This annual competition, sponsored by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and Baird Holm, recognizes a select number of companies based on employee surveys which measure employee satisfaction and engagement.  C&A, parent company of AurStaff, has been named in the category of organizations with more than 250 employees.

At C&A, our mission is to be the staffing provider and employer of choice by helping people and companies achieve their goals.  We’re proud to once again be a recipient of this significant honor.  And, we know that it’s due to our outstanding employees that C&A has become the great organization that it is today.

Here’s how to break the cycle without compromising your career prospects:
• Examine your attitude. What are you afraid of when you say no? The answer will help you understand what drives you: the approval of others, the desire to prove yourself, the need for control, or whatever. Once that’s clear in your mind, you’ll be able to set priorities more effectively. What kind of control do you really have, if you’re too busy to get things done?

• Discipline yourself. As with any other habit, resisting the urge to say yes calls for self-discipline and control. Teach yourself to pause before answering a request. Remember that you have other responsibilities. Think through the implications of a positive response before committing yourself.

• Offer an alternative. Instead of saying no outright, make some kind of counteroffer: “I can’t lead that task force, but I’d be happy to look at the final report before you submit it.” This lets you contribute without tying your hands.

• Negotiate. See whether you can delegate or eliminate something from your to-do list in exchange for saying yes. You’ll free up some time, and the other person will realize just how much you’ve got on your plate.

Choose from among these categories:
• Factual. “What did you have for lunch?” or, “What is 357 times 62?” Some questions have only one correct answer — truth that can be objectively confirmed.

• Interpretive. “What does that painting look like?” Even if a question has more than one correct answer (“A blue cow,” or “a blue dog”), an interpretive question calls for evidence, some kind of supporting material that others can validate.

• Evaluative. “Do you like eggplant parmigiana?” Questions regard­ing opinions or beliefs have no correct or incorrect answer, but they can tell you a lot about the other person’s point of view.

• Empowering. “What would you do about Sarah’s problem?” Sometimes you want to urge someone to action, without directly telling him or her what to do. In these cases, ask ques­tions to show you’re interested in the other person’s ideas and trust his or her judgment.

• Broad vs. focused. The questions above can be asked in different ways, depending on whether you want a lot of information or a single answer: “How many different animals could that painting look like?” vs. “What specific animal do you see?” Think before you ask, so you don’t have to backtrack.

• Follow-up. “What do you mean by that?” This is one of the best questions you can ask in almost any category, because it invites the other person to think more deeply and share more information.

• Know the hazards. Different workspaces have different hazards. Make sure you know where the danger zones are—from cords that run across the office floor to other objects you could trip over.

• Use shock-absorbing insoles. This is especially important if you do a lot of walking or standing on hard floors at work.

• Wear the right shoes. When it comes to feet, choose comfort over fashion. Safe shoes have an inner side that’s straight from the heel to the end of the big toe. They should grip the heel firmly, allow you to move your toes, and have a low, wide-based heel.

• Buy with care. At the store, measure both your feet, as they’re frequently different sizes. Get shoes that fit the larger foot. Try on and buy shoes late in the afternoon when your feet will be their largest, especially if you’ve stood on or walked on them throughout the day. And buy a shoe that really fits—don’t assume a tight shoe will stretch in time.

• Manage your sleep during the day—not just how long, but how soundly.

• Don’t take any caffeine, sleeping pills, alcohol, or nicotine before going to bed.

• Get rid of all distractions, especially the phone.

• Try to sleep at the same time every day.

• Keep sleeping temperature about 68 degrees.

• Use earplugs to keep noise at bay. You can also muffle noises with a fan or “white noise” machine.

• Accept the change. Don’t try to maintain your normal routine; keep social events and family outings at times that fit your new shift-work needs.

• Eat light at night and get extra servings of veggies, cereal, rice, pasta, fruits, and juices.

• Try to nap at least a half-hour just before you go to work. After your shift, go to bed as soon as you’re relaxed enough to sleep.

More troubling results, from researchers at the University of North Carolina:

• 53 percent of workers have lost time at work over worries about a previous or potential confrontation with a colleague.

• 28 percent have lost work time in their attempts to avoid confrontations.

• 37 percent are less committed to their employer because of a hostile workplace altercation.

• 22 percent say they’re putting less effort into their work due to conflicts at the office.

As a manager, make sure you stay on top of workplace gossip to eliminate any potential risk of conflicts developing. Consult with your employees often to make sure they are comfortable with their work environment and quickly respond to any concerns.

To assist with your inspection, consider creating a checklist like the one when you click on the link to make sure you identify all potential hazards. This one is a general list of what to look for, so you may need to add more specific items to reflect the nature of your work area and the hazards that exist for you. Here is a general list to get started:

• Is the general work area clean and neat?
• Are the walkways clear of obstructions and debris?
• Will co-workers and others working in the area be creating hazards you need to be aware of?
• Are your workstation and the area around it in orderly condition?
• Are personal possessions stowed safely away where they won’t be in the way or misplaced?
• Are the items you use most during the day within easy reach?
• Have other tools and materials been stored in their proper place?
• Are trash and scrap containers empty?
• Do you have the personal protective equipment (PPE) you need for the day?
• Is PPE clean and in good condition?
• Are containers of hazardous materials kept tightly sealed and safely stored?
• Are material safety data sheets (MSDSs) that you will need during the day readily available?
• Are machines and equipment clean and in good operating condition?
• Are machine guards in place and operating correctly?
• Is electrical equipment properly grounded?
• Are electrical cords and plugs in good condition?
• Have you avoided overloading electrical outlets and circuits?
• Is emergency equipment, such as fire extinguishers and first-aid supplies, in their proper place in case they are needed during the day?

