Back to regular blogging — Blogging and the Staffing Industry
Alright, I think I’m back for good. Thank you so much for those who have sent well-wishes via e-mail over the last couple of months, and condolences over the last couple of weeks. The memorial can be found at http://lisaamorao.net/al.
I haven’t blogged much in the last couple of months but from the amount of offline chatter about this blog it doesn’t seem like I had a Blog Sabbatical at all. It seems, for reasons I still don’t understand, I have infuriated some people. Please excuse me while I do another housekeeping post.
This is my personal blog, not my employer’s blog. I blog on my own time, on my own computer. I pay for my own hosting. Please see the disclaimer. What I say here should not be attributed to ATR. As a matter of fact, my employer does NOT always agree with what I write here. I consider myself to be extremely fortunate that my employer recognizes my right to my own opinions and sees the value in having their staff openly converse about the industry — within reason, of course.
The technology industry, which most of us in the staffing industry serve, has embraced social media. So many staffing firms claim that they understand the evolving tech culture yet many still do not “get” the social web.
Case in point. It seems a bunch of folks do not agree with what I write here, but they have not posted a comment at all. Some write to me over e-mail, but it seems there are also those who talk about my blog in conference rooms. I blush at the thought, but it doesn’t accomplish anything. You can disagree with me and engage in a conversation under the comments so that the rest of the web community can be enlightened by it. Or…you can talk about it with 10 other people in a conference room. I don’t see anyone benefiting from the latter.
Also, please do not send me hate mail because my blog happens to come up higher in Google search results when people search for your company, instead of your corporate website. Google wrote the search algorithms. I’m just a humble blogger.
On Blogging
Ok, so your staffing firm has a blog. Great! But is it really a blog? Just because you have it on Blogspot or Wordpress and have an RSS feed doesn’t mean it is a blog in the social media sense. A good blog provides ideas and opinions that are up for debate and conversations. It is not the place to put your job listings or worse, tell people how great you are. Sure, you CAN do that on a blog and I know a lot of bloggers who do just that…but you’ll lose your readers quickly.
One thing that really irritates me is that the #1 Google search result for keywords “staffing blog” is this: http://www.insourcesolutions.com/blog/ or this: http://www.frontlinesourcegroup.com/fsg_blog.htm
Yes, it’s on a blogging platform, but it provides very little conversation value. This is not to slam Insource Solutions or Frontline Source Group, but I think Insource Solutions should take advantage of that highly coveted top Google ranking by conversing not just about how good they are and about their job openings, but by recommending best practices within the industry or by talking about trends beyond “we’re seeing more jobs now.” Again, not to slam, since Insource Solutions is the flagship “staffing blog” at least through the eyes of Google, I really would like to see it become more valuable.
Ok. Now on to the good stuff. I think Spherion has a great-looking career blog. The Big Time is content-rich on a variety of topics that are geared towards the job seeker. Unfortunately, it seems to rank low on search results. From a quick web analytics perspective, it’s because there’s a ton of career blogs out there with more inlinks and better authority ranking than The Big Time. I’m adding them to my blogroll…I doubt my two links will help push it up, but I like the blog, so I’ll do what I can.
On a separate note, I am not a big fan of the Temp Life, also by Spherion. Specific comments are for another post, but I can really see a concerted effort to dive into social media. I will make sure to follow Spherion.
Do you have a favorite staffing blog? Are you trying to start one of your own or for your agency? I’m trying to build a blogroll. Please let me know, I’d like to follow and converse.
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Webinar, After the Fall of Chimes
Didn’t mean to fall off the radar, but I have been dealing with a family medical situation that has been taking up quite a bit of time. We’ll be back to our regularly scheduled blogging soon, including work on the VMS workgroup. My apologies to those who have been looking for updates and my heartfelt thanks for those who have e-mailed me well-wishes.
In the meantime, the Human Capital Institute and MyBizOffice are sponsoring a FREE webinar this afternoon on the Axium bankruptcy and its effect on the VMS industry. It’s this afternoon at 3pm Eastern.
You can register by clicking here.
