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The Story of the Gift that Wasn’t

Who of us has not seen or heard the ads for Publisher’s Clearing House (PCH)? Where the firm’s “prize patrol” appears at the front door with balloons, champagne and an oversized check for thousands of dollars?

Haven’t you wondered why (if you have entered this contest multiple times over the years) you have never won anything—even a free magazine subscription? Beware, while PCH has to follow the appropriate legal requirements, those who “pretend” to be PCH – or any other company, couldn’t care less about legalities.

So, beware of unusual calls, especially during the holiday season.

Here’s what happened to us.

Out of the blue, we got a call from a “law firm” said to reside in New York City who represented PCH. Since we had casually entered the PCH drawing, we decided to accept the call and continue the conversation.

The caller’s commentary could be believable; so, we stayed on the line with him. He said we had won the second prize of $200,000 in the PCH giveaway, and it was his job to disburse the winnings.

He verified our address and said a cashier’s check would arrive by a specified carrier at a specific agreed upon time the next day. We just needed to be present to sign the check. He also promised no one else would arrive at our door as that only happened for the grand prize.

We still listened, but we also began to check on the name of the firm to verify the call.

Next, the representative told us the amount of the award would be about half once taxes were paid. (Well, of course, the IRS would have to get a share.)

The gentleman told us that his firm was also tasked to save us taxes and by their calculations, the savings were over $56,000. He informed us of the exact dollar amount we were supposed to receive.

Then he passed us to his supervisor to complete the transaction.

Now we were more skeptical but remained on the phone. The supervisor again verified what the previous representative had told us.

While we continued listening, we looked up the name of the firm online and found nothing. Neither did we locate the area code for New York. The number seemed to come from another state altogether.

Suddenly, the call dropped. We never heard from the caller again, and no one showed at our door at the “appointed time.”

‘Tis the Season

While the call we received did not come during the height of the Holiday Season, there are still many scam callers who use this time to play on unsuspecting individuals. In fact, like those “legal representatives” who called us, scammers are so skilled that they sound convincing.

The moral here is clear. Pay attention to – even search for – red flags.

  • No matter how enticing the conversation, make sure to vet everyone, before committing to anything.
  • Never share your bank, credit card, or payment information with them unless they can prove legitimacy.
  • If you do receive a false call, follow the steps in this video presented by the Federal Trade Commission.
  • Above all, keep your awareness high especially during the Holiday Season.

About DataScreeening.com

Data Screening is a Certified Women’s Business Enterprise that has offered business-to-business employment and tenant screenings to human resource professionals and business owners, including staffing companies, for two decades. Among other organizations, they are members of the ASA (American Staffing Association), SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) and the NAPBS (National Association of Professional Background Screeners).

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What Can Giving Gifts to Clients Do for Your Business?

Without clients, your business would not exist. Showing your appreciation especially during the season of gift-giving is more than just participating in a ritual. It is leverage for your business.

  • Offering a gift shows your service providers you are thankful for the services they performed for you and your business during the year.
  • It keeps you top of mind (though this should not be the purpose for sending a gift).
  • More subtly, it shows you are invested in their success, and you were grateful for the opportunity to move them toward that end.
  • It gives you a reason to connect. Any conversation may elicit more ways in which you can serve them.

8 Tips to choose the right gifts:

  • Set a spending limit
  • It’s okay to be personal but not intimate
  • It’s best to offer shareable gifts
  • Keep in mind the company culture and diversity
  • Be mindful of beliefs and faiths
  • Consider posting information with food items (such as gluten, nut-free, dairy-free, etc.)
  • If the number of employees is small, consider a gift card that can be used anywhere
  • Always include a personally written thank-you for your business card with each gift.

Before you do anything, verify a company’s policy on gift-giving. Most military, government or unionized organizations may frown up the practice. In any instance, you want to show goodwill and not make anyone uncomfortable.

About DataScreeening.com

Data Screening is a Certified Women’s Business Enterprise that has offered business-to-business employment and tenant screenings to human resource professionals and business owners, including staffing companies, for two decades. Among other organizations, they are members of the ASA (American Staffing Association), SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) and the NAPBS (National Association of Professional Background Screeners).

 

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Ways to Show Gratitude to Colleagues and Clients

Thanksgiving, with its cravings for turkey and a table full of family and friends, has quickly passed and our thoughts turn from thankfulness to what we want for Christmas – wait . . .  thankfulness is a year-long essential. That’s the Data Screening challenge – to make expressing your gratitude to colleagues and clients a lifestyle, rather than a season.

The book, The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, by Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Paul White, tells us that nearly 90 percent of employees leave their firm due to the lack of feeling trusted and valued. Additionally, human resource professionals realize those who work in customer service and hear the most complaints just quietly exit from their jobs.

Chapman’s and White’s book covers five languages (categories) with detailed examples of how supervisors/managers and business owners can express gratitude to their workforce and clients: words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, tangible gifts and appropriate human physical touch.

The book also explains how the languages rank differently with different individuals. In other words, it tells why some categories work better than others, and why it is important to “read” the person’s preference.

Overall, it is safe to say that everyone places an essential importance on being heard. It is why actively and attentively listening to the person who is speaking is the key to moving ahead in a positive way.

It’s true we all make assumptions about those we work with, know and serve, but this time of year, take a few extra moments to listen and “speak” to your employees and clients in their language of appreciation.

About DataScreeening.com

Data Screening is a Certified Women’s Business Enterprise that has offered business-to-business employment and tenant screenings to human resource professionals and business owners, including staffing companies, for two decades. Among other organizations, they are members of the ASA (American Staffing Association), SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) and the NAPBS (National Association of Professional Background Screeners).

 

How may we help you today?