Lectora e-Learning News

Does vacation time correlate to workplace productivity?

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:59:43 +0000

As many organizations look to employment forecasts and revenue projections for the first part of 2012, some workers may be deciding whether or not to make the most of their available vacation allotments. In today's challenging economic conditions, many employees are choosing to forfeit their vacation time in order to maintain a grip on their position. One challenge faced by human resources professionals is managing the effects of workplace productivity in light of many workers' increasing reluctance to take time off.

According to a December 21, 2011 article in Human Resource Executive Online, many workers are hesitant to take their allotted vacation time due to concerns regarding job security in today's difficult economic conditions. However, some human resources professionals believe that in order for employees to remain effective, motivated and driven to perform, vacation time is essential in maintaining a work life balance.

"If you have workers who aren't taking the time to replenish and refresh, you're impacting your ability as an organization to innovate and are [opening the door] for mistakes to happen," Lorraine Stomski, a partner in Aon Hewitt's New York office, told the news source.

For those employees who do take time off, some experts are concerned about the 'always on' culture fostered by much of the consumer electronics available to workers. Checking email, accessing documents stored in cloud-based services and remote conferencing technology make it increasingly difficult for employees on vacation to truly disengage from the workplace and utilize their vacation time effectively.

One primary reason for employee reluctance to take time off is the decreasing workforce in many companies. Budget cuts, restructuring and heightened competition have resulted in smaller teams and departments across a range of industries. As such, employee absence is likely to have a greater effect on business operations. This could explain why many workers are choosing to forfeit vacation time.

According to a November 30, 2011 article in CNN Money, Americans sacrificed the equivalent of more than $34 billion in unused vacation days last year. A recent survey by the airline JetBlue revealed that more than 57 percent of the American workforce finished 2011 with unused vacation allowances.

Although it is difficult to measure the impact on workplace productivity as a result of unused vacation time, effectively endorsing the use of allotted time off for employees is something that many human resources professionals should endeavor to address in their organizations. According to a November 30, 2011 article in Bloomberg, workplace productivity increased during the third quarter of last year, despite trends of employee reluctance to take time off.

"Now that companies are doing more with less, people have a hard time taking vacation because there's so much work to do," Jennie Dede, vice president of recruiting for workplace consultancy firm Adecco, told the news source. "[However,] most managers believe you should take the time to enjoy your family, enjoy your life and come back refreshed. Vacation is a time to decompress and get your head out of the water."

Companies recognized for their online customer engagement levels

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:52:47 +0000

As more brands set out to expand their online business strategies, it may help for them to observe what steps other companies are taking to engage customers on interactive platforms like Facebook. Using this knowledge, organizations can revise their current techniques, or implement entirely new strategies to gain increased social learning opportunities.

Track Social, a social media intelligence provider, recently revealed the winners of its Best of 2011 Track Social Awards, according to a January 5, 2012 press release. The company selected last year’s honorees after careful data analysis.

Following review, Track Social came to the conclusion that Disney was 2011’s big winner. The media conglomerate received the Grand Award for Annual Social Media Audience Growth after achieving 23,135 new interactions for each day of the past year. In addition, Disney took home the Facebook Audience Growth Award for earning 17,716 new fans on the platform each day. The third prize the company received was the Facebook Likes Per Post Award due to the 30,291.9 likes it attracted.

What this reveals is that small businesses are not the only organizations that feel the need to boost their customer engagement levels through the use of social media. According to the press release, winning over customers online remains a daily priority for established brands as well.

The Facebook Comments Per Post Award went to the platform the honor would not be possible without – Facebook. In 2011, the social networking website’s posts received an average of 4,346.2 comments for each of its posts. This high level of interest in posted content helped make Facebook one of the most discussed brands of the year.

However, not every winner was a household name, as a few winners showed that it is possible to increase social engagement levels and not be a major brand. For instance, Holcim, a Swiss engineering firm, received the Facebook Likes Per Post Per Fan Award for the 19 likes it garnered per post per 1,000 followers. Similarly, Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine, Florida, secured the Facebook Comments Per Post Per Fan Award, as it received 10.7 comments per post for every 1,000 fans.

Beyond Facebook, Track Social also looked at how companies used Twitter to engage their customers. Vogue Magazine was recognized with the Twitter Audience Growth Award for attracting 810,060 new followers in 2011.

