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| Staples Survey Reveals: A Shred a Day Keeps the Stress Away | |||||||||||||
| An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but the key to a stress-free lifestyle may be more than just proper diet and exercise. According to a national consumer survey conducted by Staples Inc., 47 percent of respondents felt their stress level diminish after the simple act of shredding. In addition to experiencing "Post-Shredding Stress Reduction," people felt smarter (85 percent), more organized (83 percent) and in control of their lives (80 percent) after shredding. With Americans facing an unstable economy, concerns about their financial future and personal security continue to rise -- and for good reason. According to recent reports, the number of reported security breaches has increased significantly over years past. Staples' survey revealed that shredding made consumers feel safer (92 percent) and calmer (42 percent), allowing for an emotional release. Emotional release can help reduce stress, and one third of respondents agreed that shredding made them feel they've just let go of the past and can start a new chapter of their life. In fact, 86 percent felt shredding would help them get rid of clutter in their life and nearly half (49 percent) believe that shredding helps them maintain a balanced life. Other survey findings include: | |||||||||||||
| [Full Article] Feb-26-2009 | |||||||||||||
| Companies Taking Action to Boost Employee Morale | |||||||||||||
| To offset the effects of a sagging economy, companies are taking steps to boost employee morale, a new survey finds. Nearly seven in 10 (68 percent) chief financial officers (CFOs) interviewed said they are implementing strategies to buoy the mood of their teams. However, not all employers have jumped on the bandwagon -- more than one in four (26 percent) executives said their firms aren't doing anything to improve morale. The most common way businesses are attempting to raise workplace morale is through increased and improved communication, cited by 37 percent of respondents. Also of note, nearly one in five (18 percent) CFOs said their companies have offered their employees additional financial awards. The survey was developed by Accountemps, the world's first and largest specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with more than 1,400 CFOs across the United States. CFOs were asked, “In the past 12 months, what steps, if any, has your company taken to improve employee morale?” Their responses: | |||||||||||||
| [Full Article] Feb-26-2009 | |||||||||||||
| A Star is Saved: A Five-Point Plan for Retaining Your Best People | |||||||||||||
| Saving our star performers takes a solid plan and lots of time and attention to proven people practices. For example, the candidate needs to feel comfortable from the minute they enter your website or your office, so be aggressively friendly. This article details five points you need to consider to save your stars. | |||||||||||||
| [Full Article] Jan-29-2009 | |||||||||||||
| Need a Job? Résumé Tips for Techies | |||||||||||||
| Tech résumés are piling up faster than the local landfill. It's more important than ever to have a strong résumé that is sure to stand out from the crowd. Unfortunately, techies are notorious for producing résumés as dense and inaccessible as a secure coding manual. | |||||||||||||
| [Full Article] Jan-29-2009 | |||||||||||||
| Corporate Training Spending Declines 11% | |||||||||||||
| Economic constraints have taken a toll on corporate training budgets. Bersin & Associates' just-published 2009 Corporate Learning Factbook shows that over the last year, companies have cut training spending and staffing; changed training program priorities; moved to coaching, informal learning, collaborative activities, and other less costly training methods; and increased reliance on outsourcing. The U.S. corporate training market shrunk from $58.5 billion in 2007 to $56.2 billion in 2008, the greatest decline in more than 10 years Average training expenditures per employee (which include training budgets and payroll) fell 11 percent over the past year - from $1,202 per learner in 2007 to $1,075 per learner in 2008. Staff resources also took a hit. In 2008, large companies employed 3.4 training staffers per 1,000 learners, down from 5.1 per 1,000 in 2007; mid-sized companies employed 4.9 staffers per 1,000 learners in 2008, compared to 7.0 staffers per 1,000 in 2007. In good years, training organizations continued to funnel dollars and staff into traditional and often non-strategic training programs. When budgets became tight, organizations with a traditional training focus suffered most. Today's business world demands a combination of formal and informal learning with an emphasis on collaboration, knowledge sharing, social networking, coaching, and mentoring. While formal, instructor-led training is not going away, it is becoming a smaller and smaller percentage of training budgets. Business, HR, and learning leaders must think differently about corporate training and focus on those informal and collaborative strategies that will save money and increase the breadth of organizational learning. Other findings: | |||||||||||||
| [Full Article] Jan-29-2009 | |||||||||||||
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