A Letter from Our President
Dear WASS members and guests,
Thank you for your interest in WASS and thank you for visiting our new website! We are thrilled to represent the staffing industry and be the voice of Wisconsin staffing firms on key legislative issues affecting our industry and businesses today. The economy has certainly not left the Staffing Industry untouched over the past few years and has heightened our awareness to issues impacting our margins.
On top of the economic challenges we have all faced, tremendous increases in the state unemployment tax as well as a rise in EEOC claims, have left many staffing business owners and staffing executives searching for a stronger voice at the state level. WASS has listened to your concerns and has sought out to bring more value to you.
In fact, early in 2011, WASS members throughout the state were invited to an exclusive Staffing Industry Forum with the Secretary of Workforce Development, Manuel Perez and the heads of each of his departments. WASS members had an opportunity to not only learn more about the Department of Workforce Development but were also in a position to educate the public sector on the uniqueness’ of the staffing industry. This dialog has continued on past our half day trip to Madison and continues to assist executives and owners in making better business decisions through a better understanding of the employment laws and practices that govern all of us. I truly believe this event is just part of what distinguishes the value WASS brings to its members.
In addition to this event, the Board of Directors for WASS stood behind the industry in the fight against the Milwaukee Sick Leave Act. WASS’ position is not nor will it ever be one which is against paid time off for employees, but it does remain against municipalities securing the right to decide what benefits are most critical to workers today and affording them the luxury to adapt unfair business practices from municipality to municipality throughout the state. In April, the Milwaukee Sick Leave act was laid to rest, marking another key victory for all of us in staffing.
It is opportunities like these that WASS comes together to protect and fight for the rights of Staffing organizations throughout the state. We are looking forward to furthering our relationships with the State of Wisconsin and continuing our work with them on difficult topics like unemployment. Gaining a voice and audience with key legislative offices is critical to ensuring a better understanding of how and why staffing firms are different and need to be looked at differently from other industries.
My experience with WASS this past year has taught me the importance of all of us taking a more active role in our State chapter, the importance of not relying on our national ASA membership alone to tackle difficult State issues like those we have seen in years past. The support of all of you will be necessary to combat the State’s need to raise additional money and the spotlight once again returning to our industry.
Our mission at WASS is to be the voice of all of you: to partner with each other, to protect our business interests and to continue to make it profitable for all of us to do business in the State of Wisconsin. We accomplish this through increased awareness of our industry at the Capitol in Madison, through increased membership and through educational programs to support all of you.
If you are currently not a member, I challenge you to consider joining and getting involved. There is truth about the strength of our voice coming from numbers and there are many state issues that affect and will continue to affect our industry.
We look forward to you joining the WASS team to continue to promote and foster a positive industry reputation in the business community while educating others on the impact staffing plays on the overall economy.
If you are interested in more information or have any questions on how to become a new member, please feel free to contact me directly at 414-272-4544.
Sincerely,
Lori Malett
Hatch Staffing Services