Human resources professionals must adapt to managing younger employees

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:32:46 +0000

Many business professionals agree that human resources managers must take a more active role in the managerial process. Such practices can be especially important when implementing new training and development strategies. However, one challenge that is becoming increasingly common, and more urgent, is for today's human resources managers to adapt to the widely diverse set of work ethics and attitudes towards corporate growth observed in Millennial workers.

Effectively managing employee expectations and rewarding workers is something that human resources professionals can be instrumental in when it comes to shaping a company. According to a January 3, 2012 article published in Human Resource Executive Online, Millennial employees - individuals typically younger than 30 years of age, also known as Generation Y - respond more readily to effective pay-for-performance initiatives.

Brandon Yerre, director of the Dallas/Fort Worth region of Texas for global advisory and consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, wrote that many Millennial workers' attitudes towards performance-related incentives may differ substantially from their more experienced counterparts.

"Baby boomers may be more highly motivated by financial rewards, while Millennials are more likely to respond to career-advancement incentives," Yerre wrote. "Our 2009 survey finds that this latter group chose training and development as its first choice among benefits three-to-one over those who opted for cash bonuses."

However, despite this desire for career advancement and professional development, the work ethic of many Millennial workers is often called into question by older employees. According to a December 26, 2011 article in the Chicago Tribune, a recent poll by consulting firm Workplace Options shows that 68 percent of older employees said Millennial workers were less motivated to accept positions of responsibility. Additionally, 46 percent said workers belonging to Generation Y were less engaged in the workplace than more experienced personnel.

The results of the Workplace Options survey have been echoed by other business professionals. According to a January 5, 2012 article in the Globe and Mail, human resources consultant Neil Crawford of Aon Hewitt said that Millennials have the lowest levels of workplace engagement, and that such individuals represent between 5 and 20 percent of the workforce at many companies.

However, such workers are often more highly motivated to learn of their performance within an organization, even if feedback may not necessarily be positive.

"It’s not just about stroking," Crawford told the news source. "Even if they’re not performing well, they want to hear about it sooner rather than later."

Doctor views social media as a way of improving patient relations

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:34:24 +0000

Businesses and professionals across many industries recognize the benefits of implementing a social media strategy, from improved corporate development strategies to more social learning opportunities. In the medical sector, more individuals are embracing Facebook, Twitter and other platforms.

Dr. Kurt Frederick of Premier Family Physicians in Texas talked to the Austin American-Statesman about a few of the reasons why physicians should be using social media in a January 3, 2012 article. In Frederick’s opinion, medical professionals are missing out on a chance to connect with their patients in a way they cannot in healthcare settings.

According to the news source, many doctors have been slow to embrace new technologies designed to increase interaction with patients. However, Frederick feels that the individuals they work with are curious to learn more about them.

"I think people want to see us as more than a white coat twice a year," Frederick told the news outlet. "They want to know what we read; what we think about things. They want to know about our families, and...that creates a bond."

Frederick’s practice of nine doctors and eight physician assistants has embraced social media, the news source reported. For instance, Frederick regularly posts comments and news for his patients to see on Twitter.

However, some physicians are more concerned with the downside of engaging with patients outside of the office. Potential problems include liability concerns, breaching patient confidentiality, as well as a lack of time and money, according to the news outlet.

Jonathan Nelson, a spokesman for the Texas Academy of Family Physicians, told the news source that an estimated 15 percent of doctors are regularly using social media. He views these physicians’ actions as a way of extending the care they provide beyond clinic walls.

As mobile devices become more popular, they too will have an impact on the ways in which doctors and patients interact with one another. On August 3, 2011, KPBS reported that more than 500,000 people are expected to be using healthcare mobile applications on their smartphones by 2015. It is predicted that this type of technology will change the way people receive treatment.

"It can get people with serious conditions seen earlier, and as we all know treating someone earlier in the course of a disease saves money and produces better outcomes," said David Gollaher, president and chief executive officer of the California Healthcare Institute, as quoted by the news source.

Growth of social media shaping recruitment trends

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:50:01 +0000

In today's challenging economic conditions, many human resources professionals are tasked with reducing costs, even if new personnel are to be hired. Although this may seem counter intuitive, many talent management executives are changing the way their organizations source and recruit new staff, according to a January 4, 2012 article published in Human Resource Executive Online.

