Resources for talent management

Involve the Right People for Effective Change

2012-02-08T10:05:42-06:00

In “Alice in Wonderland,” the white rabbit is eternally behind schedule and skittishly hyperactive. What is easily overlooked is his firm grasp of the subtle intricacies of effective change management. For example, he off-handedly advises Alice, “Don’t just do something, stand there!”

Although this statement initially appears counterintuitive – after all, much of formal change management is getting individuals to actually do things differently – the change will only be effective when the right people do the right things.

Oftentimes during change, so much emphasis is placed on end results that we take shortcuts on the way those end results are achieved. For instance, during a recent engagement, a client was implementing a new process for the operators to follow. To meet the expectation of a speedy implementation, the area manager intended to provide the process training to the operators. On the surface, that might not sound like a

Reliability Reduces Waste of Time, Talent and Resources

2012-02-06T08:45:11-06:00

Waste is seen in many different forms in manufacturing. Some of these wastes include physical, time and talent.

Physical waste is anything that is left over from the process that has to be discarded, recycled or sold. For every process, there is an expected amount of waste that is unavoidable. However, the waste that we will focus on is the excess waste that is produced because of equipment or process reliability issues. There are many processes that are a one-shot process, where if it is interrupted during the process, all of the materials become waste.

Time waste also directly relates to equipment and process reliability. Any time that the system is down for unplanned maintenance, that means there is extra time required to make up the work, idle manpower and manpower required to correct the deficiency. In many cases, the extra time required to make up the work falls into overtime or extra shifts.

Talent waste is the use of time and education to repair or cor

Know Where You Are Going for Successful Change

2012-01-18T08:44:14-06:00

Early in his change-management career, Yogi Berra was advising a professional sports organization in New York on some of the finer points of managing change. At the executive briefing, Berra delivered his change-management theory overview, which he summed up in this single statement: “You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might end up someplace else."

Apparently, the executive board was impressed because they extended his engagement an additional 14 years. Although his actual change consulting career was short lived, Berra did highlight one of the most critical aspects of successful change – knowing where you’re going. In organizational change, where you’re going is usually summed up in business terms: lower cost, higher quality, greater customer satisfaction, etc. These objectives, however, are the results of specific, repeated behaviors. How change truly occurs is by getting people in the org

4 Steps to Learn New Skills in Less Time

2012-01-11T08:55:22-06:00

Business changes require that we effectively learn new processes and skills in less time. With the influx of a new workforce and the imminent exit of our most experienced workers, we need to document expertise so that it can become institutional knowledge. In this article, we explore a four-step kick-start that can help you capture the critical elements needed for a course in minimal time. After completing the four steps, a learning organization can prioritize development without losing vital intellectual capital.

The Life Cycle Institute believes that learning is a process of alignment, assimilation and application — alignment on learning goals and documenting expectations, participation in a learning event designed and delivered for how adults learn, and application of learning on the job. The four-step process described in this article is used to help ensure that the assimilate phase results in learning transfer and leads the learner to apply new understanding and to

Don't be the Grinch Who Resists Change

2011-12-21T08:40:30-06:00

It is starting to feel a lot like Christmas. The tree is decorated, stockings are hung over the fireplace, and Christmas carols fill the airwaves. This is all good and cheery, but what really makes it feel like Christmas is trying to memorize 15 songs for our Singing Christmas Tree this year, scheduling travel to see family, and Christmas shopping for my wife and three girls, including a 15-year-old who thinks that “any new car would be fine.” Needing something to cheer me up, I turn on “The Grinch” and realize two things: First, deep down, part of me secretly empathizes with him. Second, there is an important change message in the story.

As Christmas in Whoville approaches, our old buddy Mr. Grinch is exhibiting some resistant behavior – appearing supportive while engaging in active sabotage, co-opting others to resist (although I am not sure his dog was as helpful as expected) and numerous other nefarious activities. As we deal with resistance, it is

Strategies for Overcoming Resistance to Change

2011-10-18T16:25:16-05:00

Will Rogers was one of the most revered public figures in the early 1900s, and much of his popularity was due to his tremendous understanding of and connection with people. As a keen student of human nature, Rogers unsurprisingly identified a fundamental key to successful change in his statement: “It isn’t what we don’t know that gives us trouble; it’s what we know that ain’t so.”

How many changes have been hampered by individuals who rigidly hold onto the current state because of something they “know” that ain’t so? For example, when U.S. auto manufacturers first observed lean production, they refused to believe their own eyes. “You can’t build cars that way — not enough inventory.” They struggled to understand a world that didn’t fit into their view of reality even when faced with clear evidence.

Our collection of deep-seated beliefs and assumptions create our view of the world. Often t

How Proper Training Can Increase Reliability

2011-10-12T09:24:45-05:00

I recently had the opportunity to make a first visit to a new client’s site. As you would expect, upon arrival I was required to attend the contractor/vendor safety orientation training before I could be set loose in the site facilities. This client site was in the Deep South, and our instructor for the training was the site safety coordinator, a local gentleman who had been employed in or around the area all his life. With his Southern drawl, he said everything about three times. (I could never quite figure out if he wanted to make sure we “got it,” or if he just liked saying everything at least three times.) I recall that the training was very good and to the point, and everyone in the training session was fully aware of all the safety rules and all the potential hazards of the site.

Why was this safety orientation training required by the client site? First, there is an OSHA requirement that everyone be trained in the real and potential hazards of the sit

3 Keys to Create and Sustain Major Change

2011-10-06T08:53:19-05:00

“…there is nothing more difficult and dangerous, or more doubtful of success, than an attempt to introduce a new order of things…” – Niccolo Machiavelli, “The Prince”

Considered by many as the father of modern political science, Niccolo Machiavelli wrote “The Prince” as practical, if not morally ambiguous, advice on what is necessary for a new prince to establish stable rule — in other words, how to create and sustain major change. The following excerpt from his book demonstrates Machiavelli’s awareness of the difficulty of change and the resistance it can provoke.

“Hence it is that, whenever the opponents of the new order of things have the opportunity to attack it, they will do it with the zeal of partisans, whilst the others defend it but feebly, so that it is dangerous to rely upon the latter.” — Niccolo Machiavelli

This statement says that those who opp

Finding the Hidden Teachers in Your Organization

2011-09-21T08:22:01-05:00

The only true competitive advantage a company has is its employees’ ability to learn, grow and change so they can discover, improve, innovate and meet the challenges of a dynamic marketplace. Today’s agile companies know that learning and continuous improvement is a priority. Training Magazine’s 2009 industry report published that the average organization spent approximately $484,000 on training-based investments per year.

Formal instruction, online or in the classroom, is critical to developing talent in your organization. However, formal training is a piece of the learning process. Learning professionals largely agree that 80 percent of learning happens outside of a formal classroom. Some learning leaders think that the amount of informal learning (unstructured learning that happens outside the traditional learning events) drives the percentage even higher.

With so much learning happening every day between leaders, managers, employees a

How to Improve Communication within Your Organization

2011-09-07T08:32:55-05:00

The communication blitz is a proven approach to communicating key messages effectively throughout an organization. Individuals looking to improve communication within their organization and enhance employee engagement can adopt the easy-to-use process introduced in this article.

During a large project, when many things are changing, there is an increased need for ongoing communication to all employees. When implementing a continuous-improvement initiative, effectively communicating the changes is essential to success. Change management during a big project is just that — managing the change itself. The communication blitz provides proactive messages to help manage the change within an organization.

