Waging a debate: The pros and cons of raising the minimum wage

December 2, 2013 By

MinWageGraph

In September, California’s legislature approved a bill raising the state’s minimum wage from $8 an hour to $10 an hour, becoming the first state in the nation to surpass the double-digit minimum wage threshold.

But it looks like California won’t be the last. On November 19, the Massachusetts Senate voted to raise the state’s minimum wage from $8 an hour to $11 an hour. In addition, 12 other states have implemented minimum wage increases as well.

At the federal level, President Obama recently called on Congress to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $9 an hour, which would represent the first change to the federal minimum wage since 2009 and the largest increase in history. Thirty-one states adhere to the federal minimum wage.

Clearly, the push to raise the minimum wage is gaining momentum. But is it the right move for businesses, workers and the economy overall? Well, it depends on who you ask.

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How to Keep Employees Happy: Combat Attrition

November 27, 2013 By

job tipsDo you feel passionate about your work and committed to your company? 70% of Americans would be likely to respond “no” to this question.

According to Gallup’s 2013 State of the American Workforce report:

  • 18% are actively disengaged: dissatisfied, unmotivated workers with attitudes that can be contagious to coworkers
  • 52% are disengaged: doing the bare minimum required to keep their job, but without any real connection to their work
  • 30% are engaged: proactive, productive employees who feel personally connected to the company

Low Employee Engagement Increases Attrition

Actively disengaged employees cost the U.S. more than $450 billion each year. Unhappy employees are more likely to leave the organization. Adecco’s 2012 Graduation Survey revealed that 91% of recent graduates would leave a job they didn’t like within a year. Turnover is expensive: on average, replacing just one employee costs 20% of their annual salary.

Attrition occurs when employees who leave aren’t replaced. Ironically, this often results in more turnover, as remaining employees become frustrated trying to “do more with less.” If your company has an employee engagement problem, or if you’re a disengaged employee, you probably already know it.

So how do you solve the problem and avoid attrition? Start by getting inspired by these five companies, who have developed creative employee engagement strategies to keep employees happy and minimize turnover.

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Nine pieces of career advice to live by

November 22, 2013 By

job tipsI’ve recently been invited to speak to students about the “real world” and give them advice on how to succeed after college.

As I’m preparing my little talk I’ve been thinking back on my career and why I’ve enjoyed success and disappointments along the way – and what I’ve learned from both. So here’s a sneak peak at my presentation – I hope it gives you a good idea or two in your journey!

 

1. Be a positive force!

This is probably the one thing that has served me the best over the 28 years since I graduated. People want to hire people (especially college grads) that bring positivity and a can-do mentality to the workplace. Nobody likes a whiner – at least nobody that’s successful. Be a force for good. Be enthusiastic about your work, even if you think it’s beneath you. You don’t have to be outgoing if that’s not your nature. You don’t have to light up a room with your personality. But you should always come from a good mental place no matter what gets thrown at you. If you try to always be a positive force, you will always be valued by your boss and your team.

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Joblessness is gradually declining in most metro areas

November 18, 2013 By

Jobs report: in your region

As a result of October’s federal government shutdown, the BLS’ latest “Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment” report, concerning September’s job creation statistics, will not be published this month, as originally planned.

September’s data will still be released however, but not until December 5th. On that day, the BLS will publish its final “Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment” report of the year, featuring September and October’s employment figures.

Although September’s statistics have yet to be released, many economists anticipate next month’s report will be quite similar to those of recent months – revealing steady job growth throughout all regions of the United States, leading to a year-over-year deceleration in unemployment within a majority of metro areas.

Last month, the BLS found that 311 of the nation’s 372 metro areas reported lower unemployment rates in August 2013 than in August 2012. In addition, 214 metro areas’ unemployment rates were either lower than, or equal to, August’s national average of 7.3 percent. Additionally, from August 2012 to August 2013, 288 metro areas reported a rise in total nonfarm payroll employment.

Furthermore, last month, the following metro areas also released their employment and inflation statistics, with regards to August’s Consumer Price Indexes and unemployment rates.

See where joblessness is on the decline in your area now: 
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The Athlete Career Program: Merging the Workforce and the World of Sport

November 14, 2013 By

Adecco Staffing is a proud sponsor of Team USA and the U.S. Olympic Committee

They train 40 hours a week. Sometimes, they train more. And if their home and training facility aren’t in the same city, they commute.

That’s the life many elite athletes live, day after day, week after week. With so much on their plates, how can they possibly manage a career?

They get help. Adecco, in partnership with the U.S. Olympic Committee, provides career assistance to elite athletes through the USOC Athlete Career Program sponsored by Adecco. Since 2005, hundreds of athletes have gotten much-deserved support through the program, helping them plan and build lasting careers that will reward them long after their training days have ended.

Life After Sports

It’s a common misconception that elite athletes are well compensated. For example, a 2012 report from the Track & Field Athletes Association provides startling evidence to the contrary: “Approximately 50% of our athletes who rank in the top 10 in the USA in their event make less than $15,000 annually from the sport (sponsorship, grants, prize money, etc.).” The article also reports that athletes without a top 10 USA ranking earn little — if any — financial support from their athletic endeavors.

These athletes persevere out of love for their sports and a passion for competition, often at great cost to their long-term earning potential. Unfortunately, there are limited career resources available to support them. That’s why Adecco and the USOC decided to do something about it.
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5 Ways The Hiring Process is Just Like Fantasy Football

November 12, 2013 By

Recruiting the right candidatesFantasy football season is in full swing, with more than 20 million Americans each week setting their rosters in hopes of capturing a coveted league championship.

While fantasy football is all about fun – and maybe winning a few bucks – it can also be instructive for those looking to hire top talent.

The strategy and skills required to run a successful fantasy football team in many ways mirror a successful hiring process. Here are a few ways how:
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POSTED IN: Talent Management | Leave a Comment
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