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News and insight about working in and with today's contingent workforce.
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Workforce news and insight from Sean Rehder, a former Recruiter, 1099 Independent Contractor Compliance Manager, and Supplier Qualification Program Manager turned web developer.
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Friday, June 27, 2003
 General Staffing and Recruiting
News Postings
How the Internet Changed the Definition of "Candidate"
The growing use of the Internet to solicit job applications can attract hundreds or thousands of responses. An employer also likely has dozens of relevant resumes already in its files or forwarded from employees interested in being considered. So, in the eyes of the government, who's an "applicant" and whose resume must be kept on file to demonstrate compliance with EEOC hiring regulations?
The Reemergence of Recruiting: Four Tips on What to Do Now
Major changes have occurred in a number of areas of recruiting, in the skills needed to be a successful recruiter, in the technology at our disposal, in the approaches we take to attracting candidates, and in the relationships we have with candidates. The following are four lessons we all need to learn to be successful in the next era of recruiting.
A Damp Hiring Outlook for Senior HR Executives
The job outlook for senior HR people remains damp. Although demand is down, multi-faceted generalists with business mindsets and experience at admired companies are most highly sought-after to fill top jobs, such as vice president or executive director.
Companies See Ruling as a Way to Help Keep the Pipeline Open
The Supreme Court's rulings yesterday about diversity in higher education sent a strong signal to the nation's employers that they can continue to use race as a factor in hiring, corporate executives and employment law experts said.
posted by Sean Rehder at 8:14 AM, (Permalink)
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General
News Postings
Manager Alleges KPMG Employment Retaliation
An L.A.-based senior manager of KPMG is suing the world's third-largest accounting firm, saying that it put him on administrative leave after he refused to sign off on allegedly illegal tax shelters sold to an audit client.
Human-Resources Directors Play a More Strategic Role
The role of the human-resources director has changed drastically over the past few decades at some large companies, evolving from a position that is primarily administrative, with oversight for payroll and staffing, to a genuinely strategic function that is viewed as affecting the bottom line.
Jobless Claims Fall to Three-Month Lows; GDP Revised Lower
Applications for initial jobless aid plunged to a three-month low last week, the government said Thursday in a report showing a better-than-expected improvement in the still-weak job market, but another report indicated the economy was more sluggish in the first three months of 2003 than previously thought.
Abercrombie Accused of Discrimination
Abercrombie & Fitch Co., a casual-clothing retailer catering mainly to teenagers, recruits and maintains a "disproportionately white" sales force, according to a lawsuit filed by organizations representing minority groups.
posted by Sean Rehder at 8:11 AM, (Permalink)
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Wednesday, June 25, 2003
General
News Postings
Durable Goods Orders Drop in May
America's manufacturers saw demand for their products dip in May for the second straight month, a fresh sign of the industry's struggles to get back on sure footing.
Vacation Deprivation
If it feels like you're stuck behind your desk on a sunny summer day while the rest of the world is on vacation, that's because you are and it is. Few other industrialized countries have as little vacation time as America, where there aren't even legal guarantees of vacation time.
More Women Cruise to the Top
An unprecedented number of women are becoming bosses — moving up the managerial ranks despite a stagnant economy. The layoffs and hiring freezes of the sluggish economy haven't halted the corporate advancement of women.
Abercrombie to Settle State Dress Code Policy Charges
Trendy youth retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Co. has agreed to pay $2.2 million to settle allegations that it forced its sales clerks in California to buy and wear the company's clothes on the job.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:40 PM, (Permalink)
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Tuesday, June 24, 2003
General Compensation
News Postings
State Orders Workers Comp Insurer to Cease and Desist
The California Department of Insurance served a cease and desist order on Insurance Company of the Americas (ICA) following an investigation that revealed the company may have illegally sold workers' compensation insurance in California.
Job Searches Lengthen as Severance Is Cut
Job searches are taking twice as long, while severance periods have fallen by more than half, according to a study by the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
Excellent Year for Executives
After dipping in 2001, take-home pay for chief executives at some of the largest U.S. companies swelled last year, driven by fatter bonuses and bigger payouts from long-term incentive plans, a new study shows.