A large project like an implementation of reliability excellence requires a master plan that includes major tasks and milestones, and a well-designed change-management plan. The change-management plan needs to include a comprehensive communication plan. The c

3 Effective Ways to Manage for Change

2011-08-09T10:36:33-05:00

On May 11, 1996, 34 people attempted to summit Mount Everest. In what came to be the deadliest single day on Mount Everest, eight people lost their lives. Numerous factors led to the tragedy – most notably a late-day storm that trapped many on the peak. One of the climbers, a journalist by the name of Jon Krakauer, captured his experience that day in his book “Into Thin Air” and in it identified another more subtle, but just as significant factor in the tragedy. Krakauer was one of the first climbers to reach the summit on that day, and during the descent he became increasingly concerned about the other climbers’ singular focus on reaching the summit. The basis for his concern was his knowledge that reaching the summit was only half the challenge. The descent from the peak is as difficult and exhausting as the ascent. By focusing so much effort on reaching the summit, the climbers risked not reserving both time and energy to make the demanding descent. When the storm h

How Do You Create a High-Performance Team?

2011-07-28T16:22:45-05:00

An effective work team is a group of engaged individuals. In “The Toyota Way,” Jeffrey Liker tells us, “The center of TPS (Toyota Production System) is people. A common phrase heard around Toyota is 'Before we build cars, we build people.'”

You can have the best tools, most productive processes and the biggest bank account, but none of this will produce results unless you have people. The research has been done, and the results are clear. People engaged in a common goal will trump advantages in resources, processes and capital. Just read the business best-sellers or search “employee engagement” if you need to see the business case for developing engaged employees. If you are reading this article, I assume you’re already convinced.

A work group consists of individual people. To achieve high-performing teams, you must treat them as individual people. Individuals are engaged when they feel like their effort and opinions are

Average weekly earnings of U.S. workers was $752 in fourth quarter

2011-01-20T16:28:58-06:00

Median weekly earnings of the nation's 100.1 million full-time wage and salary workers were $752 in the fourth quarter of 2010 (not seasonally adjusted), the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on January 20. This was 0.5 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 1.3 percent in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) over the same period.

Chart: Real earnings fall 0.4 percent in December

2011-01-20T15:49:46-06:00

Real average hourly earnings for all employees fell 0.4 percent from November to December 2010, seasonally adjusted. This decrease stems from a 0.5 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), which offset a 0.1 percent increase in average hourly earnings.

Educating corporate executives on importance of SMRP

2011-01-20T09:03:08-06:00

This video was made to attract corporate executives to the Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals and its Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professionals exam.

U.S. companies say offshoring has not cost domestic jobs

2011-01-20T08:33:18-06:00

The sixth annual study on corporations’ offshoring trends was released by the Center for International Business Education and Research’s (CIBER) Offshoring Research Network (ORN) at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and The Conference Board. The study is part of ongoing research into the effects of offshoring trends on American competitiveness and reflects the sentiments of business managers as regional economies around the world continue to recover from the global recession and economic upheaval in Europe and Asia.

Initial U.S. unemployment claims declined by 37,000 last week

2011-01-20T08:25:05-06:00

In the week ending January 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 404,000, a decrease of 37,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 441,000, the U.S. Department of Labor reported on January 20. The four-week moving average was 411,750, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised average of 415,750.

Best practices for strategic talent management in manufacturing organizations

2011-01-19T09:57:47-06:00

Increasingly CEOs, boards and other executives are asking human resources leaders to help achieve corporate goals by addressing a number of talent management challenges. Within the manufacturing sector, many organizations have implemented programs such as the ISO 9001 quality management system in an effort to drive profitability and competitiveness. ISO standards require organizations to be able to identify skill sets and competencies for each job in order to maintain certification.

Women less interested in jobs where competition determines pay

2011-01-14T08:42:25-06:00

Men are more likely than women to seek jobs in which competition with co-workers affects pay rates, a preference that might help explain persistent pay differences between men and women, a study at the University of Chicago shows.

Average hourly earnings for U.S. workers fell 0.4% in December

2011-01-14T08:28:22-06:00

Real average hourly earnings for all employees fell 0.4 percent from November to December, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on January 14. A 0.1 percent increase in average hourly earnings was more than offset by a 0.5 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

Oregon lost fewer manufacturing jobs over past 12 months

2011-01-13T13:33:49-06:00

Industrial employment in Oregon fell 3.2 percent over the past 12 months according to the 2011 Oregon Manufacturers Directory, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News Inc. MNI reports Oregon lost 7,530 industrial jobs and 114 manufacturers between October 2009 and October 2010, less than half the loss reported by MNI over the 2008-2009 survey period.

Initial U.S. jobless claims increased by 35,000 last week

2011-01-13T07:59:01-06:00

In the week ending January 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 445,000, an increase of 35,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 410,000, the U.S. Department of Labor announced on January 13. The four-week moving average was 416,500, an increase of 5,500 from the previous week's revised average of 411,000.

The role of the UAW in the 21st century

2011-01-13T07:55:26-06:00

The following is the speech given by United Auto Workers president Bob King to the Automotive News World Congress in Detroit on January 12, 2011.

Chart: Job openings by month since November 2008

2011-01-12T12:52:48-06:00

There were 3.2 million job openings on the last day of November. The job openings rate was essentially unchanged over the month at 2.4 percent.

Employers reveal outrageous, common mistakes candidates made in job interviews

2011-01-12T08:26:29-06:00

With competition for open positions remaining high, the added pressure and stress may be causing some job seekers to make unnecessary mistakes during their interviews that could cost them the job. A new nationwide CareerBuilder survey of more than 2,400 hiring managers conducted November 15 to December 2, 2010 reveals the outrageous and common mistakes that some candidates have made in job interviews.

U.S. job openings rate pretty much unchanged in latest report

2011-01-11T13:43:26-06:00

There were 3.2 million job openings on the last business day of November, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on January 11. The job openings rate was essentially unchanged over the month at 2.4 percent. Both the hires rate and the separations rate were little changed at 3.2 percent each in November. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires and separations for the total non-farm sector by industry and by geographic region.

EEOC reports job bias charges hit record high in fiscal year 2010

2011-01-11T07:38:46-06:00

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on January 11 announced that private sector workplace discrimination charge filings with the federal agency nationwide hit an unprecedented level of 99,922 during fiscal year (FY) 2010, which ended September 30, 2010.

Ford to add 7,000 U.S. workers during next two years

2011-01-10T14:43:21-06:00

Ford Motor Company on January 10 announced it will add 7,000 new hourly and salaried jobs between this year and next in the United States.

Conference Board Employment Trends Index up 7.6% vs. one year ago

2011-01-10T14:40:51-06:00

The Conference Board Employment Trends Index (ETI) increased in December for the third consecutive month, closing the last quarter of 2010 on a positive note. The index now stands at 99.3, up from November's revised figure of 98.5. The index is up 7.6 percent from a year ago.

Del Monte Foods lauded for commitment to employee health and wellness

2011-01-10T14:26:24-06:00

In recognition of its commitment to employee health and wellness, Del Monte Foods has attained the prestigious Platinum Fit-Friendly status in the American Heart Association's Start! Fit-Friendly Companies program for the second consecutive year. The program recognizes companies that champion the health of their employees and work to create a culture of physical activity in the workplace.

Chart: U.S. payroll employment in 2010

2011-01-10T14:19:49-06:00

Since December 2009, total payroll employment has increased by 1.1 million, or an average of 94,000 per month, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Unemployment rate falls to 9.4%; payroll employment increases by 103,000

2011-01-07T08:18:54-06:00

The unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage point to 9.4 percent in December, and non-farm payroll employment increased by 103,000, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on January 7. Employment rose in leisure and hospitality and in health care but was little changed in other major industries.

