Staff outsourcing can reduce the cost of operations by up to 60% – this is the target we look to achieve with our clients, writes Arnoux Mare, MD of Innovative Staffing Solutions.
One of the primary reason businesses decide to outsource staff is that it lowers costs. We take over their drivers, hospitality workers, even farm workers, and through proper management of staff over multiple sites, we reduce levels of absenteeism, sick leave, unproductivity, and poor work ethic. We do this without depriving staff of a single right, but rather by improving their working conditions. This allows an organisation to focus on their core business, and get the work done at a higher quality and at a fraction of the price.
Simple practices like rewarding good behavior and punishing poor performance is the foundation of the success of Innovative Staffing Solutions. We are a staff outsourcing company that, within just five years, has rocketed from just two employees to more than 5,500. During that time, we have never experienced a single incident of labour unrest.
We believe in the old-fashioned philosophy of what you put into life, dictates what you get out. Our team understands that it is a ‘make or break’ culture – and most choose to former option. We have employees who have received seven salary increases within a single year, and others who realise there’s no place to hide. The irony is that this approach of ‘results-based contracting’ works in the chaos of the kindergarten classroom, and is also highly innovative in the workplace.
Labour has become perceived as a highly regulated business activity, one that most companies consequently shy away from. That viewpoint stems only from the fact that many people do not understand labour law. The reality is quite different and contrary to popular belief – our labour regulations actually favour the employer. We have contract managers and specialist lawyers immersed in labour law so we understand and respect the rights of both the employee and the employer.
Outsourcing your staff to a company that fully understand the law and has the resources to manage people in a demanding rather than fearful manner is what unlocks the potential of labour and subsequently, increases productivity. We get up close and personal with all our staff and understand their marital situation, their medical issues and their financial issues – and within reason, we’re available to help them.
From actual experience, we know that this level of relationship creates loyalty almost unknown in the business sector. Our staff also know this, which is why they turn to us as their first call when in difficulty – and remain loyal to the company that allows them to build and grow in their professional and personal capacity.
Clearly, this is more difficult to achieve when dealing with thousands of staff, yet the principle still applies through effective operational management. We also offer employee incentives that make a real difference in the lives of winners – such as a two free utility bakkies to the two best driver of the year.
At Innovative Staffing Solutions we have a comprehensive company policy, but our approach is not to let that get in the way of employee relations. If company policy prevents me from giving a valued staff member a salary advance, I may look at still doing it in my personal capacity – because I know the person. We understand that if we have unhappy employees on site with a client, our client relationship breaks down.
The flip side of this coin is that we do not hesitate to fire someone who is clearly not responding to our philosophy. We are fair but strict: if an employee needs training, he will receive it. We believe that mediocre staff need leadership and guidance – but also discipline. If poor conduct continues, then disciplinary action follows.
Financial targets are included in our contract agreements and service level provisions. As our clients catch on that staff outsourcing works for all parties, it enables us to put more teeth into their incentive mechanisms.
Staff outsourcing experts achieve what many employers cannot achieve, because the employment of people is our core business. We specialise in it and have perfected it.
