We will be providing employees with information about tobacco cessation methods and products, employee cessation reimbursement, support groups and hotlines.  We’ll also be collecting tobacco, encouraging employees to sign a one-day Commit to Quit petition and giving out Quit Kits to help distract employees from smoking for the day.

We know quitting isn’t easy – tobacco use is a real addiction.  That’s why we offer a paid tobacco cessation program, which includes $250 worth of free nicotine replacement therapy per year. This allows tobacco users to try to quit again if at first they are not successful. Our program is pretty unique, since less than 25 percent of companies nationwide offer their employees programs or information to help them quit smoking.

Rosemary Beaver was one of the first employees to go through the program and remains smoke-free to this day.  She shares how she was able to quit for good in this short video.

There are many reasons to quit smoking including a lower risk of having a heart attack, stroke and cancer, living longer and having more energy. Quitting doesn’t usually happen overnight.

The American Cancer Society outlines the benefits of quitting over time:

• 20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drop.
• 12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
• 2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.
• 1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.
• 1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s.
• 5 years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker 5 to 15 years after quitting.
• 10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a person who continues smoking. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decreases, too.
• 15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is the same as a non-smoker’s.

We want to know:  How were you able to quit your tobacco use or help someone else quit? How are employers helping workers kick the habit?

There can be misconceptions about how funds donated on behalf of a nonprofit are distributed when a third-party vendor is involved.  Without looking at the larger picture, one could fail to see the long-term value of an acquired donor as well as the educational aspects of marketing campaigns.

Developing client programs is a comprehensive process that all begins with building a strong list of donors.  Our account staff works with nonprofit organizations to develop a compelling marketing message that our highly skilled Communicators deliver by phone as part of new donor acquisition efforts.  An article in Fundraising Success magazine states that determining the long-term value of a new donor is a complex calculation that must take into account the costs of acquisition and of servicing the donor over a period of time.

When we manage prospecting campaigns for our clients, we run them under a break-even agreement, which is a win-win outcome for both the client and us.  Whatever the nonprofit client invests in a campaign, InfoCision ensures that they will see at least an equal return of their investment through fundraising efforts.  All costs are measured by the organization as part of their overall administrative expenses, which usually are less than 20 percent.

We value the relationships we’ve been fortunate to establish with some of the nations largest nonprofit organizations and make it a top priority to produce the best results for them.

It is important to remember that the focus should not be on third parties like InfoCision, but on the tremendous impact that national charities make in assisting people in need.

When it comes to human capital, businesses want to have the most productive workforce possible, and many invest heavily in training programs and team building in an effort to create an atmosphere where employees can succeed.  But there is another way to boost employee productivity that many businesses overlook:  Diversity initiatives.

In these tough economic times, it might seem like investing in diversity programs is a luxury; but there are benefits to implementing inclusion initiatives, beyond just an ethical standpoint.  Here at InfoCision, we’ve found that workplace diversity has far-reaching business benefits that have positively impacted our employees’ productivity.

“Diversity programs are about creating and maintaining an inclusive environment where no matter what an employee brings to the table, it is valued and celebrated,” said Myles.  “When you embrace everyone’s strengths, the organization as a whole is more productive; and it also helps managers to better manage their teams because they have a better grasp on what their employees do well.”   -Tina Myles, Director of Human Resources at InfoCision Management Corporation

Where does diversity begin?

We began our diversity program nearly two years ago when President Carl Albright brought Tina Myles in to head the human resources department, in large part due to her expertise in developing and promoting corporate diversity.  About five years ago, we implemented work/life balance programs to give employees convenient tools for improving their health and making their lives easier.  In this spirit, Carl knew that InfoCision possessed a wide collection of diverse and excellent employees, and wanted to make sure the company was providing a comfortable workplace for all of them.

We didn’t implement our current diversity initiatives overnight.  Successful diversity programs take time.  It’s important to include everyone regardless of ethnicity, religious beliefs, political views or disabilities.  If changes in the workplace are made too quickly without taking the necessary planning steps, you run the risk of being resisted by current employees.

We have a rich culture and standing traditions at InfoCision, so it was important that the diversity program fit within our existing corporate culture – not alter it.  We started out small with a calendar that highlighted the diverse collection of employees and told their unique stories.

We’re lucky to have a resident diversity expert but if your company doesn’t have a great deal of resources, don’t fret.

For employers that want to start a diversity initiative but don’t have a lot of time or resources to invest, Tina offers the following easy and low-cost tips:

1. Spotlighting diverse employees in a company newsletter or calendar
2. Offer brown-bag lunch lectures on a diversity topic – many groups will speak for free.
3. Create affinity groups to support a specific segment of the workforce (such as women, Asian-Americans, workers with Military experience, etc.).
4. Have a potluck where workers bring in foods and recipes from their ethnic heritage.
5. Announce local events that support diversity on your bulletin board or intranet.