Employee confidence in job security and company outlook increased in Q4

2011-01-07T07:16:29-06:00

Despite recent economic reports that show jobless claims down for several consecutive weeks, employees reveal mixed feelings about what is in store at their employer, for the overall job market and their pay check in the year ahead. According to the Q4 Glassdoor.com Employment Confidence Survey of 2,118 U.S. adults aged 18+ conducted on its behalf by Harris Interactive, employees are more confident in their job security and company's outlook in the next six months than they were in the third quarter. However, this optimism is not universal as employees remain pessimistic about pay raises and have grown more uncertain about the job market since last quarter.

10 employment trends to watch in 2011

2011-01-07T07:02:45-06:00

With 2011 shaping up to be a better year for job growth, CareerBuilder surveyed more than 2,400 employers and 3,900 workers nationwide to identify 10 key trends in business, hiring, work culture and job search. The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive from November 15 to December 2, 2010 across industries and company sizes.

Initial U.S. jobless claims increased by 18,000 last week

2011-01-06T08:28:19-06:00

In the week ending January 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 409,000, an increase of 18,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 391,000, the U.S. Department of Labor reported on January 5. The four-week moving average was 410,750, a decrease of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average of 414,250.

How to create and lead high-performing teams

2011-01-05T14:39:25-06:00

Working in teams is often considered contrary to the American culture. However, building and leading an organizational culture around a successful team concept is considered a critical leadership competency. The challenges are that in any team environment people must work closely together to achieve results. Read this article for advice on how to achieve this.

Chart: Women in the U.S. workforce, 1970-2009

2011-01-05T13:21:32-06:00

In 2009, 59.2 percent of women were in the labor force: of 122 million women in the United States, 72 million were classified as either employed or unemployed. The percentage of women in the labor force has been relatively stable over the past several years.

Online labor demand essentially unchanged in December

2011-01-05T09:26:15-06:00

Online advertised vacancies were basically unchanged as they dipped 9,400 in December to 4,447,800, according to The Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine (HWOL) Data Series released on January 5. The nation's Supply/Demand rate stood at 3.39 unemployed for every advertised vacancy in November (the last available unemployment data) — a figure that is down from a peak of 4.73 in October 2009. Nationally, there are 10.7 million more unemployed than advertised vacancies.

Common sense may be the key to entrepreneurial success

2011-01-04T13:28:50-06:00

A study co-authored by American University professor underscores the value of common-sense, hands-on experience and goals.

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Companies relying on flexible workforces as demand for products remains uncertain

2010-12-30T13:39:36-06:00

Manpower Inc., a world leader in innovative workforce solutions, says employers are continuing to hire flexible workers due to increased demand for their goods and services coupled with lingering economic uncertainty, as the November U.S. jobs report, released recently by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, showed the economy only created 39,000 jobs and the unemployment rate crept up to 9.8 percent.

Untapped youth labor pool Is hindering global economic recovery

2010-12-30T13:37:05-06:00

Manpower Inc., a world leader in innovative workforce solutions, stressed that a multifaceted approach to tackling high levels of global youth unemployment is essential to preventing a "lost generation" of talent which will harm economic growth and exacerbate social problems, at the 2010 CNBC & Blackstone Global Youth Employment Agenda.

Beware the 'Silver Tsunami' – Baby Boomers turn 65 in 2011

2010-12-30T13:32:53-06:00

The start of the new year marks yet another milestone for America’s Baby Boom generation, one they are not likely to welcome. The first of the Baby Boomers turn 65 in 2011. The Boomers are getting old.

U.S. lost 4.1% of its manufacturers, 3.3% of its manufacturing jobs in 2010

2010-12-30T09:15:22-06:00

Manufacturers' News Inc., publisher of industrial directories for all 50 states, has compiled a national analysis of U.S. manufacturing based on the company's state-by-state reports released in calendar year 2010. According to Manufacturers' News, industrial employment in the United States declined 3.3 percent and the number of U.S. manufacturers fell 4.1 percent when comparing the data collected by the most recent editions of MNI's directories to each state's previous edition. The full analysis can be seen here.

MNI releases list of top U.S. cities by number of industrial jobs

2010-12-30T09:12:10-06:00

Manufacturers' News Inc., compiler and publisher of industrial directories for all 50 states, has generated a list of the top U.S. cities by number of manufacturing jobs as of year-end 2010.

Companies asked these questions during a job interview? Really?

2010-12-30T08:58:31-06:00

We all know the job interview process can be stressful, but for many candidates it can feel like a pressure chamber, especially when questions seemingly come out of left field. Glassdoor.com, a career and jobs community offering insights on companies and workplaces, has compiled its annual list of oddball interview questions based on the tens of thousands of interview questions shared by job candidates during the past year.

Initial U.S. unemployment claims fell by 34,000 last week

2010-12-30T08:09:37-06:00

In the week ending December 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 388,000, a decrease of 34,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 422,000, the U.S. Department of Labor reported on December 30. The four-week moving average was 414,000, a decrease of 12,500 from the previous week's revised average of 426,500.

Chart: Mass layoff initial claims in manufacturing

2010-12-29T12:31:48-06:00

In November, 12 of the 19 major industry sectors in the private economy reported over-the-year decreases in initial claims, led by manufacturing. Thirteen of the 21 manufacturing subsectors experienced over-the-year decreases in initial claims, with the largest declines in transportation equipment and in machinery.

How Walt Disney balanced dreamers, realists and critics on project teams

2010-12-29T08:51:35-06:00

Every Six Sigma team has a dreamer, a realist and a critic with their own motivation style and influencing language. Learn how to translate among the three to make teams successful.

Stronger employment trends expected for the new year, according to job forecast

2010-12-29T08:47:30-06:00

If finding a new job is on your list of New Year's resolutions, your prospects are likely to improve to some degree, according to CareerBuilder's annual job forecast. More employers plan to add full-time, permanent headcount in 2011 compared to 2010 with a continued emphasis on hiring in technology and revenue-producing fields. The survey, which was conducted by Harris Interactive from November 15 to December 2, 2010, included more than 2,400 hiring managers and human resource professionals across industries and company sizes.

Poll shows cautious optimism for 2011 on hiring, salary increases and bonus awards

2010-12-28T15:53:48-06:00

A survey conducted in November/December by Empsight International LLC of 142 Fortune 500 and large multinational corporations regarding forecasts of 2011 salary merit increases, bonus payouts and hiring, suggests cautious optimism.

Pennsylvania faces critical shortage of skilled manufacturing workers

2010-12-27T08:37:15-06:00

Pennsylvania is facing a critical shortage of skilled manufacturing workers, according to a new report released by the Department of Labor & Industry.

Workplace faultlines can ease psychological distress among employees

2010-12-27T08:25:10-06:00

Running counter to conventional thought, a research study shows that demographic faultlines can alleviate injustices within the workplace.

Manufacturing accounts for 23% of November mass layoffs

2010-12-27T08:09:18-06:00

Employers took 1,586 mass layoff actions in November involving 152,816 workers, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on December 23. Each mass layoff involved at least 50 persons from a single employer. The number of mass layoff events in November decreased by 65 from the prior month, while the number of associated initial claims increased by 4,757. In November, 354 mass layoff events were reported in the manufacturing sector, seasonally adjusted, resulting in 39,465 initial claims. Over the month, the number of manufacturing events decreased slightly, while associated initial claims increased by 2,027.

