Today’s post is by Troy Lowe; Vice President of Development at SafeSourcing.

During these times a lot of us are displaced and feeling very stressed out. Whether it is from working from home, being secluded or worrying about the health of ourselves and our loved ones. Normally if you have a stressful day you can step out of the house or leave work and do something you enjoy to help take your mind off of everything. Whether that be going out to exercise at the gym or going out with friends for a relaxing diner. During these times it is crucial that we try and find alternatives to our usual social norms and try and find something to do to take our minds off of all the things going on around us. Staying positive and optimistic during these rough times is crucial to our mental health and to our immune systems. One of the things that you can try and do is create a positive daily routine. If you are like many of us your daily routine has been entirely disrupted.   Take some time to establish a new daily routine. Some experts say that having a daily/weekly routine is a way to feel that there is some certainty during this isolation. If you are working from home, make sure you create a work space somewhere outside of your bedroom and get dressed as if you are going to your office. Anything that you can do to create a sense of normalcy will help reduce the stress and promote positivity. Below are some other things that we can do to stay positive during these times.

• Take a Break from the News
• Make time to unwind
• Help Others
• Re-connect with Friends on Social Media
• Make a Playlist of your Favorite Songs
• Be Grateful for the Things you Have
• Exercise
• Find Ways to Embrace Laughter and Humor into Your Day
• Take up an Old Hobby
• Read Something Uplifting
• Have Faith

Interested in learning how SafeSourcing can help your company run more efficiently? If you would like more information on how SafeSourcing can help you, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

Today’s post is by Troy Lowe; Vice President of Development at SafeSourcing.

During these times a lot of us are displaced and feeling very stressed out. Whether it is from working from home, being secluded or worrying about the health of ourselves and our loved ones. Normally if you have a stressful days, you can step out of the house or leave work and do something you enjoy to help take your mind off of everything. Whether that be going out to exercise at the gym or going out with friends for a relaxing diner. During these times it is crucial that we try and find alternatives to our usual social norms and try and find something to do to take our minds off of all the things going on around us. Staying positive and optimistic during these rough times is crucial to our mental health and to our immune systems. One of the things that you can try and do is create a positive daily routine. If you are like many of us, your daily routine has been entirely disrupted.   Take some time to establish a new daily routine. Some experts say that having a daily/weekly routine is a way to feel that there is some certainty during this isolation. If you are working from home, make sure you create a work space somewhere outside of your bedroom and get dressed as if you are going to your office. Anything that you can do to create a sense of normalcy will help reduce the stress and promote positivity. Below are some other things that we can do to stay positive during these times.

• Take a Break from the News
• Make Tine to Unwind
• Help Others
• Re-connect with Friends on Social Media
• Make a Playlist of your Favorite Songs
• Be Grateful for the Things you Have
• Exercise
• Find Ways to Embrace Laughter and Humor into Your Day
• Take up an Old Hobby
• Read Something Uplifting
• Have Faith

Interested in learning how SafeSourcing can help your company run more efficiently?

If you would like more information on how SafeSourcing can help you, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative.  We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

Today’s blog is by Margaret Stewart, Director of HR and Administration at SafeSourcing.

 The Covid-19 pandemic has affected most people throughout the globe. Some have contracted the virus, some have recovered, and some are lucky enough to not have had it. Those that have not contracted the virus have likely been practicing the recommended stay at home orders and social distancing. Those two behavioral changes aren’t the only things that have changed. There have been many other changes in each of our lives.

 Most of us are isolated, unable to visit with friends and family except through technology. This reinforces the idea that today’s technology and connectivity through technology is essential for all of us. Technology, primarily internet access and telephone access, have been deemed luxuries in the past, as non-essential entertainment. This pandemic has made many people realize the need for today’s technology is as essential as electric and water. If someone needs groceries, to go to the doctor, or help fixing their car, we would have to turn to those same forms of technology to call their doctor, look up local mechanics, or ordering groceries to pick up.

 An important part of staying healthy is not only taking care of ourselves physically, but also keeping our minds healthy and sharp. This is where technology is especially important. While we cannot visit our friends and family, we can keep in touch and see each other through video calls, email, and social media. This allows us to not only maintain closeness with friends and family, but also check in to make sure everyone is doing well.

