Tag Archives: Workforce

Staying Relevant

I just celebrated my birthday last week, so when I read Penelope Trunk’s article on  How to Remain Relevant When You’re Over 40  it hit me square between the eyes  – am I staying relevant???  

UGH!  If you have children, you’re much more exposed to the “latest and greatest” trends in technology, but have you thought about how that translates to your professional life?  Long gone are the days of finding one job and working there for the rest of your life. For survival’s sake, it’s incumbent upon to strive for relevancy every day. 

Trunk offered up some great tips on how to stay in the know and on top of your game.  Read the article and let me know what you think.

I’m certianly taking all of this to heart.

 

Manpower Employment Outlook Survey

Strong Job Market Expected for Iowa 

June 14, 2011 - Employers inIowa expect to hire at a healthy pace during the third quarter of 2011, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.

 From July to September, 23% of the companies interviewed plan to hire more employees, while 8% expect to reduce their payrolls. Another 66% expect to maintain their current staff levels and 3% are not certain of their hiring plans. This yields a Net Employment Outlook* of 15%.

 ”The Quarter 3 2011 survey results point toward improved hiring plans compared to Quarter 2 2011 when the Net Employment Outlook was 10%,” said Manpower spokesperson Sunny Ackerman. “Compared to one year ago when the Net Employment Outlook was 19%, employers are less confident about their staffing plans.”

For the coming quarter, job prospects appear best in Construction, Durable and Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing, Transportation & Utilities, Wholesale & Retail Trade, Information, Professional & Business Services, Leisure & Hospitality and Other Services. Employers in Financial Activities and Education & Health Services plan to reduce staffing levels, while hiring in Government is expected to remain unchanged.

Manpower Employment Outlook Survey Results for the United States

Of the more than 18,000 employers surveyed in the United States, 20% anticipate an increase in staff levels in their Quarter 3 2011 hiring plans, while 8% expect a decrease in payrolls, resulting in a Net Employment Outlook of +12%. When seasonally adjusted, the Net Employment Outlook becomes +8%. Sixty-nine percent of employers expect no change in their hiring plans. The remaining 3% of employers indicate they are undecided about their hiring intentions.

To view results for Metropolitan Statistical areas surveyed within Iowa, visit http://press.manpower.com.

The next Manpower Employment Outlook Survey will be released on September 13, 2011 to report hiring expectations for Quarter 4 2011.

About the Survey

The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is conducted quarterly to measure employers’ intentions to increase or decrease the number of employees in their workforces during the next quarter. The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey’sUnited Statesresults are based on interviews with 18,000 employers located in the 50 states, theDistrict of ColumbiaandPuerto Rico, which includes the largest 100 Metropolitan Statistical Areas based on number of business establishments. The mix of industries within the survey follows the North American Industry Classification System Supersectors and is structured to be representative of theU.S.economy. 

The complete results of the national Manpower Employment Outlook Survey can be found in the Press Room of our website at http://press.manpower.com. There you will also find the results for the 100 Metropolitan Statistical Areas surveyed, the 50 states, theDistrict of ColumbiaandPuerto Rico. Questions can be directed to press@na.manpower.com.

Economic Downturn Rattles Younger Workers While Older Employees Tough It Out

olderworkers

Younger workers are bearing the brunt of the current economic crisis, while older employees show greater resiliency in a recession-battered workplace where employers seek to do more with less, according to a new study by Boston College’s Sloan Center on Aging & Work.  

The onset of the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression has negatively altered perceptions about job security, supervisor support, job quality, inclusion and overall employee engagement in the workplace, according to the new report, “The Difference a Downturn Can Make,” part of the Center’s far-reaching Age & Generations Study. And as businesses strive to cut costs and increase productivity, American workers are reporting they are overloaded.

 Looking across different generations of workers, researchers found employees of all ages reporting a drop in employee engagement, a measure of how invested and enthusiastic employees are in their work. While employees overall report declining engagement, older workers in this study appear to be weathering the economic storm better than their younger peers.