CalPERS Wants to Reduce 'Fat Cat' Pay
What it sees as "abusive executive compensation plans" will be the target of reform efforts from the nation's largest pension plan, the California Public Employees' Retirement System.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:37 PM, (Permalink)
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General
News Postings
Many Still Are Dragging Along
The pace of economic recovery doesn't just hinge on how the nation's largest companies fare. Small businesses will be vital to how quickly -- or slowly -- things pick up.
Workers' Comp Fund Wins Lawsuit
The state's workers' compensation carrier of last resort has fended off a $2-billion class- action lawsuit brought by California employers that claimed the insurer had systematically overcharged them.
Health Premiums to Jump Again Next Year
Health insurance premiums in the United States are heading up again next year -- and sharply, according to a major insurer and new data from large employers.
Companies See Ruling as a Way to Help Keep the Pipeline Open
The Supreme Court's rulings yesterday about diversity in higher education sent a strong signal to the nation's employers that they can continue to use race as a factor in hiring, corporate executives and employment law experts said.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:21 PM, (Permalink)
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Monday, June 23, 2003
General Workplace Safety
News Postings
Carpal Tunnel Not the Keyboard's Fault
Researchers in Denmark have once again raised doubts that keyboard usage has an impact on developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), stating that, in their opinion, keyboards are not an “occupational risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome.”
Warning: Your Job May Be Hazardous to Your Health
Offices can be dangerous places. A sedentary and stressful lifestyle can leave the deskbound with wrenching back pain, elevated blood pressure, even muddled brains. Here's how to ward off the perils of the workplace.
Work Injury, from Home
Tougher than federal health and safety rules for the workplace, California's workplace laws help protect employees from illness and injury on the job -- at their employer's place of business, but also at home when they telecommute.
Local Firms Screening for SARS
While the spread of the flulike SARS virus may be slowing in Asia, some area companies with interests abroad have instituted strict procedures to screen visitors to their facilities here in the United States.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:38 PM, (Permalink)
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General HRIS
News Postings
Software Designed to Make Doing the Right Thing Easier
Web-based software that identifies and manages operational risk and enables companies to gain a clearer picture of the steps needed to control that risk is becoming increasingly important in addressing the challenges posed by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Wireless Security Entangles HIPAA
Although most health organizations still have another 22 months to comply with new federal security standards, securing wireless networks may pose a problem as they near the deadline.
Business-Process Changes in High Gear
Companies continue to push the limits of what they can do with less. In InformationWeek Research's Redefining Business survey, only 6% of 300 business-technology professionals say that their companies have no plans to improve business processes and operations.
BPO Spells 'Growth' in IT
While other IT (information technology) services segments are feeling the impact of the economic downturn, the business process outsourcing (BPO) market continues to show healthy growth.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:34 PM, (Permalink)
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General Benefits
News Postings
Vacation Benefits
When making changes to a company vacation policy, open communication and proper enforcement will help keep a business out of trouble.
Economy Hits Health Benefits
Businesses are increasingly worried about rising health-insurance costs and plan on passing some of the increases onto their employees.
GE Four-Year Contract Calls for Wage, Health Care Increases
General Electric Co.'s proposed four-year contract with its two largest unions calls for annual wage increases of up to 3 percent and increases in health care costs paid by workers.
Time for a Healthy Talk
When it comes to attracting and retaining quality workers, often the company with the best benefits package wins. But as increasing costs of medical care and prescription drugs drive health insurance costs skyward, firms are scrambling to find new ways to help employees understand the constantly changing state of the market.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:26 PM, (Permalink)
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General
News Postings
Higher Pay May Be Layoff Target
Employees who earn more than their colleagues may be especially vulnerable to layoffs in this sluggish economy. Many employers handed out fat raises during flush economic times in the late 1990s and 2000. Now, those higher-earning workers are a financial liability.
