Staffing World 2019 Recap

The American Staffing Association hosted Staffing World 2019 earlier this month. In just three days, they packed in more than 20 incredible sessions and 60+ exceptional speakers. In case you missed this year’s conference (or, you want to relive it), here are some of our favorite sessions.

Shaping Better Workplaces for a Better World

SHRM’s president and CEO, Johnny C. Taylor Jr., always hosts excellent sessions, but his session at Staffing World was particularly energetic and informative. Johnny shared how the workplace skills have gradually evolved over time. From hunting and gathering to working in factories during the Industrial Revolution, employee skillsets in the workplace have gradually developed. However, factors (like technology) have expedited this evolution in the last few decades. That’s why Johnny claimed creativity, agility, and adaptability as the three most essential skills today. With the skills gap rapidly expanding in today’s workforce, he voiced why these three skills are key to an employee’s workplace success.

Live at #StaffingWorld: According to recent ⁦@SHRM⁩ research, jobs have changed/how define talent has changed. Degrees don’t matter. What does? Creativity, adaptability& agility—⁦@JohnnyCTaylorJr⁩ of SHRM pic.twitter.com/FwJlGpwklV

— American Staffing Association (@StaffingTweets) October 16, 2019

Why You Can’t Live Without Marketing in Your Commercial Staffing Company

Beth Delano of Malone Workforce Solutions and Stacy Kleinhenz, the VP of HR at BelFlex Staffing Network, discussed how staffing companies need to develop a marketing strategy-- just as much as their clients do. Moderated by Leslie Vickrey, CEO and founder of ClearEdge Marketing, the group discussed how to align marketing goals with your business strategy. One thing that Beth and Stacy emphasized was identifying a “brand spark.” Beth shared how she worked with Leslie to discover Malone Workforce Solutions’ brand spark. Together, they wanted to identify the one word that defined who they were, and they chose "real." By adopting a brand spark, it was easier to focus and prioritize their staffing efforts.

Generational Shift: Secrets to Succeeding With the Millennial Workforce

Intergenerational differences have always been tricky to navigate, but with five generations in today’s workforce, the struggle is especially real. With millennials making up 35% of today’s workforce, CEO and founder of ClearlyRated, Eric Gregg, focused on hiring and developing millennials. Eric shared how within ten years, millennials and their younger counterparts, Generation Z, will have absorbed the workforce-- 60% of it to be exact! With millennials being so independent, flexible, and great at adapting technology, they really are great candidates for a variety of positions-- they just need some further support here and there, as Eric explored.

Reefer Madness: What Legal Marijuana Means for Staffing Companies

Most conferences have focused on the specific laws of marijuana, but we loved how this session focused on factors beyond legal requirements. Robert Thompson, VP at World Wide Specialty Programs, facilitated this panel with Eric J. Janson, a labor and employment attorney and partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP, and Daphne Phalon, VP of Eastern Operations at The Job Center. Together, they discussed how staffing agencies often work with a variety of clients with their own policies on marijuana. With changing state laws and a shortage of talent, this group of panelists shared why some clients may need to adjust their policies on marijuana soon, and how staffing agencies can support them.

Persevere and Live in Vision, Not in Circumstance

Recruiters often love employees with a variety of experiences and skillsets, and Jon Dorenbos is a great example. He played 14 seasons in the NFL until he was diagnosed with a heart condition that unexpectedly ended his football career. Despite the unfortunate news, he turned to his other passion: magic. Now, Jon is a crazy good magician-- he even made it to the finals of America’s Got Talent! His session at Staffing World was as inspiring as it was entertaining, with magic woven throughout the show. He also offered a great reminder of what the HR leaders do for people-- they don’t just give people jobs, they give them hope.

While we can’t wait for next year’s Staffing World in Nashville, we want to hear about your time at Staffing World 2019! Share what sessions you enjoyed most this year in the comments below.