SIDNEY — Spherion Staffing Services is back in Sidney.
The Lima-based employment agency cut the ribbon recently on its new offices at 650 N. Vandemark Road to celebrate its full staffing. The office had opened in October with a skeleton crew.
“Our owners bought into the franchise in 1980,” said Katie Metzger, marketing and social media coordinator. Within a few years, owners Grace and Bob Schulte had opened 30 offices throughout western Ohio. But the company was not sustainable when the economy began to roll up and down. The Sidney office closed in 2001.
“Changes in the company and the markets we were focusing on” brought on the closure, Metzger said. There are now seven offices and the company also has representatives at six work sites, including one in Sidney. It made sense to come back to Shelby County.
President Carol Russell, in town for the ribbon cutting, said the better economy prompted the return.
“The Sidney market was expanding to such a degree that we need an office to service (clients) and help them recruit,” Metzger said.
Virtually all of the Sidney clients use Spherion’s services to identify temp-to-hire workers.
“If performance meets expectations, the candidate has the opportunity to work full time. If candidates are qualified and good workers, the client is happy,” Metzger said.
The biggest challenge for the new office is finding those qualified candidates.
“Lots of people think they want to work until you find them a job,” said Branch Manager Ashley Merricle, ruefully.
According to Metzger, candidates are scarce for a number of reasons. Some don’t have the required skills. Others can’t pass a physical or drug test. Still others have an unrealistic idea of what a starting pay rate should be.
Spherion-placed employees earn from $10 to $15.40 per hour. When they are hired by their various companies, they get immediate raises and benefits. Spherion has more than 50 openings to fill right now.
Interested candidates can apply online at www.applyohio.com or visit the office.
Metzger said the companies wishing to contract with Spherion will find a level of customer service that some larger employment corporations can’t provide.
“We can have an open conversation with clients, whether positive or negative, about needs, improvement, quality,” she said. The firm currently serves 15 clients in the Sidney area, a growth of 300 percent since the October opening.
For information, call 937-419-4200.