 Workers among “Generation Y” — ages 26 and younger — report the greatest decrease in engagement. Those slightly older workers in “Generation X” — ages 27 to 42 — reported less of a decrease, while Baby Boomers and older “Traditionalists” — ages 43 or older — reported that their levels of engagement hardly changed at all.

 America’s older workers show all the signs of being more resilient in the face of threatening economic conditions, drawing on hard-earned experiences from the downturns of the past and a battle-tested perspective on the peaks and valleys of the market.

 ”Some older workers have seen it all, and that gives them experiential resilience,” says Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, director of Boston College’s Sloan Center on Aging & Work. “Younger workers just don’t have the depth of experience, which leaves them feeling less engaged in their jobs. But younger workers bring energy, enthusiasm, and idealism. In a workplace where older and younger employees work side-by-side, the give and take between young and old is a valuable resource employers should leverage to survive the downturn.”

 Researchers at Boston College’s Sloan Center on Aging & Work report other findings from the Age & Generations study that suggest: 

  • Perceptions of engagement, supervisor support, inclusion, and job quality declined after the onset of the economic downturn for employees who felt that their job security had decreased, but it stayed the same or only slightly declined for those whose job security had stayed the same or increased.
  • Those whose job security decreased or stayed the same experienced a slight increase in work overload after the onset of the economic downturn, whereas those whose job security increased experienced a slight decrease in work overload.
  • Those whose job security decreased perceived a slight decrease in team effectiveness after the onset of the economic downturn, whereas those whose job security increased experienced a slight increase in their perceptions of team effectiveness.
  • While younger workers felt the effectiveness of their work team as a whole dropped as their job security declined, older workers felt the effectiveness of their team held steady even though they too reported a decreased sense of job security. 

In tough economic times, the multi-generational American workplace requires employers to take cost-effective steps to support their workers. It isn’t enough for employees to be grateful for their jobs; according to one researcher, employers need to show they are grateful to the employees that keep them in business.

“Employee engagement can be greatly enhanced by simple and cost-efficient efforts,” adds Christina Matz-Costa, research associate at the Sloan Center and one of the study’s authors. “Providing strong training and development opportunities, encouraging work team inclusion, and promoting a culture of workplace flexibility and supervisor supportiveness are all effective strategies that can maintain or boost engagement.”

To download a PDF copy of the full report click here.

Baby Boomers Delay Retirement

For millions of Americans approaching retirement, events of recent weeks are delivering a clear message: Not so fast. With nest eggs shrinking, housing prices still falling and anxieties about their financial future growing, the oldest members of the baby-boom generation are putting the brakes on plans to leave the office. As discouraging as that message might sound, it’s exactly what many baby boomers need to hear, according to financial planners and researchers. Most people underestimate how much money they will need for retirements that could easily last two or three decades, and are leaving the work force with nest eggs that are likely to expire long before they do.

To continue reading click here.

Starbucks Helps Ike Recovery Effort

Starbucks stores are playing a unique role in Hurricane Ike recovery efforts.

According to CNN, residents who have lost their homes or had their homes damaged are gathering at local Starbucks stores to take advantage of the AC, wireless internet and the sense of community.

“It’s a gathering place… they want to come in and talk to their neighbors and the barista behind the counter,” said Amy Christensen, a Houston-based director of business operations for Starbucks.

Customers and employees are also sharing information about where to locate necessities like eggs and milk.

The sales idea: What if your company (or store or organization) could create a similar sense of community and mutual support every day? What would the effect be on morale… and your bottom line?

Click to read the entire story.

Iowa Median Wage Ranks Low in Midwest & Nation


To read the study in detail click here.

Manpower Global Employment Survey Results Third QTR 2008

Global Manpower Employment Outlook Survey Reveals Employers in 25 of 33 Countries and Territories Surveyed Set to Slow Hiring From Three Months Ago

Outlooks remain relatively stable in France and Germany while job prospects expected to weaken from three months ago in the U.S. and U.K.

