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  • Having a good employee leave can come as a shock. However, some workers show signs when they are thinking of moving on to a new company. Here are six signs that a good employee might be on his or her way out.

    Employee departure signs

    They’re Overwhelmed

    It’s no fun feeling like there’s no end in sight. Employees who are overwhelmed with work thanks to having too many responsibilities might see a new job as their best opportunity to get out of the situation.

    Decline in Quality

    Good employees typically have good work habits. When good employees start to get sloppy, it can be concerning. Occasional mistakes happen, but a downward trend can be a sign of an employee who doesn’t care anymore. Even if it’s just an employee going through a tough time, a bad stretch might mean that an employee could be looking for a change of scenery.

    Change of Schedule

    People take time off for any number of reasons. If an employee starts using a lot of personal time out of nowhere, it may be a sign that they’re looking to leave. Some employees maintain odd schedules for completely valid reasons like dropping their kids off at school or regular doctor’s appointments, but a worker who starts leaving early or coming in late for no explainable reason may be meeting with another company.

    They Dress to Impress

    Depending on your company’s dress code, you may be able to get an idea of whether an employee might leave by his or her attire. If you notice an employee start to dress up more than usual – such as frequently wearing a tie when they never used to – they may be trying to impress at interviews. Combine this with the scheduling habits mentioned above and you might have an employee who is looking elsewhere.

    Distancing Themselves

    Once again, this sign can depend on the employee. However, if you notice that a formerly social employee stops engaging with his or her coworkers, you could have a problem. An apathetic or disinterested employee isn’t one that will be interested in the future of a company.

    Big Life Changes

    Events like marriage, the birth of a new child, or long-term illnesses can change a person’s priorities. They might start looking for jobs closer to home or with different hours. 

    GMS Solutions

    You never want to see a good employee leave, but it can happen. If you see the signs, you might be able to talk with the employee about what they need to succeed at your company or prepare for their departure. 

    One way to help keep your employees happy is by partnering with GMS. GMS can help strengthen your human resource environment and give you access to better benefits all while increasing the bottom line. Contact us today to see how working with a Professional Employer Organization can benefit you and your business.

  • Each January, people make resolutions to help better themselves in the upcoming year. As another year of business comes to a close, consider making New Year’s resolutions that focus on making your business stronger instead of just losing weight or some of your more typical goals. Here are four suggestions for your business in 2016. 

    New Year’s Resolutions for small businesses

    Protect Your Business

    You may not want to think about people stealing from your company, but it’s always good to be prepared. After the holidays, make sure to sit down and conduct a security audit. Even if everything checks out, it’s better to be sure than to let it go and have something happen.

    External parties aren’t the only threats. We never want to suspect our coworkers, but internal fraud can happen. Professional auditors can review your internal controls to help prevent any problems just in case somebody ever decides to try and take advantage of the business.

    Keep on Learning

    This goes for both you and your employees. Make a resolution to focus on educational opportunities. Invest in training for employees to help them become stronger at an area that your business may struggle with. Also, commit to attending industry events. Conferences can be a great place to get new ideas and network with your peers.

    Take Time Off

    It may be hard to step away for even a few days, but it’s time that you reward yourself. Everyone needs a mental health day or two or a relaxing trip out of town. Also, it’s not a real day off if you continue to check your email every 15 minutes, so commit to stepping away so that you can recharge and come back even stronger than before.

    Commit to Premium Payroll and HR Services

    As a small business owner, you have your hands in a lot of areas. Group Management Services can ease your workload by providing professional HR expertise. We help you effectively manage your payroll, human resources, benefits, and other key functions.

    By partnering with us, we can help you take care of your employees. Contact us today to talk to our experts about how GMS can benefit your business in 2016 and beyond.

  • Now that we’ve said goodbye to 2015 and hello to 2016, we’ve moved on to a whole new year of big goals. Unfortunately, it can be hard to focus on the work ahead after having spent a large part of December in holiday mode. Here are some tips on how a business can help keep employees from getting into a rut after the holiday season ends.

    Motivating employees after the holidays.

    Easing into a Non-holiday Work Week

    The first few work weeks following the holidays can be a pretty jarring experience for employees. After having a few shortened work weeks through December – plus whatever paid-time-off or sick days were used – going right back into full five-day, 9-to-5 schedules can be a difficult transition.

    If you see that employees are struggling, consider allowing them to occasionally work from home during the winter. This would save them from making a winter commute and get them away from their desk while they can still complete their work.

