The Official ASTD Blog
Training industry news

Australia: Warning on future skills shortfall

November 17, 2009 14:30 by Ann Pace

Australia could face a shortfall of 1.4 million workers by 2025, according to a new report.

The Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) is presenting its "Workplace Futures Report" to a summit in Melbourne today.

VECCI says the nation's ageing population will impact on skills and older Australians need to be encouraged into the work force.

Spokesman Andrew Rimington says older workers need more flexible options.

"We have seen, for instance, the level of work force participation rate of the aged 55 to 59 age group over the last year increase to a record level during a time of economic downturn," he said.

"The increase of older workers in the work force does create consideration of issues around job re-design and flexible practice, shorter working hours perhaps, part time arrangements."

The VECCI report says Victorian employers could face a shortfall of about 440,000.

The report says Victoria's population will reach to 6.7 million in 15 years, but work force growth will decline, because of the ageing population.

View the article source.


Tags: , , , ,

Categories: International | News | Research

Businesses Mount Efforts to Retain Valued Employees

November 17, 2009 14:30 by Ann Pace

(The Wall Street Journal) -- Many employers and employees don't see eye to eye on what keeps workers happy, a disparity that could spell trouble for businesses as the economy recovers.

Employers consider management climate and workers' relationships with their bosses as most important, but employees cite pay and benefits, according to a survey last winter by Spherion Corp., a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., staffing firm. Respondents included 306 human-resources managers and 2,519 employees at firms of all sizes. Surveys conducted in 2007 and 2005 generated the same top results.

Tucker Callaway, a sales director at CA Inc., says compensation was a big factor in his decision to join the software maker in April. He also cites poor morale and a lack of leadership at his former employer, another technology company.

Mr. Callaway, 34, says CA gave him a 20% raise. "I have a mortgage and two kids, so pay is extremely important," he says.

Workplace experts say many workers have grown frustrated during the recession and might consider leaving as the labor market improves. Employees are less committed to their employers, according to an annual survey by consulting firm Watson Wyatt Worldwide Inc. and WorldatWork, an association of human-resource professionals. Results were based on responses by 1,300 workers at 235 large U.S. firms in May. Commitment dropped most among top performers, according to the survey.

Read the full article.


Tags: , , ,

Categories: News | Research

Categories: News | Research
Actions: E-mail | Permalink | Comments (0) | Comment RSSRSS comment feed

Despite Warnings, U.S. Companies Remain Unprepared for Baby Boomers' Exodus

November 17, 2009 14:30 by Ann Pace

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. (PRNewswire) -- With millions of Baby Boomers poised to age out of the workforce, U.S. companies remain unprepared for an imminent talent drain that threatens to alter the national economy, according to a new report by the Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College.

Nearly 70 percent of the almost 700 organizations surveyed do not yet know how old their workers are or how many are likely to retire. Forty percent reported that the aging of the workforce will have a detrimental impact on their businesses by 2012.

"The out-migration of a generation of workers will upset the entire balance of the workplace," said co-author Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, director of the Sloan Center on Aging & Work. "U.S. companies need to start planning strategically for workforce sustainability. The current abundance of older worker talent and experience is going to dry up, and businesses will very soon need to fill hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs."

The report -- The Pressures of Talent Management -- examined talent management practices at 696 organizations across the 10 leading sectors of the economy. The companies studied employ more than one million workers combined and represent businesses that account for roughly 85 percent of the jobs and payrolls in the U.S.

Read the full release.


Tags: , , ,

Categories: News | Research

Categories: News | Research
Actions: E-mail | Permalink | Comments (0) | Comment RSSRSS comment feed

How to Keep Your Best Executives

October 27, 2009 12:30 by Ann Pace

Determined to retain your most talented executives? Well, here's some counterintuitive advice: The best way to keep them from leaving is to prepare them to do just that.

In tough economic times like these, retention becomes less of a priority for many companies as they focus on more-immediate business concerns. But companies that neglect this issue during a downturn may be in for a nasty surprise just as things start looking up: Historically, there is a significant increase in the number of executives leaving their companies as market conditions improve and more job opportunities open up.

