Before the 19th century, the words office and staff never had much to do with each other outside the term staff of office. A staff in the shape of rods, wands, batons, and maces signified the position, or office, one held and the level of esteem associated with it.
In the early 1800s, American professionals and merchants started opening offices, and by midcentury staff came to mean typists, clerks, and accountants. When the railroad made its mid-century entry, once-local businesses could cull customers from the whole continent. A century later, the computer connected them to the world. During this time, permanent personnel became de rigueur to keep a growing business running efficiently. A successful business prided itself on a distinguished (and usually recruited) staff — one that made an impressive staff of office.
Nowadays the use of the word staff has calved into verb, and staffing describes the hiring of temporary workers through an agency. Recruiting, on the other hand, still associates with a search for qualified permanent talent. While staffing supplies indispensable yet temporary employees, recruits require an extra layer of talent and compatibility not always recognized without an experienced eye.
Dependable Personnel has remained a Tucsonan go-to for staffing temporary help. But the word staff is not part of our name. In order to find the best and most dependable workers, we recruit them in the traditional sense of the word. The way we handpick candidates makes the difference of a successful match for every assignment — whether permanent or temporary.
What kind of employees do you hire? Temporary or recruited? You make an investment of time, talent, and treasure with each employee you hire — whether temporary or permanent. Why not make sure each one is the right one?