Chart: Employment statistics for U.S. populace, 2009 vs. 2008

2010-12-21T12:57:39-06:00

The proportion of the civilian non-institutional population age 16 and over who worked at some time during 2009 was 64.9 percent, down from 67.0 percent in 2008. The percent of men who worked during 2009 was 70.6 percent, down from 73.1 percent in 2008. The proportion of women who worked at some point during 2009 was 59.6 percent, down from 61.3 percent in the prior year.

Chart: Real earnings changes by month since November 2009

2010-12-20T14:08:27-06:00

Real average hourly earnings for all employees fell 0.1 percent from October to November, seasonally adjusted. This decrease stems from a 0.1-percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), while average hourly earnings remained unchanged.

Survey reveals 76% of employees have stolen from workplace

2010-12-20T07:52:49-06:00

Seventy-six percent of employees have stolen from their place of work according to a recent survey conducted by office design company Maris Interiors. Men are particularly light-fingered, with an astonishing 82 percent admitting to helping themselves, compared to 71 percent of women surveyed.

Are you a workaholic? Check out the survey and find out!

2010-12-20T07:20:24-06:00

Do you spend most of your day – including your free time – thinking about work? Are you more concerned about what your boss thinks than your family? Would you rather be in your cubicle than in your home? A new study from CareerBuilder looks at indicators of being addicted to work and what workers can do to find a happy medium between work and personal time in the New Year. The nationwide survey was conducted between August 17 and September 2, 2010 and included more than 3,100 workers.

Steelworkers union condemns lockout of members by Titan Tire

2010-12-20T07:16:25-06:00

The United Steelworkers (USW) on December 18 condemned Titan Tire's lockout of approximately 1,000 members at the company's Bryan, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; and Freeport, Ill., facilities. The company's actions came despite the union informing the company that it would hold information meetings and a vote on the company's proposal for contracts covering the three facilities within the next week.

Are you a drainer? 12 energy-depleting behaviors to avoid at work

2010-12-17T14:36:29-06:00

The source of your exhaustion might not be the tasks you're doing or the hours you're working—it may be the actions of the people laboring beside you in the "salt mines." Jon Gordon identifies twelve draining behaviors to watch out for – and explains what you can do to counteract them and create a more nourishing workplace in 2011.

Initial U.S. unemployment claims fell by 3,000 last week

2010-12-16T08:49:38-06:00

In the week ending December 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 420,000, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 423,000, the U.S. Department of Labor reported on December 16. The four-week moving average was 422,750, a decrease of 5,250 from the previous week's revised average of 428,000.

Caterpillar opens contract talks with United Auto Workers

2010-12-15T15:50:06-06:00

Caterpillar Inc. and the United Auto Workers (UAW) on December 15 began negotiations for a new labor agreement. The current contract, ratified in 2005, will expire on March 1, 2011. The agreement covers approximately 9,500 production and maintenance workers at the company's Illinois facilities in Aurora, Decatur, East Peoria, Mapleton, Mossville, Morton and Pontiac, as well as those in Colorado, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. The parties met today and will resume discussions tomorrow. Both parties have agreed to make no public comments to the media on contract issues during the negotiations process. The meetings are taking place in Caterpillar Building CV in East Peoria, Ill.

Average hourly earnings for U.S. workers down 0.1 percent

2010-12-15T15:38:39-06:00

Real average hourly earnings for all employees fell 0.1 percent from October to November, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on December 15. This decrease stems from a 0.1 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), while average hourly earnings remained unchanged.

Chart shows staggering rise in health insurance costs

2010-12-15T15:29:27-06:00

Family health insurance premiums more than doubled between 1999 and 2009, far outpacing the growth in workers’ earnings and overall inflation. The Figure, from EPI’s forthcoming State of Working America Web site, plots the rise in health insurance premiums against both inflation and hourly earnings for nonsupervisory and production workers, who comprise 80 percent of the private-sector workforce.

Toolwire, Auburn alliance works to engage and retain college engineering students

2010-12-14T15:24:41-06:00

Auburn University's Laboratory for Innovative Technology and Engineering Education (LITEE) and Toolwire have partnered to design immersive scenarios for first-year engineering students based on LITEE's case study, Space Shuttle STS 51-L (Challenger). Through this collaboration, Toolwire's experiential learning technology and instructional design expertise will be combined with LITEE's professorial excellence and experience in mechanical engineering and its instructional material development and evaluation expertise.

CEOs forecast increased expectations for employment, sales and capital spending

2010-12-14T15:09:38-06:00

The CEOs of America’s leading companies plan increases in employment, sales and capital expenditures over the next six months, according to the results of Business Roundtable’s fourth quarter 2010 CEO Economic Outlook Survey.

Chart: Insurance benefits costs for employers in private industry

2010-12-14T14:59:25-06:00

Average costs in private industry for insurance benefits were $2.24 per hour worked, or 8.0 percent of total compensation in September 2010. Among occupational groups, employer costs for insurance benefits ranged from 97 cents per hour worked (or 7.0 percent of total compensation) for service occupations, to $3.32 per hour worked (6.7 percent of total compensation) for management, professional and related occupations.

Chart: Employees required to add to their defined contribution retirement plans

2010-12-14T14:57:44-06:00

In March 2010, 63 percent of private sector workers were required to contribute to their employer-provided defined contribution retirement plans. This compares with 58 percent of state and local government workers.

Growing optimism in manufacturing as 49% plan to increase hiring in next six months

2010-12-14T09:55:22-06:00

Senior management at U.S. manufacturing companies is once again optimistic, according to a Grant Thornton LLP November survey. Nearly half (49 percent) believe the U.S. economy will improve in the next six months, and the same amount (49%) say they plan to increase staff during the same period.

New Hampshire lost fewer manufacturing jobs over past year

2010-12-14T09:50:58-06:00

Industrial employment in New Hampshire fell 2.6 percent over the past 12 months according to the 2011 New Hampshire Manufacturers Register, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News Inc. MNI reports New Hampshire lost 2,566 manufacturing jobs over the past year, a much smaller decline than the 5,509-job loss MNI reported over the 2008-2009 survey period.

U.S. employees average nearly three weeks of sick days

2010-12-14T09:39:24-06:00

U.S. workers took an average of 14 sick days in 2007 due to their own illness or injury, or to care for a sick child or other family member, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Managers have wrong assumptions about 'overqualified' job candidates

2010-12-14T09:34:45-06:00

Companies may want to give job candidates who are overqualified for positions a second look, according to a recent study by a Darla Moore School of Business researcher at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Anthony Nyberg’s study, published in the Journal of Applied Psychology this fall, dispels the myth that overqualified job applicants are easily bored or prone to quit. Intelligent workers, the research indicates, benefit companies.

Manufacturers leverage lean transformation; employees emerge as top asset

2010-12-14T09:32:46-06:00

For decades, the U.S. economy has been driven by the manufacturing industry. A perennial global leader, there never appeared to be a reason to change the ways of doing business, until now. The U.S. manufacturing industry is amid a reinvention, implementing Lean Transformation as a strategy for growth, harnessing employee creativity and innovation as a key competitive advantage in the global economy.

67% of employers report a bad hire affected their business in past year

2010-12-14T09:20:02-06:00

As companies prepare their recruitment plans for 2011, avoiding bad hires will be a priority. With unemployment hovering around 9.5 percent, the job market is flooded with qualified candidates. Yet even with all the top talent available, time pressures, strained resources and a lack of insight into target talent have been a challenge to employers to find the right people for their open positions. Two-in-three (67 percent) companies report that a bad hire has adversely affected their business in the last year. Poor hires can be costly too, as nearly one-in-four hiring managers (24 percent) said one bad hire cost their business more than $50,000 in the last year. Four-in-ten said that one bad hire cost them more than $25,000. The nationwide survey was conducted among more than 2,400 employers between August 17 and September 2, 2010.