To learn more about the survey and to get compiled and individual country information click here.

Nearly Half of Workers Living Paycheck to Paycheck

Nearly half of workers (47 percent) say they always or usually live paycheck to paycheck just to make ends meet, up from 43 percent in 2007, according to a nationwide survey of more than 7,192 workers by CareerBuilder.com.

One-in-five (21 percent) workers with salaries of $100,000 or more report they, too, live paycheck to paycheck.

The struggle from pay period to pay period makes planning for the future difficult. A quarter of workers say they don’t put any money aside for savings each month. Of those who do save, 34 percent of workers set aside less than $100 a month for savings, and 18 percent save $50 or less.

Additionally, a third of workers say they do not participate in any programs such as 401(k)s, IRAs or retirement plans. One in 10 workers making more than $100,000 report putting no money into savings each month or participating in a 401(k), IRA or comparable retirement plan.

Four in 10 (42 percent) workers say they would need up to an additional $500 per paycheck to live comfortably. Fourteen percent say they have to work more than one job to keep up with monthly expenses.

Comparing gender, more female workers (54 percent) say they always or usually live paycheck to paycheck, compared to males (41 percent). More men (77 percent) than woman (72 percent) say they save some portion of their paycheck each month, while 70 percent of women claim to have a set budget, compared to 61 percent of men.

“Nearly two-thirds of workers say they have a set budget each pay period, although 19 percent admit to typically going over it,” said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder.com.

“Just like in business, going over a budget can have negative consequences on the bottom line. Workers who are facing challenges in this area may want to re-evaluate where their funds are being allocated so they can identify opportunities to reprioritize, recoup savings and lighten their financial burden.”

Haefner offers the following tips for putting extra cash in your pocket:

  • Consider meeting with a financial planner. Having a certified outside pair of eyes looking at your financial situation may unlock additional areas for savings.
  • Take advantage of all the benefits offered to you. More companies are offering flexible spending accounts, wellness benefits, company discounts, etc. Talk to your HR department and see what is available to help save money on your monthly expenses.
  • Look at your commute. Workers say one of the biggest money drains on them each month is their car. With gas prices high and the exuberant cost of parking your car in the city, it may be time to look into alternative modes of transportation.
  • Could your paycheck be bigger? Sixty-four percent of hiring managers expect to provide an increase in salaries for full-time permanent employees in the third quarter. Now may be the time to approach your boss and negotiate a higher salary.

The 10 Worst Job Tips Ever

Nearly every day, someone sends me a bit of astounding job-search advice from a blog or a newsletter. Some of this advice seems to come directly from the planet X-19, and some of it seems to have been made up on the spot. Here are 10 of my favorite pieces of atrocious job-search advice, for you to read and ignore at all costs:

1. DON’T WRAP IT UP

The Summary or Objective at the top of your résumé is the wrap-up; It tells the reader, “This person knows who s/he is, what s/he’s done, and why it matters.” Your Summary shows off your writing skills, shows that you know what’s salient in your background, and puts a point on the arrow of your résumé. Don’t skip it, no matter who tells you it’s not necessary or important.

2. TELL US EVERYTHING

Another piece of horrendous job search advice tells job-seekers to share as much information as possible. A post-millennium résumé uses up two pages, maximum, when it’s printed. (Academic CVs are another story.) Editing is a business skill, after all—just tell us what’s most noteworthy in your long list of impressive feats.

To read the other eight tips click here.

Thx for the Iview! I Wud ♥ to Work 4 U!! ;)

Today’s applicants, fresh from the Facebook, MySpace, and incessant texting world of Gen Y, are scoring few points with recruiters from earlier generations, according to a recent survey. However, the applicants say that recruiters are guilty of etiquette breaches, also.

