Monthly Archives: July 2009
Friday Funnies: Forged Confessions from HR
Posted in Humor
Tagged Dilbert, Evil HR, Firday Funnies, Forged Confessions, Work Humor
Employee Skills Gap is Widening
Since the global recession has forced many employers to cut costs—including labor costs—one area may need a resurgence of investment: training.
U.S. employers continue to struggle with finding new hires who have not just the basic skills, but also higher-level critical thinking and creativity skills, according to a new report from The Conference Board. Since the education system is not supplying young workers with these skills, companies may have to devote more of their own resources to bringing workers up to their required skill levels.
Some options include providing internships and working more closely with community colleges. The goal should be to prepare workers before they go out into the job market.
“It is a losing strategy for employers to try to fill the workforce readiness gap on the job. They need to be involved much sooner to prepare new employees to succeed,” according to Donna Klein of Corporate Voices for Working Families, which worked with The Conference Board on the report.
Posted in Corporate Learning
Tagged ASTD, Employee Training, Learning, SHRM, Skills Gap, The Conference Board, Workforce Readiness
Mature Workers Seize on Younger Opportunities
In a market shaped by mass job loss, mature workers are a critical workforce segment that has been hit particularly hard. Twenty-eight percent of workers age 55 and older who were laid off in the last 12 months found new jobs, the lowest of all age groups. This compares to 71 percent of those ages 25 to 34. A new study from CareerBuilder shows mature workers are expanding their job search to include entry-level positions, internships, relocation and other options to secure gainful employment – and employers are open to it.
Starting Over at Entry-Level
The majority (63 percent) of workers age 55 and older who were laid off in the last 12 months said they have applied for jobs below the level at which they were previously employed; 44 percent have been told by employers that they are overqualified.
In an effort to bring in a steady paycheck and get their foot in the door with a new organization, mature workers are now competing with recent college graduates and other new entrants to the workforce for entry-level positions.
One-in-four employers (26 percent) reported they have received applications from workers over the age of 50 for entry-level jobs (but not retired); an additional 11 percent have received entry-level applications from retirees. The vast majority of employers (65 percent) said they would consider experienced candidates who apply for jobs for which they’re overqualified.
Applying for Internships
Mature workers are also exploring internships as a way to land a longer term employment opportunity. Seven percent of employers reported mature workers have applied for internships at their organizations. Four percent have hired mature workers while 55 percent would be willing to consider mature workers for internships.
Considering a New Location
Embarking on a new adventure by moving to a new location is another option for some mature workers. Of mature workers who were laid off in the last 12 months and did not find a new job, 41 percent stated they would consider relocating to another city or state to find employment.
Becoming Their Own Boss
Some mature workers are using a challenging job market as a catalyst to entrepreneurship. Of mature workers who were laid off in the last 12 months and did not find a job, 23 percent are considering starting their own business.
“Mature workers offer a wealth of knowledge and experience that has translated into a significant competitive advantage for employers,” said Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder. “Employers are considering mature job candidates for a variety of positions ranging from entry-level to senior-level to consultants to leverage their intellectual capital and mentor other workers. Twenty-nine percent of employers have hired a worker age 50 or older for a permanent position within their organization over the last six months.”
Of those mature workers who were laid off in the last 12 months and found another job, 26 percent took a job in another field with the vast majority (75 percent) reporting that they are enjoying the experience. In terms of compensation, 40 percent landed positions with similar pay and another 13 percent found jobs with a higher compensation rate than what they were previously earning. Forty-eight percent took a pay cut.
Postponing Retirement
In addition to applications received by mature job candidates, employers are also receiving requests from staff members to stay with the company longer. One-in-five employers (21 percent) reported, over the last six months, current employees approaching retirement age have asked them to postpone their retirement. Of that 21 percent, the vast majority (86 percent) said their organizations are open to postponing retirements, pointing to the following benefits:
- Employers want to hold on to their intellectual capital (65 percent)
- Mature workers can help train and mentor others (61 percent)
- Mature workers know how to weather a tough economy (42 percent)
- Employers have more time to transition responsibilities (36 percent)
Should Twitter be a Part of Your Business Strategy?
What are you doing? It seems like everyone, especially in the media, is answering that question in 140 characters or less with a “tweet” and letting their “followers” know what they are up to each hour of the day. But is Twitter something that is in its infancy, something that is just a media darling or has it already experienced its fifteen minutes of fame?
These are some of the results of a new LinkedIn Research Network/Harris Poll of 1,015 advertisers from agencies or corporations who are involved in the advertising decision making process surveyed online between June 22 and 30, 2009 and 2,025 U.S. adults surveyed online between June 24 and 26, 2009.