That's why it's crucial that companies get serious about retention now. And that means giving executives opportunities to take on greater responsibility, broaden their skills and cultivate a network of relationships with their peers. These are the things that executives we have surveyed consistently say they want most from their jobs.

Read the full article.


Tags: , , , ,

Categories: News | The Economy

Categories: News | The Economy
Actions: E-mail | Permalink | Comments (0) | Comment RSSRSS comment feed

NYT: Networks Too Big for Their Own Good

October 19, 2009 19:56 by jllorens

(From NYT.com, By JON PICOULT) IMAGINE a workplace where all the plum assignments, all the bonuses and all the promotions are steered to relatives, friends and other members of an executive’s inner circle. In any self-respecting organization, such a practice wouldn’t be tolerated.

Most companies purport to be meritocracies, claiming to reward, recognize and promote employees based on workplace achievements, rather than on educational pedigree, political connections or other criteria not based on merit. In a meritocracy, advancement doesn’t hinge on who you know; it’s based on what you’ve accomplished.

Whether or not the companies that fly the meritocracy flag are really meritocracies is a commentary for another day. But one thing is clear: meritocracies are good. When promotions and big bonuses are awarded based on connections and relationships, without regard to individual merit, companies lose credibility and set the stage for an exodus of real talent.

Read more.


Tags: , ,

Categories: Books | News

Categories: Books | News
Actions: E-mail | Permalink | Comments (1) | Comment RSSRSS comment feed

The Three Rs: Retention, Return on Investment and Recession

September 21, 2009 15:00 by Ann Pace

Results from independent research, published on September 21, show that 67% of graduates surveyed are likely to consider leaving their current employer as the country comes out of recession. Commissioned by the Inspirational Development Group (IDG), provider of bespoke leadership and management programmes, the results offer a snapshot of how graduates are viewed and valued in the workplaces of some of the UK's largest employers, including the NHS, Thomson Reuters and the Lloyds Banking Group.

Focusing on graduates two and a half to three and a half years into their scheme, the report investigates the perceptions and reality of graduate retention, recession impact and valuation issues for graduate programmes, both from the organisation and graduate's perspective.

Read the full release. 


Tags: , , ,

Categories: Research | The Economy

Tough Decisions in a Downturn Don’t Have to Lead to Disengaged Employees

August 13, 2009 16:30 by Ann Pace

An engaged workforce is more important now than ever. But in the current economy organizations may feel their options are limited.

“Even while cutting costs, our research shows companies can still engage their employees through soft dollar investments made by their leaders and managers,” notes William Werhane, Hay Group Insight’s global managing director. “Our research shows that even during the downturn, companies that have focused on maintaining open and honest communication with employees, ensuring that strategic directions are clear, fostering trust and confidence in senior leaders are seeing positive returns on their investments.”

New data from Hay Group Insight reveal that companies that have remained focused on employee engagement in the current economic downturn have succeeded in maintaining and even increasing motivation levels. But harnessing and channelling that motivation is also critical to deliver superior financial results, customer satisfaction, and employee performance.

Read the full release.


Tags: , , ,

Categories: The Economy

Categories: The Economy
Actions: E-mail | Permalink | Comments (2) | Comment RSSRSS comment feed

New Study Identifies Strategies to Retain Experienced Workers

July 30, 2009 13:00 by Ann Pace

(From BUSINESS WIRE)--A new study supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and coordinated by The Lewin Group finds that health care agencies and other companies can improve morale, reduce turnover and save money with a variety of cost-effective initiatives targeted at experienced workers. From flexible schedules that accommodate “snow birds” in Arizona and seasonal employees in Maine to efforts to encourage employees to participate in the administrative decisions that affect their lives, the “Wisdom at Work: Retaining Experienced Nurses” study identifies effective strategies that strengthen work environments and benefit employees. While the study focused primarily on identifying ways to retain nurses in health care settings, its findings are transferable to a wide variety of workplaces, both inside and outside the health care arena.