IRS Taking a Look at Retirement Programs
Many small-business owners will be getting letters from the Internal Revenue Service that won't be tax bills or audit announcements: Instead, they'll be reminders about the benefits and requirements of retirement plans.
Cost of Insurance for Work Injuries Soars Across U.S.
Across the country, the cost of workers' compensation insurance is soaring at the highest rate in nearly a decade, adding yet another heavy burden on businesses and the struggling national economy.
Economy Shows Signs of Life; National Rebound Bodes Well for Bay Area
The recovery of the nation's economy might finally be putting in an appearance, with the pieces finally in place for a period of sustained growth.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:12 PM, (Permalink)
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Thursday, June 19, 2003
 From Pink Slip to Paycheck: Get In and Get Interviewed
DATE: Wednesday, June 25th
VENUE: SeyFarth Shaw, 55 East Monroe Street (Suite 4500), Chicago, IL 60603
TIME: 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
If you are not getting any response to your resumes, join Amy Stewart as she explores how to move from pink slip to paycheck. This workshop is aimed at improving the quality, quantity, and momentum of your search to get you in and get interviewed. Special presentation by Ken Landis. Ken is an equity partner at Seyfarth Shaw. He has extensive experience with executive employment agreements.
Amy Stewart, founder of Alta Mas Alliances, is a strategy coach. She works with executives in transition - those seeking to reach the next level in their career, life or life of their business.
Participants should bring several copies of a current resume and are encouraged to speak with Amy regarding the Job Search Process.
Refer your colleagues!!! Receive a 50% discount on your registration fee if you bring two colleagues to this seminar. Call 800-605-5154 x 202 for details.
Click Here for details and to register or call Jamie Katz directly.
Best Regards,
Jamie Katz
VP, Events Services
Workstream Career Events
800.605.5154 x202
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:24 PM, (Permalink)
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Recruiting and Staffing
News Postings
Using Metrics to Create a Six Sigma Hiring Process
The key to success is to do something before everybody else does it — or do it faster, or do it better. Don't follow the leader, be the leader. This is especially true as you begin to implement effective metrics programs in your hiring process.
How Great Recruiters Get Great Recruiter Equity
Why do some recruiters seem to find it easy to make placements and get hiring managers to accept the candidates they send? What special skills or qualities characterize the recruiter who can present two to three candidates that impress the hiring manager so much that they make an offer to one of them?
Part-Time Workforce Grows
The percentage of employees working part time because they cannot find full-time work has exceeded 3% for 10 months in a row through May. That's the worst track record since 1997 and translates into 4.6 million Americans who were working part time even though they wanted full-time work last month.
Job Losses Working Their Way into More Sectors in California
Job losses in California, once confined largely to technology, manufacturing and tourism, have begun seeping into other sectors, fueling concerns that the state's economy may have a tougher time rebounding than anticipated.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:18 PM, (Permalink)
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Wednesday, June 18, 2003
General
News Postings
Part-Time Workforce Grows
The percentage of employees working part time because they cannot find full-time work has exceeded 3% for 10 months in a row through May. That's the worst track record since 1997 and translates into 4.6 million Americans who were working part time even though they wanted full-time work last month.
Health Care a Growing Issue in Labor Talks
The Syms clothing store dispute demonstrates the increasing willingness of unions to take a stand on the health care issue in recent negotiations with employees.
Abercrombie Accused of Discrimination
Abercrombie & Fitch Co., a casual-clothing retailer catering mainly to teenagers, recruits and maintains a "disproportionately white" sales force, according to a lawsuit filed by organizations representing minority groups.
Job Losses Working Their Way into More Sectors in California
Job losses in California, once confined largely to technology, manufacturing and tourism, have begun seeping into other sectors, fueling concerns that the state's economy may have a tougher time rebounding than anticipated.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:43 PM, (Permalink)
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Employee Development
News Postings
Confronting a Leader's Conflict Avoidance
Some leaders have a blind spot -- or a weak spot -- when it comes to confronting people problems. The results can be disastrous to an organization, particularly in the case of a senior executive who ignores or avoids conflict.