The survey, conducted by Vault, a career information website, showcased some fascinating statistics about interviewee behavior, but it also turned the tables and asked related questions about interviewer behavior. Here are some of the highlights:

Promptness for the Interview

Question for Recruiters: How late to the interview would a job candidate have to be for you to disqualify him or her from contention?
Survey respondents (105 hiring managers) answered:
5 minutes    12%
10 minutes    19%
15 minutes    30%
20 minutes    13%
30 minutes    17%
1 hour plus    9%

Question for Applicants: Have you ever been late to a job interview? If so, how late?
Of surveyed applicants (1,647 employees) 76% report that they have never been late, and another 18% were up to 15 minutes late, and 6%admitted to being 20 or more minutes late.

Behavior During the Interview

Question for Recruiters: Has a job candidate ever answered a call on his or her cell phone during an interview with you?
Yes, responded 26% of participants in the survey.

Would you disqualify the candidate from contention for taking a cell phone call during the interview?
A whopping 68% of respondents said yes.

Questions for Applicants: Have you ever taken a cell phone call while in a job interview?
Yes, admitted 5%.

Has the person interviewing you ever taken a call during the interview?
Yes, say 56 percent of applicants!

Questions for Recruiters: Has a job candidate ever brought a child to the interview?
Yes, say 19%.
Has a job candidate ever dressed inappropriately for an interview?

Yes, say a surprising 87% of respondents.
Has a job candidate ever used profanity during an interview?
Yes, say 43%.

Thank-You Notes

Questions for Recruiters: How important is it for a job candidate to send a thank-you note after the interview?
Not important at all    20%
Somewhat important    41%
Extremely important    39%

How often do you receive thank-you notes?
Hardly ever    3%
Rarely    32%
About half the time    33%
Most of the time    23%
Almost all of the time    9%

Would you reject a candidate for not sending a thank-you note?
Only 5% say yes, they would reject a candidate who did not send a note.

Question for Applicants: How often do you send thank-you notes after job interviews?
Hardly ever    11%
Rarely    8%
About half the time    9%
Most of the time    17%
Almost all of the time    55%

Question for Recruiters: Is it acceptable to send a thank you note via e-mail?
Interestingly, 98% say yes, e-mail is the norm these days.

Question for Applicants: Do you send thank you notes via e-mail?
No, I send a snail mail note, say 24% or respondents, while 76% say yes, e-mail is the norm.

Original Source: HR Daily Advisor

CEO Compensation on the Rise

Equilar, the market leader for executive and director compensation benchmarking solutions, today published its latest issue of Executive Compensation Trends. This month’s issue includes studies on CEO accumulated wealth and pay for Non-Executive Chairs and Lead Directors. Key findings for both analyzes, which cover Fortune 500 companies, are presented below:

CEO Accumulated Wealth

* From 2006 to 2007, the median value of total stock holdings and accumulated retirement benefits for Fortune 500 CEOs increased by 6.1 percent, rising from $53.4 million to $56.7 million. These amounts include pension benefits, deferred compensation, outstanding option awards, unvested stock awards, and shares owned outright.

* According to a review of Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A) reports at Fortune 500 companies, the prevalence of companies that considered accumulated wealth when determining executive pay levels increased from 8.4 percent in 2006 to 14.5 percent in 2007.

Pay Trends for Key Board Leadership Positions

* Median total board-level compensation for Non-Executive Chairs at Fortune 500 companies increased from $258,500 in 2006 to $264,000 in 2007. For Lead Directors, median total compensation increased from $174,843 to $189,413 over the same period.

* From 2006 to 2007, the prevalence of Fortune 500 companies with independent Board leadership positions grew from 78.4 percent to 80.9 percent.

* In 2007, 71.7 percent of Non-Executive Chairs and 45.8 percent of Lead Directors at Fortune 500 companies received a pay premium over regular Board members not holding a leadership role.

What Vacation? To Unplug or Not Unplug that is the Question

A day off from work no longer means a vacation. Many workers are spending their days off doing stressful things, such as chores or caring for family. Trouble is, we all need downtime to recharge our bodies and our minds.”