Opinion of Twitter
Just under half of advertisers (45%) say that Twitter is something is in its infancy and its use will grow exponentially over the next few years, while one in five (21%) believe Twitter will not move into the mainstream and is something mostly young people and the media will use. Just under one in five advertisers (17%) believe Twitter is already over and it’s time to find the next best thing while 17% of advertisers say they don’t know enough about Twitter to have an opinion on it. Among consumers it is a different story altogether, as over two-thirds (69%) say they do not know enough about Twitter to have an opinion about it. Just over one in ten say it is just at its infancy (12%), 12% also say it is just something that young people and the media will use and 8% of consumers say it is already over and it’s time to find the next best thing. As might be expected, there is also an age divide on opinions of Twitter. Younger advertisers are more likely to have an opinion on Twitter than their older counterparts (only 11% of 18-39 year olds do not know enough about Twitter to have an opinion compared to 20% of advertisers 40-49 years old and 21% of advertisers 50 and older). Among consumers, the same applies and only half (55%) of adults, 18-34 years old say they don’t know enough to have an opinion, compared to 80% of those 55 and older.
Effectiveness of Twitter
Among those who have an opinion regarding Twitter, feelings about the effectiveness of it for promoting products and ideas are lukewarm among both consumers and advertisers. Among advertisers, just 8% say Twitter is very effective for promoting products and ideas while half (50%) say it is somewhat effective. One-third (34%) of advertisers say it is not that effective and 8% believe it is not at all effective for promoting products and ideas. Among consumers, 8% also say it is very effective for promoting ideas and products and 42% believe it is just somewhat effective. Three in ten (31%) consumers say Twitter is not that effective and 19% feel it is not at all effective for promoting products and ideas.
So What?
Although those of us who watch cable newscasts can’t help but notice their proclivity to invite us to follow the show or host on Twitter, it does not seem as though Twitter has made it mainstream yet, let alone to its edge. While advertisers and marketers expect Twitter to grow, its effectiveness as a marketing tool will most likely hinge on consumer education: consumers need to learn more about what it is, why they should pay attention to it, and why they should “tweet.” It is the advertisers and marketers who should play the lead role in promoting consumer education if they truly want to move Twitter beyond infancy and into its “tween years.”
Posted in Social Networking
Tagged Harris Poll, LinkedIn.com, Social Media Research, Twitter Use, Twitter.com
Is 2009 the Year of Shrinking Pay?
More than one-third of U.S. employees report they have not received a raise this year or that their compensation has decreased, according to a Tell It Now(SM) poll by ComPsych Corporation.
“We continue to see increased call volume from employees who need help managing their finances in this challenging environment,” said Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz, Chairman and CEO of ComPsych. “Our customers, realizing the need for supporting and educating employees with financial information, have been promoting the EAP as a place to turn for help as well as scheduling personal finance seminars for their workforce.”
Employees were asked: Has the economic downturn impacted your work? If so, in which area have you experienced the greatest impact?
- 39 percent said they haven’t received a raise or their compensation has decreased
- 20 percent said there is more conflict/stress among coworkers
- 11 percent said they are doing more work due to employees that were laid off
- 10 percent said they are working more hours/unable to take as much vacation
- 20 percent said it has not impacted their work
Posted in Workforce Statistics
Tagged ComPsych, Economic Downturn, Furlough, Laid Off, Layoffs, Shrinking Pay
CareerCast.com/JobSerf Employment Index Shows Largest Monthly Gain Since 2008
The CareerCast.com/ JobSerf Employment Index, which measures managerial recruitment activity across the United States, found that the number of online job openings in July for C-level, VP, Director and Managerial candidates improved for the third month in a row with the largest monthly gain since January 2008.
Job listings in July were up 17.8 points, following a rise of 3.8 points in June and 15.2 points in May. The number of executive and management-level job openings posted online had an index value of 78.2 in July, 60.4 in June 2009, 56.6 in May 2009, and 41.4 in April 2009. Although unemployment may continue to rise in the short-term, white-collar candidates are seeing more opportunities than since the beginning of the downturn last fall.
Job listings for all levels of management improved this month, with manager and director-level jobs rising approximately 20 points. VP-level jobs rose 14 points and C-level rose 7 points.
Washington D.C. leads the top metropolitan areas in online job postings with one and a half times as many job listings as second-ranked Boston. Seattle, Chicago and San Francisco round out the top five with the highest number of managerial online job listings per capita.
Regionally, the West had the strongest gains, moving from 55.9 to 75 points (19.1 point gain), although it still lags behind the Northeast at 87.5 (18.9 point gain), the Southwest at 88.1 (18.7 point gain), and Southeast at 80.3 (15.9 point gain), while the Midwest at 72.4 (11.5 point gain) is still losing ground in comparison.
“While all regions saw a rise in hiring, cities with the lowest hiring levels are concentrated in the Midwest, Southwest and Florida,” says Jay Martin, JobSerf’s chairman. “Although the Index is still 22 points lower than it was a year ago, the gap is slowly closing. We are encouraged at both the direction and magnitude of July’s gain. It shows the positive recovery, which started in the late spring, is still continuing.”