Companies that have successfully retained veteran workers cite the following reasons for their success: sustained commitments by corporate leadership to keep experienced staff on the job; innovative approaches to staffing; employee health and wellness programs; corporate cultures that value aging; and compensation packages that cater to older workers, offering benefits such as phased retirement options and flexible work arrangements. Retaining experienced workers makes good business sense, saving employers costs associated with hiring and training new staff. Veteran workers also provide valuable experience-based insight, maintain institutional memory, and mentor less experienced employees.

Read the full release.


Tags: , , , ,

Categories: News

Categories: News
Actions: E-mail | Permalink | Comments (12) | Comment RSSRSS comment feed

Canada: FuelCell Energy Charges up High-Potentials

April 24, 2009 16:31 by jllorens

Ottawa, Canada (PRWEB) April 24, 2009 -- FuelCell Energy Inc., the global leader in clean stationary electric power, implemented Halogen Software's talent management suite globally in just six weeks, and within one appraisal cycle created a high-performance culture. The organization improved the integrity and value of its employee performance data, aligned its rapidly growing workforce around a common set of goals, and ensured its high-potential employees were recognized and nurtured.

The demands of the current economic climate are putting pressure on organizations globally to quickly gain a better understanding of their workforce and align, communicate with and motivate their top performers. FuelCell recognized that, especially during this difficult economic downturn, maximizing the performance of its human capital was essential. Understanding where to allocate scarce resources and how to strategically develop talent to meet business needs is an urgent necessity for companies of all sizes. FuelCell Energy is a clear example of how quickly organizations can achieve these goals and strengthen their competitive position in the process.

By automating its talent management processes FuelCell helped strengthen and streamline its rapid global expansion— growing from 150 to over 500 employees in four years. Before implementing Halogen's solution, the organization faced a number of challenges in their performance management system, including a lack of consistency, accountability, and employee engagement with the existing process. As a result, performance reviews were not considered a valuable tool for the organization as a whole.

“The HR team found the system and process painful for everyone involved and looked to overhaul it and implement an automated system,” said Sandra Mauro, HR Manager with FuelCell Energy. “Once we had decided to invest in Halogen, things began to improve quickly. We were live within six weeks of training. It was awesome. I have done a lot of software implementations in my career and I know how painful they can be. Getting Halogen up and running was painless.”

Halogen Software is able to consistently implement its suite for customers under very tight deadlines, even for those with global operations, because the solution is so flexible and easily configured. This enables customers to have the Halogen applications adapt to their processes and forms—rather than the other way around.

Once Halogen's suite had been successfully implemented, FuelCell was able to address its business problems almost immediately. Availability of information and a methodology toward a high performance culture began to evolve and improve with each review process. Accountability for goals and alignment around performance is now the norm for its global workforce. The company fosters greater recognition of high performance, and nurtures employee growth via development planning and ongoing feedback. The intelligence gained through the performance appraisal process is now readily accessible and is therefore actionable, unlike with the paper-based process, which was impractical to aggregate and report on. The shift is an exciting one for the HR team.

“I recommend Halogen to pretty much anyone who will listen. I talk about it all the time,” says Mauro. “We use the employee performance management system to drive a higher level of accountability. As a high-growth company, we have many employees who join our team from different companies and corporate cultures. The new system enables us to standardize performance expectations and unify our corporate culture.”

(Read the entire article at Canadian Business Online.)


Tags: , , ,

Categories: The Economy

Categories: The Economy
Actions: E-mail | Permalink | Comments (0) | Comment RSSRSS comment feed

Talent Management - What is it? Does it Really Matter?

April 2, 2009 12:36 by Kristen Fyfe

ASTD is taking a leadership role in defining talent management. A new research report and whitepaper discuss 20 components of what comprises good, integrated talent management and why it matters. ASTD's research team found that while many people talk about "talent management" it means different things to different people. Press release is here.  Fact sheet is here.

 


Tags: , , , , , ,

Categories: ASTD in the News