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A quick thought
I use a ton of software and beta test a ton more. It’s a little hobby of mine. Apparently, I’m really good at breaking things.
As an early adopter I’ve seen a lot of models in how a particular application is paid for, whether they be a one-time fee as in the case of boxed software, licenses, subscriptions, to the Web2.0-ish ad-supported models. Don’t even get me started about open source.
So the question nags, so please feel free to educate me on this and at the same time excuse the ignorance as necessary - but I’m hard pressed to think of any other application where the end user is NOT the one paying for the use of the app, in one form or another.
Just a thought.
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A thought on how job boards advertise
Someone brought me some swag yesterday from Careerbuilder.com promoting their spot for the Super Bowl. Millions of eyes will see the ad, but why do I get the feeling it’s going to be one of those is-your-boss-a-moron commercials?
Sure, there are people who leave their current jobs because they are unhappy with their current employers, but how many recruiters actually call candidates and ask them “do you hate your job?”
In my experience I actually get a bit turned off by a candidate when they start talking about how unhappy they are or how much they deserve but are not getting. Even worse if they start boss bashing.
So why subscribe to job boards that attract candidates this way?
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Chimes update
Summary:
Barry Olson did NOT win the bid for Chimes’ assets as expected.
The winning bidder was Florida-based MPS Group.
Staffing suppliers will be paid for outstanding receivables (less Chimes fees) from before and after Chimes filed for bankruptcy.
Still in question, amount already paid by Chimes clients and seized by Golden Tree.
The following from the ASA:
Chimes’s Secured Creditor Waives Claim to Staffing Firm Receivables
Bankruptcy Court Names Winning Assets Bidder
Bankruptcy proceedings involving Ensemble Chimes Global, the large vendor management service that abruptly declared bankruptcy this month, took a major step toward resolution yesterday when a Los Angeles bankruptcy court named a winning bidder for Chimes’s assets and the lone secured creditor, Golden Tree Asset Management, waived any right it might have to certain unpaid receivables for services rendered by staffing firms—paving the way for staffing firms to receive payment for unpaid accounts receivable for services rendered before and after Chimes filed for bankruptcy.
The winning bidder for Chimes’s assets was MPS Group, a staffing and VMS provider headquartered in Jacksonville, FL. It had been expected that Barry Olson, the original founder and president of Chimes, would purchase the assets, but his attempted purchase fell through and MPS submitted the winning bid of approximately $8 million.
According to ASA’s outside bankruptcy counsel, who attended the hearing, Olson will continue to run the Chimes system until the asset sale closes in late January or early February.
In the meantime, and most important to staffing firms, the court’s asset sale order likely will direct Olson to collect and remit to staffing firms unpaid receivables, less Chimes’s fees under the staffing firms’ respective Chimes contracts, for services rendered before and after Chimes filed for bankruptcy. Olson will not collect any amounts previously paid by clients to Chimes and seized by Golden Tree.
ASA and several member staffing firms drafted and proposed language to be included in the court’s order and to effectuate Olson’s receipt and remittance of the receivables. This language was presented before the court at yesterday’s hearing and was unopposed. The court is expected to finalize and approve the order early next week.
Staffing firms that are owed money under Chimes agreements should consult with their counsel regarding their rights and obligations, and should consider promptly invoicing Chimes for all unpaid amounts.
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On Chimes coming back from the dead
My two cents on Chimes coming back from the dead
Before I go on, kudos to Barry Olson and Vedior for getting the vendors the payments they are owed.
But my two cents on this is that if Chimes does indeed come back from the dead, I still think its days are numbered. I don’t think it’s Chimes. It’s the model. My prediction is that clients, contractors and staffing suppliers that went through the nightmare of the last couple of weeks will probably resolve whatever loose ends or contractual obligations they have with Chimes, and then go on to another solution.
I’m thinking Chimes will have to restructure and do some serious rebranding to even have a fighting chance of survival. It’s a tall order.
I’m not calling for the demise of Chimes. These are just my observations.
