5 Things to Do This Month: September 2014

The summer months are winding down, kids are back in school, and before we know it, the holiday season will be upon us. Luckily, there’s still plenty of time left in 2014 to position your business for a strong finish. Here are five things you can do in the month of September to get an early start.

Start Planning for Seasonal Staffing
The holiday season is just around the corner and for many businesses that means it’s time to prepare for the seasonal surge. Companies across all industries are likely impacted by the holidays in one way or another – retailers, in particular, typically see 20-40% of their annual sales during this time. So, it’s important to start planning now for how your company will respond to fluctuations in business volume during the coming months. Staffing companies, like Express Employment Professionals, are a great resource for the extra help you need to maintain productivity and respond to seasonal upswings.

National Staffing Employee Week
And speaking of staffing – Sept. 15-21 is National Staffing Employee Week in the U.S. This week is set aside each year to honor the more than three million people who are employed through staffing companies each week. According to the American Staffing Association, 11 million people are hired by staffing firms over the course of a year. If you have employees in your company through a staffing firm, be sure to stop by and thank them for their hard work and dedication.

International Day of Peace
Established in 1981 by the U.N. General Assembly, International Day of Peace takes place on Sept. 21 and is, according to the U.N., a day “devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.” As we read the headlines and hear stories about unrest from around the world consider including this day in your office’s activities. Encourage your company to embrace the spirit of the day and help commemorate it through education and public awareness of issues related to peace. Discuss ways you and your workforce can contribute to the cause and help take a step toward a more peaceful world.

First Day of Autumn
The autumnal equinox occurs on Sept. 23 marking one of two times each year that day and night are both exactly 12 hours long due to the tilt of the Earth’s axis. It’s also the official start of autumn. Leaves are changing, temperatures are mild, and it’s an all-around great time to be outdoors. Encourage your employees to get out and enjoy some fresh air during lunch or schedule some time for a team outing to enjoy the fall season. Winter is just around the corner and for much of North America, that means it will be several months before we’ll get to enjoy the outdoors again.

Prepare for Fourth Quarter
We’re getting close to the home stretch of 2014, so it’s time to start preparing to finish strong. Take some time to meet with your team and discuss where you are in meeting your goals for the year and if you need to make any adjustments to your strategy. It’s also a good time to start thinking about planning performance reviews and holiday parties, and preparing for employee time off requests around the holidays. The fourth quarter will be over before you know it, so start taking steps now to ensure it goes smoothly.

What’s on your to-do list for the month of September? Let us know in the comments section below.

Refresh Leadership is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

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