Why Scalability Matters For Your Business

Businesses need to be scalable. Without having the ability to adapt to a changing market, a business will remain stagnant and have limited opportunities for growth. Implementing a scalable business model is important and can be done to any business. One of the first steps to achieve this is to employ a flexible workforce. foundU offers your business a scalable workforce with skilled staff when and where you need it.

Scalability is the ability of a business to quickly grow without being constrained by its current structure and resources. Forbes simply describes scalability as the potential of your business to multiply revenue with minimal incremental cost.

Businesses should consider two important terms; the geographic and the load scalability of the company. Geographic scalability refers to the business being able to move into new areas and find new opportunities.

Load scalability refers to a business being able to easily expand and contract its resource pool to accommodate heavier or lighter loads during busy or quite times. Alternatively, the ease with which a system or component can be modified, added, or removed, to accommodate changing market demands.

Why is it important for your business?

Some of the key benefits of having a scalable business are:

• The ability to grow profit margins or maintain them as the business responds to demand with reduced risk. Businesses need only to invest when demand is high and reduce staff levels when demand falls.
• A scalable business attracts investors as they can see the apparent potential for growth. Investors want to know a company can grow quickly, with minimal outlay and risk and has procedures in place to do so.
• A well-structured scalable company has the ability to implement automation and technology to reduce staffing costs and lead times.

How can foundU help?

foundU offers your business a completely scalable staffing solution. Have staff on jobs only when you need them, allowing you to minimise overheads and maximise profit. We bill in a one all-inclusive invoice which saves your company time and administration.

foundU can have staff working in less than 24-hours on your job and in your area. With the benefits of having a scalable business obvious, join foundU and start expanding. Be confident that you have on-call, quality staff when you need them.

Australian Trade Shortage

Australia has a trade shortage. The recently released Housing Industry Association (HIA) Trades Report says Australian construction businesses need more staff and more skilled tradesman.

The report highlighted that the HIA Trade Availability Index is negative at -0.02, this means there is a degree of undersupply in the labour market. While it has risen from 2013, -0.02 still represents a substantial undersupply.

Most states had an undersupply of labour. With the recent rise in construction projects, Brisbane has joined the list of those needing more staff.

While there is a shortage of staff in the labour market, there is a national shortage of skilled tradesman in nearly every area. The report particularly noted shortages in bricklaying, tiling, plastering, roofing and carpentry.

The Master Builders Association conducted a more general survey in July this year that found labourers had become more difficult to source for businesses. The report went on to say that companies were having moderate difficulty finding employees and sub-contractors. The survey found that bricklayers were the most in demand tradesman in Australia.

This can all be related to the recent upswing in home building activity. ABS figures show that 193,667 homes were approved for construction. Home approvals over 180,000 has only happened twice in the past 30 years.

It's clear construction businesses need more staff. They need them to be skilled, on time and available.

foundU provides an online platform where businesses can browse from suitable available candidates, set jobs and be billed in one all-inclusive invoice. Potential employees can be working in less than 24 hours. Don't get caught out, join foundU.

Get a Job. Find Staff. Join foundU.

foundu.com.au 

World Leaders

We already know Australia is the best country in the world to conduct business over the internet. Australia ranked best in the world with our excellent investment climate, internet environment, international trading environment, regulatory and legal frameworks, and e-payments readiness.

Australians' love embracing new technology and combining it with business. A recent article by Kyri Theos from Elance-Odesk, has found we are the largest marketplace in the world for online freelance talent. Online hiring in Australia alone increased by 235% in the last 3 years according to Theos.

Australian companies hire freelancers to fill skill gaps in their workforce and to have flexible staff levels. Freelancers can work when needed and are happy to work for a set amount of time whether it be for one day or a month's long contract.

While internet freelancers may have traditionally been web developers and designers the market is moving to encompass more professions and industries. Now employers can hire accountants or lawyers through online platforms.

Theos defines online work as hiring independent professionals through a website that brings businesses and freelancers together, exactly like foundU. Whilst we offer a similar platform to those discussed above, all of our candidates are employed directly by foundU. Our clients can be assured that all local statutory employment obligations are met and our candidates are fairly remunerated.

Stay Competitive 

 

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), says that 94% of SMEs are online and nearly 50% of them use cloud-based services. Australian companies are using the internet to stay competitive. They also realise the value of the internet to find staff.

foundU identified this growing trend and started an online company that connects employers with quality staff. We understand businesses need skilled staff quickly and in their location. That is why we created a platform that allows you to create jobs in your area and have candidates apply immediately.

foundU exists completely online to keep overheads low and offer cost-effective staffing solutions for clients. Our business allows you to hire freelance labourers and qualified tradesman and have them working when you want. Join the online revolution and join foundU.