There are many community resources available to help companies of all sizes that want to harness the power of embracing diversity.  You can develop partnerships with community organizations committed to diversity.  For example, we work with the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio and participate in the Greater Cleveland Partnership Commission on Economic Inclusion Diversity Professional Committee to learn and share ideas with others.

Hiring and Retention

In addition to engaging current employees, diversity programs can be extremely helpful for hiring and retaining new employees.  When new or potential employees encounter an environment that embraces all of their skills and attributes, that employee is more likely to feel comfortable with the company and enjoy their job right away; and be less likely to leave and waste the cost of training.

Our 90 day retention rate is 99 percent, and the overall retention rate is among the lowest in the call center industry.  Our HR coordinators recognize the importance of hiring from a completely diverse pool of talent because it helps to bring in the very best workers for the company.

Think outside the box and look in a few nontraditional places when recruiting new employees.  We work with local organizations such as the Cleveland Sight Center, El Barrio West Side Ecumenical Ministry, the Akron Urban League, the Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board and by doing this, we have found some tremendous employees.

We’ve found that diversity initiatives contribute to positive employee morale and productivity.  How does your company or organization celebrate diversity?

Employees are often regarded as the true ambassadors of a company.  Our employees think very highly of InfoCision because they nominated it for the 2010 NorthCoast 99 Award.

All nominees were judged based on workplace policies and practices; planning, development and training; organizational culture, compensation rewards; and organizational innovation, success and performance.

The award recognizes 99 exceptional companies to work for in Northeast Ohio that do extremely well in attracting, retaining and motivating top performers by maintaining policies and a corporate culture designed to support the needs of employees.

We are proud to once again be recognized among the top 99 workplaces in Northeast Ohio.  Although we’ve faced tough economic times, we have also made a concerted effort to maintain our strong corporate culture by not cutting benefits, amenities, bonuses and pay.

A happier worker is a better worker and it’s great that our employees have taken notice in nominating us for this award.  It reinforces that as a company, we are valued by our workers.

In 2008 InfoCision received the highest NorthCoast 99 honor, the Diamond Award, and in 2007 the company was presented with a Compensation & Benefits special category award.

As a company, we value employee health and understand it’s easier for employees to stay healthy if they have resources available to them in the workplace.  At InfoCision, when our employees are feeling under the weather, they can make an appointment with one of our on-site corporate physicians or nurse practitioners instead of missing work to see their doctor.  At InfoWellness, physicians can take more time to discuss health and wellness with employees because there are no patient quotas to meet, allowing employee health to be the main priority.

During yesterday’s health fair, employees participated in annual health screenings given by our on-site doctor, Dr. James Eley, and his staff. Screenings included cholesterol and glucose testing, blood pressure readings and body fat and body mass index checks.  Employees were also able to obtain information about health issues, health insurance and benefits.

Here’s what two InfoCision employees and health fair attendees had to say about InfoWellness:

“I come to the health fair each year,” she said.  “Having a doctor on-site saves me from having to leave work and miss work and drive to the doctor’s office.  It saves me time and money.” – Beth Colegrove, Legal Assistant

“Picking up prescriptions is easy and convenient because there’s no need to go anywhere else.” – Chad Metry, Business Account Manager

InfoCision's on-site physician, Dr. James Eley

Click here listen to Dr. James Eley discuss the importance of having an on-site physician and why employee health fairs are beneficial

Nurse practitioners and physicians at other InfoCision locations:

• Dr. Larry Caserta – Huntington
• Deborah Hromyak, CNP – Austintown/Boardman
• Jeanne Ingles, FNP – Gallipolis
• Dr. Michael Dulan – Dayton
• Dr. Rosalind Moore Dulan – Dayton

Upcoming health fairs:

• 9-8-10:  New Castle, PA from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• 9-9-10:  Austintown, OH from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• 9-14-10:  Boardman, OH from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• 9-15-10:  Mansfield, OH from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• 9-16-10:  Dayton, OH from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• 9-21-10:  Gallipolis, OH from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• 9-22-10:  Huntington, WV from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• 9-23-10:  Forest Lake, OH from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Despite tough economic conditions, we’ve chosen not to cut employee benefits. InfoCision also offers on-site fitness centers and on-site childcare at select locations, in addition to other programs.  We believe that taking care of employees creates a more productive, positive work environment for all employees.

Does your company have on-site amenities for employees to take advantage of?  How do you create a workplace employees enjoy coming to each day?

It talks about how vital direct mail remains as a top marketing tool for charities.  According to recent report from Lisa Sargent Communications, it is determined that although online is a fast, growing outreach method to acquire new customers, “direct mail still accounts for the majority of funds raised.”

Here at InfoCision, we are in a unique position from a nonprofit fundraising standpoint.  We raise more money over the phone for nonprofits than any other teleservices company in the world.  We must be doing something right.