Study: Few long-term psychological effects after job loss

2010-12-14T09:14:50-06:00

Losing a job is a profoundly distressing experience, but the unemployed may be more resilient than previously believed – the vast majority eventually end up as satisfied with life as they were before they lost their jobs, according to a new analysis published by the American Psychological Association.

USW members ratify labor deal for AK Steel's Mansfield Works

2010-12-10T07:00:18-06:00

AK Steel said December 9 that members of the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 169 have ratified a three-year extension to a labor agreement covering about 270 hourly production and maintenance employees at the company’s Mansfield (Ohio) Works. The new agreement extends the existing contract to March 31, 2014. The existing contract was scheduled to expire March 31, 2011.

DOL grant to assist Wisconsin workers impacted by layoffs at Chrysler engine plant

2010-12-09T13:24:20-06:00

The U.S. Department of Labor on December 9 announced a $2,601,207 grant to assist about 448 workers affected by the closure of the Chrysler Kenosha Engine Plant located in Kenosha, Wis.

Chart: Job openings, hires and separations rates by month since November 2007

2010-12-09T13:21:50-06:00

There were 3.4 million job openings on the last business day of October — the highest since August 2008. The job openings rate increased over the month from 2.3 to 2.5 percent; in October 2009, it was 1.9 percent.

Poll shows companies giving more holiday parties and perks this year

2010-12-09T08:35:17-06:00

The economic scrooge may be loosening its grip on holiday cheer in the office as employers indicate their intent to offer more holiday perks (bonuses, parties, gifts) than last year. The nationwide CareerBuilder survey was conducted between August 17 and September 2, 2010 and included more than 3,600 workers and more than 2,600 employers.

Initial U.S. jobless claims declined by 17,000 last week

2010-12-09T08:26:33-06:00

In the week ending December 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 421,000, a decrease of 17,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 438,000, the U.S. Department of Labor reported on December 9. The four-week moving average was 427,500, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised average of 431,500.

Private industry employer compensation costs averaged $27.88 per hour worked

2010-12-08T12:33:46-06:00

State and local government employers spent an average of $26.25 per hour worked for employee wages and salaries in September 2010, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on December 8. Wages and salaries accounted for 65.5 percent of compensation costs while benefits averaged $13.85 per hour worked and accounted for the remaining 34.5 percent. Wages and salaries for management, professional and related occupations, which represent approximately half of all state and local government employment, averaged $33.17 per hour worked.

Number of persons experiencing unemployment in 2009 rose 4.9 million

2010-12-08T12:28:13-06:00

A total of 153.9 million persons worked at some point during 2009, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on December 8. The proportion of workers who worked full time, year round in 2009 was 64.0 percent, down from 65.6 percent in 2008. The number of persons who experienced some unemployment during 2009 increased by 4.9 million to 26.1 million. The sharp increase reflects the continuing weak labor market conditions experienced throughout 2009.

Company holiday parties on the rise, but many are keeping festivities low key

2010-12-08T12:20:58-06:00

As a growing number of companies benefit from a slowly improving economy, there are indications that workplace holiday parties are starting to make a comeback. However, with the bitter taste of cost-cutting measures still fresh in employees’ minds, some companies appear to be keeping festivities relatively subdued, according to a new survey and interviews with employers. In its annual survey on holiday parties, global outplacement and business coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. found that 64 percent of companies are planning holiday parties this year, up slightly from 62 percent a year ago. About 4 percent of those holding parties this year are doing so after one or more years with no party due to the recession.

Virtual teams really are different: 6 lessons for creating successful ones

2010-12-07T17:38:28-06:00

As the "virtual revolution" gains momentum, how can companies ensure that their virtual teams are producing the desired results? First, realize that comparing co-located teams to virtual teams is like comparing apples to oranges. Then, heed the lessons for virtual team success provided by Darleen DeRosa and Rick Lepsinger.

U.S. job openings rate increased to 2.5%

2010-12-07T13:13:12-06:00

There were 3.4 million job openings on the last business day of October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on December 7. The job openings rate increased over the month to 2.5 percent. The hires rate remained at 3.2 percent in October, while the separations rate was essentially unchanged at 3.1 percent. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires and separations for the total non-farm sector by industry and geographic region.

Chart: Unemployment rate by month since January 2008

2010-12-07T13:07:04-06:00

In November, the unemployment rate edged up to 9.8 percent; it was 9.6 percent in each of the prior three months. The number of unemployed persons was 15.1 million.

The secret to high-performance organizations

2010-12-07T08:56:19-06:00

The quality of the environment (i.e. the culture) really does matter. Business leaders must take ultimate responsibility for shaping the environment within which their people live and must be good stewards of it as well, managing for the long-term consequences. The only way to judge an organization’s commitment to a healthy, sustainable and robust culture is to examine the choices leaders make – including the choice of where they put culture on the organizational list of priorities.

Culture drives an organization to superior results

2010-12-07T08:53:25-06:00

Sitting just alongside the attitudes and beliefs of an organization is a companion set of attributes that round out the cultural blueprint. It is represented by: The Values: espoused and held to be important. The Competencies: nurtured to drive performance and build talent. It is a pretty simple formula – so simple that many seem to think they need a greater order of complexity in order to justify the adoption of a set of basic principles aimed at ensuring the culture is able to be self sustaining, healthy and productive. I couldn’t disagree more.

Job interview book stresses importance of standing out

2010-12-07T08:45:49-06:00

The job interview books keep coming. There have to be hundreds on the market, each one regurgitating the same tired information. Amazingly, they sell or else publishers wouldn’t publish them. Even though most of the books rehash or try to put a new spin on proven advice, a few of the new ones offer solid tips worth heeding. Garrett Miller’s Hire on a WHIM is one of them.

Determined to succeed: Some people just won’t quit

2010-12-07T08:43:36-06:00

There are days – perhaps weeks and months – when we want to pull the covers over our heads and stop trying. Some of us give up altogether, yet others manage to persevere. What’s the difference between those who quit, and those who just won’t?

New-year hiring plans indicate progress toward recovery in world's largest economies

2010-12-07T08:36:50-06:00

Results for the first quarter 2011 global Manpower Employment Outlook Survey released December 7 by Manpower Inc. suggest a more positive start to the new year for the global labor market. Data reveals improved hiring expectations from 12 months ago in 28 of 39 countries and territories, including the G7 countries of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, where hiring plans are stable or improved from both the fourth quarter of 2010 and this time last year. Despite continued mixed results across Europe, German employers are reporting their strongest hiring plans since early 2008. Meanwhile, hiring intentions among U.S. employers remain modest but signal the most optimistic first-quarter outlook in three years. Job prospects continue to be robust across the Asia Pacific region with Chinese and Indian employers reporting the most optimistic hiring intentions globally.

Employment outlook poll shows most promising U.S. hiring outlook since 2008

2010-12-07T08:26:20-06:00

Reporting the most optimistic hiring expectations in more than two years, United States employers anticipate small staffing gains for Quarter 1 2011, according to the seasonally adjusted results of the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, conducted quarterly by Manpower Inc. The adjusted Outlook for Quarter 1 2011 is +9 percent, up from +5 percent during the same period last year and +5 percent during Quarter 4 2010.

Conference Board Employment Trends Index rises again

2010-12-06T16:13:16-06:00

The Conference Board Employment Trends Index (ETI) increased in November for the second consecutive month, it was announced on December 6. The index now stands at 99.0, up from October's revised figure of 97.6. The index is up 9.3 percent from a year ago.

