This Week's Herman Trend Alert Accelerating the Jobs Engines

The Herman Trend Alert September 6, 2006 Benefits Race is On Again As the labor market continues to tighten, employers are becoming more competitive in their drive to attract qualified workers. They are equipping their recruiters with many of the weapons that were used to lure top talent in the late 1990s. One class of those weapons is employee benefits. While some employers were dramatically reducing their benefits offerings to control costs, more strategic firms were redefining their packages and seeking ways to respond to emerging marketplace indicators. The emphasis, given the shift to new lifestyle management, is in the area of life-work balance. A recent survey of 263 employers by JobKite reports that 147 of them have significantly increased benefits packages over the past six months. As reported in “Inside Recruiting,” published by Electronic Recruiting Exchange, the companies that increased benefits did so with the following tactics: Medical: 88 percent added health-related benefits, including life, vision, and better or increased health plans. Money: 69 percent have increased stock vesting, 401(k) funds, salary relative to market averages, sign-on bonuses, quarterly bonus plans, and/or relocation packages. Vacation: 41 percent are increasing the number of paid days off per year. Alternative working arrangements. Thirty-six percent are adding or enhancing flextime and/or telecommuting. One Fortune 1000 company says it launched a new telecommuting program on August 16, for example. Another has an informal telecommuting option to be used for unexpected events, and a formal program for modified or reduced work schedules. Only one-third of the employees using that program are men. Other: 8 percent plan to offer other miscellaneous benefits, including massages, monthly cookouts and gym memberships.” These results are consistent with our ongoing research into recruitment and retention strategies. Many of the companies talking with us describe efforts to customize benefits, like those described above, in ways that address the needs and interests of individual applicants. Some of the interest is also focused on portable benefits that the employee can take along to a new employer when making a job change. This capacity may seem counterproductive to retention, but actually helps build longer-term relationships with its move away from control and limitation. © Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurist. (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 As the economy slowly recovers and skills shortages intensify, a growing number of employees will be looking for greener pastures. Organizations will need your expertise as an Employee Retention Specialist(TM). We have scheduled our Certificate Program again for in late June in Las Vegas, Nevada. Space is limited, so please visit www.employeeretentionspecialist.com or email Joyce directly at joyce@hermangroup.com to register. Of course, we still offer our "Welcome Back" program that allows graduates to attend again---for expenses only. DO YOU SELL TO MIDMARKET COMPANIES? If so, you'll be interested in this special discount for readers of The Herman Trend Alert: Sign up to join the Midmarket Institute (at www.midmarket.org) or the Midmarket Directories (at www.midmarketworld.com/directories) before June 30, 2013 and enjoy a generous 50% discount. You will have to register each website SEPARATELY. To get your special discount, be sure to use the special code "Herman213" at checkout. Or call The Institute at (609) 275 6300 for more information. LOOKING FOR GOOD CANDIDATES? VETJOBS CAN HELP! Veterans make excellent candidates for many positions. They are experienced and often possess leadership skills. If you are looking for qualified candidates, consider hiring a veteran using VFW-sponsored VetJobs, the largest military employment site on the Internet. Thousands of returning veterans are looking for good jobs now. Mention this ad in The Herman Trend Alert and receive a 10% discount on job postings. Call Ted Daywalt at 877-838-5627 or inquire at info@VetJobs.com. To read this Herman Trend Alert on the web: http://www.hermangroup.com/alert/archive_5-15-2013.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. The Herman Trend Alert is read by over 30,000 subscribers in 87 countries, including other websites and printed periodicals. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Herman 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

[ Home · About · Products · Resources · Media ]

7112 Viridian Lane Austin, TX 78739 Voice: 336-210-3547 Toll Free in US & Canada: 800-227-3566 E-mail: info@hermangroup.com

Web site design by WebEditor Design Services, Inc.