This Week's Herman Trend Alert Demand-Driven Workforce Development

The Herman Trend Alert October 31, 2007 Dissatisfied US Workers Recent data published on workforce attitudes suggest a continued disconnect between employers and employees. This disconnect relates to the effectiveness of various employee retention tactics, including financial compensation, benefits, and work/life balance programs. Over three-quarters of the 3,152 employed adults surveyed view healthcare benefits (78 percent) as crucial to retaining them. Almost as many people viewed compensation (75 percent) as critical. Furthermore only 34 percent and 26 percent respectively are currently satisfied with these components of their jobs. Recently conducted by Harris Interactive in conjunction with the staffing company Spherion, "The Emerging Workforce® Study" provides comprehensive and historical data on workplace trends and measures workers' views on evolving workplace values and job satisfaction, including what fosters company loyalty and increased productivity. The Study also shows that 29 percent of workers say their companies have put less effort into retaining employees and only 13 percent say their employers have put in more effort to keep them on their jobs. "Our Study indicates some very troubling trends in the employee-employer relationship," says Roy Krause, Spherion® president and CEO. "The workforce is largely dissatisfied with employers' efforts on the factors most important to them and that will keep them in their current jobs." If they intend to win the war for talent, employers must not only understand, but adapt to their employees' evolving needs and attitudes toward work. Particularly among the younger workers, employees are redefining their ideas of "career success" and valuing aspects like life/work balance programs, providing comprehensive benefits, appropriate financial compensation, and secure work environment fostering creativity and participation. The "emergent worker" is self-reliant, highly confident, and seeks personal and professional development. Professionally, nearly every worker surveyed preferred jobs allowing them to think creatively (96 percent) and requiring an innovative approach to tasks (91 percent). Personally, employees say the most attractive workplaces are those that help meet family obligations through flex-time, job sharing, telecommuting, and other life/work balance programs. Sixty-four percent of workers now state that job stability and security are important facets of work, probably the result of continued economic and political uncertainty. Certainly, a wake-up call for employers! © Copyright 1998-2008 by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." DON'T BE LEFT BEHIND! If you've been thinking about attending our valuable Employee Retention Specialist Certificate Program, don't delay--only three spaces remain. With the employment market heating up, many positions are literally impossible to fill. Attend this course and you will learn dozens of low-/no-cost valuable strategies to attract and retain the talent you need. Recertification credit from HRCI. Next program: May 22-23, Charleston, SC. Call Carol at 336-282-9370 or visit http://www.employeeretentionspecialist.com. GET INSIDE THE MINDS OF YOUR EMPLOYEES Find out what's really going on inside the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-648-1918 or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html. NEW BABY BONUS Book Joyce to speak on the West Coast in 2008 and receive 100 of her books of your choosing. There is a new baby in the family, Spencer Jay, and Joyce would appreciate more opportunities to watch him grow. For more about Joyce, visit http://www.hermangroup.com/joyce.html or call Joyce at 336-210-3548. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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