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kevin kennemer
the people group

Improving Our World One Workplace at a Time
 
Corporate America Losing the Hearts and Minds of Employees

by Kevin Kennemer, SPHR
frustrated

Most American workers want to put in a good day's work. There is a deep desire created in all people to be productive, creative, innovative, inventive, and to leave this world in a better condition. However, our American corporate culture is losing the battle for the hearts and minds of employees and has fallen far from the mark. Rather than working to win the hearts and minds of employees, corporations are driving a stake in the soul of the American worker.

After a two-year feasibility study, the non-profit organization Winning Workplaces identified in their Case Prospectus the cruel realities we face in our current work environment.

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  • The American workplace, a source of our nation's strength, is also at the root of considerable burdens for many individuals, families and communities.
  • Trust and respect in the workplace is breaking down, with less than 40% of employees believing or trusting their senior managers.
  • Employees are feeling less control over their jobs.
  • Opportunities are shrinking in the workplace.
  • Employees are often forced to choose between work and family due to company demands.
  • Workers are becoming more detached from their employers due to globalization and outsourcing.
  • Work is dominating the life of the American worker.
  • Employees spend, on average, 46 hours a week on their job, not counting time online at home or linked to a BlackBerry away from the office at night or on weekends.
  • When jobs are satisfying and challenging, it invigorates employees in other areas of their lives.
  • When the workplace deflates, frustrates and demeans people, workers are robbed of their energy and desires needed to optimize performance as spouses, parents and citizens.
  • Up to 66% of employees say they regularly experience high levels of stress on the job, a significant and growing public health concern leading to drug abuse, mental health problems, accidents and absenteeism.
.Read entire article...
Workforce of the Future?

Libby Sartain, former chief people officer of Southwest Airlines and Yahoo, recently stated her futuristic view of the job market to
Workforce Management, when asked, "What are the biggest challenges these days for HR leaders?"

Libby Sartain: I think the talent marketplace in the last two or three years has changed so dramatically that almost everything we do in HR has got to change with it. The evolution of the Internet, social media, the global economy, the Gen Y generation coming of age as the baby boomer generation is leaving creates a situation where you can no longer just think that you can have an opening, and recruit for the opening and get an employee.

The company used to be in the driver's seat: "Here's the job I have. Here's how much I want to pay you to do this work. Come to work for me under my terms as the employer."

I think those days are fading. I think it will evolve almost to the point that you have a marketplace like eBay where someone will put themselves out to bid: "Here I am. Here's what I'm willing to do for how much money I'm willing to make. And here's my hours and my location and what I can do for you." It's going to be that person in the driver's seat.

And that person may be a Gen Y person or a baby boomer looking for a little more flexibility in their lifestyle. I think employers are going to have to learn how to have this individual work arrangement with each employee in certain aspects of the talent. I'm not saying that's going to be the case for retail jobs or volume hiring positions. But it's going to be the case for some of your top talent or some of your core talent in certain industries. It's beginning to happen. The Silicon Valley is probably where we see a lot of it. But it's going to sweep the country.

Read transcript of entire interview


June 2008

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In This Issue
Corporate America Losing the Hearts and Minds of Employees
Workforce of the Future
Positive People Practices Build Winning Companies
Positive People Practices Build Winning Companies

Happy Employee

Why should a company's leadership team adopt, model and promote positive people practices?


-Increased productivity

-Increased number of applications for each open position

-Attract better talent

-Employees are less resistant to change

-Employees are more engaged and invested in company

-Lower health care costs

-Lower worker's compensation costs

-Lower absenteeism rates

-Lower turnover

-Higher quality products and services

-Improved financial performance
 
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