- To encourage and foster long-term relationships with employers, the agency has implemented a formal employer appreciation practice. Annually, the agency compiles a list of top employer partners and delivers appreciation gifts, such as baskets or a celebratory lunch event, at the end of the year. This initiative ensures that partners who consistently accept referred participants, actively work with the team, answer inquiries, and participate in events, never go unnoticed. This effort to engage and connect with employers when not requesting new hires helps sustain the partnership, ensuring outreach is not solely focused on immediate staffing needs.
- To provide additional opportunities to network with employers, the agency hosts on-site coffee or brunch networking events. This allows employer partners to network with BSRs and receive continuous support through the partnership.
- Employers often assume that partnering will introduce significant, time-consuming administrative work, leading to the belief that the agency is there to create more work rather than streamline processes.
- The agency addresses these challenges by immediately communicating that the goal is to make the employer’s life easier and by providing hands-on support, providing forms and templates, and completing necessary documentation in collaboration with the employer.
- The primary ongoing challenge in maintaining partnerships is poor communication from employer partners. Employers sometimes overlook the need for consistent communication, which complicates essential follow-up activities.
- Lack of communication makes it difficult for the agency to accurately track participant progress, and it hinders the ability of a BSR to promptly intervene when participants encounter issues like excessive absences. If an employer fails to notify the agency immediately about performance or attendance problems, the organization is prevented from providing the necessary support to address the barrier and help the individual succeed.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Ana Granados in 2025. This content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