Keeping in Step with the Boss
Companies across the nation are trying to prevent unethical behavior by scheduling seminars, dusting off formal ethics policies and paying more attention to possible red flags. But, experts say, the best way for employers to stave off unethical behavior at their companies is to lead by example.
Leadership Training Sources Becoming Diverse
Learning to be a leader needn't be difficult. Indeed, it can be as simple as learning to talk to people. Even in a weak economy, area companies are devoting increasing efforts to leadership training, betting that leaders can be made and not just born.
Open-Door Management
TechTarget employees set their own hours and take all the vacation they want. Somehow, it works. The four-year-old company's "open-leave" policy is a big reason why revenue is expected to hit $35 million this year, up nearly 30% from 2002.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:33 PM, (Permalink)
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Tuesday, June 17, 2003
Compensation
News Postings
Is Executive Pay Nearing Its Peak?
Pay gains for chief executives continue to outstrip raises for other employees, but market, regulatory and investor pressures seem to be restraining CEO raises to some degree.
Fuzzy Comp?
The Florida Legislature passed sweeping workers' compensation reforms based on numbers kept secret from lawmakers and that may be flawed, according to a yet-to-be-released state-ordered independent review.
Meaningful Changes in Pay Yet to Come
The contentious chore of setting the boss's pay might never be the same again. Corporate boards are not only changing who sits on compensation committees, but they're also challenging past pay practices.
Business Groups to Try Again on Comp-Time Legislation
Business lobbyists say they are not giving up on legislation that would allow businesses to offer their workers a choice between overtime pay and compensatory time off.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:39 PM, (Permalink)
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Monday, June 16, 2003
General
News Postings
Private Concern, Public Consequences
The case of Marshall S. Cogan of Trace International Holdings and its subsequent ruling is highly significant for private companies, because the judge applied the same criteria for fiduciary responsibility normally associated with public companies to the directors and officers of Trace.
Overtime Pay: Don't Bank on It
Under a plan to update the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), workers who make under $22,100 a year would have to be paid for overtime, job titles aside.
California Lost 21,000-Plus Jobs in May; Unemployment Rate Flat
California's unemployment rate dipped to 6.6 percent in May, a slight decrease from the previous month's revised 6.8 percent, state officials reported Friday. Despite that slight movement, about 300,000 jobs are being created and destroyed every month.
Nestle Age-Bias Verdict Upheld; Firm Discriminated Against Older Workers
A state appellate court upheld a $5.1 million age discrimination verdict against Nestle for refusing to promote a manager in his 40s, and said the world's largest food company resisted promoting people older than 40.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:26 PM, (Permalink)
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General Benefits
News Postings
Unemployment Talks Stall over Benefits for Seasonal Workers
A meeting between business and labor negotiators trying to rewrite the state's costly unemployment system was canceled as the two sides remained far apart on whether seasonal workers should remain eligible for benefits.
Workers Bear More of Health Costs
A Nationwide product called MyChoice Health Plan combines a high-deductible preferred provider organization plan with a health-care reimbursement account that shifts some of the medical spending decisions - and potentially more of the cost - away from employers and into the hands and wallets of their workers.
Health Cost Rise Slows, but Patients Pay More
For the first time in five years, U.S. health-care spending growth has slowed--what would seem to be a welcome trend. But the flip side is that consumers are shouldering more of the overall cost.
Unemployment Benefits Extension Could Help 112,000
The state Employment Security Department said more than 112,000 unemployed airline workers and others in related fields may qualify for new federally funded unemployment benefits.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:24 PM, (Permalink)
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General HRIS
News Postings
Corporate Computing Tries to Find a New Path
In the use of technology to transform business, something has gone badly wrong. Computers and the internet were meant to put business on a new footing; newly available information would make everything smarter. Entire new business models would be made possible. It has not worked out quite as planned.