Get a job. Find Staff. Join foundU. 

foundu.com.au 

Time to Build

The Australian construction and housing industry is booming with new home building forecast to exceed 184,000 in 2014 (second highest on record) according to the Housing Industry Association (HIA). The graph below demonstrates that this surge is sustained.

The HIA also released the Performance of Construction Index which rose 0.8 points to 52.6. Anything above 50 on the index means the construction industry is experiencing expansion and not contraction. 52.6 is the highest the index has reached since November last year proving the industry is growing.

Jobs in the construction sector rose by more than 3%, showing the industry needs more staff to meet demand.

Confidence in the industry is rising. The NAB Business Survey found that business confidence has hit a 4 year high. The survey found that the main reason for the high levels of confidence is the strength of the construction sector. Low interest rates have led to a rise in building construction and more growth for the Australian economy.

foundU is aware of the industry's growth and wants to provide quality staff to help the industry and your business. With our low overheads, all inclusive invoice and personally verified candidates you know you are getting the right staff for your job.

With more homes being built than ever before and business confidence high, start your project today knowing that when you join foundU you will have access to skilled staff in less than 24 hours.

Get a Job. Find Staff. Join foundU. 

foundu.com.au

Looking forward 15 years...

Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has released a report that says by 2030, Australia will be short 2.3 million workers. Australia needs to find a way to address the shortfall and get people into the workplace.

The news is good until 2020, with the labour market expected to grow by more than 1.0% a year (better than the United Kingdom and America), after this supply will not be able to meet demand.
The reasons for this are varied. Australia's fertility rate is below the replacement rate which means there are not enough staff to replace retiring workers. The other is Australia's aging population. While the Government is raising the retirement age to 70 by 2035, this is not enough to replace the retiring baby boomers.

To address the problem BCG suggest:
- extending the Government's skilled migration program
- boosting skills training to lift productivity. A highly skilled workforce means a more productive one. A stronger focus from both government and the private sector on skill development would help address the shortfall. Even something as simple as making sure literacy and numeracy skills are up to scratch will help boost the percentage of the Australian population that is employed.

foundU wants to play an active part in Australia's economic future. We believe we are doing this by providing skilled staff to jobs around Australia. Our online platform gives people a chance to enter the workplace and employers to find quality candidates.
While we can't predict the future we believe we have a business model that is part of the solution.

Get a Job. Find Staff. Join foundU. 

foundu.com.au 

Unemployed or Underemployed?

Australia's unemployment rate is 6%. More positively, over 90% of Australians have a job!

Unemployment statistics are often quoted during the currently topical discussions on productivity. Within the boundaries that our legislators have set the efficient innovation and the efficient use of labour are the biggest drivers of productivity improvements.

One statistic often over-looked is underemployment numbers.

Underemployed people are staff whose labour is not fully utilised. They usually work less than 35 hours a week, would prefer and are immediately available to work more hours. In Australia about 900,000 (7.3%) people are underemployed and can't get enough work in their regular job. Many Australian businesses could improve their productivity by engaging the "underemployed".

The overwhelming majority (91%) of underemployed workers are employed part time. In Australia the proportion of employed people working part time has been steadily increasing from 15% in February 1978 to 30% in May 2010.

An Australian Bureau of Statistics study recently concluded that over a quarter of part-time workers would prefer to work more hours.

At foundU we actively encourage any candidates seeking full-time roles to pursue them. However, most of our candidates do not want to work full-time hours. Importantly, part-time work gives our candidates the flexibility to balance their work and personal demands.

foundU has candidates actively looking for more hours. Our unique client and candidate system matches staff with suitable employers quickly and efficiently. Employing candidates with our system is cost effective and improves business productivity.

foundU clients can choose staff with high availability and the right skills and have them working in less than 24 hours.

Get a Job. Find Staff. Join foundU.
 

foundu.com.au 

Australia Best Country

The best at what? The best country in the world to do business over the internet.

The recently released G20 e-Trade Readiness Index ranks countries on their e-trade readiness. It does this by looking at five key categories: investment climate, internet environment, international trading environment, regulatory and legal frameworks, and e-payments readiness. Australia came out on top with Argentina at the very bottom.

