ASM ISSUE: 208 - 4 Factors to Make Employees Feel Valued In The Workplace

4 Factors to Make Employees Feel Valued In The Workplace

An article in Psychology Today says "belongingness" is a human need, just as important as food and shelter. It is one of the best ways to lose or retain top talent, as well. When you have been in the recruitment industry as long as I have, you will understand how important culture fit is.

According to a LinkedIn article, this sense of belonging "allows employees to feel like they can be their authentic selves." Here are four ways employees feel like they belong in their workplace.

Recognition
Recognition goes a long way. A LinkedIn candidate survey shows that 59% of respondents believe that being recognized for their accomplishments will make them feel important.

Showing your employees that you value their hard work and their unique talents isn't so hard to do. Simple monthly awarding ceremonies and announcing their successes to the company is not going to break the bank.

Acknowledging Employee Contributions
Each member brings something to the team. Valuing their contributions will show them that their hard work contributes to the company's success. The LinkedIn survey also showed that there is no strong correlation to age or seniority. This means everyone, no matter what age or gender, wants to know that they are needed.

Ability to Share Honest Opinions
When an employee feels that his or her input is welcome, he or she will feel valued. The survey showed that senior employees value this more than their juniors.

James Detert, a Cornell professor, believes that "employees have a deep set of defense mechanisms that make them careful around people in authority positions." However he also believes lower-level employees are able to identify small issues, compared to their high-level counterparts.

Being Yourself at Work
Half of the survey respondents believe that being yourself at work will make employees feel more like they belong. Not surprisingly, the survey showed that this is more important to women than men.

These are all valuable tips to consider when trying to improve employee retention. Have you shown your employees that you value them lately?

Here is a link to the full article and to the survey data. For more helpful articles, please stop by our company website.

DAN SIMMONS, CPC, Sr. Recruiter

Continental Search is owned by Daniel C. Simmons, a Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) who has been recruiting since 1991. In December 2015, Dan celebrated his 650th career placement. Dan has won more than 20 awards from Top Echelon Network, America's leading placement network, including Placer of the Year in 2009 and the prestigious Million Dollar Award. He is also a member of the National Association of Personnel Services. Dan has been a recruiter in the animal feed industry since 2002.

MEET DAN AT THE 2017 Penn State Dairy Cattle Nutrition Workshop from November 15-16 at the Holiday Inn in Grantville, PA.

Are You Going To Stay Or Sell Out?

The dairy industry, much like any other industry, has gone through a lot of tough times, especially in the last few years. A lot of small to mid-sized operations have gone "belly up," but not without a fight.

With the way the industry is going, there are still a few small operations that doggedly refuse to give up as they believe they can ride out the storm. The question is, how many storms before it's time to call it quits? According to Farm Journal's MILK, there are three factors one should consider before deciding to stay in the game or move on to other ventures.

Cash Flow
A limited cash flow is usually the first sign of distress, according to Matt Lange, a dairy consultant with Compeer Financial. Know how much monetary ability you have by checking your checkbook balance. You should have enough for your operating loan, for payables, and for any necessary large-sum expenses. You might just be in a crunch, but if this happens regularly, it may be time to sell out.

Production Costs
Sam Miller, an Ag lender with BMO Harris Bank, says that a systemic problem with cash flow might mean that you have to look at your production costs. This can be reduced significantly, which may solve your monetary woes. Know which expenses are fixed and which ones can be reduced.

Depleted Balance Sheet
What does your balance sheet look like today compared to how it looked like a few years ago? Now ask yourself how your 2018 balance sheet will look like. If circumstances look dire, now might be a good time to consider a graceful exit.

It's been a heck of a roller coaster ride in the dairy business. So are you going to stay or sell out? I'd really like to know what you think. Leave me a message if you've decided to look for a salaried position in the dairy industry. Here's a link to the original article, by the way.

Continental Search is the best source for the freshest dairy industry jobs, industry news, and updates relevant to the animal science industry. You may also follow #ContinentalSearch on Facebook and LinkedIn for dairy job openings in your area and other opportunities in animal nutrition.

RICK PASCUAL, CPC/ PRC, Recruiter

Rick Pascual recruits in dairy nutrition for feed companies and their suppliers across the USA. Rick joined Continental Search in January 2015 and has successfully filled a number of searches for nutritionists, sales, and sales management for leading companies.

After completing coursework and a grueling exam, Rick became a Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) in November 2015, as well as a Professional Recruiting Consultant (PRC) by AIRS in April 2016. Visit his LinkedIn profile for more information and to stay updated with news about recent dairy trends.

Send Rick your resume at rick@consearch.com. Call him at (302) 544-9288.

The Poultry Industry: Hurricane Harvey and Irma Relief Efforts

The Ag industry has proved time and time again that it is made up of companies that care about community. I was browsing through Poultry Times when I found an article by Jeff Hardin of the American Egg Board that made me smile.

Hurricanes Harvey and Irma left so much destruction in their wake. Many establishments were closed due to the flooding and that made it quite challenging for residents in the affected areas.

Jeff went to Montgomery Fairgrounds in Conroe on Labor Day weekend. This was approximately 30 miles north of the flooding. He went to help Tyson Foods' Meals that Matter® disaster relief program at their base for relief operations. They were assisted by the Texas Egg Council, allied industries, and the Poultry Science Department of Texas A&M.

They found it hard to manage fresh eggs still in the shell due to possible transportation mishaps. However, they still found ways to get this much-needed protein source out to people. They gave out liquid eggs, scrambled eggs in a bag, and even protein packs. They gave out more than 27 pallets of product.

I am sure that the residents in the area appreciated the gift of a simple meal. While the road to recovery after a hurricane or any other natural disaster can be an uphill climb, little gestures like this can make such a big difference.

Here is the link to the article. Please visit our company website for more poultry industry news. Follow #ContinentalSearch on LinkedIn and Facebook for poultry industry jobs and other employment opportunities in animal health and nutrition.

TRISH VALENZUELA, CPC/ PRC,Recruiter

Trish Valenzuela specializes in recruiting for poultry feed additive companies. She has filled positions in technical support, sales, and sales management across the U.S.

Trish joined Continental Search in July 2015 and through hard study, she passed two certification programs. She is now a Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) and a Professional Recruiting Consultant (PRC).

Visit her LinkedIn profile to connect with her and stay updated with current poultry trends. Trish can be reached at (302) 248-8242, through LinkedIn, or at trish@consearch.com.