The article goes on to say “While direct mail marketing is an effective platform by itself, the source found that multichannel marketing campaigns can enhance its efficiency. When designing a multichannel campaign, though, nonprofits need to ensure their message is identical across all platforms.”

Since our founding in 1982, InfoCision has evolved from just being a teleservices provider to become a full service direct marketing solution, with dedicated expertise to seamlessly execute service offerings to clients.  Our nonprofit clients benefit from inbound and outbound call center services, direct marketing/fulfillment, regulatory compliance services and database and E-services.

While our strategy seems to be working, there is always room for improvement and growth.  What have you found to be the most successful methods for nonprofit fundraising?  How do you use direct mail marketing to attract new and retain existing donors?

Employment opportunities, such as our work at home program, offer flexibility and convenience. The work at home option is a virtual call center where employees work from their home computers and log into InfoCision’s system remotely using their internet connection. Work at home employees have a set work schedule and earn a regular paycheck.

Although it would be seemingly easier to cutback and lay off workers to reduce our costs, we continue to work hard to provide our clients with the highest quality call center solutions, resulting in an increased demand for our services.

The following reflects the estimated number of new hires at each location:

• Gallipolis (Work at Home)– 80
• Huntington – 100
• Clarksburg – 80
• Mansfield – 100
• Dayton – 75
• New Castle – 100
• Columbus (Central Ohio Work at Home) – 50
• Northern Ohio Work at Home – 30
• Forest Lake/Springside – 80
• Austintown/Boardman – 150

Open interviews are being held every day this week at our Austintown and Boardman locations from 12 to 4 p.m. We have recently switched to a new salary-pay structure where all full-time employees are guaranteed to receive 40 hours per week.  New employees are also eligible for medical benefits right beginning their very first day.

We’re looking for the future leaders of our company. Could you be a good fit? To find out about career opportunities at InfoCision, please visit careers.infocision.com or call 1-888-IMC-PAY-U.

*These hiring numbers were estimated based on current needs, and are subject to change.

The Dayton call center will celebrate its five-year anniversary this November and as we near this milestone, we reflect on how far we’ve come.

As of May 2010, Dayton had an unemployment rate of 10.9 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  While other businesses have pulled out of the Dayton area because of the struggling economy, InfoCision continues to remain committed to providing quality employment opportunities to the residents of the city.

Purchasing the building was key to our overall corporate strategy and initiative to grow and expand, even in tough economic times.  We make it a priority to operate all call centers within U.S. borders, refusing to take jobs away from American workers.  We have a vested interest in the current and future economic prosperity of Dayton and are committed to the community for the long haul.

Read the article about our building purchase in the Dayton Business Journal.

So how did we get on the list of top employers? When InfoCision was founded 28 years ago, we took on a ‘people first’ attitude.  That same employee-centric business model applies today.  With the help of WorkplaceDynamics, The Plain Dealer determined the best places to work in Northeast Ohio based solely on employee responses to survey questions. We must be doing something right since InfoCision employees put us on the list.

We are committed to employee work-life balance.  Over the years, we have developed on-site amenities that offer flexibility and stability to both salaried and hourly workers.  Our employees can take advantage of InfoFitness fitness facilities, InfoWellness health care centers and InfoKids early learning centers. 

InfoFitness, employees can take advantage of the on-site fitness center before work, after work or even during their lunch break.  Our employees can take classes and access equipment.  The convenience and flexibility of an on-site workout facility gives our workers a reason to stay healthy and fit.

InfoKids Early Learning Centers are great amenities offered to our employees at both the Akron corporate headquarters and the Dayton location.  We provide our employees with the highest-quality child care at a lower cost than other daycare facilities. Parents have the luxury of being just across the street and can even pop in to have lunch with their children. 

When our employees are at work and begin feeling under the weather, they can visit our on-site physicians and nurse practitioners. Our on-site health care services extend to dependents of our employees, as well. 

Other programs we offer include education assistance, dry cleaning service, prescription delivery and much more.  We get it.  We know that employees can’t devote their full attention to work if they lack the time or tools necessary to attend to personal and family responsibilities.  Our employees drive our business initiatives, and being named one of the top workplaces is motivation to continue putting them first!

 “The foundation of InfoCision’s success is our employees,” Albright said. “We know from experience that a happier, healthier employee is a better employee – for our company and our clients.” –Carl Albright, InfoCision President and CEO

The InfoCision – University of Akron Scholarship was established by Gary and Karen Taylor in 2006 to help employees and their families achieve higher education. To date, 16 qualified students have been awarded $50,000 toward their educational expenses, and it has made a huge difference for those individuals and their families.

We are so proud of all of our scholarship winners, and everyone at InfoCision who is pursuing their educational goals. I’m also proud to work at an organization that places such a high value on education.

Let me know if your organization has any similar programs for employees. I’d like to hear about them.