agency gives companies a great deal of hiring flexibility.
“In times of economic crisis, businesses are less likely to take on new employees,” said Simpson. “We are able to bring them in on a temporary basis if that’s what’s required. A company doesn’t need to hire an employee only to lay them off two months down the road. If they want, they can bring them back if they need to. That way it doesn’t damage the company’s reputation in the community as an employer that hires and fires people.”
According to Simpson, The Agency works collaboratively with its clients and doesn’t require exclusive contracts like many agencies do.
“We’re happy to work with the company and their HR department if they have one,” he said. “If they want to use other agencies as well they’re welcome to do that. The idea is getting them the best people so they can be successful.”
The first step to working with The Agency is simply to contact them to discuss your needs as an employer when it comes to staffing.
Pricing fees are flexible depending on need; the company doesn’t get paid until the right person is found.
For more information, visit the Sault Ste. Marie Office at 59 McMeeken Street, call them at 705-618-4352, or connect with them online.