MPS Group

MPS Group is successful bidder for Chimes’ assets

Beeline, the workforce solutions business unit of MPS Group, Inc. announced Thursday that it was the successful bidder for the assets of Chimes, a competing vendor management solution. The closing of the transaction is subject to certain contingencies, but it is anticipated the transaction will close by the end of the month.


Chimes was founded in 1998 and is a leading provider of vendor management software and onsite services. In February 2007, Chimes was purchased by Axium International, which filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Jan. 9. Wednesday, the assets of Chimes — including software platforms and related intellectual property — were auctioned through bankruptcy proceedings in the United States District Court in Los Angeles

Managing a Contingent Workforce in the Retail sector

Recruitment is now the primary problem for more than half of all UK companies, ahead of business strategy or management, according to a study from accountancy consultancy KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation. Annual turnover of the industry in Europe exceeded €90 billion in 2006, accounting for an impressive 45% of the industry’s worldwide turnover.Overall recruitment industry turnover in the UK exceeded £25 billion for the first time and now stands at £26,673 million, an increase of 7.4% on the previous survey of 2006. The temporary/contract sector spends in excess of £23.4 million a year in the UK through more than 17,000 recruitment agencies, making the temporary agency labour market a highly fragmented industry. With the resource frequently sourced at point of use and the difficulties associated with implementing centrally controlled purchasing systems, it is easy to see why the £25 billion contingent workforce spend is often poorly leveraged and badly managed. Companies who operate with a large contingent workforce must keep control of pay rates and costs as well as ensuring they are 100% compliant with the law so they can protect their company from a host of legal issues.However, temporary labour is an extremely useful business resource in terms of offering employers reduced wage and benefit costs, increased workforce flexibility, accommodating seasonal trading patterns, providing assistance with special projects and staff replacement. Companies who operate with a large contingent workforce are now addressing the complications of operating within temporary labour industry.Co-operative Retail Logistics (CRL), who are part of the Co-operative Group (CWS) Ltd, the largest consumer co-operative in the UK leaders and operate with a contingent workforce, identified nationwide variations in staff quality, pay and charge rates and service agreements supplied by temporary agencies. They sought an opportunity to reduce their overall temporary agency labour expenditure and improve service delivery from agencies and turned to de Poel Consulting to help make these changes.de Poel Consulting is an independent consultancy that specialises in helping major blue chip companies reduce costs and other issues associated with temporary labour. By engaging with over 750 recruitment agencies on a weekly basis and as one of the UK’s top purchasers of temporary labour their negotiating ability is powerful. Their expertise and knowledge of the industry is backed up with a web-based invoicing and timesheet processing system.Importantly, this type of outsourcing does not cost any money. de Poel’s solutions require no capital expenditure and fees are based on a percentage of the direct savings achieved. John Simmonds, Managing Director explains “we visited all of the CRL sites using temporary labour to determine existing supply arrangements and local requirements and to identify current service levels and pay and charge rates. Our objective was to create a level playing field of agency supply by setting rules for pay and charge rates and putting in place accurate quality and service measurements.” A new pricing structure was proposed along with a new standardised service agreement and a series of KPI’s to measure supplier service delivery. An examination of CRL’s IT operation ensured that de Poel’s groundbreaking e-tips™ time sheet and invoice processing software could easily be integrated into their systemsThe introduction of a new national pricing matrix with regional variations has provided CRL with substantial cost savings whilst the standardised service agreement has protected their company’s interests. CRL is now receiving precise information on agency performance and as a result, have been able to increase their suppliers’ commitment and improve service delivery.With e-tips™ in operation, back office costs have been dramatically reduced and agency invoices have been consolidated to just a single, electronic invoice each week. CRL have also been given access to accurate management information, providing complete visibility and control of agency costs. With their recruitment process now streamlined CRL is able to focus on their strategic business objectives.de Poel is playing an integral part in “raising the bar” in terms of service quality within the recruitment industry, as well as helping to grow and modernise the industry as a whole.