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From the ASA
Bankruptcy Trustee Endorses Plan To Revive VMS Firm
Ensemble Chimes Global, the large vendor management service that abruptly declared bankruptcy this month (see the Jan. 14 issue of Staffing Week), is reportedly back in operation under a special agreement between the bankruptcy trustee and a prospective buyer. The prospective buyer has been authorized to run the business while a deal is completed to buy Chimes’s assets.
In an effort to “calm events surrounding a difficult situation,” the trustee and prospective buyer issued a joint letter Jan. 17 addressed to suppliers, customers, and “other interested parties of the former ECG organization.” The letter outlined a plan to sell Chimes’s assets and establish a process for paying staffing firms that supplied services to Chimes’s clients.
The prospective buyer is Barry Olson, the original founder and president of Chimes. According to the letter, Olson has entered into an agreement with Vedior NA to buy Chimes’s assets. The transaction is expected to be completed in 10 business days.
The trustee, Howard Ehrenberg, has asked the bankruptcy court to approve a process for paying suppliers during the 10-day interim period.
In a telephone conversation with ASA last week, Ehrenberg said the purpose of the process is to ensure that suppliers and employees get paid and to facilitate the continuation of the existing Chimes arrangements with clients. He said the payment proposal would be included in a motion to sell Chimes’s assets that was filed with the bankruptcy court Friday. Ehrenberg expects the court to approve the motion, which will be heard Jan. 23.
Under the proposed process, employee time and expenses are to be entered and approved in the Chimes system. A consolidated invoice will be generated and payments made to suppliers, less the management fee, for approved hours and expenses worked and incurred after Jan. 9. Hours and expenses worked, incurred, and approved prior to Jan. 9 will be paid “as long as the hours and expenses are billed as part of the normal billing cycle after Jan. 9, 2008.” Ehrenberg explained that the latter provision is intended to include services provided before Jan. 9, even if the client has already been invoiced for those services, as long as the client hasn’t already paid the invoice. He said that amounts already paid to Chimes would have been seized by Chimes’s lender, the hedge fund Golden Tree, and therefore a staffing firm that did not receive its payment from Chimes would have to seek recovery of those amounts by filing a creditor’s claim.
Ehrenberg reiterated the statement made in the joint letter that the secured lender (Golden Tree), which holds a lien against Chimes’s assets, has assured him that it will not make any claim on future payments to suppliers except for management fees.
The letter pointedly advises clients not to enter into outside arrangements until further instructions from the bankruptcy court and states that clients should avoid paying suppliers directly. “Staying within the process spelled out in the letter provides customers with the assurance that they have honored the guidance provided by the trustee and protects them against future claims from secured creditors,” the letter concludes.
Staffing firms that are owed money under Chimes agreements should consult with their counsel regarding their rights and obligations. The joint letter is available on the ASA Web site, americanstaffing.net.
ASA will continue to monitor developments in this extraordinary process with the advice of expert bankruptcy counsel and the ASA legal committee. ASA will provide information and guidance to members as events unfold.
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From the inbox
Again, if it is not left as a comment, I will not make attributions. My two cents on the bottom.
As a former Chimes/ECG employee, I find it somewhat troubling that you keep referring to the bankruptcy issue as “Chimes Bankruptcy”. First, “Chimes” as a company has failed to exists since Feb 2007. At that time, it was sold to Axium and combined with their subsidiary Ensemble. Second, “Chimes” as a product still existed although it was not being actively marketed. Axium, and thus ECG, was forced into bankruptcy because the IRS came after them and also they failed to make loan payments to Golden Tree Asset Management.
There are claims that the owners of Axium embezzled millions of dollars from both companies. I hope you can understand why referring to this whole mess as “Chimes Bankruptcy” is really not fair. ECG filed for bankruptcy because Axium, it’s owners, filed for bankruptcy.
My two cents:
I agree with all the points made in the e-mail. However, this blog is about the contingent staffing industry and the interface most of us (readers of this blog) have had with Axium is through Chimes/ECG/Ensemble — whichever name you decide to use.
Case in point — there were about 4,000 readers who have landed on this blog (crashing it at times) in the last 10 days using the keywords “Chimes” and “bankruptcy.” Notice that they were not searching for Axium.