Despite concerns about economic stability, a recent report published by research and advisory firm Bersin & Associates, talent acquisition expenditure increased by approximately 6 percent in 2011 to $124 billion. To address rising costs of recruiting new personnel, many human resources professionals are looking to social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Google+ to find and attract new talent.

"This large expense is primarily going to agencies and job boards today, but companies increasingly are turning to professional and social networks for their recruiting needs," Josh Bersin, president of the advisory firm, told the news source. "Really good recruiters need to work with the heads of marketing to make sure their brands are consistent and relevant to the candidates they want to attract."

Human resources professionals who want to leverage the power of social media to attract top-tier candidates for open positions should start raising awareness of the need early, according to a June 11, 2011 article in Mashable. Bruce Morton, chief marketing officer of human resources consultancy firm Allegis Group Services, told the news source that a primary strength of social media recruiting is the potential for engagement with talented individuals before they identify an organization as potentially recruiting.

Choosing a social networking platform to recruit new talent can be as important as knowing who to attract. Debbie Fischer, human resources manager for advertising agency Campbell Mithun, told the news source that while younger talent may be more comfortable using platforms such as Twitter and Facebook to explore new employment opportunities, seasoned professionals may be less inclined to share their personal information to the same extent. She added that professional networking sites such as LinkedIn can be much more effective when targeting more experienced individuals.

According to a January 4, 2012 article published in the talent management blog ERE.net, the prevalence of mobile technology will be a driving factor in the continued growth of social media recruitment this year. Kevin Wheeler, president and founder of Global Learning Resources, wrote that mobile social recruitment will likely increase significantly in 2012.

"Smart firms will make everything they do mobile-friendly and compatible and encourage candidates to interact more with hiring managers, other employees, and even alumni in online forums, chat rooms, Twitter chats, and via video, Skype, and other similar media," Wheeler wrote.

Hiring outlook likely to dominate first quarter for many human resources professionals

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:05:09 +0000

Many human resources professionals may find themselves considering their company's outlook moving into 2012's first quarter. As talent management personnel evaluate corporate growth, unemployed individuals are looking to the predictions of analysts and human resources managers to determine their next move. In a January 1, 2012 article published by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Dennis Padgett, a human resources manager at Cobb Ventures, outlined some suggestions for encouraging growth in 2012.

Identifying opportunities for innovation and the optimal application of employee contributions can be two ways of not only stimulating growth in a company's market sector, but also increasing employee engagement. Thorough examination of potential opportunities to increase efficiency and streamline workflow processes can also help human resources managers to optimize existing talent and consider expansion of company operations.

Additionally, human resources managers may find that they are in a unique position in terms of identifying such opportunities and educating senior management on possible directions in which the business should be headed.

"Obviously, they aren't the people who approve requisitions within the companies for jobs. But HR can have tremendous impact on the people who do make those decisions," Wayne Cascio, a professor of management at the University of Colorado, told the SHRM. "HR professionals have a great opportunity to exercise leadership at the senior management level in terms of educating their colleagues, other senior managers, about the kinds of talent investments that make the most sense in terms of achieving strategic and operational objectives."

As well as identifying innovation and growth opportunities, many human resource professionals are looking to begin hiring for newly created vacancies and positions. According to a December 13, 2011 survey published by staffing agency Manpower, employers across the U.S. have experienced gradual but steady growth for nine consecutive quarters.

The report also indicates that employers in 45 states indicate that hiring forecasts remain optimistic for Q1 of 2012, following positive hiring trends established in Q4 of 2011. Jonas Prising, president of the Americas region for Manpower, said that the gradual increases in employer confidence have resulted in additional hiring strategies at many organizations.

Staffing and employment website CareerBuilder also reported an optimistic outlook for 2012 in a December 30, 2011 press release. A survey conducted by the website suggests an increase in the number of companies with 50 employees or less that plan to hire additional full-time staff this year. Approximately 16 percent of organizations of this size indicated they planned on workforce expansion, compared to 14 percent in 2011.

Survey reveals what consumers expect in return for positive online feedback

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:05:21 +0000

There are several reasons why people connect with businesses via social media, from an interest in learning about new promotions to the desire to show fan support, according to the results of a recent study, Practical Ecommerce reported on January 3, 2012.

The news source highlighted the findings of a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council survey that collected responses from 1,300 consumers on the reasons why they choose to connect with brands on social media websites like Facebook. To conduct this research, the CMO Council worked with the social media marketing company Lithium.

