Rita Staffing Celebrates 50 Years and National Staffing Employee Week
Rita Staffing is celebrating 50 years of business in Central Florida this month while also honoring all those in the industry during 2023 National Staffing Employee Week.
Founded in 1973, Rita Staffing has offices in Lakeland, Winter Haven and Plant City, along with Rita Technology in Tampa – it specializes in information technology (IT) contract and direct-hire employees – as well as Sunshine Staffing in Sebring. It also has an office in Bradenton and a remote recruiter who works out of Louisville, Kentucky.
Its 52 employees make it the largest staffing company in the area, said Business Development manager Susan Hames. And, it is working on plans to open two other office locations.
“We are here because of our team – temporary team and internal team,” Hames said. “Our temporary employees know we care and try to find the very best clients to place them in the area. The support of the local community has been so strong, and our internal team and clients are incredibly loyal. We don’t take that lightly. Every day we feel blessed to have the opportunity to work together.”
Lindsay Zimmerman, senior vice president and COO of the Central Florida Development Council, said companies like Rita Staffing succeed because they are built upon solid foundations.
“The company has remained focused on what works – treating its employees right and building lasting relationships,” she said. “We’re excited for this milestone celebration. We wish them well as they keep marching forward, helping our community one employee and employer at a time.”
The Employer View
Employers turn to Rita Staffing to find full-time, part-time and temporary employees, depending on their needs. The company has been successful because it listens to its clients’ needs, understands their challenges and establishes strategic partnerships, according to its website, www.ritastaffing.com.
“We focus on hiring the best — recruiting, interviewing and screening — and letting our clients focus on their core business,” Hames said.
The company focuses mostly on six industries:
- Light Industrial / Warehouse
- Clerical / Office
- Professional and Exempt
- Marketing
- Information Technology
- Human Resources
“We focus on what we know best: warehouse, logistics, distribution, packers, office administration, call centers, accounting, professional, information technology and on-site management,” Hames said. Because of its central location in the state of Florida, with access to major highways, airports and seaports, Polk County is home to numerous warehouses and distribution centers. This includes Amazon Air, Publix, O’Reilly Auto Parts and more.
The magic that makes Rita Staffing the winner of the Best of Central Florida for seven years in a row is easy, Hames said. “Our internal team has tenure. Our management team has a minimum of 10 years’ experience at Rita, and many have over 25 years.”
The Employee View
Employees have a lot to gain by finding work using Rita Staffing’s services. “They get their foot in the door to many places and opportunities they may not know about in the community,” Hames said.
A strong economic development climate, with new companies moving in or starting up on a regular basis, makes Polk County an attractive place for employees to relocate to whether they seek employment here or work remotely. Central Florida offers all that and more. It includes a sunny climate, access to two larger cities, entertainment, a great place to raise a family and no state income tax.
National Staffing Week
The company’s 50th anniversary coincides with National Staffing Employee Week. This is an “annual celebration that honors the invaluable contributions of temporary and contract employees in the staffing industry across the nation,” according to a Rita Staffing press release.
In Florida, “149,900 temporary and contract employees work in the staffing and recruiting industry every week. These positions are across industry sectors and professions, and the majority are full time,” the release said. Such jobs can lead to permanent work.
“National Staffing Employee Week is a time for the staffing, recruiting, and talent solutions industry to celebrate the millions of outstanding temporary and contract employees who—every day—contribute to American productivity and the overall economic well-being of our economy,” Richard Wahlquist, chief executive officer at American Staffing Association, said in the release.
In 2022, “U.S. staffing and recruiting companies hired 14.6 million temporary and contract employees in nearly every industry in the labor market,” it said.