http://www.onrec.com/newsstories/20013.asp

Tomax Workforce Management Solution

Tomax is the leading provider of real-time merchandising and store execution applications and services. The Tomax Retail.net suite helps retailers connect the dots across the demand-driven retail continuum, integrating people and processes, and providing timely, relevant, actionable information to improve retail results. Tomax has served retailers exclusively for more than 20 years, delivering Merchandise Planning, In-Season Merchandising, Merchandise Management, Workforce Management, Store Operations and Customer Management solutions, andimplementation and application hosting services. The Tomax customer base includes over 100 branded retailers including Air Terminal Gifts, The Andersons, ALCO Stores, Coach House Gifts, EZ Lube, Kelly-Moore Paints, Pamida, Party City, Raley's Supermarkets, ShopRite, Snyders Drug Stores, Sportsman's Warehouse, Trader Joe's, Travel Traders, Winn Dixie, and 24 Hour Fitness.

Workforce Management

Tomax Corporation is pleased to announce the expansion of its current relationship with Save Mart Supermarkets. Earlier last year, Save Mart chose to implement Tomax’ Workforce Management solution, including labor forecasting and scheduling in 127 stores that were acquired from Alberstons LLC. In December, the business decided to purchase additional licenses to implement Tomax Workforce Management in their remaining 125 Save Mart and Food Maxx bannered stores.
The Workforce Management solution, a component of the Tomax solution suite called Demand- Driven Retail Continuum, is used to control labor costs and boost customer satisfaction by creating accurate schedules to support all retail processes at the stores, including customer service. In the United States, the Tomax Workforce Management solution supports labor forecasting, scheduling and time and attendance processes for more than 7,800 stores and 1.5 million employees.
Steve Gaines, Sr. Director of Retail Efficiencies at Save Mart, said, “Save Mart has had a very successful relationship with Tomax over the years and is looking forward to completing our enterprise-wide implementation of Workforce Manager. Workforce Manager is a key strategic step towards optimizing our planning, execution, and measurement of labor efficiency and labor effectiveness.
“We are delighted to expand our relationship with Save Mart. As a result of twenty years of experience in retail labor management, Tomax offers a robust, easy to use workforce management solution that manages payroll costs while improving customer service, as well as connecting the dots across people and processes to maximize operational effectiveness,” commented Tomax CEO Eric

Five High-Paying Careers in Two Years or Less

Forensic Science Technician
You've seen the TV shows -- these professionals collect and analyze physical evidence and document laboratory methods and findings. Computer skills and attention to detail are crucial as collection and processing of materials must be spot-on to safeguard evidence.

Forensic science technicians should develop a strong base in math and science as preparation for their associate degree, typically earned in applied science or science-related technology. Coursework will include laboratory work and hands-on learning. Once in the field, technicians can choose to specialize in a certain type of analysis or examination.

Median annual earnings: $44,010

Five High-Paying Careers in Two Years or Less

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Also known as ultrasonographers, diagnostic medical sonographers can specialize in obstetrics and gynecology, abdominal or breast sonography, or neurosonography.
A strong background in math and science is recommended, as associate degree coursework will include anatomy, physics, and physiology. A good bedside manner enables the to explain complex procedures to patients and reassure those who fear the health matters the testing may reveal.

Median annual earnings: $52,490.

Five High-Paying Careers in Two Years or Less

Fashion Designer

In this creative field, an inherent artistic ability and eye for detail, color, balance, and proportion are necessary. Ingenuity is key, as are sewing, pattern-making, and sketching abilities.
Designers usually hold at least a two-year associate degree in fashion design or fine arts. They must be knowledgeable about textiles, ornamentation, fabrics, and fashion trends, and exhibit communication and presentation skills, problem-solving abilities, and the willingness to work occasional long hours and travel to trade and fashion shows.

Median annual earnings: $55,840.