 Finally, technology is important because it allows many of us to continue working from home. Without phone and internet, we would be quite isolated and unable to perform many of our daily work tasks. Through conferencing, video calling, messenger applications, and other forms of technology, many people are able to continue working, earning a living and keeping businesses afloat.

 SafeSourcing relies heavily on today’s technology and can continue helping our customers through those same essential technology resources, saving your company time and money and helping you get through this together.

 For more information on how SafeSourcing can help your organization, discover what technology is available to help you, or on our Risk Free trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

Today’s blog is by Margaret Stewart, Director of HR and Administration at SafeSourcing Inc.

There will always be times when people and the economy struggle and face tough times, and now is definitely one of those times. Unemployment claims have been higher than ever seen before, stocks have plummeted lower than anyone would’ve thought, and we keeping trekking on without a clear end to it in sight. Things will eventually begin looking up and people and the economy will begin recovering and heading toward a more normal state that we are all accustomed to, although it may take some time. There are, however, things you can do now to help get through this.

Many companies have faced challenges in their supply chain. With so many businesses closed and people out of work, there may be many products that you just haven’t been able to even get. This is the best time to reach out to your procurement partner and see how they can help – and they will likely help in big ways.

Filling the gaps – Your organization may be struggling to find some specific items, like toilet paper or hand sanitizer for example. Because there has been an abundance of consumers buying certain items, many retailers have not been able to keep up with demand. This is when reaching out to your procurement partner can help you find what you need. While you may not be able to get the exact brand of toilet paper for example, a procurement partner may be able to find suppliers of other brands that can fit your needs and provide the paper products your customers want.

Getting things there – One way reaching out to your procurement partner can help is by finding the right people to fill in the gaps in your supply chain. For instance, if your logistics company is now not available for regular runs, a procurement partner, like SafeSourcing, can help you find the right company that can not only fill the gaps in your coverage, but may also be a better fit for your needs.

Connecting each other – Another way a procurement partner can help disruptions in the supply chain is by simply having someone who has a hand in almost every industry. Your procurement partner likely deals with everyone from raw material suppliers, to manufacturers, distributors, brokers, retailers, all the way to customers. They are likely to have the knowledge and skills to help bridge any gaps that your organization may have in coverage, simply because that’s what procurement partners do. They connect your organization with the people that can help get you up and running again.

In addition to helping your organization overcome disruptions in the supply chain, a procurement partner may also be able to save you money on the things you already buy. In fact, even during difficult times, a procurement partner can not only find suppliers that can provide the products and services you need, but also get those products and services an average of 24% less than you were already paying.

For more information on how SafeSourcing can help your supply chain of sourcing needs, or on our Risk Free trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

Today’s blog is by Gayl Southard, Administrative Assistant it SafeSourcing.

It is a scary thought for all of us to leave our homes and get the needed groceries to run our homes right now. I hadn’t been to the grocery store in three weeks! I had order meat and poultry on line and it was delivered every two weeks. I am also fortunate to live in a warmer climate where we have local farmers that can provide produce that can be ordered each week and picked up on Saturday mornings. Payment is done online and the produce is loaded into your car trunk. There is no contact with any person.

One of the grocery chains doing great work is Kroger. According to a press release from the Kroger grocery chain, they have increased their hourly frontline workers pay by two dollars an hour, calling it a “hero bonus”. The bonus also applies to the Kroger family chain, including Fry’s, Ralphs, Fred Meyer’s, QFC and more. “The Hero Bonus is just one more way we continue to convey our thanks and gratitude not only to our existing associates but also to the more than 30,000 new hires who have joined in the past two weeks and those who will soon join the Kroger family of companies,” said Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s Chairman and CEO. 1. The bonus applies to all hourly frontline grocery employees, supply chain, manufacturing, pharmacy and call center employees.

Kroger is one of the nation’s largest grocery chains. Kroger also has installed plexiglass barriers or partitions to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus and protect both the shopper and store employees.

For more information on how SafeSourcing can help your procurement efforts, or on our Risk

Free trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

Reference’s

1. Connor Van Ligten, USA Today, 4/8/2020