Herman Trend Alert: The Pitiful State of Employee Engagement
Recently, global consultants BlessingWhite released a landmark study on the State of Employee Engagement with survey results gathered from North America, the United Kingdom (and Ireland) and the Asia Pacific Region. Engaged employees are described as excited and use their talents and discretionary effort to make a difference for their employers. In North America, fewer than one in three (only 29 percent) of employees are fully engaged and 19 percent are actually disengaged, according to BlessingWhite’s study. The study also found a strong correlation between employee engagement and retention.
Herman Trend Alert: Thriving in Economic Crisis
Some enterprises are thriving through this period of economic crisis. First, the sales of fuel efficient, mostly small cars are booming. Toyota dealerships have only 15-days inventory of Corollas on their lots. In May, Honda’s modest Civic became the No. 1 selling car in the United States. Logistics alternatives to diesel-consuming trucks that are more efficient at moving goods, like railroads, are also doing well.
Herman Trend Alert: The Real Story Behind the U.S. Unemployment Rate
The latest jump in the United States unemployment statistics has finally prompted us to speak out about what is really happening in the U.S. labor marketplace and what effects these changes will have on our trading partners around the globe. Last Friday, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced that the unemployment rate is the highest since October 2004. This 10 percent boost was the biggest percentage point gain in 33 years.
Herman Trend Alert: Demand-Driven Workforce Development
Occasionally, we highlight organizations on the leading edge of thought and action. The Human Capital Academy (HCA) provides effective community-based, demand-driven workforce development [approved by the United States Department of Labor (DOL) Employment and Training Administration] and their paradigm is worth sharing.
Herman Trend Alert: Social Responsibility is Good Strategy
Many indicators point to the fact Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a wise business strategy. In our book, "How to Become an Employer of Choice," we discuss why people want to work for companies that are good corporate citizens. One of the elements of being an Employer of Choice is "Making a Difference." We know, when employers give their people opportunities to make a difference that the workers feel more "bonded" to the organization. In these times of a tight (and getting tighter) labor market, it is particularly important to press whichever buttons are effective in keeping people and keeping them engaged and productive.
Herman Trend Alert: Job Growth at the Executive Level
From “Herman Trend Alert,” by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists GREENVILLE, S.C. — The economic slowdown here in the United States is not having the expected effect on the demand for qualified executive talent. ExecuNet’s "2008 Executive Job Market Intelligence Report" finds that increasing demand, along with a shortage of qualified talent
Herman Trend Alert: Brazil’s Bright Future
When Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia traveled to Brazil in the 1990s to talk about the future, they characterized the country as "a sleeping giant –just about to awaken." The well-respected investment firm of Goldman Sachs has given the designation of "BRIC" to the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC). In fact, the investment leader even offers an index fund of BRIC investments. The fund was created to tap these countries’ "tremendous growth potential."
Herman Trend Alert: Our Wireless Future
In a recent report issued by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, data indicates that many Americans would find it more difficult to give up their mobile phones than the Internet, television or landline telephones.
Herman Trend Alert: Second Life Revisited
From “Herman Trend Alert,” by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists GREENVILLE, SC — Last year, the virtual world Second Life (SL) (secondlife.com) received quite a bit of media coverage when several Fortune 500 companies staged events or built virtual presences there. Not so long ago, we covered the use of SL for market
Herman Trend Alert: Digital Dirt Hurts Candidates
According to the executive recruiter Execunet, a large majority of recruiters used Internet search engines in 2007 to "uncover information about candidates." In fact, the number is a whopping 83.2 percent — an increase of 11.4 percent over the percentage of recruiters using the Internet in 2005. Recruiters are using online information to augment resumes. Moreover, here is the real news: 43 percent said they eliminated candidates based on this "digital dirt" — before even making the first phone calls.
Herman Trend Alert: The Natives are Restless — Again
From “Herman Trend Alert,” by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists GREENVILLE, SC — A global survey of 4,500 workers indicates that more people anticipate leaving their employers this year than last. In the 2006 BlessingWhite study, 65 percent said that they expected to “definitely” remain with their employers through the year. In
Herman Trend Alert: Older Workers in Greater Demand
From “Herman Trend Alert,” by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists GREENVILLE, SC — According to a Robert Wood Johnson study titled "Wisdom at Work", 1 million people turn 60 years old each month. Life expectancy is now 77. Between now and 2010, the number of United States workers ages 55 to 64