– Marjorie Savage, absence management director with The Hartford, quoted by
MSNBC

This is a great quote that I know I am very guilty of myself. With the availability of technology today it can be difficult to unplug from work and stop checking email. I often find myself checking email and responding to email from my phone while watching T.V or doing some other mundane tasks. All of it with the idea that it is somehow making me more efficient in my job.

I think what the quote gets at is a good point – do people ever unplug and are we really better off by always being tuned into work? Does it help us or just the company? Ultimately it may help both but at this point I am not sure. I love technology so the thought of being unplugged is somewhat terrifying, although I do look forward to the day of chucking my phone into the Des Moines river and sailing off into retirement someday.

I have to think though that we should push our employees as much as we can to enjoy their time away and “please” don’t check your email. I think hearing that from the company may let them know it is OK to enjoy their time away, although the psychology of people being what it is they may not allow themselves to stop. So is it an addiction? That is possible so another suggestion is encouraging them to leave their phone at home.

As managers we need to do or best to respect the role of work in our employees lives, while also valuing their time away. If you have other suggestions or thoughts on this subject – SPEAK UP! I would love to hear them.

You Say You Like Job Fairs?

Below are pictures from a job fair that Manpower attended in China. I don’t know about you, but I think this would be one I would like to skip. I can’t imagine standing all day and talking to the amount of people that probably came to each booth. I think I would need a case of water, Dr. Scholls and a case of Snickers to make it through. Oh and about 10 other recruiters.

Good Education Really Does Pay Off

I recently wrote an article for the Des Moines Business Record on the monetary impact of education on today’s workers. I think it is an especially important topic as competition for employees and jobs is becoming more of a global concern than just an Iowan concern.

To read the article click here.

If you have any thoughts on the subject of our educational system and whether you think we are doing a good or bad job, I would love to hear it.

Gen Ys Are Fast to Decide on a New Employer

Organizations do not have much time to win the trust of younger employees, according to a survey of more than 2,500 senior human resource executives by Novations Group, a global consulting organization.
 
Half the executives reported they have generally less than six months to “prove” to Gen Y employees that the company is the best place for them. One-quarter of respondents indicated they have less than a month.
 
In your experience, how much time do employers have to “prove” to employees in their 20s that the company is the best place for them?
 

  • Less than month: 26 percent
  • One to six months: 51 percent
  • More than six months: 22 percent

“Impatience is hardly a new phenomenon among employees in their 20s,” noted Novations Executive Consultant Tim Vigue. “But HR departments are seeing unusually rapid turnover among Gen Ys, or Millennials, and they’re not sure what to do about it.”

The widespread impression that that Gen Y employees do not hesitate to “job hop” to get what they want appears to be accurate, said Vigue. “And three-quarters of HR executives seem to be aware of this and realize they have but a short window in which to capture the hearts and minds of such new hires.”

Technology has helped contribute to their impatience, observed Vigue. “Gen Ys are the most technology-savvy generation and grew up with immediate access to whatever they needed such as information or connections. They are able to identify new opportunities much more easily than any generation before them, so they tend to be impatient when told they have to wait and pay their dues.”

Vigue offered some simple tactics that can improve Gen Y retention:

  • Make sure every candidate gets a realistic job preview that provides a clear sense of what to expect from the company, department, manager, team and job. Research indicates when new hires get a comprehensive picture up-front, first-year turnover drops significantly.
  • Engage with the new hire from the day an offer is accepted. Communicate proactively before the new employee starts, providing information about the company and the job that will be needed for a successful transition.
  • Try to connect the new hire with other employees. Organizations may underestimate the power of relationships in the work environment. As early as possible, make sure the new hire makes a connection with every key person who will play a role in the employee’s success. Be sure the individual knows about the formal and informal networks in the organization so a sense of belonging may be established quickly.
  • Explain how the individual’s work fits into the big picture. Everyone wants to be able to do good work that makes a difference. Gen Y’s in particular have been taught by their parents to ask “why,” seeking the meaning behind the task.
  • From the outset, let the individual know what the company will do to ensure there are opportunities to learn and grow. Gen Ys have learned the importance of developing new skills over and above loyalty to an organization or job. As a result, Gen Ys are vocal when they do not see enough opportunities for development.