What the companies found was that overall, 65 percent of respondents are connecting with brands to take advantage of promotions, contests and games, according to the news source. In addition, 55 percent of consumers have an interest in learning about new products, while 38 percent want to show that they are true fans.

While 8 percent of respondents have a desire to complain to brands about a negative experience, more consumers had an interest in relaying positive feedback, the news outlet stated. For instance, 32 percent of survey participants want to connect with companies to say something nice about a great experience and 27 percent of individuals simply like businesses’ campaigns. Meanwhile, 13 percent of consumers were online in search of feedback or support.

For businesses, all of the consumer data the CMO Council discovered via their survey can translate to an opportunity for social learning, as it provides insight into customers’ habits. It also shows what many of these individuals expect in return from brands for their online loyalty.

"The social brand explosion has created a wave of loyalty among social consumers who are eager to show their support and share their experiences with others online, but this loyalty comes at a cost - from savings to games - that consumers see as their social currency," Liz Miller, vice president of marketing programs for the CMO Council, said in a December 8, 2011 press release. "Social can garner significant influence and pull for marketers who can bridge this gap in expectation and execution."

Consumers also revealed how they choose to communicate with brands when they need to. According to the news source, 65 percent send an email, 50 percent fill out a website form and 44 percent call a company’s customer service line by phone. In terms of social media, 33 percent of respondents post on a brand’s Facebook page, 29 percent post on their own Facebook profile and 12 percent tweet using Twitter.

According to the press release, when consumers seek out answers to a problem, they expect brands to reply within 24 hours. A total of 22 percent of respondents want instant gratification, 19 percent want a resolution within hours of reaching out for help and 12 percent do not mind waiting for a few days. However, not all marketing professionals are using social media to provide better customer service, as only 4 percent are taking advantage of the online capabilities provided by these platforms to deliver faster results.

"There is a clear digital divide between marketers and what consumers expect from their brands," said Katy Keim, chief marketing officer for Lithium. "We are leaving the experimentation phase of social and these survey results clearly illustrate what consumers want. Brands who provide their social customers with engaging online experiences, meaningful interactions with one another and rewards for doing so will clearly gain a decisive competitive advantage in 2012."

More employees being recognized for professional and personal achievements

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 23:00:19 +0000

In an effort to motivate workers, many organizations' human resources departments offer incentives, such as bonuses and rewards. Others recognize employees by handing out special awards. This was the case at the College of Southern Maryland, where 16 staff members were honored for their contributions to the school, the Southern Maryland Newspapers reported on December 30, 2011.

During an October 27 reception at the college’s La Plata campus, the 16 workers were recognized through the institution’s Employee Recognition and Awards Program, the news source stated. Staff and faculty members have an opportunity to decide who among their coworkers is deserving of these awards.

Among the employees recognized was David Ware, the school’s telecom/datacom systems administrator, who received the Extra Mile Award for installing a security surveillance camera system at all of the college’s campuses. According to the news outlet, other honors include the Customer Service Award and the President’s Award.

Another school that recently took the time to honor its employees was California’s Mesa View Middle School. On December 29, 2011, the Yucaipa/Calimesa News Mirror reported that two staff members were recognized for their work at a December 13 Yucaipa-Calimesa Board of Education meeting.

While some employees are being rewarded for their professional achievements, others are receiving cash for an entirely different reason. On December 29, 2011, Fox News reported that some companies are offering cash incentives to workers who lose weight, and, as a result, help organizations lower their healthcare costs.

"Well-designed wellness incentives provide employees with a little extra nudge that may make the difference in whether they take advantage of these programs," David Anderson, chief health officer at consulting company StayWell Health Management, told the news source.

These types of incentive programs have the potential to benefit companies and their workers. While employers end up paying less for healthcare, employees can take steps towards living healthier lives by losing weight and lowering their cholesterol, according to the news outlet.

American Express is among the organizations that have paid their employees to think healthier. Last summer, the credit card company paid thousands of its workers $200 each if they would walk two and a half miles each day, the news source reported. Meanwhile, DreamWorks Animation funnels as much as $2,500 into programs that help workers kick their smoking habit, in addition to covering the cost of their workforce’s health club memberships.

