Trends That Matter
We include developments from the Staffing Industry Daily News and The Staffing Stream to help you focus on emerging movements that could shape your business for the better.
Allow Elastic Schedules
Workers say they are more productive when offered flexible summer hours.
Ninety-one percent of U.S. employees who are offered summer flextime say it improves morale and 80 percent say it increases productivity, suggesting this is one of the most effective methods of engagement, according to Randstad’s Q2 2013 Engagement Study. However, only one in seven said their employers offer a reduced schedule or flex hours during the summer.
“While employees’ salaries are a significant factor in workplace satisfaction, employee engagement is not all about financial compensation,” says Jim Link, managing director at Randstad U.S. “There are many non-monetary programs employers can adopt to help improve the morale and productivity of their employee base.”
Independents Fight Back
Group forms to defend the legitimacy of contractor relationships.
With U.S. and state governments taking aim at independent contractor relationships, a new organization is fighting back. The group, called “It’s My Business,” plans to raise public awareness about the importance of independent contractors. Its members include companies that use independent contractors as well as dozens of independent contractors themselves.
It seeks to educate the public about the importance of independent contractors. Many people don’t understand what independent contractors do for the economy, and the mode of working is facing challenges from governments, says Karen Mellen, a spokesperson for the group.
Wage Growth Maintains Pace
With an overall modest jobs picture.
Annual wage growth for private sector workers will likely stay about the same pace in th coming months, according to Bloomberg BNA’s second quarter wage trend indicator.
“Current labor market conditions do not provide the environment needed for robust growth in wages,” says economist Kathryn Kobe, a consultant to BNA. “Although it is slowly improving, the overall jobs picture remains modest.”
Cater to the Mobile Candidate
If your sites are not usable on mobile devices, you will lose these folks.
For all of us strapped to desks during our workday, the still our main machine. However, many people with jobs in other industries can get by just fine with exclusive use of mobile devices (phones and/or tablets).
This means you simply can no longer limit your website and overall Internet strategy to desktop computers. It means you can no longer ask your users to pinch and zoom, and click little tiny links designed for a large monitor. It’s no longer up to you how your customers and candidates access the Internet. They are in charge; it’s their choice. If you don’t accommodate them, your competition will.
—Source: “Is Your Firm Ready for the Mobile Candidate?” The Staffing Stream, by Jason Lander, founder and chief promoter of Staffing Robot.
Care More, Recruit Less
Become a recruiter who makes a difference in people’s lives and careers.
In any industry, the first thing you need to do as a recruiter is step them throughout the back, put yourself in that person’s shoes then treat entire process like you want to be treated if you were looking for a new position.
Follow through with your candidates and make sure they are constantly updated on the position for which you have them submitted. Make sure you let them know if they have not been selected for a role in the same manner as if they had been selected. It should go both ways when it comes to the good and the bad.
—Source: “The world needs more CARE-ers, Not RECRUIT-ers,” The Staffing Stream, by Romona Rivere, the MedSys Group.
