Employers
Adapt To Shrinking Labor Market
Job growth in
the U.S. unexpectedly accelerated in December, with nonfarm payrolls rising by
167,000 and the jobless rate remaining at a very low 4.5%, the Labor Department
reported. Job growth was much stronger than the 100,000 expected.
(marketwatch.com).
Employers ramp up hiring plans to face a labor shortage that's forcing many to
increase wages and benefits. (USA
Today Article). Shelley Jurewicz,
MMAC’s VP of Talent Attraction, reports that according
to the YPM/IDEAL Recruit-Ability Study, to accommodate retirement and new
openings, metro Milwaukee employers shall need
25,905 additional employees through 2008! 1,800 college grads are
added annually, yet 5,300 are needed to compete (WI Policy Research Institute).
HRS signs on to sponsor MMAC/COSBE for another year.
Watch for Fuelmilwaukee’s launch in effort to adapt!
(Formerly YPM – Young Professionals of Milwaukee)
(Business Journal Article)
Which Employee Magnets &
Motivators Are Most Effective?
As employers compete for employees and learn more about
eliciting top productivity, we are bombarded with emerging benefits, incentives
and workplace perks! HRS is currently surveying southeastern Wisconsin
employees to ascertain which of these investments are most important to
employees and provide employers the best return on investment. (Survey
at AskHRS.com). Early results catapult flexible
schedules, fitness benefits and additional vacation days as leading magnets to
attract, retain and motivate. Final results and interpretations shall be
released this Spring!
Companies See Wellness Plans As Cure To Rising Costs
Cost-containment efforts are under way around the nation at a time when the rate
of medical inflation remains high. After zooming higher and higher in the last
few years, deductibles and co-payments paid by plan members mostly leveled off
this year. Wellness programs and preventative-care initiatives, including
employee incentives deserve some of the credit. (Houston
Chronicle). Employers can promote wellness and productivity by encouraging
employees to maximize the lunch hour with fresh air, healthy food and exercise.
(More quick tips from Reader's Digest)
Do
Pretty People Earn More?
AOL
published a home page ticker article January 30, 2007 by Careerbuilder. "Good
looks can have a real impact on workers' bank
accounts, according to research published in the
Journal of Labor Economics. Attractive people
earn about 5 percent more in hourly pay than
their average-looking colleagues, who in turn
earn 9 percent more per hour than the
plainest-looking workers."
(AOL Article)
"Pretty" no
longer refers
to natural
beauty,
but rather grooming and self-presentation. Polling employers for 25 years
reveals a widespread perception that how one presents her/himself is directly
correlated to how one presents his/her work. "Pretty" can be a product of
discipline, effective marketing, effort and desire to succeed. One cannot
deny the behavioral patterns and definite correlation by statistics, yet one also cannot
ignore the exceptions to the rule. "Dress for success" still prevails,
especially in heavily interactive positions.
However, in extreme cases, over-grooming can
reveal extreme insecurity or can steal time
otherwise spent devoted to work.
"There is joy in work.
There is no happiness except in the realization that we have
accomplished something."
Henry
Ford
Stressed Out Workers Costing
You Money?
By not
adapting to the needs of working parents, U.S.
employers might be losing as much as $300 billion a year in lost productivity,
new research shows. The level of
stress they feel at work can manifest itself in everything from minor workplace
disruptions to lower job satisfaction, and can be "very toxic to employee
attitudes, work performance, and well-being."
(Inc. Magazine Article)
Great Growth for HRO – Human
Resource Outsourcing
According to
IDC, a market intelligence firm based in Massachusetts, companies worldwide are
expected to spend more than $103.3 billion by 2007 on HRO, up significantly from
the $61.2 billion spent in 2002. The report expects the growth to continue at
roughly 9% through 2010, with a significant portion occurring at the mid-market
level. Outsourcing solutions have become more than a trend. It's estimated that
85 percent of all U.S. companies outsource some of their HR. Beyond
flexible utilization for small-mid market employers; large employers enjoy great
third party advantages, especially in assessment for promotion and recruitment.
As a well-respected HRO leader, our CEO was called upon to highlight the
benefits of outsourcing at Forbes Sky Radio.
Listen.
HRS To Host Seminar At The Wisconsin Business & Technology Expo!
May 2-3rd, 2007,
Wisconsin Exposition Center at State Fair Park.
Come hear keynote
speakers, including our very own CEO, Jessica Ollenburg, presenting solutions to
a shrinking labor market. Visit
www.biztimes.com/expo
for more details.
Employers' Evaluation Tools for Online Degrees
Aboutonlinedegrees.org provides us tips on
distinguishing between accredited distance learning programs and
"fake diploma mills."
The Princeton Review has also published a
quick summary of pros, cons and institutions available for online
degrees.
Phoenix Office To Open
2007!!!
HRS is expanding
to the Phoenix, AZ area soon! Details to follow.