Idaho lost fewer manufacturing jobs in 2010

2010-12-06T16:08:25-06:00

Industrial employment in Idaho fell 3.6 percent over the past 12 months according to the 2010 Idaho Manufacturers Directory, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers’ News Inc. MNI reports Idaho lost 2,813 industrial jobs and 29 manufacturers between October 2009 and October 2010, a much smaller decline than the 7,000-job loss MNI reported over the 2008-2009 survey period.

Video contest challenges companies to show fun of STEM careers

2010-12-06T16:01:43-06:00

The Dow Chemical Company has accepted a challenge put forth by Change the Equation by submitting its new education video for a nationwide competition to bring attention to the need to address America’s innovation shortfall. Dow is working hard to receive the most “likes” for its video.

U.S. unemployment rate edged up to 9.8 percent in November

2010-12-03T07:52:27-06:00

The unemployment rate edged up to 9.8 percent in November, and non-farm payroll employment was little changed (+39,000), the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on December 3. Temporary help services and health care continued to add jobs over the month, while employment fell in retail trade. Employment in most major industries changed little in November.

Researchers document effects of supervisors' misdeeds on employee health, productivity

2010-12-02T12:43:07-06:00

In recent years, the American workplace has been infused with unprecedented levels of hostility – and that’s largely due to the deterioration of supervisor-subordinate trust, according to Florida State University researchers.

Chart: Mass layoffs for manufacturing, other industries, in October

2010-12-02T12:34:21-06:00

The total number of mass layoff events in October was 1,642 on a not seasonally adjusted basis; the number of associated initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits was 148,638. The 351 mass layoff events in the manufacturing sector accounted for 21 percent of all mass layoff events, and the 40,861 initial claims accounted for 27 percent of initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits filed in October.

Oshkosh Defense recognized as military-friendly employer

2010-12-02T09:01:56-06:00

Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, has been named one of G.I. Jobs’ 2011 Top 100 Military-Friendly Employers. The annual list recognizes companies for their efforts to recruit and support military employees. Oshkosh employs more than 300 active-duty military members and many retired veterans.

Rockwell Automation's Blake Moret on the importance of talent development

2010-12-02T08:42:38-06:00

For many years, U.S. manufacturers have identified innovation as the most critical factor in their ability to compete in the global marketplace, and an educated and skilled workforce as the most important component in their business success. Yet educational deficits, including the education system's slow response to the innovations shaping the business world, continue to threaten manufacturers' viability and growth. At a time when the U.S. manufacturing industry demands highly skilled workers, this failure of education risks both the future success of the U.S. industrial sector and the overall competitiveness of the U.S. economy. Manufacturers are now taking action.

High school prepares students for real-world manufacturing jobs

2010-12-02T08:40:58-06:00

With unemployment holding steady above 9 percent, the jobs market looks bleak. But there is one industry that has added jobs: manufacturing. Ash-har Quraishi of Chicago News Cooperative reports on one public school that's retooling to help its graduates take advantage of these jobs.

GM makes $4B pension plan contribution

2010-12-02T08:19:08-06:00

General Motors Company on December 2 confirmed it has made the previously announced voluntary $4 billion cash contribution to its United States hourly and salaried pension plans, with a $2.7 billion contribution going to the hourly plan and $1.3 billion to the salaried plan.

Initial U.S. unemployment claims increased by 26,000 last week

2010-12-02T08:17:05-06:00

In the week ending November 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 436,000, an increase of 26,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 410,000, the U.S. Department of Labor announced on December 2. The four-week moving average was 431,000, a decrease of 5,750 from the previous week's revised average of 436,750.

Chart: 17% of workers can't find the amount of work they want

2010-12-01T13:00:44-06:00

December marks the third anniversary of the start of the Great Recession. Even though the recession officially ended well over a year ago, unemployment as well as underemployment remain well above pre-recession levels. The current unemployment rate of 9.6 percent does not reflect the millions of people who are working part time because they cannot find full-time work, or those “marginally attached” workers who are able and want to work but are so discouraged they have given up looking. These three categories comprise the underemployed, and in October, the most recent month for which data are available, the official underemployment rate stood at 17 percent. The Figure, from EPI’s forthcoming State of Working America Web site, shows how the number of unemployed, involuntary part-time, and marginally attached workers has changed since 1994. As it shows, all three categories have seen sharp rises, particularly since the start of the recession in 2007.

Online-advertised jobs report: Labor demand rose 47,400 in November

2010-12-01T12:47:45-06:00

Online advertised vacancies rose a modest 47,400 in November to 4,457,200 following an increase of 113,700 in October, according to The Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine (HWOL) Data Series released today. The nation's Supply/Demand rate stood at 3.37 unemployed for every advertised vacancy in October (the last available unemployment data) -- a figure that is down from a peak of 4.73 in October 2009. Nationally, there are 10.4 million more unemployed than advertised vacancies.

Quality pros' salaries on the upswing, finds ASQ salary survey

2010-12-01T12:40:48-06:00

Signs of economic turnaround are evident in the quality profession, according to the 24th annual salary survey conducted by Quality Progress (QP), the American Society for Quality’s monthly flagship publication. The overall average salary for U.S. full-time quality professionals is now $85,289, a steady increase from $83,442 in 2009 and $81,064 in 2008. The salary increase is seen this year, just as apparent demand for quality management is surging, as evidenced by ASQ’s online Career Center.

Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant readies for production with training, renovations

2010-12-01T12:29:31-06:00

The reinvented 2011 Ford Explorer has started rolling off the line at Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant, marking a new beginning for both the historic factory and the iconic SUV. The Torrence Avenue plant has been extensively renovated to accommodate production of the new Explorer, and all employees have prepared for its launch by participating in extensive training programs.

Contract talks breaking down at Tier 1 auto supplier

2010-12-01T07:41:57-06:00

Unionized workers at a manufacturing facility in Canada may soon be walking the picket line. The contract between Armada Toolworks and 146 members of Canadian Auto Workers Local 222 expires, and negotiations between the two sides have been slow.

Houston manufacturer sued by EEOC for age discrimination

2010-12-01T07:12:37-06:00

A Houston manufacturer violated federal law by enforcing its mandatory retirement policy which required the discharge of employees when they reach age 70, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit it filed on November 30.

Chart: State employment changes over the past year

2010-11-30T13:13:53-06:00

From October 2009 to October 2010, non-farm payroll employment increased in 36 states and the District of Columbia and decreased in 14 states.

Increased talent mobility, improved employability needed to tackle skills crisis

2010-11-30T09:42:50-06:00

Manpower Inc., a world leader in innovative workforce solutions, has warned that the mobility of highly-skilled talent and the training and education of workers need to be improved to address an era of talent scarcity that threatens to stall economic growth, as access to human capital replaces access to financial capital as the key competitive differentiator in the post-recession world.

Illinois manufacturing jobs declined 2.9% over past year

2010-11-30T09:38:50-06:00

Manufacturing employment in Illinois fell 2.9 percent over the past 12 months according to the 2011 Illinois Manufacturers Directory, an industrial directory published annually since 1912 by Manufacturers' News Inc. MNI reports Illinois lost 25,082 industrial jobs and 699 manufacturers between November 2009 and November 2010, roughly half the loss reported over the 2008-2009 survey period.

GM to add 1,000 electric vehicle engineering and development jobs in Michigan

2010-11-30T09:36:41-06:00

Beginning November 30, General Motors will add 1,000 engineers and researchers in Michigan over the next two years to significantly expand its vehicle electrification expertise and lead in the development of electric vehicles from hybrids to electric vehicles with extended-range capability, like the Chevrolet Volt.

