Access Personnel Services Flexes Employee Options.

Business Editors

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 29, 2001

Access Personnel Services Inc., an Atlanta-based staffing company has demonstrated its flexibility in providing innovative employment work schedules/options to its full- and part-time employees.

In an age where individuals seek more quality time with their families, yet desire fulfilling careers, Access has found a way to make the two aspirations join together seamlessly and successfully.

Take for example, Beverly Floyd who has worked with Access for two years. Beverly is a Creative Specialist for the Marketing and Training Division and works 25 - 30 hours each week. She is a wife, mother of two children, and has an aging mother who suffers from dementia. Access has created an environment where Beverly can help care for her mother, take her on various doctor appointments, and pick the kids up from school everyday. It even allows her to commute to work after the morning rush hour and before the bumper-to-bumper traffic in the evening. "The flexibility Access has given me helps me balance my roles and responsibilities as a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister and an employee. Having flexibility has allowed me to focus my efforts when I am at work, and later at home, enabling me to give 100% of my ability where I am," Beverly stated.

Mary Ianniello, the Recruiting Manager for Access also takes advantage of the flexible schedules and innovative approach that Access has incorporated into its culture. Mary works 25 hours a week; her workweek consists of two ten-hour days on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and then she typically works five more hours at her home office on Wednesdays.

Not only does Access allow flexibility in the schedules it permits, but also even more innovative is its approach to ideas, creative thinking and implementation of strategy. Ianniello stated, "The biggest difference is that we have a lot of freedom to implement ideas and situations that do not follow the `norm.' It is understood that some of those ideas will fail. And it is okay when ideas do not succeed because we are supported for trying new things. When those ideas and situations do influence change and progress in the company, it creates an amazing chain reaction. When I have had the experience of my ideas and creativity being used for the overall benefit of the company it increases my positive energy and confidence resulting in a desire to come up with new and better ideas."

This strategy is great for the employees, but does it work for the company and its profitability? Sue Hurst, Vice President/General Mgr. believes it does. "Access has consistently grown in profitability over the last several years. When employees feel empowered, the employee wins, the company wins and most importantly our customers win because we can offer an outstanding service backed by everyone in the company," Ms. Hurst commented.

Many staffing companies offer services that primarily place employees and focus on the high volume business. Access' strategy is to partner with clients to help them solve "people" problems. Access targets clients that are looking for solutions with people as opposed to a person to fill a job. Some of the solutions Access demonstrates for companies are to reduce turnover, reduce recruiting costs, reduce time and money for the company doing their own hiring, and flexibility to use the people resource without a commitment.

Access believes in partnering for performance. To do this, they require creative, results oriented people. Access hires people that can think creatively and not be bound by traditional models. The focus is on the results of the employee - not the "how to."

Access' financials speak very clearly. Every year since 1996, Access has increased its profitability. In fact this year, Access reached its financial goals by August and is on track for a 57 - 60% increase in profitability from last year.

Sue Hurst is the Vice President/General Manager and has been with the company for six years. She has seen first hand the benefits of having flexible work schedules and an innovative approach to strategic planning. Ms. Hurst is in charge of the daily operations of Access and its 21 employees. The company has two divisions; the Staffing Division that handles temporary, temp to hire, and permanent placements for all types of clerical positions and Access IT, its Technical Division, which handles contract and permanent placements in a wide range of technical positions. And most amazingly Ms. Hurst does this while flexing her options as well. Ms. Hurst's work schedule is a creative mix of ingenuity, and a successful solution for the business, for her family and for her own peace of mind.

Ms. Hurst is a wife and mother, has four young children, and has a husband whose work keeps him on the road quite frequently. Ms. Hurst is able to take her children to school, to football practice, and other classes they are involved in. She is an active member in her church, and yet she is able to run the company and her home with much success. "I don't know of any other company that has created such an outstanding culture for its employees than Access. The ability to fulfill goals and ambitions professionally while fulfilling totally different goals and demands on a personal level is unheard of. Not only does Access tolerate it, it promotes it," Hurst stated.

And what about Access' clients? How do they feel about the flexibility and unusual options the company offers its employees? Linda Utterback is the Manager of Staffing and Employee Relations of the Boys and Girls Club of America and has been "partnering" with Access for several years. "Access is a quality results oriented organization with a strict emphasis on integrity, where the customer focus comes first. I get immediate results whenever I call with any type of situation or problem. Whatever they do for their employees - it works. Every year Access makes significant changes to bring value to the partnership. They take the initiative to come up with creative solutions for services that will be of benefit to our organization. They want to meet our needs and provide many resources toward our requests; their own employees are exceptional and put all they have into helping us achieve our goals. This is highly unusual in the staffing industry," Ms. Utterback said. She also commented that she has never worked with any company as focused on excellent customer service as is Access. "And the absolute best thing Access does as a partner - they truly listen," Ms. Utterback stated.

The unusual philosophy that Access brings to the Atlanta area works well for its employees, the shareholders and the clients. Its fresh innovation and its strong focus on customer service is apparently a partnership that works and is worth preserving in today's unsettled employment arena.