Beyond the Status Quo: Three Innovative Sourcing Tools
Job boards have certainly evolved over the past few years, but their failure to evolve past the same basic model they have been using since day one has left companies and job seekers alike asking, "What have you done for me lately?"
BPO Spells 'Growth' in IT
While other IT (information technology) services segments are feeling the impact of the economic downturn, the business process outsourcing (BPO) market continues to show healthy growth.
Business-Process Changes in High Gear
Companies continue to push the limits of what they can do with less. In InformationWeek Research's Redefining Business survey, only 6% of 300 business-technology professionals say that their companies have no plans to improve business processes and operations.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:21 PM, (Permalink)
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General Workplace Safety
News Postings
Businesses Still Lack Disaster Recovery Plans
According to a new survey, only a little more than half of chief financial officers said their companies currently have a business continuity plan in place to recover from a disaster.
Uncertain Times Boosting Employee Levels of Stress
Stressed workers are reaching epidemic proportions according to a new workplace survey by CIGNA Behavioral Health.
Local Firms Screening for SARS
While the spread of the flulike SARS virus may be slowing in Asia, some area companies with interests abroad have instituted strict procedures to screen visitors to their facilities here in the United States.
Work Injury, from Home
Tougher than federal health and safety rules for the workplace, California's workplace laws help protect employees from illness and injury on the job -- at their employer's place of business, but also at home when they telecommute.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:18 PM, (Permalink)
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Thursday, June 12, 2003
General
News Postings
UC Study Discovers Why Women Settle for Lower Pay
Women who negotiate job offers generally ask for lower initial salaries than do men, in part because of different beliefs about worth, entitlement and proving oneself, according to a new study by the University of California at Irvine.
U.S. Jobless Claims Fell in Latest Week
The number of people lining up to claim unemployment benefits fell by 17,000 in the latest week, the government said Thursday, in a sign that job losses may be slowing.
Fed Detects Scattered Signs of Economic Rebound
The weak U.S. economy, which has suffered thousands of job losses in recent months, may be on the verge of a rebound now that the Iraq war is over, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:39 PM, (Permalink)
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General Recruiting and Staffing
News Postings
A Perfect Week, The Perfect Day: Time Management for Recruiters
One of the biggest challenges recruiters face is trying to manage their schedules and accomplish tasks in a work environment of constant change, and interruptions. If you're a recruiter, your time management, planning, multi-tasking and organizational skills are tested each and every day.
Making the Offer: How To Structure a Win-Win Package When Hiring
There are several repercussions for offering a candidate more than he or she is worth: throwing off your budget, raising fairness issues, putting pressure on you to raise all salaries, and giving you no maneuvering room to give the employee a raise.
Cool Company, Hot Sales: CoolHires Takes Different Approach to Employee Recruitment
Austin-based CoolHires Ltd., a full-service consulting firm specializing in recruiting needs for all industries, but primarily high tech. Co-founder Scott Beardsley says little innovation has taken place in the recruiting industry over the years, and it was time for a change.
Recruiting With MARS
There's been a lot of buzz about "converged" or "distributed" recruitment strategies. Some call it "synthesized" recruiting, others call it "broadband" staffing. Here at Humanatek, we call it MARS: Multi-disciplinary Advanced Rapid Staffing.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:35 PM, (Permalink)
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Wednesday, June 11, 2003
General
News Postings
Study: Health Costs Rose 9.6 Percent in 2002
Growth in U.S. health care spending ebbed slightly in 2002, climbing 9.6 percent compared with 10 percent the year before, but costs are still ballooning at more than three times the rate of inflation, a study released on Wednesday said.
Small-Business Groups Oppose Health Insurance Buying Bill
A dozen small-business associations, from the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce to National Small Business United, have banded together to oppose federal legislation that would let small firms collectively buy health insurance.
Good News: Job Losses Slow in Silicon Valley
There are more signs that Silicon Valley's devastated job engine is recovering. While the valley lost 158,000 jobs since the recession began in March 2001, year-over-year monthly losses have been ebbing, new government data show.
