Our Role and Responsibility: Navigating Through Covid-19

WSI Staffing Blog - our role responsibility covid19

We believe it is our role and responsibility during this time to prioritize two things: the health and well-being of our employees and client partners while also playing a constructive role in supporting local health officials and government leaders as they work to contain the virus. 

Through that lens, we will continue to make decisions based on the latest information provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

We wanted to personally reach out to you and provide an update on the actions that WSI is taking to help prevent the spread of the virus and support the health and well-being of our employees, our client partners, and our communities.

What WSI Is Doing:

  1. Constant communication with client partners:  WSI teams are in regular and constant communication with our clients to ensure they are following the recommended strategies for employers in the guidance outlined by the CDC to help prevent workplace exposures to COVID-19. We are also asking clients to inform us immediately of any confirmed cases of COVID-19 at their work site locations so that we can effectively communicate to our employees.
  2. Asking employees to stay home if sick: We are asking that all WSI employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness to stay home and not come to work until they are free of fever (100.4° F [37.8° C]), signs of fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants). Please see guidance outlined below as to what you should do if you cannot go to work.
  3. Communicating cough and sneeze etiquette and providing access to hand sanitization: We are encouraging all WSI employees to follow the CDC- recommended cough and sneeze etiquette, hand hygiene, and asking clients to promote this via signage or other means in their workplace.   
  4. Frequent environmental cleaning: WSI and its clients are frequently cleaning and sanitizing all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace, such as workstations, countertops, and doorknobs. 

What Employees Can Do:

  1. Communication: If you are well but have a sick family member at home with COVID-19, please notify your supervisor immediately.
  2. If you are confirmed to have COVID-19: please notify WSI immediately. WSI will then inform fellow employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace but maintain confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 
  3. Follow the CDC-recommended cough and sneeze etiquette and hand hygiene.

What to do if you can’t make it into work:

If you are sick or need to care for a family member at home with COVID-19, we ask that you contact both your WSI office (see contact info below), as well as your worksite supervisor. 

When calling WSI, please provide:

  • Your name
  • Worksite location and shift
  • Worksite supervisor
  • Reason why you cannot come to work
  • The date you anticipate returning to work

Should you have any questions about our policies or practices, please feel free to contact WSI 24/7 via phone, text, or email.

Kalamazoo

Battle Creek

Grand Rapids

Sturgis

Ohio

Tipton

Thank you for helping prevent the spread of the virus and supporting the health and well-being of our communities.

How to Dress for a WSI Interview

At WSI, we like to keep things casual. When it comes time to interview, we want you to feel confident in whatever outfit you choose. That being said, we do get many questions from applicants about what they should wear when coming into the office.

To make things easy, we’ve outlined a few general rules of thumb of what to wear for an interview with WSI.

DO WEAR: 

  • Khakis/Jeans

We’re a-okay with khakis and jeans. When deciding between your favorite distressed jeans with perfectly-placed-holes and your plain ol’ blue jeans, we suggest choosing the pair without holes (though it won’t count against you if your jeans are holey).

  • Nice Shoes

We’ve never met a shoe we didn’t like (except for the ones that rhyme with Shrocs). However, when it comes time to interview, we recommend sticking to close-toed shoes. 

  • A Neat Shirt

Leave the tank tops for the beach! Basically, any button-down, sweater, or blouse is your best bet when it comes to proper interview-wear. 

  • Reading Glasses (if applicable) 

Not only will you need to fill out paperwork, but some of our clients require eye tests. Avoid the headache that comes from straining and squinting and remember to wear your contacts or glasses. 

  • A Smile

Nerves get the best of us sometimes, but nothing says “I’ve got this” like a confident smile. 

DON’T WEAR:

  • Suits

No need to borrow or buy a suit! As we mentioned before, we like to keep it casual around here. Because we staff for manufacturing and industrial work environments, you won’t be working in a suit, so why interview in one?

  • Sunglasses

Although we recommend wearing sunglasses on your way to WSI, don’t forget to take them off during the actual interview. This isn’t the World Championship Poker tournament, after all. Trying to ask important questions and not being able to see your eyes is just…awkward. 

In conclusion, we’re not the fashion police – we’re in the business of putting qualified people to work. Throw on your favorite casual outfit, head to our office, and present your best self. We can’t wait to meet you!

5 Ways to Enjoy Your Referral Bonus

WSI Staffing Blog - 5 ways to enjoy referral bonus

Referral Bonus

/rəˈfərəl/ /ˈbōnəs/

(noun)

An easy way to make $100 dollars. 