Chart: Gross job gains and losses in the first quarter of 2010

2010-11-29T16:02:48-06:00

From December 2009 to March 2010 the number of gross job gains from opening and expanding private sector establishments decreased to 6.1 million. Over the same period, gross job losses from closing and contracting private sector establishments were 6.4 million—the lowest level since this series began in September 1992.

3 keys to building trust between managers and employees

2010-11-29T14:24:11-06:00

Without trust in the workplace, communication and teamwork will erode. Additionally, morale will decrease while turnover will rise. However, by using the three strategies outlined in this article, you can build your employees’ trust in management, thereby making their workplace an environment filled with innovation, creativity and ultimately higher profits for all.

Manufacturing excellence and apprenticeships at KI

2010-11-29T07:55:49-06:00

Since the introduction of our first product in 1941, a steel folding chair, KI has recognized market needs and responded with welcome furniture solutions - products that skillfully support the success of customers in higher education, K-12, healthcare, business and government.

Chart shows real earnings by month since October 2009

2010-11-29T07:03:13-06:00

Real average hourly earnings for all employees fell 0.1 percent from September to October, seasonally adjusted. This decrease stems from a 0.2-percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), which offset a 0.2-percent increase in average hourly earnings.

Poll: Nearly one-third of workers holiday shop online at work

2010-11-24T09:37:03-06:00

As Thanksgiving weekend officially kicks off the holiday season, one tradition that is returning this year is online shopping at the office. Cyber Monday, a term coined by the National Retail Federation for the first Monday after Thanksgiving, will likely be a busy day for Internet use at work. Twenty-nine percent of workers say they have holiday shopped online at work, on par with previous years. Of those planning to shop online this year, 27 percent will spend one hour or more. More than one-in-ten (13 percent) said they will spend two hours or more. Workers should be mindful of their companies’ electronic communications policies, though, as nearly half (47 percent) of companies said that they monitor Internet and e-mail use of employees. This year’s survey included more than 2,400 employers and more than 3,100 workers.

Initial U.S. jobless claims decreased by 34,000 last week

2010-11-24T09:00:58-06:00

In the week ending November 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 407,000, a decrease of 34,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 441,000, the U.S. Department of Labor reported on November 24. The four-week moving average was 436,000, a decrease of 7,500 from the previous week's revised average of 443,500.

2010 is record year for innovations at Siemens

2010-11-23T14:34:53-06:00

Siemens researchers and developers worldwide reported 8,800 invention disclosures in fiscal year 2010. That’s 15 percent more than in the previous year and corresponds to 40 inventions each business day. All in all, it’s another demonstration of the innovative power of the more than 30,000 R&D employees who work at Siemens. The total number of patents granted increased from 56,000 in 2009 to 57,900. At an awards ceremony in Munich on November 22, Siemens CEO Peter Löscher honored 12 particularly successful research and development employees as “Inventor of the Year.” These 12 alone account for around 1,300 granted individual patents.

$2 million DOL grant to assist laid-off East Coast industrial workers

2010-11-23T14:28:57-06:00

The U.S. Department of Labor on November 23 announced a $2,073,235 grant to assist about 330 workers who reside in Massachusetts affected by layoffs and closings at 12 companies, 11 in Massachusetts and one in Connecticut.

Manufacturing accounted for 21% of mass layoffs in October

2010-11-23T14:21:49-06:00

Employers took 1,651 mass layoff actions in October that resulted in the separation of 148,059 workers, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on November 23. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a single employer. The number of mass layoff events in October increased by 121 from the prior month, and the number of associated initial claims increased by 9,839. In October, 356 mass layoff events were reported in the manufacturing sector, seasonally adjusted, resulting in 37,438 initial claims; both figures increased over the month.

Learning to listen with your eyes

2010-11-23T08:45:27-06:00

You’re at a business event and the colleague you’ve been having an intense conversation with begins to shift her gaze from your face to look around the room. Ever wonder why that makes you feel as if she has stopped listening? You know it’s not logical. A person doesn’t have to look at you to hear you. People don’t listen with their eyes. Or do they?

Sara Lee ranked among top employers of military talent

2010-11-22T16:46:54-06:00

Sara Lee Corporation ranked as a top employer for military talent, according to G.I. Jobs’ eighth annual list recognizing the nation’s top Military Friendly Employers. As one of only two food manufacturers on the list this year, Sara Lee Corp.’s ranked 97 and marks the first time the company has been included in the list.

Survey looks at pet owners, career paths

2010-11-22T06:53:40-06:00

Are you a cat person or a dog person and what does that mean for your career path? A new survey from CareerBuilder looks at pet ownership in relation to chosen profession, compensation and job satisfaction. The nationwide survey was conducted between August 17 and September 22, 2010 and included more than 2,300 workers with pets.

Touche! A workplace guide to the snappy comeback

2010-11-19T10:13:00-06:00

Kathleen Reardon, Professor of Management and Organization releases Comebacks at Work: Using Conversation to Master Confrontation (Harper Collins, 2010). Book offers strategies to ensure success in the workplace by managing conversations with co-workers.

Chart: Mass layoffs decline in manufacturing, other industries

2010-11-17T08:35:06-06:00

In the third quarter of 2010, 14 of 18 major industry sectors in the private non-farm economy registered over-the-year declines in the number of extended mass layoff events.

Average hourly earnings for U.S. workers declined 0.1%

2010-11-17T08:33:12-06:00

Real average hourly earnings for all employees fell 0.1 percent from September to October, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on November 17. This decrease stems from a 0.2 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), which offset a 0.2 percent increase in average hourly earnings.

Gartner: Growing percentage choosing social networking over e-mail as primary communication vehicle

2010-11-16T09:04:17-06:00

Greater availability of social-networking-services, coupled with changing demographics and work styles, will lead 20 percent of employees to use social networks as their business communications’ hub by 2014, according to Gartner Inc. Analysts said that this is one of a wide range of capabilities that have emerged in communications, social Web and mobile, enabling richer interactions among people and expanding collaboration to a broader level.

N.C. maufacturer to pay $230,000 to settle EEOC harassment and retaliation suit

2010-11-16T08:58:36-06:00

Tuscarora Yarns, Inc. will pay $230,000 to settle a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced on November 16. The EEOC had charged that the yarn manufacturing company subjected a female employee to sexual harassment based on her sex and retaliated against her for complaining about the harassment.

Wyoming manufacturing jobs declined 3.8% over the past two years

2010-11-15T09:41:17-06:00

Manufacturing employment in Wyoming fell 3.8 percent over the past two years according to the 2011 Wyoming Manufacturers Directory, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News Inc. MNI reports Wyoming lost 1,317 industrial jobs and 92 manufacturers between September 2008 and September 2010 – the first loss MNI has logged for the state after reporting an increase of 10.6 percent between September 2005 and September 2008.

Manufacturing accounts for 19% of third-quarter mass layoffs

2010-11-12T13:41:16-06:00

Employers initiated 1,297 mass layoff events in the third quarter of 2010 that resulted in the separation of 187,091 workers from their jobs for at least 31 days, according to preliminary figures released November 12 by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the year, both events and separations decreased sharply from program high third quarter levels (with data available back to 1995). Third quarter 2010 layoff data are preliminary and are subject to revision.

Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding to cut 380 salary positions in Virginia

2010-11-12T10:58:26-06:00

Northrop Grumman announced a reduction in force of about 380 salaried employees at its Newport News, Va., shipbuilding facility, effective November 12.

