DoctorsXL growth makes headlines – KOLO Channel 8

Business Competing With Unemployment Benefits

Posted: May 25, 2010
Reporter: Terri Russell
Email Address: terri.russell@kolotv.com

Reno, NV – If you are unemployed we don’t need to tell you how tight the job market is. But there is actually one firm that is having trouble filling positions, and the reason may surprise you.

Despite the bad economy, DoctorsXL still has well-paying positions to fill. KOLO Channel 8 looks at why finding employees in a down economy isn’t as easy as you would think.

With the 13.7% unemployment rate in this state, you’d expect all of these desks at one local Reno firm to be filled. But the firm actually reports, it’s having trouble filling positions.

The firm which bills insurance companies for doctors saw a 250% increase in business in just the first year.

Lori LeBlanc says she was the company’s first employee. These days she oversees 128 workers and currently she’s trying to fill an additional 12 positions.

The company CEO says she never in her wildest dreams believed she’d ever have to compete with unemployment.

“I didn’t. Great, this person is perfect. We brought them in and she literally got out her I Phone and calculated her unemployment benefits against the offer and said, well if you factor in day care, gas and my business clothes you know its probably the same, no thank you,” says LeBlanc referring to a recent job candidate interview.

LeBlanc says her jobs can pay anywhere between 12 and 18 dollars an hour with full benefits to the right candidate. Besides competing with unemployment benefits she says she is also very picky. That is another reason her company may only interview about a sixth of those who apply.

“Trying to sell ourselves to them and I expect them to sell themselves to us. And if that marriage or that synergy isn’t happening, it’s probably not a good fit now or in the future,” says LeBlanc.

While LeBlanc says she’s very picky about whom she hires, she adds that one of the greatest attributes an employee can bring to Doctors X-L is passion for the job. The perfect candidate also needs to be very detail orientated. After all she says that’s what her business is all about.