​What is a Gig Economy?
 
 In short, the gig economy is one in which contract, freelance, and short-term jobs ("gigs") are common as opposed to traditional full-time jobs. According to Intuit, an estimated 43% of the US workforce will be participating in the gig economy by 2020.  
 
There is no doubt that the gig economy is here to stay.  While we can spend time debating the pros and cons of it, ultimately companies are going to need to find ways to adapt.  Here are a few ways you can do just that.
 
Look at your benefits.  Consider why “giggers” choose their path.  Many times it offers work life balance and flexibility.  Is it possible you can offer something similar to your employees?  If so, it can help keep your team on board for the long haul.
 
Hire a temp.  Hiring a temp is a great way to complete special projects and short-term needs without overworking your staff.  Interim staff, with specialized experience, can often be found in just the areas you need.
 
Consider using a Virtual Assistant.  Virtual Assistants can meet your needs remotely, saving  office space and many overhead expenses.  Data entry, bookkeeping, calendar management,  transcription and translation services are just a few examples of tasks Virtual Assistant can handle.

​Staying on top of workplace trends can help you ensure your company is staying relevant and attractive to employees.  Here are a few trends to keep an eye on.
 
Creativity Surrounding Benefits.  Companies are finding new and creative ways to compete for talent; aside from the usual competitive salary, health benefits, and PTO.  A few innovative companies have begun to offer perks, including: paid volunteer time, gym memberships, offering in-office wellness programs and vacation allowance.  What are a couple of benefits your company could offer to set yourself apart?
 
Less Traditional Reviews.  Many companies are taking the “annual” out of “annual review”.  Some are gravitating toward two way conversations.  Platforms such as Small Improvements are low-cost and make 360- degree feedback fluid and easy.  While not everyone is onboard with this type of review, many are increasing one-on-one meetings with employees, allowing for more frequent feedback for their team members.
 
Professional Development.  Your business is always evolving; therefore, so should your employees.  We need well - trained teams, but we also need to provide development for our employees for the sake of retention.  Professional development does not have to be expensive.  Encouraging employees to attend meet-ups or lunch and learns or participating in your industry associations can cost little to nothing. Online courses through Lynda have low monthly fees.
 
Remote Work/Increased Technology.  As in recent years, telecommuting has continued to increase, technology for remote workers has become increasingly available.  Messaging platforms such as Slack, Microsoft Teams and Skitch have allowed teams to collaborate easily, regardless of their location. 

When we think about why employees leave (better yet, why they stay), one motivator usually comes to mind: Compensation.  And while pay and benefits are key to recruiting and retaining your employees, there are plenty of other ways to build and keep a strong team. 
 
  
Random Acts of Appreciation
 
Professional Administrative Assistant’s day is every reason to celebrate all that they do for you.  A few random acts of appreciation might make an impact. An unexpected thank you note or an occasional sweet treat on an employee’s desk can go a long way. 
 
One-on-One Time
 
Annual reviews are not enough. Periodic one on ones with your employees encourages communication and valuable feedback, before minor issues become serious problems.
 
Responsibility
 
Employees need to be to be trusted, give them responsibilities that will allow for them to learn new skill sets and develop new ideas.  Let them know that you are invested in them by supporting continuing education and promoting within.
 
Respect
 
Showing respect for your employees can go a long way in retaining the cream of the crop. You can create a confident, productive, and passionate team by encouraging a respectful environment.
 
Flexibility
 
Providing even a small level of flexibility to employees can make a significant difference in work/life balance.  It might mean flexible scheduling or the occasional work from home day.  A positive outlook on work/life balance can greatly impact employee morale.
 
 
Have a Little Fun!
 
Go for an occasional team lunch together.  Have a Halloween pumpkin carving contest.  Make ice cream sundaes on a hot Tucson day.  It doesn’t require a lot of time or money to allow your team to take a breather and have some fun together.
 
Remember, there is much more than pay and benefits that help retain a good team.  Create a work environment that feels impossible to leave!
 

Interested in the idea of a Dependable Personnel Virtual Assistant, but don’t know where to start?  Here are 6 ways that one of our Virtual Assistants can benefit your business. All of our Virtual Assistants are local and fully vetted.


Transcription/Translation
Authors and publishers, legal professionals, coaches, bloggers, life/health and wellness professionals and university faculty and staff are only a few examples of those who find themselves in need of transcription and translation services.  We’ve got Virtual Assistants on hand who can quickly transcribe and translate.
 
Bookkeeping
While bookkeeping may only take up a few hours of your week, imagine the things you could do if you had that time freed up?  With a Virtual Assistant specializing in bookkeeping, you can feel confident the job is completed accurately and timely.


Data Entry
Data entry seems simple, but it can be monotonous and exhausting.  Having a detail- oriented professional handle your data entry can save you time and headache.


Email and Calendar Management
A more organized team is a more productive team.  Allowing a Virtual Assistant to sort through, file and respond to emails and manage your calendar, will allow time to focus on more critical tasks.


Online Research
A Virtual Assistant can help with online research for just about any topic, including locating new customer bases and examining the competition.


General Administrative Tasks
Maybe you just need help with a little of this, and a little of that.  A general administrative Virtual Assistant can assist with a number of varied tasks - writing holiday and thank you cards, proofreading documents, preparing powerpoint presentations, finding the best restaurants.. just to name a few.


This is only a taste of what Dependable Personnel’s Virtual Assistants can offer.  We will  tailor a Virtual Assistant Package to fit your needs.


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