Interestingly, island nations took out three of the top five spots (Japan, UK, and Australia). This is thought to be due to their reliance on international trade and developing appropriate online infrastructure.

"Australia has affordable internet access, a well-developed regulatory framework for commerce, high usage of electronic payment methods, and high smartphone penetration," the index report said. foundU will be releasing a smartphone app over the coming months to harness Australia's high smartphone user rates.

Australia was strong in the domestic internet environment and e-payments. foundU is a business that operates in these environments and is extremely competent in them.

 

The report was particularly focused on how small-to-medium enterprises can be successful on the internet. With Australia's strengths in e-trade foundU is uniquely poised to grasp these opportunities. foundU is a complete online business. We offer businesses a scalable and flexible workforce that suits their location. With Australia's excellent domestic internet and e-trade environment all you need is an internet connection to join foundU.

Get a Job. Find Staff. Join foundU.  

foundu.com.au 

Safety Equipment

foundU's recommended on-site safety equipment

foundU recommends a range of safety equipment to keep staff safe on the job. The following list is selection of recommended foundU PPE.

1) Boots
One of the most important pieces of safety equipment to have when working on the job. A foot injury could potentially end your working career. Most work boots come with a steel toe-cap to protect your feet from heavy objects. Boots may also have electrical protection, static protection, have chemical resistant soles, slip resistant and also flame retardant. There are 26 bones in a human foot, break one and you will know about it.

2) Safety Glasses
After your feet come safety glasses, protect your eyes. The best safety glasses will meet an Australian standard for impact protection and also U.V protection. foundU recommends staff always wear safety glasses regardless of what job they are doing.

3) Ear Muffs/Plugs
So you don't have to spend the rest of your life saying 'what' and 'pardon' foundU recommends always wearing hearing protection on-site. Occupational noise induced hearing loss is entirely preventable, once acquired it is completely irreversible.
 
4) High-Vis
Be seen on-site and wear high-visibility work-wear. High-vis work-wear doesn't just have to be a vest. Most work-wear manufacturers offer high-vis in a whole range of styles and equipment. From rain-jackets to socks all are available in high-visibility colours. Stay safe and stay seen.

5) Hard Hat
Along with your feet and eyes, your head is one of the most important parts of your body to protect. Hard hats are designed to protect your head from falling objects, impact with other objects, debris, bad weather and electric shock.

6) Gloves
Even a minor cut on your hand can be a huge hindrance when working. Your hands are highly-complex and need protection. In fact, the most common workplace injuries are to hands. Gloves can lower the risk of injury and there is a glove for nearly every task. Gloves can protect from electrical shocks, hot and cold and even chemicals.

7) Fall Protection
Falls are the leading cause of death on construction sites and foundU has explored the issue in a previous article, Working Safely at Heights. Fall protection and fall arrest systems are designed to keep you safe when working at heights. One of the most important aspects of the equipment is making sure you are properly trained to use it. Many accidents occur due to improper use.

8) Sunscreen
An often over-looked piece of PPE is sunscreen. A big day on the job-site can mean an even bigger sunburn. Protect yourself with sunscreen and remember to re-apply every two hours regardless of what is on the label.

9) Beard Protector
While some important pieces of safety equipment have be mentioned it is very hard to beat the beard protector. Protect your manly mane from being caught in equipment or stop shedding beard hairs on a workmate's lunch.

Get a Job. Find Staff. Join foundU. 

foundu.com.au 

Youth Unemployment

foundU employs quality candidates from all areas of the Australian workforce. With the recent rise in youth unemployment foundU can potentially be part of the solution.

Youth Unemployment

 

Youth unemployment in Australia has hit a 12 year high with 12.5% of 15 to 24 year olds unemployed, double the national unemployment rate. This is reflected in the number of 18-20 year olds taking Newstart allowance jumping by 30%.

While 12.5% may be the national average there are hotspots around the nation where youth unemployment rates are as high as 20%.

Even those working in part-time jobs say they are not getting enough hours. In June 22,000 Australian's found full time jobs but 27,000 part-timers lost theirs. There are 5000 Australians who need a job and foundU wants to help.

The New Rules
 
The recent federal budget has proposed new rules for young job seekers wanting unemployment benefits. One of the biggest is the new 'earn or learn' 6-month waiting period for school leavers before they can apply for the dole or other benefits. In this time they must apply for 40 jobs a month and document their efforts to find work if they want to be eligible.

All other job seekers under 30 will go through the same process. They will be ineligible for payments for six months after applying for benefits.

