Dayton Innovation: Why this staffing firm welcomes change with open arms

The coronavirus pandemic is no match for the Dayton region's innovative spirit. The Dayton Daily News is profiling small businesses in our region as they navigate through these challenging times. To nominate a small business, email Rebecca.Mullins@coxinc.com.

Business Name: Spherion Staffing

Location: 8569N. Dixie Drive in Dayton

Owner's name: Bob Schulte

Years in operation: Celebrating our 40-year anniversary this year!

Describe what your business does: Annually Spherion connects more than 160,000 talented individuals to companies seeking their unique skills — from light industrial and manufacturing to administrative and clerical staff on a flexible, temp-to-hire and permanent hire basis.

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What inspired you to start this business? Seeing the need and struggles of people in our communities trying to find work to support themselves and their families.

How has your business embraced innovation? We have adapted for 40 years with every economic hardship and prevailed every time because of the amazing employees we have. We have successfully opened seven offices throughout Northwest Ohio and are about to open a new office in Bowling Green. During COVID, we figured out a process to get people back to work without having to enter our offices, which saved our employees a trip and protected everyone's safety. We welcome change with open arms and look at it as a way to grow.

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What's your biggest challenge right now? Right now our biggest challenge is people not wanting to work since they are receiving (an extra) $600 through COVID (unemployment) support. Before COVID, our biggest challenge was keeping people working, which is still to this day a problem, too.

What's your biggest opportunity right now? We have so many career opportunities right now in all of our markets. From machine operators to forklift drivers to assembly associates, if it is a light industrial position, we probably have an opening for it.

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What do you want readers to know about your business today? There is such a negative connotation when it comes to staffing agencies, and I think that is because people do not understand staffing agencies. There are all these myths about staffing agencies — for example, "You steal money from people's paychecks," or "They fire you for no reason." We have to abide by the rules and regulations that any other business has to. We are, by law, not allowed to steal money from anyone's paychecks and if we did, we would not be in business, let alone celebrating our 40-year anniversary. Also, we, just like any other company, do not fire someone with no cause. There is always a situation as to why someone was let go or cannot work through us anymore. If anything, we want to hire everyone! We are also not just a staffing agency, we are part of a three-company organization called The Schulte Group that is comprised of Spherion Staffing, National Staffing Alternatives and R.M. Schulte & Associates. Individually or together, all three entities can provide your company or a candidate with integrated solutions to meet the evolving staffing needs and priorities of your company or personal career needs.


Dayton Innovation

The coronavirus pandemic is no match for the Dayton region’s innovative spirit. The Dayton Daily News is profiling small businesses in our region as they navigate through these challenging times. To nominate a small business, email Rebecca.Mullins@coxinc.com.

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