Gen Y attitudes were shaped by their upbringing, believes Vigue. “Gen Y parents taught them they’re special, that they can do anything, and as such should not settle for less than what they deserve. At the same time, their boomer and Gen X parents experienced downsizing and taught them that loyalty to an organization is outdated, that they need to look out for themselves first.”

Finally, Vigue advises employers to let a new hire know that during the first several months, while the focus is on learning a job, mistakes are expected and may be viewed as opportunities for learning. “Reassurance such as this can go a long way to improving the likelihood that your Gen Y employees will stay.”

Equation Research conducted the Internet survey of 2,556 senior HR and T&D executives in December 2007.

Iowa Workforce Conference 2008

If you have any involvement with the Iowa workforce at all I cannot encourage you enough to attend this state wide event. I am not just saying that because I am one of the speakers. This will be a great event hosted and put together by Iowa Workforce Development.

Iowa Workforce Conference
October 1 – 2, 2008
Polk County Convention Complex
Des Moines, IA


Register Here!

Keynote addresses from:

Richard L. Ferguson
CEO & Chairman
ACT, Inc.
Preparing for a World of Opportunities

Richard Seline
Principal & CEO
New Economy Strategies
Making the Complex Simple

Pamela Tate
President & CEO
Council for Adult and Experiential Learning

Creating a World of Learners

University Graduates and the Jobs that they Want

You may wonder what types of jobs today’s University graduate is looking for, and to be sure It has definitely changed over time and probably is not what you would expect. Although I have to admit I was not surprised by the list of the least desirable jobs. I did halfway expect under water BB stacking, or professional macrame to make the list. But hey – apparently today’s grad’s just aren’t that sophisticated. =)

Hot and Cold Jobs
Jobs ranked as most and least desirable by U.S. university graduates

Most desirable
1. Health and life sciences
2. Government
3. Electronics/high tech
Least desirable
1. Metals and mining
2. Retail
3. Chemicals
Source: Accenture

So what do you think? Are those really desirable jobs? and do those bottom three really belong there?  Original thought and insight is always welcome!

Three Free Ways to Give Your Employee Gas Relief

Many employers want to help their employees save money. On the downside, many employers are also feeling pinched by price increases and may not be able to help out much (besides, you know, providing a job that pays money). So here are three free things you can do to help your employees without incurring costs:

1. Flexible Time – Allowing employees to come in during non-rush times is a huge advantage. Imagine a 20 mile commute that usually takes 45-75 minutes to complete. During non-rush times, this can be reduced to 30 minutes. Not only is that an advantage gas wise, it is also an advantage time wise.

2. Compressed Work Week – Along the same lines as flexible time, you can allow your employees to come in one less day a week. Utah state offices are on the verge of doing it and not only is it a big plus with the employees, they also get more coverage (state agencies can be open from 7am-6pm with staggered schedules). One group can work M-Th and the other can work Tu-F (I’d prefer the latter).

3. Telecommuting – If a person’s job is done mainly on computer, at least part of the work week can be spent at home. You can have a person telecommute on Monday and Friday and come into the office Tuesday through Thursday.

And if these changes aren’t radical enough for you, you can go to a Results Only Work Environment (ROWE) where there are no meetings, no mandatory hours and everyone is evaluated based on their contribution.

On the flip side, every employer can think of reasons not to implement these sorts of changes. Instead of thinking that way, think of ways you can implement these because for something that costs you nothing (or close to nothing), it is certainly a huge benefit for employees.

HT: Your HR Guy