Survey shows that young consumers voice their opinions through social media

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:52:03 +0000

In the past, customers who were unhappy with a product or service would make a phone call or write a letter to the business they received it from. Today, many web-savvy consumers simply hop online and voice their opinion using social media, according to a December 30, 2011 press release from software provider eGain.

This past October, eGain commissioned a survey of 2,000 UK consumers to acquire insight into their preferred method of issuing a product or service complaint. When given the options of letter, email, phone call, online chat and social media, 47 percent of respondents said they choose email or web chat, while 33 percent make a call and 17 percent write a letter.

As for social media, eGain found that 5 percent of individuals between the ages of 18 and 35 reported that they use Facebook, Twitter and other platforms to complain to companies. Additional survey results revealed that this demographic was almost twice as likely to use the internet for customer service purposes as individuals 55 and older.

"We’re seeing a distinct 'butterfly effect' as consumers choose to air their grievances on social media channels: a small number of vociferous users can have a disproportionately loud voice and viral visibility in social networks," said Andrew Mennie, eGain’s general manager.

Mennie added that companies that wish to go social should establish a unified multi-channel service strategy, which, in turn, can provide customers with accurate customer assistance that is consistent, context-aware and can help build loyalty.

"Moreover, this approach allows them to take explosive social conversations private in a seamless manner, and bring happy endings back to the social cloud," Mennie said.

The greater interest in social media among younger consumers is not limited to the UK. On August 29, 2011, eMarketer highlighted the results of a survey that was conducted by Barkley, an advertising agency. Findings revealed that 52.8 percent of respondents between the ages of 16 and 34 like to check out brands while on Facebook and Twitter.

Furthermore, eMarketer reported that 33.4 percent of survey participants between 16 and 34 liked a brand more if it had a social media presence. For companies that have an interest in targeting a younger audience, data from both surveys may prove useful in the development of effective social learning strategies.

Ways for companies to reevaluate their social media strategies in 2012

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 22:24:17 +0000

With a new year comes a chance for companies to make changes to their online marketing strategies and gain the social learning opportunities they seek. As 2011 comes to a close, several news outlets are offering advice for businesses that use social media.

For example, PCWorld served up several tips for professionals to consider in a December 28, 2011 article. As more people set up accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Google+, social media strategies will become a necessity, according to the news source.

One of the first things the news outlet suggested professionals do is claim their name across social media websites. This means setting up company pages on LinkedIn and Google+. Starting accounts on these platforms alone can lead to more relevant search results on the internet.

Beyond setting up social media accounts, professionals need to establish clear goals that align with a monthly plan, the news source stated. It helps if companies define their reasons for using Facebook and other interactive websites. For instance, are they looking to drive more traffic to their websites, or simply help customers? Having these goals in mind can help businesses work towards achieving them and provide employees with the proper training.

At the same time, these goals will not help if companies have no way of measuring their effectiveness. As a result, the news outlet suggested that businesses turn to programs like Google Analytics as an affordable way of tracking website visits that come through social channels. However, people will never visit an organization’s Facebook or Twitter page if they do not know they exist. For this reason alone, professionals should be sure to print the URL for their social pages on business cards and other materials.

In the new year, many companies may have an interest in integrating video into their social media strategies. In fact, Mashable expects dedicated budgets for social video campaigns in 2012, according to a December 29, 2011 article. This is due to the fact that brands have moved beyond testing the waters in this area and realize that this content can attract, motivate and engage online audiences.

As 2012 approaches, retailers might reconsider the type of customer they want to target through social media. On December 29, 2011, Mashable also highlighted the important role mothers play in brand sales.

Women in general end up making 85 percent of the purchasing decisions in a household, according to the news source. In a September 22, 2011 article, Mashable also reported that women use social media more than men. As a result, companies may want to pay attention to what types of campaigns have been successful with this demographic in the past.

Furthermore, the news outlet stated that mothers tend to spend more time on Facebook, where they talk and learn about goods and services. As a result, companies that create products for this specific audience may want to consider the social learning opportunities that can accompany a presence on Facebook.

In the event that companies want to increase their social media efforts in the new year, but do not have the capabilities to do so, it may be time to outsource these responsibilities.

On December 29, 2011, The Next Web highlighted the results of the Social Media Examiner’s 2011 Social Media Marketing Report. Data revealed that during the past year, 28 percent of marketers outsourced their social media duties. This figure was double what it was in 2010, which leads the news source to believe that in 2012, about half of marketers will look to others for help with their social needs.