If they do get benefits they are expected to work for 15 hours a week in areas like national parks and volunteer in aged care homes. Does this sound like something you want to do? How about working for an employer that lets you set availability, choose your work location and pick a pay scale? foundU offers this and more.

foundU can help 

foundU is a new way to find casual work. Build a profile page that shows your skills and qualifications to employers who need staff. Set your available hours, choose your work location and pick your pay rate.

Work for us. As an active candidate, you are a foundU employee. We cover you with our insurances, pay weekly and always keep you up to date with available jobs in your area.

Set your own roster and work as much or as little as you want. If you are looking for a single day's work or an ongoing position, foundU is the answer.

How to Apply
 
Head to foundu.com.au to apply. Fill out your contact details and begin building your online profile. Add your resume, tells us about your skills, qualifications and update any tools you have. A foundU representative will then personally verify your account. Start applying for jobs and get ready to work.

Get a Job. Find Staff. Join foundU. 

foundu.com.au

Coping with Shift Work

foundU knows shift work is tough. Staff have to work outside normal work and sleep hours. 16% of all Australian employees (1.4 million people) work a shift in their main job. Working a shift can mean great pay and interesting job hours but can also put stress on staff and their families. foundU looks at some issues and offers some solutions.

The main issue faced when working a shift is an interruption to the circadian rhythm (natural sleep pattern). It is known as shift work sleep disorder (SWSD) and is characterised by insomnia or excessive sleepiness, something no staff member wants to have.

Appetite can be exacerbated by working in shifts. Working in a shift has been correlated with a higher risk of developing nutritional issues and obesity. Staff may not have access to regular meals on long shifts and are usually tired and hungry after coming off shift.

Relationships with family and friends may also be pressured when staff work in shifts. It is important for staff to stay connected and try and find time for family and friends.

Solutions

At foundU we are all about offering solutions. Many of the problems faced by staff working shifts can be avoided with careful management and strategies.

Staff
Health - Maintaining a proper diet and exercise plan. While this may be hard to implement due to the nature of shift work it is the single biggest factor for working a shift effectively. This also means watching alcohol intake and not relying on stimulants to stay awake and sedatives to sleep.
Sleep Environment - It is important that staff maintain a proper sleep environment. This means allowing enough time for sleep. Staff should avoid caffeine and stimulants before sleep and make sure their room is quiet and cool.

Employers
Education - Staff need to be made aware of the issues raised above. Having well rested and healthy shift workers means improved productivity. Education can be as simple as having a discussion with staff and directing them to relevant information.

Shift Schedule and Plan - A schedule and shift plan is essential for any business that has staff working shifts. A good schedule takes into consideration shift overlap, shift change times, training and holidays. A good plan optimises the sequence of work and free days within a shift system.

At foundU clients have the ability to set job times and find staff who are available to work those times. With the ability to hire multiple candidates, clients can avoid staff burn-out by having an adaptable and scalable workforce.

Get a job. Find Staff. Join foundU.  

foundu.com.au 

foundU at a glance

foundU is a new casual employment solution. Our web-based platform matches an employer's staffing requirements directly to available, suitable candidates.
Candidates are recruited, employed and supported by foundU.

foundU Clients

 

We understand the benefits of a flexible and scalable workforce. We also know quality candidates can be hard to find. We have readily available qualified candidates. Our system handles all the administration, paperwork and streamlines the recruitment process.

You create the job and we give you access to a pool of suitable candidates.

foundU allows you to view a candidates work experience, qualifications, location and hourly rate. All candidates passed our recruitment and internal assessments. Our rating system allows clients to provide feedback on a candidate's performance.

We cover everything. Pay a single lump sum invoice which includes:

• Wages
• Superannuation
• WorkCover
• Payroll tax
• Insurances

We simplify the process and save your business time and money.

Join us to take advantage of our innovative system.

foundU Candidate

 

foundU is a new way to find casual work. Build a profile page that shows your skills and qualifications to employers who need staff. Set your available hours, choose your work location and pick your pay rate.

Work for us. As an active candidate, you are a foundU employee. We cover you with our insurances, pay weekly and always keep you up to date with available jobs in your area.

Set your own roster and work as much or as little as you want. If you are looking for a single day's work or an ongoing position, foundU is the answer.

Some employment agencies ask you to register your details, but do not contact you. Our system gives you the ability to view and accept jobs offers or actively seek available positions that have been posted through our Job Board.

foundU is completely online. Search for jobs, keep your profile updated and accept job offers online across any device.

