Wayne’s World: Summer 2015
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Observations, Opinions and Musings from the Woods of Maine
Happy Summer to All,
We have been very busy here at EDI Staffing. So, I took a brief hiatus from Wayne’s World. It’s hard to believe the sun has started to go the other way! 
After the horrible winter we experienced here in the Northeast, the Spring and early Summer have been disappointing. We are currently setting records for lowest temperatures in June, and I still run the heat at times. Frost advisories further north are not uncommon. My wife and I should be done with our yard work just in time for winter. I’m sure glad we didn’t plant a vegetable garden this year. So much for global warming, or is it climate change now?
I think the new phrase is climate disruption. What difference, at this point, does it make?
Aside from the coming Armageddon, there are some bright spots in the economy, despite an almost flat GDP. The Millennials now comprise the largest segment of the workforce. They have an entirely different set of expectations when it comes to work and a quality of life balance. Employers need to keep this in mind.
Employers and managers also need to be cognizant that the marketplace has shifted to one that is candidate/employee driven. Employees are being more cautious and diligent in their search for opportunities. If you are a manager and your major priority is not retaining key employees with special skills, you are making a huge mistake.
EDI Staffing has observed a major uptick in counter-offers being given and accepted, or offers being outright refused. This should tell managers two things (1) your people are actively looking (2) it will take more to retain them.
Robust activity in a candidate-driven market usually has the effect of increasing salaries.
There is also the supply and demand equation. Millions of IT positions remain unfilled. There simply aren’t enough IT workers to go around, creating what I call a revolving black hole, as employees move from one job to another.
Another bright spot I have seen is the “re-shoring” of manufacturing in the U.S. As salaries abroad rise, and the costs and uncertainty of transporting goods through geo-political sea lanes with figurative mine fields increases, the only thing standing in the way of a full blown manufacturing resurgence is a restructuring of our corporate tax situation.
I don’t profess to know how a free trade agreement with Pacific nations may affect all this, but if it’s anything like NAFTA, it won’t be good for the American worker.
That’s enough political commentary for now. I encourage all workers, blue and white collar alike, to explore other opportunities while the jobs market is driven by employees and candidates.
Maybe EDI Staffing can help you. It costs nothing to talk to one of our recruiters. You can inquire easily by visiting our website.
Be safe, and enjoy what’s left of the summer!
-Wayne from Maine
Any opinions expressed in this blog are not necessarily the opinions of EDI Staffing.
About Wayne Marshall
Wayne Marshall is currently Vice President of Professional Services at EDI Staffing. His responsibilities touch upon every facet of the company including strategy development; new business development; sales; marketing; consulting; contract management; general regulatory compliance; managing of technical resources and projects; and, most recently, HIPAA compliance as the Information Security Officer. He also manages key consulting practices and growth areas, ranging from Healthcare to GXS to Application Integration, working closely with clients and consultants alike.
Prior to joining EDI Staffing in 1999, Wayne was employed for 23 years at Polaroid Corporation where he managed their worldwide EC/EDI program. Combined with his invaluable training and background as a System Analyst, Wayne is considered a leader in the field. He has authored articles, spoken at conferences, participated in training videos, and founded the New England Electronic Commerce Users’ Group, the largest of its kind in the U.S.
His knowledge of the vendor community, software tools and industry trends resulted in his appointment to the Board of Directors for DISA, the secretariat of the ASC X12 standards organization. Wayne has also served as EDI Staffing’s representative to various organizations such as the Vendor Compliance Federation, Industrial Supply Association, and others.
Wayne graduated Summa Cum Laude from Northeastern University with a BSBA and a concentration in Management Information Systems. He enjoys various hobbies and vocations such as wine making, cooking, gardening, music, reading, playing with his pets, and keeping up with current events. Wayne most enjoys spending time with his three sons and three granddaughters.
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