Five High-Paying Careers in Two Years or Less

Dental Hygienist
Employment of dental hygienists is projected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2014, ranking among the Bureau of Labor Statistics' list of fastest-growing occupations.
To practice in a dental office, hygienists must earn an associate degree or certificate from a school accredited by the American Dental Association Commission of Dental Accreditation. A base of biology, chemistry, and math courses are advised, and program coursework will include clinical, laboratory, and classroom instruction.
Median annual earnings: $58,350.

Factors That Will Affect Your Career This Year

The Global Economy
Challenger doesn't believe the nation is headed for a recession. "The housing market is slowing down the U.S. economy, but the positive affects of the global growth engine will offset what is happening domestically."
He also believes that the weak U.S. dollar isn't necessarily bad for business. In fact, the opposite may be true. "It means that U.S. businesses can compete around the world, especially vis-a-vis Europe, because our goods will be cheaper due to the weaker dollar. When businesses in other countries repatriate the dollar across the seas, they'll get even more for their money."
He admits, "The falling dollar is a mixed bag for the economy, but it's good for global business hiring and job growth."

Factors That Will Affect Your Career This Year

Generation Y
Born between 1977 and 1995, Generation Y is 79.8 million strong. In 2008, millions of these echo boomers, as they're also called, will be looking for work. Challenger predicts that competition for jobs for new graduates will be stiffer than in recent years.
He notes, "Generation Y workers are flooding into the job market, but they might not be flooded with job offers."
He says the class of 2008 shouldn't expect the same robust job market their counterparts enjoyed in previous years. "Since the summer of 2003, the market was very strong for graduates, but job creation has slowed in the second half of 2007. The economy is slowing down, and business owners may be more cautious about adding new staff."

Factors That Will Affect Your Career This Year

The U.S. Presidential Election
Much will change with the outcome of the 2008 presidential election -- but not all of it depends on the winner's party affiliation.
"Stem cell research has been on hold for the last several years, but it looks like both parties have an interest in that. Biotech and genome work will also be hot areas, post-election," predicts Challenger.
"If the Democrats win and they do move the country out of Iraq more quickly, defense spending will be affected. That's been a growth area in the economy." But, he counters, "A national health-care plan might be a job creator. If you expand coverage to more people, you'll need more providers. Health care is one of the strongest areas for job creation in the economy."
He also foresees more growth in "green" jobs if a Democrat wins the election.

Factors That Will Affect Your Career

The High Price of Fuel
The cost of getting to and from work keeps getting higher as fuel costs skyrocket. Single car commuters aren't the only ones affected, as major metropolitan areas will see public transportation costs increase.
Challenger says, "The cost of getting to a job that's far from home has jumped considerably. People might be spending double what they did just three or four years ago."
The trend is alarming. "A lack of mobility on such a vital part of the workforce is a real drag on the economy, but no one seems to be able to resolve the issue."

Factors That Will Affect Your Career

1. The Housing Crisis
You can't pick up a newspaper these days without seeing a headline about the sub-prime mortgage crisis and the downturn in real estate -- and that's with good reason.
"The ongoing housing crisis affects not just subprime lenders, but banks, realtors, home retailers, construction and renovation contractors, building materials companies, and others," Challenger says. And, unlike problems in the automotive industry, for example, "This crisis is so geographically dispersed, so very far-reaching. Every region of the country is going to face difficulties."
Even if you don't work in one of the aforementioned fields, the housing crisis will still impact consumer spending. Challenger says, "Because of the fact that consumers can no longer use their homes as piggy banks, they're losing the ability to spend. And consumer spending constitutes two-thirds of our economic growth."

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Why it Matters: Many candidates are positive that once you see their credentials, and meet them, salary won’t be an issue. Their credentials will knock your socks off. They’re wrong. You have a budget, a job description, and the expectation that you’re not going to waste your time on a candidate who is too expensive. Minimally, this candidate causes you to make a screening phone call. Why spend time on candidates who don’t offer valid applications that follow your directions?