    Get Outside (If the Weather Allows)

    If the weather cooperates – which can be a fairly big “if” depending on your location – don’t be afraid to enjoy the outdoors. Even if it’s a quick walk around the block or a staff meeting in the sun, going outside can get an employee energized. 

    If it’s just too cold, windy, snowy, or all of the above, try mixing things up by holding meetings or other office rituals in different locations. Even moving to a room with a window…. more windows and sunlight can help break up the monotony and give your employees a boost.

    Celebrate When You Can

    It’s hard to match the joy of the holidays, but the early months of 2016 can have a few celebrations as well. Energize employees with special occasions, whether it’s a lunch break, a birthday party, or a little happy hour get-together once a month. Even an occasional celebration can help break up a post-holiday rut.

    Taking Care of Employees with GMS

    Happy employees can make a big difference. These tips can help you combat the first few weeks of the year when workers can suffer from a lack of motivation.

    Another way to provide a morale boost for employees is by teaming up with a Professional Employer Organization. Group Management Services can provide you and your team big-business HR management, partnering with you to take care of your company. Contact GMS today to learn more.

  • Oftentimes, when a two-term President is entering into the last year of his presidency, he can become a lame duck. His issues don’t get addressed by a congress whose members are worrying about their own re-election. Some begin doing victory laps for their last seven years. Some are dealing with scandals while others are just trying to ride it out without any more problems. Any thoughts of the current office holder being one of those went out the door in 2015.

    According to a recent article from the NFIB , President Obama’s administration broke a regulatory record in 2015 by adding over 82,000 pages of regulations to the Federal Register. 545 pages of those deal directly with small businesses. Among those regulations are things like the easing of restrictions on unionization, the changes in minimum wage laws, and the NLRB’s attempts to expand the boundaries of the National Labor Relations Act. All of these have been addressed in my blogs before.

    PEOs can help small business owners stay compliant with regulations.

    How New Regulations Affect Business Owners

    What makes things more challenging for the small business owners is that many of these regulations were pushed through by executive orders or other ways that circumvented public hearings. Simply put, many people won’t know of these rules until they violate them.

    Most large companies have compliancy officers on staff whose sole responsibility is keeping tabs on federal, state, and local regulations to make sure that a company stays within the law. Most small business owners have to rely on themselves or their legal counsel. Legal counsel relies on having attorneys on retainer and being confident that they stay up on things and keep you aware of them as well.

    The Benefits of Partnering With a PEO

    What if you don’t have someone to rely on? What other options does a small machine shop or data gathering office have? Well, those that partner with a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) like GMS have someone who’s working for them on government compliance while also helping in other areas of Human Resources. That same PEO has their clients’ back by also having some skin in the game with them.

    If you would like to learn more about how a PEO like GMS can help your business, contact us today to see we can keep your business up to speed with new regulations while providing premium HR services.

  • An award is great, but it doesn’t mean too much if you don’t know what it represents. As a premier Professional Employer Organization, Group Management Services has earned a fair share of accolades over the years. This is what our awards should represent to you and your company.

    GMS has earned several awards due to our HR administration services.

    GMS is a Growing Professional Employment Organization

    We’ve been making employee management simpler, safer, and stronger since 1996. In the past 20 years, we’ve continued to grow ourselves, adding extra resources and capabilities help you with the burden of HR administration. That’s why GMS has been named as winners of both the Weatherhead 100 and Inc. 500 awards. These awards honor the fastest growing companies in Northeast Ohio and nationally, respectively.

    GMS Brings Value to the Region

    By providing a series of HR administration services, we provide value to our clients and help them grow. The Leading EDGE Awards Program recognizes 100 companies in Northeast Ohio that create value in the region and has named GMS as one of its honorees. This means that partnering with GMS on payroll administration, risk management services, or any of our other functions is an investment in the future of your organization.

    GMS is a Great Place to Work

    As a PEO, it just makes sense that our employees should love their jobs. GMS is proud to be listed on the Plain Dealer’s list of Northeast Ohio’s Top Workplaces. We take HR administration to heart, so we provide our employees with the same care that we offer our clients through functions like employee benefits administration.

    GMS Provides You with Expert HR Services

    GMS has been providing companies with valuable HR services for the past two decades, earning recognition and respect along the way. If you’re losing time and money managing your employees, contact us today to get in touch with one of our experts today.