Get Results: How to Draft a Job Description That's a Blueprint for Results
Job descriptions should be vital documents that you and your staff refer to often. Without them, jobs are harder to fill, employees often under-perform, and you face greater risk of legal problems.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:52 PM, (Permalink)
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General Employee Development
News Postings
Taking Feedback to Heart (and Action)
Adapting to feedback—which inevitably asks people to change, sometimes significantly—is critical for managers who find themselves in jobs, companies, and industries undergoing frequent transitions.
Want Commitment? Let Employees Drive
While ownership is driven by an employee's personal commitment to something, commitment is often a direct result of the leader's ability to get understanding and buy in.
Stuck in Gear: Why Managers Don't Act
For want of a better idea, many companies often rely on a tried-and-true success formula. The sad truth is that a success formula may frequently go stale or "harden" for a complex set of reasons that are, in fact, surprisingly predictable.
Use 'Soft' Skills to Survive the Economic Downturn
"Soft" skills are harder to measure and identify than more finite know-how such as industry specifics or sales experience, so these skills are perceived as nice to have, but the emphasis on them does tend to be the first thing to go when companies start cutting back.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:39 PM, (Permalink)
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Tuesday, June 10, 2003
General
News Postings
Maryland Ruling Helps Workers with Injuries
The Maryland Court of Appeals has struck down a longtime interpretation of the state's workers' compensation statute, making it suddenly much easier for employees in the state to collect on claims arising from accidents in the workplace.
SEC Extends Deadline for Sarbanes Reporting
Executives at some local public companies are breathing a sigh of relief after the Securities and Exchange Commission extended the deadline for compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley corporate governance reform law.
Justices Provide a Victory to One Category of Job-Bias Plaintiffs
A unanimous Supreme Court made it significantly easier today for workers to win discrimination suits against their employers in cases where race, sex, religion or national origin is one factor among others in a dismissal or other adverse job action.
Employers Reel from Workers' Insurance
Besieged by complaints from businesses, unions and other contributors, the Legislature and Gov. Gray Davis have pledged this year to overhaul California's costly 90-year-old workers' compensation insurance program.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:51 PM, (Permalink)
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General Compensation
News Postings
Stock Options Battle Raging
California lawmakers from both parties battled to save Silicon Valley's coveted practice of compensating employees with stock options, urging legislation that would force an independent accounting standards board to allow the practice to continue.
May the Salesforce Be with You!
Compensation plans speak louder than any speech by management. The tough part is to plot a strategy and set rewards accordingly.
CEO Pay Hikes Vary around U.S.
Executive pay is a hot topic in this economy. Shareholders are angry that the value of their stock plummets while CEOs score large bonuses even as the company reports falling profits.
HR Professionals Earn Modest Salary Increases
New data from the Mercer Human Resource Management Compensation Survey, sponsored by the Society for Human Resource Management, show that HR executives are gaining financial parity, giving further credence to the pivotal role HR plays in the success of an organization.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:49 PM, (Permalink)
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Monday, June 09, 2003
General
News Postings
Services Move Up as Hardware Sales Lag
Services, the oft-ignored plodding stepchild of tech companies selling The Next Big Thing, has steadily increased as a revenue generator during the past three years at major tech companies.
Sarbanes-Oxley Act Affects Private Companies
Private companies are feeling the pinch of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the broad legislation passed by the U.S. Congress to quell accounting abuses at public companies.
Health Data Mandate Gives Tech a Boost
A mammoth data protection mandate for the health industry is surfacing as a miniboom for a slice of the tech industry.
Senate OKs Workers' Comp Bill
Trying to rein in rising workers' compensation costs, the Senate approved legislation to control prices charged by outpatient surgery centers and pharmacies to treat injured workers.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:25 PM, (Permalink)
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General Benefits
News Postings
California Shorted in Benefits
California has the fourth-highest unemployment rate in the nation, but its residents still don't qualify for the second round of extended benefits that are supposed to help people in states with high unemployment.
