Case Application 6-A GROWING PROBLEMS AT OUTDOOR SOLUTIONS exterior home services with a history of steady growth and an turnover problems. excellent reputation for reliable service. A recent upturn in home Dow turned to Metinka Bower, owner of a local office staffing construction has increased demand for services, but Rob Dow, the company and asked if she had the same problem, or if she had a owner is having trouble meeting the demand. magic pill that turned applicants into awesome workers. She Dow expressed his frustration to his Friday morning net- replied, "No, no magic pili, but there are a few things you can do to increase the odds." When pressed for a solution, she explained that working group over coffee and asked other business owners how increase the odds. When pressed for a solution, she explained that they managed to keep fully staffed with qualified workers. "Getting it depends on the situation and volunteered to stop by Outdoor and keeping good employees is so hard. Out of ten applicants, l'm Solutions later in the day after visiting a nearby client. lucky to get two that have adequate math skills and can pass a Her discussion with Dow revealed that until last year, he had background check. Chances are one of them will quit in six months. relied on employee referrals and newspaper ads for recruiting. He I was hoping to expand, but at this rate l'll be lucky to maintain our toid her "I try to have a friendly, casual atmosphere. We treat workers fairly and try to promote from within, that's why employee because they're working so late" "She went on to confide "I probably referrals have always worked." Dow went on to explain that when shouldn't tell you this. Rob doesn't even know, but one of the guys put those sources weren't adequate, he put ads on Craigslist. He also a photo of himself chained to his mower on Instagram and all the explained that pay and benefits are competitive with other pro- employees saw it. I hear there are other things posted that don't viders of similar services in the area. He was reluctant to raise the make the company look very good either. For example, when the starting wage due to the extensive training necessary for new hires, local paper included us in an article on how to start a great lawn, including handing of chemicals, safety, defensive driving, and cus- there were a couple of anonymous comments on their website about tomer service. "They get a great education here, but after six months, it seems like half of them leave because they think they can months, it seems like half of them leave because they think they can start their own service and make more money