It’s a simple concept and one of our favorites here at WSI – refer a friend, get $100. 

If you have a friend who would be a good fit for our positions – have them apply! If hired, once they hit 80 working hours you’ll receive $100 – all they have to do is fill out a referral card when they apply. 

FAQ:

Can I refer a friend if I don’t work for WSI?

Yes! Anyone is eligible for the bonus, even if you’re not employed through WSI what-so-ever. 

How do I receive the $100?

If you’re hired-in through our clients or not working for WSI, you’ll receive the $100 through a gift card. If you’re on WSI payroll, you’ll receive the $100 in your paycheck. 

Do I have to keep track of my referrals’ hours?

Nope! We’ll reach out to you once your referral reaches 80 hours to make sure you get paid. 

Is there a limit to how many referrals I can submit?

Nope! Submit as many referrals as you want. 

So, what could you do with that extra cash? Don’t worry, we’ve made a list for you. 

GAS

GROCERIES

SHOPPING SPREE

DINNER

DATE NIGHT

Easiest $100 ever made. To print a referral card, head here.

Official Statement: COVID-19 and Your Workforce

WSI Staffing Blog - official statement covid19

As a valued client partner, we’d like to address the current COVID-19 epidemic. Below are facts about the virus, and general guidelines from the The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help prevent workplace exposures to acute respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19.

CORONAVIRUS FACTS:
  • Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in humans.
  • The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading from person-to-person in China and some limited person-to-person transmission has been reported in countries outside China, including the United States. However, respiratory illnesses like seasonal influenza, are currently widespread in many US communities.
RECOMMENDED STRATEGIES FOR EMPLOYERS TO USE NOW:
  • Emphasize respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene by all employees.
  • Encourage sick employees to stay home until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours.
  • Ensure that your sick leave policies are flexible, non-punitive, and consistent with public health guidance. Be aware that employees may need to stay home to care for sick family members, too.
  • Do not require a healthcare provider’s note for employees who are sick with acute respiratory illness to validate their illness or to return to work.
  • Perform routine environmental cleaning and provide disposable cleaning wipes for employees to wipe down shared surfaces before use (doorknobs, desks, counters, keyboards, etc.)

For more information on COVID-19 and creating an Infectious Disease Outbreak Response Plan should the virus become widespread in our area, visit www.cdc.gov.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey C. O’Brien
President and CEO

7 Podcasts to Listen to on Your Commute

Commutes can be tough. Not only are you playing mental gymnastics as you think about your tasks for the day, but there’s also the pit of anxiety you feel in your stomach when you try to figure out why it feels like you forgot something. Oh, and the traffic. The traffic is bad, too. If you’re looking for a way to calm your nerves on your drive, look no further. Here are 7 podcasts for your commute that will have you wishing your ride to work was just a little bit longer.

Stuff You Should Know

Sleepwalking. Human cannonballs. Photographic memory. Hosts, Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant take us through weird topics and how they work. If you’re bad at small talk or just need some new conversation starters, this is your podcast.

Arm Chair Expert

Being human is messy. Actor and Host, Dax Shepard, is fascinated by this and makes it his mission to explore other people’s stories (some pretty famous people’s stories, we might add). Get ready to laugh as you learn more about your favorite celebs.

Up and Vanished

This podcast features an amateur investigator who selected a missing person case from his hometown in Georgia. What was supposed to be a 6 episode season turned in 24 as new evidence and leads began to appear.

RISE by Rachel Hollis

If you’re looking for tangible tools to improve your life, Rachel Hollis is your girl. Our very own WSI Staffing Coordinator, Samantha, listens to RISE every morning and says, “I love everyone she interviews. I end up following them all on social media and it continues to grow my pool of inspiring people to look up to.”

Slate’s Working

Ever wonder what other people’s jobs are like? Us too. In this podcast, host Jordan Weissman, interviews Americans about their jobs. You’ll learn about the ins and outs of everything from toy designers, physicians, and even knights (yes, you read that correctly, knights).

Note to Self

Note to Self dives into how technology is changing our day-to-day lives. Host Manoush Zomorodi explores the good, the bad, and the ugly of the digital age while giving us a lot to think about along the way.

Headspace Meditation

For some of us, our commute is the only time we have to unwind during our busy days. If that’s the case, use it to the best of your ability! Here’s one specifically made for your commute: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/audio/2011/jan/27/headspace-commuting

Looking for a shorter commute that might not event warrant a podcast to pass the time? Head to workforwsi.com for a complete list of current openings.