While Bradford Forest Inc. cites an unwilling, unskilled local
workforce as the reason for hiring Hispanic laborers through a
temporary employment agency, several other local companies disagree
with that assessment.

When contacted Tuesday, Bradford Forest Inc. President Mark
Conolly challenged a reporter to call other human resource
directors in the area to find out how they felt about the available
unskilled workforce in Bradford.

Those that answered or returned calls generally agreed that they
have been able to find and sustain workers as needed.

“We don’t seem to have any problems generally speaking,” said
Dale Perry, Human Resource Manager of Dresser Manufacturing
Division of Dresser Industries Inc. “We use (Pa.) CareerLink or
advertise in the paper and we generally make out very well with
applicants.”

Perry did admit that the market is not always good with fewer
responses, but he attributed that to more people being employed in
the oil fields and elsewhere.

“Sometimes they just don’t match up with industry,” added
Perry.

He also said Dresser does not experience a large turnover rate
and as far as he knows, the company has never had to use the same
type of program that Bradford Forest is using in hiring a temp
agency to employ workers from outside the area.

According to Mary Jo Sandy, human resources director, this is
the first year Bradford Forest Inc. has tried this type of hiring
practice and she said it has worked out well for the company.

Donna Henderson, human resources manager of Zippo Manufacturing
Co., said the firm has not done much hiring in the last couple of
years, but they use Pa. CareerLink-McKean County and never lack for
potential candidates when they do.

“We don’t have any problems filling jobs,” said Henderson. “And
the turnover rate is quite low. It hasn’t been a problem for us
because I think we have a generous benefits package, our starting
rate is generous, and our three-month temporary period hourly rate
increases substantially.

“I feel we are one of the premier employers in Bradford,” she
added. “Filling positions has never been an issue for us.”

Career Specialist at CareerLink, Dennis Scully, said some
companies do find it difficult to find new hires, but others might
seem more attractive for various reasons.

He said as far as finding employees that do show up for work, it
could be difficult.

“We offer a work-readiness skills program for people teaching
them how to be punctual and show up,” added Scully.

“But the use of temp services are big for some,” he said.

Human Resources Director for W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co.,
Bunny Comilla, said Case has not had to use an agency that hires
outside of the Bradford area.

“There is still a decent pool available,” said Comilla. “Work
ethic might be on a decline, they are looking for different type of
work, or for a shorter term than the long run, but we haven’t found
that need yet.”

She explained they held a career fair in February at CareerLink
and saw interested job applicants from as far away as Jamestown,
N.Y. She said about 150 people showed for the fair where Case
conducted mini-interviews and pre-testing.

“We probably hired 25-plus from that. We are contemplating doing
that again,” she added.

Comilla also said they lose employees from time to time from
normal attrition based on questionable attendance patterns and
through growth in the community including the new casino and the
fact that several other businesses are doing well.

She said the company’s longevity in the area, growth, benefits
package and pay rate must contribute to their success in retaining
employees.