Become one of the first to join foundU, register now!

Get a Job. Find Staff. Join foundU.  

foundu.com.au 

Working at Heights

foundU is committed to both client and candidate safety.

Between 1st July 2003 to 30th June 2011, 232 workers were killed in falls. This represents 11% of all workplace related fatalities that occurred within that period. On construction sites falls are the lead cause of fatalities and result in longer times off the job than all other serious injuries.

Failure to follow workplace safety procedures, a lack of proper safety gear or not knowing how to use equipment are key causes of fatal falls.

When to use fall protection

 

Fall protection equipment and practices should be used whenever you or your staff are working from an elevated position.

Buildings may have safe systems for working at heights in place such as parapet walls on commercial buildings, walkways or guardrails. Where there are no alternative practical means of access, fall protection equipment may be required.

Different scenarios require different equipment. As well as using the best job-specific equipment, companies and employees also need to ensure they are knowledgeable about the products they use so that safety is maintained. foundU promotes safe working at heights practices and ensures staff are experienced and qualified to perform such work.

Choosing fall protection equipment

 

Fall arrest

In any circumstances where an employee may fall from an elevated position, a fall arrest system is required. Fall arrest systems only come into service when an actual fall occurs; in other words, the device is designed to arrest a fall in progress. A typical fall arrest system is composed of a full-body harness with a shock-absorbing lanyard or retractable lifeline, an anchor point, and a means of rescue.

Work positioning / restraint technique

A positioning system holds the employee in place while keeping their hands free to work, whereas a restraint system allows a worker to move towards an edge but not fall. It's important to remember that under AS/NZS1891.4, while a positioning system is not specifically designed to arrest a fall, all of the equipment used in the work position must be rated for fall arrest. This covers the possibility of a staff member accidentally falling and needing arrest.

Suspension

Suspension equipment lowers and supports an employee while providing a hands-free work environment. A suspension system's components are also not required to arrest a free fall, so it's crucial to use a backup fall arrest system in conjunction with a suspension system in the event of a fall.

Training: It's Vital

 

Quality training is mandatory for any person who performs work at heights. Without such training, workers may not fully understand the severe consequences of a fall, including the possibility of serious injury or death.

Staff need to know that fall protection equipment is comfortable and easy to use. They need to feel confident when asking for help on how to use the equipment. It is important to instil the value of fall protection training within your workforce and build a strong safety culture like foundU.

This article adapted from www.infolink.com.au

Get a Job. Find Staff. Join foundU.  

foundu.com.au 

foundU Safety Culture

foundU is committed to fostering an ongoing safety culture that promotes and demonstrates Workplace Health and Safety (WHS). Our company proactively maintains relevant policies and current legislation to ensure a safe work environment for our clients and candidates. foundU understands that our clients and candidates have a duty of care to ensure the safety of all those that may be affected by their actions.
We break our safety culture into three key areas; foundU team, foundU clients and foundU candidates.

foundU Candidates

foundU employs qualified and safety-conscious staff. Our management team makes sure that each site has a Safety Management Plan and that all team members are familiar with the document. We carry out regular site inspections and safety audits to identify and educate candidates about hazards and to reduce any of their associated risks.

foundU Clients

foundU works closely with our clients to foster a safe workplace culture and minimise risk for all parties involved. This is achieved by initial consultation assessing and ensuring compliance with all WHS systems. Where required, in conjunction with the client, foundU will make recommendations to help minimise or eradicate any identified hazards found on site.

foundU Team

foundU prides itself on our safety record. Our team comes from a strong safety background and understands first-hand how a safety culture needs to operate. foundU has ever evolving safety systems that are driven by continuous improvement to maintain our ongoing safety values. We believe in leading by example and making work safer for everyone.

Get a Job. Find Staff. Join foundU.  

foundu.com.au 

Welcome to foundU

foundU is a web-based platform which matches an employer's staffing requirements directly to available, suitable candidates.

Our candidates can be engaged in real time through our system. Providing a flexible and scalable workforce without the premiums charged and time delays by typical employment agencies.

There are excessive and unnecessary human capital costs associated with providing temporary staff. We have developed a system to change that. Savings are passed to clients and we provide more benefits for candidates. Everyone wins.

For people looking for work, we offer an alternative avenue to explore. Register with us, create your profile and dictate your pay rate, where and when you are available for work.
Get to know our system. Next time you are short of staff or find yourself looking for work, try foundU!

Regards,
The foundU Team

foundu.com.au