Grainger honors veterans through expanded scholarship program

2010-11-11T13:28:46-06:00

Grainger, North America's leading facilities maintenance supplier, has expanded its Grainger Tools for Tomorrow scholarship program for the fifth consecutive year. In the 2010-2011 academic year, Grainger will offer 75 community colleges across the United States two, $2,000 scholarships to award to community college students enrolled in industrial trades programs such as welding, plumbing, automotive and construction. In addition, upon graduation, scholarship recipients will receive a Westward toolkit outfitted for their industrial trade skill.

Chart: Unemployment rate by month since January 2008

2010-11-10T13:17:50-06:00

The number of unemployed persons, at 14.8 million, was little changed in October; the unemployment rate remained at 9.6 percent and has been essentially unchanged since May.

Early employer-based flu vaccinations can protect health, improve bottom line

2010-11-10T13:12:52-06:00

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, who presented the findings at the American Public Health Association’s 138th Annual Meeting & Exposition in Denver, developed an economic model to suggest that not only should employers get their employees vaccinated, they should do so as early as possible.

Firms with operations in China need to improve talent attraction, retention strategies

2010-11-10T09:12:37-06:00

Manpower Inc., a world leader in innovative workforce solutions, warns that multinational companies with operations in China need to improve their talent attraction and retention strategies or face losing out to Chinese private-owned companies in the battle for senior level talent, as local workers begin to favor Chinese private-owned companies.

Poll: 31% of employers willing to negotiate pay increases for employees for 2011

2010-11-10T09:10:16-06:00

With 43 percent of employers reporting concern that their top talent may leave their organizations when the economy improves, workers may have more leverage in compensation reviews. Thirty-one percent of employers said they are willing to negotiate 2011 salary increases with current employees. Half (51 percent) plan to leave some negotiating room when extending initial offers to new employees, with 21 percent willing to extend two or more offers to the same candidate. The nationwide survey from CareerBuilder was conducted between August 17 and September 2, 2010 and included more than 2,400 hiring managers.

Initial U.S. jobless claims decreased by 24,000 last week

2010-11-10T08:17:27-06:00

In the week ending November 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 435,000, a decrease of 24,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 459,000, the U.S. Department of Labor reported on November 10. The four-week moving average was 446,500, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised average of 456,500.

Chart: Payroll employment change by month since October 2008

2010-11-10T08:14:14-06:00

Total non-farm payroll employment increased by 151,000 in October, reflecting job gains in mining and a number of service-providing industries. This is according to data released by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

U.S. job openings rate shows little change

2010-11-10T08:11:30-06:00

There were 2.9 million job openings on the last business day of September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on November 9. The job openings rate was little changed over the month at 2.2 percent. The hires rate and separations rate both remained at 3.2 percent in September. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires and separations for the total non-farm sector by industry and geographic region.

Report finds manufacturers need better goal alignment to stay competitive

2010-11-09T11:28:05-06:00

Halogen Software on November 9 announced the findings of a new report from Aberdeen Group that takes an in-depth look at how manufacturing organizations can achieve best-in-class employee performance management. The study draws a strong link between talent management processes such as goal alignment and employee development and the overall success of manufacturing organizations. Aberdeen also highlights Halogen customer CFS as an example of the powerful impact that employee performance management best practices can have on achieving organizational goals.

Tips on creating and leading high-performing teams

2010-11-08T15:55:29-06:00

Working in teams is often considered contrary to the American culture. Marvin Weisbord, author and organizational development expert, said, “Teamwork is the quintessential contradiction of a society grounded in individual achievement.” Yet, building and leading an organizational culture around a successful team concept is considered a critical leadership competency. The challenges are that in any team environment, people must work closely together to achieve results. They must work effectively across the organization to accomplish tasks and objectives quickly enough to remain competitive. Additional challenges include team conflicts, obtaining maximum results from virtual teams and managing highly diverse teams – maintaining teamwork mentality while capitalizing on the diversity of talents, skills, knowledge and personalities within the team.

Conference Board Employment Trends Index rebounds slightly

2010-11-08T14:09:09-06:00

The Conference Board Employment Trends Index (ETI) increased in October, after a slight decline in September, it was announced on November 8. The index now stands at 98.1, up from September's revised figure of 97.3. The index is up over 10 percent from a year ago.

Minnesota manufacturing jobs declined 6.8% over the past two years

2010-11-08T13:54:52-06:00

Manufacturing employment in Minnesota fell 6.8 percent over the past two years, according to the 2011 Minnesota Manufacturers Register, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers’ News Inc. MNI reports Minnesota lost 34,086 manufacturing jobs and 766 manufacturers between September 2008 and September 2010.

Do we know how to measure 'presenteeism'?

2010-11-08T13:50:58-06:00

Presenteeism – defined as "reduced productivity at work due to health conditions" – is increasingly recognized as a contributor to health costs for employers. But more work is needed to develop reliable tools to measure presenteeism and its economic impact, according to a paper in the November Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

Event helps girls calculate benefits of pursuing engineering careers

2010-11-08T09:15:00-06:00

More than 200 Girl Scouts became engineers for a day as they constructed devices capable of launching a ping-pong ball, built an electrical circuit, created a game using electronics and learned about positive aspects of the engineering profession during the Society of Women Engineers’ (SWE) first “Invent It. Build It.” event on November 6. The event was part of the SWE’s annual conference in Orlando, Fla., which took place November 3-6.

Toys and games help build engineering skills for a lifetime

2010-11-08T08:39:02-06:00

Kids love LEGO building blocks, but can playing with cute colored blocks spawn the next generation of engineers? Absolutely, says Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation.

To retire or not to retire? That is an increasingly important question

2010-11-08T08:28:11-06:00

Workers who agreed to take early retirement were likely to not have considered that option if it hadn't been for pressure at the workplace to do so. This has been revealed in a new study carried out at the University of Haifa that examined the significance of early retirement.

U.S. employment report shows increased level of employee confidence

2010-11-05T13:56:51-05:00

The SFN Group Employee Confidence Index increased 1.4 points to 50.1 in October, it was announced on November 5. The index, which measures workers' confidence in their personal employment situation and optimism in the economic environment, shows that 40 percent of workers believe the economy is getting weaker and 60 percent believe that there are fewer jobs available. Despite this dreary outlook on the macroeconomic landscape, nearly three-fourths (71 percent) of workers report that they are unlikely to lose their jobs in the next 12 months.

Lean and Six Sigma talent management

2010-11-05T13:52:46-05:00

Each year, the executive recruiting and search firm The Avery Point Group conducts a comprehensive study of the latest talent demand trends for lean and Six Sigma. As an executive search firm, Avery Point has a unique vantage point from which to track trends taking place in industry. Trends in industry are often telegraphed into candidate requirements in job postings and can serve as a window into the latest corporate initiatives. For its annual study, the firm takes a significant look at Six Sigma and lean job postings found on the major job boards and review each job title and job content profile to gain a deeper understanding of the latest talent demand trends.

Over the years of conducting the study, Avery Point has seen a significant shift in the "center of gravity" as it relates to the prominence of Lean as the rising and now more dominate player in the corporate world of continuous improvement. This is a significant shift from the first study in 2005, where Six Sigma outpaced lean by more than 50 percent as the more desired skill set. Avery Point fully expects this trend to continue in our future studies as more companies turn to lean as a hedge against growing economic and inflationary challenges.

In the end, however, the real winner is any company that successfully engages in some form of continuous improvement, regardless of whether it is lean, Six Sigma, or some other well-executed approach.

"I can't think of any company that claims to be world class that is not utilizing some form of continuous improvement approach," says Tim Noble, managing principal of The Avery Point Group. "World-class status is a constantly moving target defined by both your customers and your competitors. Without a continuous improvement approach you're not even treading water in today's highly competitive global economy."