The cat is out of the bag! Work-life balance initiatives can no longer be put on an employers to-do list. A barrage of polls, surveys and anecdotal information has been pouring into the media lately especially with regard to employee engagement. A quick Google search reveals about 500 stories on that one topic.
Recruiting and staffing company, Spherion, finds that less than half of U.S. workers are satisfied with their jobs. This statistic, which comes from the company's 2007 Emerging Workforce Study nearly mirrors other recent polls indicating employees want their workplace to change, and they might finally have something to say about it. The findings indicate, "employers are not adapting to their evolving needs and priorities," according to the Spherion survey.
This is the beginning of a battle call for change. Continued exploration of the topic may influence the employee/employer paradigm of power. As attracting and retaining employees continues to become more of an effort, and workers seek out better working conditions, we'll likely see more effort on the part of big business to keep its talent. Another recent study suggests as much.
Addressing healthcare benefits, compensation, and worklife balance initiatives is just the start. According to worldwide consulting and outsourcing firm, Mercer, the investment that organizations are making in employee training and career development might trump the aforementioned areas. A recent Mercer 2007 Total Rewards Snapshot Survey shows that in 2008:
46% plan to spend more on training 51% plan to spend more on career development The most galvanizing statistic from the Mercer study suggesting employers are taking notice of employee needs...
88% of the responding organizations indicated attracting and retaining talent is the most pressing challenge for companies.
This costs money and will cause companies to take a mircoscopic look at those RIO (Return on Investment) spreadsheets. Looks like 2008 will be just as significant a balancing act for big business - as it will be for workers.
Mega-Trend: WorkLife Initiatives Take Hold - To learn more about this author, visit Judy Martin's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 |
Related Articles |
|
 WorkLife Flexibility Primer: Tips on Making it Happen
|
| |
We live in an era of ever-expanding technology. That allows entrepreneurs to change the scope of how, when and where they work. But this new found flexibility is not limited to those who work from home. Companies ar...
|
|
WorkLife Serenity: Cold Turkey Style
|
| |
Just imagine taking the time every day to just stop what you are doing at work and just listen and contemplate the rest of your day. Not the ordinary task of those of us snagged in the 24/7 working environment. But ...
|
|
Mega-Trend: WorkLife Initiatives Take Hold
|
| |
In our tight job market, employees may have more of a say about when, and where, they work. According to some new studies we might be seeing more of that in the form of worklife balance initiatives.
|
|
Race towards connecting Africa to the internet
|
| |
This week there was an interesting article here about one of the companies undertaking the construction of the underwater fibre optic cable and their search for a strategic investor, I can't help but feel excited wh...
|
|
Are You Addicted to the Yes Habit?
|
| |
How often do you find yourself saying yes when you really want to say no? Can you take on this extra project? Would you join our volunteer committee? We know its last minute but can you organize next week’s meeting?...
|
|
|
Judy Martin
(Visit Judy's Website)
Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist
Judy Martin, is a reporter and public
speaker who communicates on worklife
culture, and gives an objective voice to
social concerns, business news and the
delicate balance of living and working
with purpose, in an era of great
uncertainty and chaos.
Judy is a national radio contributor whose
work has been heard on NPR News, The
World, BBC Radio 3, The World Vision
Report and The Marketplace Morning Report,
where she spent nearly four years in the
New York City Bureau. Judy also continues
her affiliation with the News 12
Television Networks as an anchor/reporter.
Judy’s blogs at www
.worklifemonitor.com which features
individuals, businesses, and the latest
innovative programs to integrate life and
work concerns while thriving on the
threshold of change. Judy balances her
worklife as a volunteer for Hospice
|
|
|
|
|
Judy Martin's
Complete
List Of
Work-Life
Articles
|
|
|
If you enjoyed this article, get Judy Martin's Complete List of Work-Life Articles For FREE!
|
| |
|
|
|
![[Get Copyright Permissions]](http://license.icopyright.net/images/icopy-w.gif){kind=small}