Web 2.0 and the social media wave is changing the networking game. A recent Business Week article cited that there are now 150 million Facebook users, and the number grows exponentially every day as more and more “adults” sign on to the site. The increase in usage and popularity of Facebook and similar sites such as LinkedIn and Twitter make personal marketing, and the ability to connect with friends, professional contacts, and now businesses, even easier.

Once you’ve got your network firmly in one place (or a few places depending on how you use social networking sites) it’s easy to share tips with each other, forward interesting articles, and keep up on what those in your network are doing right now, including when one person is looking for a job or has a job available. The great news is that people are having success using social networking sites to find jobs. Click here to read David Murray’s success story. David used Twitter to find a new job, but other social sites can be used in similar ways to track down new opportunities.

Don’t forget that the old rules for finding a job still apply. Job seekers must be professional, have the skills required for the job, and be willing to put in the time to find a new job, but it doesn’t hurt to let the power of social networking work for you.

Connect with AurStaff online and let us help you (and your network) find that next outstanding opportunity! Become our fan on Facebook to stay on top of AurStaff news, job information, and career tips.

“Behavioral safety” is becoming more popular as safety practitioners seek to better understand and develop strategies to prevent workplace injuries. Behavioral safety is the science of observing workers’ behaviors to determine where a different behavior or set of behaviors may have prevented or lessened the severity of injury. The study defines behavioral safety as an approach to improve safety performance through peer observations, goal setting, feedback, and celebrations or incentives for reaching safety goals.

The study recommends using behavioral safety as part of holistic safety programs that address psychological, social, engineering and organizational factors. Yet the authors conclude that factors impacting the effectiveness of behavior-based interventions need to be better understood. Areas recommended for research include the:

• Impact of behavioral safety interventions on rates of injury, illness and fatalities.
• Appropriateness of the basic elements of behavioral safety across different industry sectors.
• Relationship between behavioral safety and a greater safety culture.
• Role of performance feedback in creating behavioral change.
• Effectiveness of tangible and non tangible rewards on behavioral change.

In the United States alone, the workplace accounted for 3.7 million injuries and 4,988 deaths in 2006. To access the study, visit Elsevier’s Science Direct at www.sciencedirect.com and enter the title Journal of Safety Research, Volume 39, Number 6.

The Journal of Safety Research is the pre-eminent peer-reviewed scientific journal in the safety field. Its scholarly articles present basic and applied research in all areas of safety, including traffic, industry, farm, home, school and public.

The National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) saves lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes, communities and on the roads, through leadership, research, education and advocacy.

SOURCE: National Safety Council

“The automotive industry usually makes the news when it comes to manufacturing job loss. This gives the impression that good automotive jobs are few and far between. But that just isn’t the case,” says Brad Smart, transmissions instructor at WyoTech in Long Beach, Calif. “While it’s true that careers in automotive manufacturing are becoming more limited, the future is bright for skilled service technicians.”

The Department of Labor reports that service careers in the automotive industry are expected to grow at around 16 percent through 2016. The DOL estimates that approximately 110,000 new positions will be added between 2006 and 2016, with even larger demand resulting from the large number of service technicians who plan to retire.

The right training will be essential, however, and prospects are best for those who have completed a technical degree. “The automotive industry is becoming increasingly sophisticated and technological, so proper training is important. There will be high demand for those with the right training,” says Smart.

Joe Bojorquez, automotive instructor at WyoTech in Long Beach, Calif., explains why automotive service jobs continue to be in demand. “Because consumers are keeping their cars longer, demand for vehicle service and repair are on the rise,” says Bojorquez. A recent report from JD Power and Associates found that in 2008, consumers are keeping their vehicles for 71 months on average, up from 67 months in 2007, mostly for economic reasons.

“While manufacturing jobs are currently in transition — service jobs never are. That’s why a job in automotive service will be a secure career option over the next few decades,” says Bojorquez. He also explains that the service department is the largest department of any car dealership and its staff must manage both the technical problems of the car, as well as administrative and customer relations duties. With baby boomers expected to retire in record numbers, demand for employees in the service sector is expected to remain high.

Moreover, Bojorquez explains that the industry offers jobs that appeal to a wide range of interests, and options for advancement abound for those with the right training. “Jobs in automotive service range from hands-on service technicians to management positions. There are also opportunities for individuals to specialize in a specific area such as lubrication, detailing or customer service.”

One promising area of specialization for automotive service workers is in diesel engine repair and service. The Department of Labor reports that diesel engine technicians held approximately 275,000 jobs in 2006 and are expected to grow at a rate of approximately 11 percent through 2016. Usage of diesel engine vehicles is rising steadily, as more trucks and buses are used to ship freight across the country. And experts predict that the rising use of diesel engines in buses, trucks and increasingly, passenger vehicles, will fuel new jobs in the field.

Chad Enyeart, diesel/advanced diesel department coordinator at WyoTech’s Laramie, Wyo., campus explains that diesel engines have a lot of advantages over gasoline engines. “Diesel engines are more durable and economic than gasoline engines. And as diesel engines continue to improve their environmental standards, they will be used more frequently,” says Enyeart.

Another area that offers a whole new line of work in automotive sales and service is the huge growth of alternative fuel vehicles. Faced with incredible pressure to reduce dependence on gas and reduce emissions, most car producers are now on a fast track to offer electric cars and hybrids. Large car manufacturers including Ford, Toyota and GM either already have electric cars in stock, or plan to add them in the next two years.

“Alternative fuel vehicles open up a whole new area of automotive jobs. For those graduates who have had the proper training in hybrid engine maintenance, electric cars can offer great career opportunities and long-term job security,” says Enyeart.

Courtesy of ARAcontent