Fewer Firms Add Programs for Retirement
Already significantly behind large companies in offering retirement plans, small firms are becoming less likely to add the benefit, according to a new study.
IRS Clarifies Tax Treatment of Various Medical Expenses
In two rulings, the Internal Revenue Service clarified the tax treatment of certain medical expenses. The guidance affects the ability of taxpayers to claim these expenses when itemizing deductions.
Corporate-Benefit Battle Heats Up
For the nearly 138 million Americans who still have jobs, fears of vanishing retirement benefits and health care coverage are fast becoming reality in the battle for economic survival.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:21 PM, (Permalink)
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General HRIS
News Postings
Businesses Cut Security Losses
Greater use of security hardware and software products helped businesses substantially reduce losses due to security incidents, a new survey says.
The Empire of Ants
In Tech's next cycle, the smaller players will be the ones to watch.
Corporate Computing Tries to Find a New Path
In the use of technology to transform business, something has gone badly wrong. Computers and the internet were meant to put business on a new footing; newly available information would make everything smarter. Entire new business models would be made possible. It has not worked out quite as planned.
Beyond the Status Quo: Three Innovative Sourcing Tools
Job boards have certainly evolved over the past few years, but their failure to evolve past the same basic model they have been using since day one has left companies and job seekers alike asking, "What have you done for me lately?"
posted by Sean Rehder at 1:02 PM, (Permalink)
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Thursday, June 05, 2003
General Recruiting and Staffing
News Postings
Tread Carefully When Checking on Prospective Employees
Employers ought to take great care in handling pre-employment investigations for prospective associates, as there can be liability issues that pose danger to a company.
Employers Say Diversity Boosts the Bottom Line
Employer representatives say diversity improves recruiting and retention, product development and marketing, relationships among employees and outside partners, and global expansion options.
Recruiting Redefined: The New Recruitment Models
How are leading companies and recruiting organizations structuring themselves in the future to actively recruit top talent? How are they redefining job descriptions and responsibilities within their teams?
Court: Pregnant Worker Shouldn't Have Been Fired
New York's highest court today reversed an earlier ruling in a controversial discrimination case. The court ruled that a doctor did, in fact, discriminate against his pregnant secretary when he fired her because his wife's unfounded suspicions of an affair were causing "a lot of problems."
posted by Sean Rehder at 3:00 PM, (Permalink)
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General
News Postings
Jobless Up, Orders Down, Recovery Shaky
The number of Americans lining up to claim unemployment benefits surged unexpectedly last week and factory orders tumbled in April, indicating the economic recovery is shaky.
Small Firms' Price Curbs Hobble Growth
Small companies are cutting prices and holding the line on price increases — pinching profits and hiring in a major chunk of the U.S. economy.
U.S. Job Statistics Revamped
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, which produces the payroll figures, will make several major revisions this week in the methods it uses to calculate the number of jobs on U.S. payrolls.
California Remains in Grip of Recession
California is still mired in recession, according to UCLA analysts who downgraded their already low expectations for the state economy in a forecast to be released today.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:42 PM, (Permalink)
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Wednesday, June 04, 2003
General Compensation
News Postings
Executives Resigned to Their Options
Corporate leaders at some Washington area companies that offer stock-option packages are resigning themselves to a future when handing out such incentives to employees and executives will cost them, and cost them big.
Britain Unveils Plan to Curb Executive Payouts
The British government introduced a plan Tuesday to curb lavish compensation deals handed out to executives who walk away from failing companies.
A Big Win for the Little Guys
Spurred by a depressed stock market, corporate scandals, and disgust at greedy CEOs, investors have managed to pass a record number of proxy resolutions, and are making management take notice.
Under Pressure, Companies Pare Executive Compensation
Public companies are responding to enormous pressure from institutional investors, lobbying groups, unions, lawmakers and individuals to cut back on what many see as extravagant executive salary and benefit packages.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:56 PM, (Permalink)
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General Employee Development
News Postings
The ABC's of Failure
When Dartmouth's Sydney Finkelstein lectures on corporate blunders, there are lessons for businesses large and small.
