Most Clicked SmartBrief on Workforce Stories
1. 3 perks that will keep top performers happy
SmartBrief on Workforce | May 29, 2012
Research shows that throwing more money at top performers isn't enough to keep them motivated, no matter the worker's age, Sylvia Ann Hewlett writes. Workers are more likely to be engaged if they're offered flexible work schedules, recognition for their accomplishments and breaks during the day, she writes. Harvard Business Review online (05/24)
2. Are your employees about to crack?
SmartBrief on Workforce | May 29, 2012
A significant proportion of employees report feeling stressed at work -- a trend that could have negative health consequences for many people. An illustration with this article depicts some of the warning signs of stressed-out and overworked employees. They include fatigue, poor performance and a change in work hours. More than half of workers said they had feigned illness to avoid work, many because of stress, according to one survey. Mashable (05/27)
3. Companies should aim to integrate, not onboard, new hires
SmartBrief on Workforce | May 23, 2012
Too often companies rely on "checklist style" onboarding processes that don't fully integrate new employees into their respective organizations, Tony Kubica and Sara LaForest write. They offer six tips for talent integration, such as arranging internal mentorships and regular feedback meetings. ERE.net (05/22)
4. Hire for cultural fit to retain, engage workers
SmartBrief on Workforce | May 23, 2012
Being wowed by credentials instead of weighing whether a job candidate fits your company's culture can lead to worker engagement and retention problems, James C. Price writes. "If the company wants to be direct yet personable, the candidate needs to exuberate those characteristics. ... If a company values its production overall, then the candidate doesn't have to have great soft skills but needs to be driven and work-oriented," Price writes. RefreshLeadership.com (05/22)
5. Survey: 25% of new hires not retained
SmartBrief on Workforce | May 23, 2012
Employers lose nearly a quarter of new workers within a year of hiring them, and another third of new workers don't meet productivity goals, according to a survey of by Allied Van Lines of 500 human resources professionals. Less than 20% of respondents said they had a budget devoted specifically to onboarding, and those that did have such budgets reported better retention rates. BenefitsPro.com (05/22)
6. Is the workplace becoming less civil?
SmartBrief on Workforce | May 25, 2012
Economic woes and the rise of electronic forms of communications have caused the workplace to become less civil, which is hurting retention and productivity, Mohini Kundu writes. Managers should look to reverse this trend by making it clear that incivility won't be tolerated, and by training employees to deal with high-tension situations. TalentMgt.com (05/25)
7. 70,000 Americans will lose jobless benefits next month
SmartBrief on Workforce | May 29, 2012
Hundreds of thousands of Americans without work, most of them the long-term unemployed, will lose extended jobless benefits in the coming months as the government scales back help. The reduction will affect 70,000 unemployed workers next month. New York Times (tiered subscription model), The (05/28)
8. 10 Signs of Unhealthy Company Culture
SmartBrief on Workforce | May 23, 2012
OPEN Forum blogs (05/23)
9. Workplace flexibility should accommodate older workers
SmartBrief on Workforce | May 24, 2012
Employers need to provide greater flexibility for older workers, Kathleen Christensen writes. For example, a worker who is 60 or older may need to shift to part-time work, job share or move to a lower-demand position, she writes. Huffington Post, The (05/23)
10. Direct contracts with physicians gain favor with some big firms
SmartBrief on Workforce | May 25, 2012
Large self-insured employers, including Toyota and Perdue Farms, are contracting directly with physicians instead of relying on networks created by insurance companies. Direct contracts can eliminate certain fees and give employers more control over how much they pay physicians, experts say. "We at Perdue and the patient and provider all have the same goal: We all want to maximize the health of the patient. Typically, large insurance companies do not have that same goal,” says Roger Merrill, chief medical officer at Perdue Farms. American Medical News (free content) (05/23)
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