  • In the event of a fire, we have all been taught STOP, DROP, and ROLL. But do we know what to do in the event of an unconscious, choking, or injured employee? According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 211,000 workplace injuries occur each year. In an emergency, seconds count. Is your staff ready? 

    Image of CPR training. GMS is a certified training provider through the Red Cross.

    Training Your Staff for Medical Emergencies

    GMS is now a licensed training provider through the Red Cross. We can provide your entire staff with the training and skills they need to prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies at a significantly reduced cost.  

    We will be offering trainings in:

    • First Aid
    • CPR
    • AED
    • Bloodborne Pathogens

    Preparing Your Staff Through Licensed Emergency Training

    “Prompt, properly administered first aid care can mean the difference between life and death, rapid vs. prolonged recovery, and temporary vs. permanent disability.” – OSHA. 

    As a licensed training provider through the Red Cross, we can help your company be prepared in case of emergency. Contact GMS today for more information or to schedule your training today!

  • Group Management Services is a Professional Employer Organization founded by Mike Kahoe in 1996. This summer I was fortunate enough to be one of three interns at the GMS National Headquarters in Richfield, Ohio. 

    I absolutely love my job, and if you were to step into our office you’d find 90-plus people that would say the exact same thing! Here are the top five reasons I’m having the best summer ever, and why you would too, at GMS:

    Image of a happy office. Find out five reasons why GMS is a great place for a sales and marketing internship.

    5) The Perks

    This is not your average internship. Just as our sales representatives receive a base salary and commissions, GMS interns earn an hourly wage plus a weekly bonus based off of performance. Not to mention all the other perks that they offer.

    4) The Chickens

    I bet you weren’t expecting to see this on the list! GMS Headquarters has their very own chicken coop stationed right next to a gigantic organic garden in our own backyard! Fresh eggs, fresh fruits, and veggies go hand-in-hand with a company-wide wellness initiative. GMS encourages a healthy and happy lifestyle in more ways than one, which includes our own fitness center, outdoor yoga classes, health screenings, and healthy lunch challenges, all while we compete in the Cleveland Corporate Challenge!

    3) The Energy

    A stimulating, healthy environment doesn’t only create overall wellness and reduce health risks, it also maintains a productive, active workforce. GMS is filled with young professionals with a positive, competitive spirit. It’s a contagious attitude that keeps you motivated throughout the day.

    2) The Experience

    The experience you gain from working in a location, industry, or specific position you’re interested in is the entire purpose of an internship. GMS can offer attractive testaments to all of the above! Our Richfield Headquarters is only 30 minutes from Downtown Cleveland. There are also other GMS locations in Ohio, Virginia, Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Nevada. 

    No matter which location you’re at, the experience of an industry that works with a variety of different businesses makes for a new and exciting challenge every day. Being a sales and marketing intern has allowed me to gain experience directly related to what I hope to pursue after graduation. I’ve also learned more about internal departments like Risk Management and Benefits to understand just how our company is able to offer the services we do. 

    1) The People

    The No. 1 reason you should intern at GMS is because of the people that make up this company. From day one it was clear that everyone is not only willing, but excited, to help in any way they can. GMS has built their culture on a foundation of personable individuals that encourage the success of their peers. I have never felt unwelcome, unappreciated, or undervalued both inside and outside of the workplace since joining the team!

    If you’re interested in applying for a position at GMS, check out our openings and apply today!

  • I’ve never worked in an office before. For so many summers, all I did was work the typical jobs you’d expect from a kid in high school. Swim clubs, gas stations; my summers were reminiscent of Dante’s life from the 1994 movie Clerks, complete with me saying more than just once or twice, “I’m not even supposed to be here today!”  

    I grew up in a small town in central Pennsylvania, but was born in Cleveland. Upon graduation, I took a note from LeBron and decided to come home. I’m currently going into my senior year at Cleveland State, and this summer I decided to change things. I figured it was time to leave the lifeguard stands and gas pumps behind in Smallville and get myself an office internship. That’s how I found GMS.

    Image of a gas pump. Learn how one intern went from jobs at gas stations to a summer PEO internship.

    The PEO Internship Experience

    I’d never even heard of a Professional Employer Organization until I found GMS. I had heard of the company before and seen their sales reps and their cars driving around, but never understood what they were or what they did. After doing some research into PEOs, I saw what the industry was about. PEOs are the ultimate asset to any business owner looking to focus on what they excel in instead of dealing with all the administrative paperwork and the headaches that go along with them. Even with that description, I didn’t fully understand just what set GMS apart until my very first day as an intern. 

