This Week's Herman Trend Alert The Consequences of Virtual Meetings

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- 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." BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: RETENTION SPECIALIST PROGRAM A growing number of people have expressed an interest in attending our Employee Retention Specialist Certificate Program. We'd like to schedule on that's convenient for those who want to attend, but need your feedback to do so. Please place RETENTION SPECIALIST in the subject line and Joyce will personally call you back to schedule the workshop. Or you can call Joyce directly at 336-210-3548 (PDT this and next week). BUSINESS IS PICKING UP Most employers are unprepared. The recovery will bring a new set of challenges for employers that have been in prolonged contracted mode. They will need more skilled workers or will need now to begin to upskill their current staffs. But organizations can not engage in Strategic Workforce Planning, when they don't know how. That's where The Herman Group can help. We can help you with your "People Review"----large or small---so that you will know who you will need and when you will need them. . . and we can also guide you to the best sources for the people you will need. For more information, call Joyce at 336-210-3548 or e-mail joyce@hermangroup.com. FIND OUT WHAT YOUR EMPLOYEES REALLY THINK AND FEEL Discover what’s really going on in 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 937-416-7066, or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html. 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. 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