Phillips Staffing was honored as “Volunteer of the Year” by the South Carolina Association of Personnel and Staffing (SCAPS). Ed Parris, President, and Blanton Phillips, CEO, were on hand to receive the award at the SCAPS annual meeting and awards dinner in Columbia, SC, on November 2, 2011.

SCAPS honored all members of the organization’s 2011 Legislative Task Force, of which Phillips Staffing was a founding member. That committee was a leading voice in achieving $146 million in unemployment tax (SUTA) relief for businesses in South Carolina during the 2011 legislative session. Ed Parris and Blanton Phillips were both instrumental in the formation and organization of the task force, and heavily involved with the group’s lobbying efforts during 2010 and 2011.

Phillips Staffing is committed to identifying legislative and economic current issues that affect business and employment in South Carolina and the markets we serve, and to working actively with government officials and business leaders, such as trade associations and economic development groups, to effect change where needed.

Blanton Phillips commented, “When we first learned what the General Assembly was planning to do with SUTA rates back in 2010, we moved quickly to voice our concerns, and in doing so we were able to galvanize a group of employers – including our clients, our friends, and even a large number of our fellow staffing companies – to speak up and tell Columbia why this was terrible for business and our economy – and, ultimately, for jobs and hiring. We worked very hard and were able to get their attention in 2011. Now, looking forward, this battle is far from over, and we will continue to work with our allies on this issue to make even more meaningful changes that will be beneficial to South Carolina’s employers and workforce.”

“We are very proud of this honor from SCAPS,” he continued, “and we know that it was possible only by bringing together a large group and getting everyone well-versed on the issues and organized in the approach. SCAPS did a wonderful job of helping us and our colleagues through this process, and we are most appreciative of the work that SCAPS is doing.”

The South Carolina Association of Personnel & Staffing, SCAPS, serves as a watchdog for the personnel industry in South Carolina.They work diligently to ensure laws are passed favorable to the personnel and staffing industry and to defeat those that are not. SCAPS also offers resources on industry trends, recruiting, training, employment law, legislation, and other issues. The SCAPS name will change to the South Carolina Staffing Association (SCSA) in 2012.