I apologize if it seems unfair to refer to this as “Chimes Bankruptcy.” But compared to the predicament that ECG/Chimes staffing suppliers are now facing, some with millions of dollars outstanding and themselves possibly having to close their businesses, the terms we use seems minor, if not irrelevant.
Also, I don’t believe that I have made any remarks about Chimes as a company and their executives other than to use them as an example of how some (not all) VMS models are flawed, mainly ones where money is being siphoned through. There are merits to the model but my position has been that it is a serious risk that clients and VMS suppliers need to be aware of.
I am not writing the blog to make comments about the supposed greed of certain executives. There are plenty of other blogs that do that. I am here to stimulate conversation.
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Chimes back from the dead?
Not sure if any of this makes sense, but here’s an update on the Chimes situation, from the ASA:
Bankruptcy Trustee Endorses Plan To Revive VMS Firm
Intent is to pay most staffing firm claims
Ensemble Chimes Global, the large vendor management service that abruptly declared bankruptcy this month, is reportedly back in operation under a special agreement between the bankruptcy trustee and a prospective buyer. The prospective buyer has been authorized to run the business while a deal is completed to buy Chimes’s assets.
In an effort to “calm events surrounding a difficult situation,” the trustee and prospective buyer issued a joint letter Jan. 17 addressed to suppliers, customers, and “other interested parties of the former ECG organization.” The letter outlined a plan to sell Chimes’s assets and establish a process for paying staffing firms that supplied services to Chimes’s clients.
The prospective buyer is Barry Olson, the original founder and president of Chimes. According to the letter, Olson has entered into an agreement with Vedior NA to buy Chimes’s assets. The transaction is expected to be completed in 10 business days. The trustee, Howard Ehrenberg, has asked the bankruptcy court to approve a process for paying suppliers during the 10-day interim period.
In a telephone conversation with ASA today, Ehrenberg said the purpose of the process is to ensure that suppliers and employees get paid and to facilitate the continuation of the existing Chimes arrangements with clients. He said the payment proposal would be included in a motion to sell Chimes’s assets to be filed with the bankruptcy court today. Ehrenberg expects the court to approve the motion, which will be heard on Jan. 23.
Under the proposed payment process, employee time and expenses are to be entered and approved in the Chimes system. A consolidated invoice will be generated and payments made to suppliers, less the management fee, for approved hours and expenses worked and incurred after Jan. 9. Hours and expenses worked, incurred, and approved prior to Jan. 9 will be paid “as long as the hours and expenses are billed as part of the normal billing cycle after Jan. 9, 2008.” Ehrenberg explained that the latter provision is intended to include services provided before Jan. 9, even if the client has already been invoiced for those services, as long as the client hasn’t already paid the invoice. He said that amounts already paid to Chimes would have been seized by Chimes’s lender, the hedge fund Golden Tree, and a staffing firm that did not receive its payment from Chimes would therefore have to seek recovery of those amounts by filing a creditor’s claim.
Ehrenberg reiterated the statement made in the joint letter that the secured lender (Golden Tree), which holds a lien against Chimes’s assets, has assured him that it will not make any claim on future payments to suppliers except for management fees.
The letter pointedly advises clients not to enter into outside arrangements until further instructions from the bankruptcy court and states that clients should avoid paying suppliers directly. “Staying within the process spelled out in the letter provides customers with the assurance that they have honored the guidance provided by the trustee and protects them against future claims from secured creditors,” the letter concludes.
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Wordpress upgrade
Finished my Wordpress upgrade. I hope I did it right. If you’re still getting error messages after submitting a comment, please let me know.
Also, I’ve heard from some people who say that their comments are being held in moderation. Akismet seems to be catching some of that. I don’t have moderation enabled, so if you get such an error message, please e-mail me and I’ll make sure your comment appears.
Thank you.
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About This Blog
Lisa Amorao is currently the Marketing Programs Manager for ATR International, a Silicon Valley-based contingent staffing firm.
Lisa has held roles in recruiting and sales before moving on to her current role in Marketing.
The opinions expressed here are her personal opinions and does not reflect those of her employer or any of its clients.
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