Posted in Workforce Trends
Tagged CareerCast.com, Job Posting, Job Posting Index, JobSerf, Manager Jobs, Online Job Boards, VP Jobs
Perfecting the Art of Employee Feedback
Below is from an article I recently wrote for the Des Moines Business Record about the importance and methods of employee feedback. This is a crucial topic especially during these times when companies are having to survive with less employees. Perfecting the art of feedback is what will keep those stretched employees engaged, motivated and productive.
Article:
Feedback is an interesting topic for a variety of reasons. I believe feedback is incredibly important when it comes to shaping your staff into your A team.
I love what former Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry once said: “A coach makes people do what they don’t want to do to become what they want to be.” Though I am not a fan of the Cowboys, I have always been a fan of Tom Landry, and that quotation contains some of the best simple wisdom ever dispensed.
In most companies, I have noticed there is a philosophy along the lines of “feedback is a gift,” which is usually said right before they criticize you. Or they may say, “I have some constructive criticism I would like to share with you.” Who’s kidding whom? Criticism is still criticism.
Is the Tide Changing for the Older Worker?
Rising unemployment is taking its toll on older managers, who are more likely to be laid off and may stay that way longer. Middle-aged employees will find it harder to get a job, compared to younger workers with newer skills, experts say. But the tide may be beginning to change.
U.S. recessions since the oil crisis in the early 1970s each had their own special causes and victims, but they also had something in common: They were over relatively quickly.
The current downturn, however, is deeper and already longer than any since World War II. This spells trouble for one especially vulnerable group — managers in their 40s and early 50s.
They tend to be more expensive than their younger counterparts; they may lack some of the high-tech savvy needed to succeed in a more efficient workplace; and they face a downsized job market that will stay that way much longer than usual.
Even in a “normal” downturn, the job market is a “lagging indicator” (meaning it does not show improvement for several quarters after the start of a recovery). And the current recession is anything but normal.
According to Wharton finance and statistics professor Francis X. Diebold, co-director of the Wharton Financial Institutions Center, the employment picture is closely aligned with the depth of the recession.
If the recession really did bottom out in February or March, and if we stay on track and start growing at a positive rate by the end of this year — which is by no means certain — it could still be 2013 before we see some significant employment optimism.
A generation ago, says Wharton management professor Peter Cappelli, director of Wharton’s Center for Human Resources, “layoffs at this level were temporary. Not now.”
Even if an equivalent job were open at another company, that company will most likely not fill the position or will hire from within. In addition, Cappelli notes, in the 1990s, the economy experienced a “big wave of startups that would take on corporate people who had lost their jobs or bailed out of them. These days, we don’t see those smaller companies on the horizon.”
Posted in Employment, Workforce Trends
Tagged Mature Worker, Older Worker, Peter Cappelli, Senior Unemployment, Wharton
Less Unemployment for the Well Educated
As you can see from the graph below, the better the education the better the odds that you are still employed. As I said about a similar graph, this is one you want to print out and put on the fridge at home to help your kids understand the importance of education.
Click to make larger.
Economic Conditions Snapshot, June 2009: McKinsey Global Survey Results
Executives have become notably more optimistic about their companies’ and their countries’ economic prospects since mid-April—but the outlook was so poor then that optimism must be tempered.
Over the past six weeks, executives have become markedly more optimistic about current economic conditions and prospects for their national economies, a new McKinsey survey shows. Expectations started out so gloomy, however, that even now, fewer than a third expect an economic upturn this year, and two-thirds expect their nations’ GDPs to decrease in 2009.
Similarly, at the company level, more executives still expect to shed workers than to hire, but the share expecting to decrease the workforce has fallen below half for the first time since January. And a full third of respondents now expect profits to increase in 2009, up 8 percent in six weeks. Furthermore, even though respondents see fallout from the crisis in a variety of financial and nonfinancial measures such as employee morale and the pace of innovation, strong majorities expect those effects to be short-lived.
Posted in Workforce News
Tagged Economic Crisis, Economic Forecast 2009, McKinsey, Recession
Workplace Discrimination in Recruiting Statistics
I have to admit that in today’s society I am surprised that this is still an issue. When I went to look at the numbers I didn’t think there would be such a disparity between the candidates, apparently I was wrong. This is an unfortunately sad statement that people who are well suited for a job are still discriminated against. While these are for waiter/waitress positions, I would have to assume based on this sampling that even in other occupations discrimination at some level still exists.
I hope I am wrong.
Happy 4th of July 2009
On behalf of Manpower, we would like to wish you and yours a very Happy 4th of July. We are grateful for the sacrifices and courage of all of the men, women and families that have given much to keep us free.
Posted in General Information
Tagged 4th of July, Fireworks, Fourth of July, Holiday, Statue of Liberty