    Everyone here, not just at headquarters but at all locations, is dedicated to the client. It’s something every place says they do, but at GMS they mean it. Sales reps maintain relationships with clients. Risk management experts handle any workers’ compensation and safety issues. Benefits professionals ensure that employees are taken care of and that their company saves money doing it. Payroll specialists make sure employees are paid and that everything is running smoothly. The entire GMS team is working for their clients and going above and beyond what you’d find anywhere else.

    A Fulfilling Internship Environment

    Working at GMS has really been a treat. The coworkers and the environment couldn’t be better, with everyone knowing each other and creating such a fun workplace that it feels like I’m not just another intern, but a fellow coworker. The work has been fulfilling with everyday holding something new, whether it be calls, projects, sales rep meetings, or something entirely unexpected. 

    There’s a lot going on at GMS, but everyone manages to handle it and succeed. I no longer feel like Dante from Clerks; I’m supposed to be here. Check out GMS openings to join in on the experience.

  • You always hear intern horror stories of Randy the errand runner, Carlin the coffee-getter, solitude Sally, bossy Becky, moody Mandy, lazy Larry, and sob story Serena. But not many have heard or met supportive and studious Sara, reliable and radiant Rafael, or ambitious and adaptable Alexis. 

    We are the three interns here at GMS. As a PEO, GMS is not like most companies. A PEO… what is that? Not many have heard of a professional employer organization because it’s unique to the business world, special in a sense that it helps small to mid-size businesses save time and money.

    Image of a happy intern. Learn about the cummer internship experience at GMS.

    Learning from a GMS Internship

    Being an intern at GMS is not like most intern stories you have heard. I’ve gotten real world experience being a sales rep, discovered what it takes to get an appointment, and learned about the industry. Mostly I’ve learned about GMS and why others love it.

    I’ve never worked for any company that I get as excited to come to work for as GMS. I get to learn about new techniques on how to sell or just how to become the best version of myself. It’s truly a humbling experience and an honor to intern for GMS, and I am one of the lucky ones. 

    I could not be happier with this internship. I’ve become more comfortable making cold calls, learned how to better communicate with those around me, and enhanced my skills at GMS. I like the challenge and the growth that GMS encourages me to find. People are lucky to work here. If you want to join the GMS team, check out available openings and apply today.

  • It can be hard to seek help when you don’t know who you should ask. Business owners can spend countless hours trying to manage their business’ HR functions. Fortunately, PEOs can help save them time and money while offering professional management services that can strengthen their business. The important part is to find the right PEO partner for your business. Here are some questions that owners should ask when looking for HR help.

    Image of a business owner contacting a PEO. Learn about questions business owners should ask PEOs, including “what is a PEO?”

    What is a PEO and How Does It Work?

    Nobody should jump into something they may not understand, so kick off your search for HR help with a single question: Exactly what is a PEO? A PEO is a Professional Employer Organization that works with your company to make HR functions more efficient and effective for you and your employees.

    According to the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations, “PEOs enable clients to cost-effectively outsource the management of human resources, employee benefits, payroll and workers’ compensation.” PEOs have been around for decades, providing important services for companies big and small. Every business is different, so the key is finding a PEO that can suit your specific needs.

    How Can a PEO Save My Business Time and Money?

    A PEO can make your business more efficient. Let’s face it; the average business owner isn’t the person who should be spending hours dedicated to managing payroll, benefits, and  other back office functions. They should be utilizing their time on areas where they can make a greater impact so that their company can grow. Of course, HR functions are a critical part of every company, so you need somebody who can help.

    PEO experts are just those people. A PEO employs specialists in all different areas of HR. This gives you the experts that can professionally manage areas like benefits, payroll, and other HR functions for potentially less than what it would take for the average owner to try and do on their own or to hire someone internally. Also, PEOs have a greater buying power than a small business, allowing your company to receive beneficial rates thanks to the economy of scale.

    Is My Business Big Enough for a PEO?

    You don’t need to run a big business to get quality HR management. As a premier PEO, GMS has helped everything from small, 20-person shops to companies with several hundred employees.

    GMS has been in business for 20 years and has helped over 1,000 clients make their company simpler, safer and stronger. Contact GMS today to see why we’re the right PEO for you and your business.