Ethics Bring Value to Corporate America
With information so readily available to consumers and candidates, corporations are taking a hard look at themselves to determine whether or not there is a need to initiate a corporate value system.
Contribution: A Measure of Performance
Contribution metrics demonstrate the value provided by staffing; all business units use some type of metrics to exhibit tangible contribution to the organization. Metrics enable staffing to do the same, and in doing so, to link staffing to the realization of corporate goals.
Policies to Help Strike a Work/Life Balance
Struggling to keep a "work/life balance" is the challenge of most employees. A suggestion for achieving that balance might be to borrow from the corporate model, which says 'no' with company policies.
posted by Sean Rehder at 2:49 PM, (Permalink)
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Tuesday, June 03, 2003
General Benefits
News Postings
Delaying the Start of Social Security Can Pay Off
Getting the most from Social Security involves -- as is increasingly the case with private retirement plans, too -- making accurate predictions about your life span, inflation and investment returns.
Employees Will Stay on the Job for Workplace Health and Wellness Programs
In a recent study commissioned by the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Inc. (AAOHN), more than 50 percent of those surveyed stated they would remain at their current job if their employer offered a health and wellness program.
Businesses Call for Universal Health Coverage
Unless there is comprehensive reform of America's health care system, the average premium for family coverage in employer-sponsored plans will reach $14,545 in 2006 -- $5,000 more than this year and double the cost in 2001.
More Companies Scale Back 401(k) Matches
The thought of passing up free money in the form of a company match has undoubtedly motivated many employees to participate in 401(k) plans. However, that incentive has become a benefit of the past at a small, yet increasing, number of companies.
posted by Sean Rehder at 7:49 AM, (Permalink)
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General
News Postings
Manufacturing Down for 3rd Straight Month
U.S. manufacturing rebounded in May though it posted a third month of contraction, with activity gradually improving in the wake of the Iraq war but factories still cautious about the economy's outlook.
Snooping Software Reveals Any Web Surfing at Work
Since the Internet first became an integral part of the workplace, businesses have wrestled with how to limit employees' Web surfing without hamstringing productivity.
Techies See Jobs Go Overseas
Opposition to offshore outsourcing is beginning to grow as a growing contingent of technology professionals believe that prospects for their field have permanently dimmed because companies are sending work overseas.
Ex-Andersen Workers Find Job Switch Taxing
1,000 former employees jumped to competitor Deloitte & Touche, but the different environment didn't suit all. The former Andersen employees had little time to get over the trauma of their firm's demise before being thrust into a new work culture.
posted by Sean Rehder at 7:43 AM, (Permalink)
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Weblogs that list current hiring needs and contact information. |
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Sean Rehder is a Contingent Workforce Developer who administers this site and specializes in building online solutions for workforce issues. Also, a former Independent Contractor Compliance Manager and Program Developer for such companies as Oracle, Cisco, Seagate, Inktomi, Ariba, CommerceOne, etc.
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Sue Becker is the owner of From Piles to Smiles™ professional organizing service. She is a C.P.A., and spent 20 years in various auditing, accounting, finance, and marketing positions at a variety of companies, including The Quaker Oats Company and Ameritech. The organization and time management skills that she used in these positions led to numerous accolades, including a prestigious leadership award. She started From Piles to Smiles early in 2000.
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Alice Snell is Vice President of
iLogos Research, a division of Recruitsoft. As a leading industry analyst, Ms. Snell has authored numerous
articles and reports on recruiting technology issues including best
practice staffing management methodologies and jobseeker behavior online.
Ms. Snell has been frequently called upon to provide expert commentary and
analysis regarding staffing management technology issues and is quoted in
leading media including The Boston Globe, Chief Executive, The New York Times
, PC Week, IT Recruiter, Chicago Tribune, and CNBC.com.
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Simon Meth builds rock-solid staffing systems. Incorporated are all facets
of the recruitment process including recruiting, identifying, behavioral or
competency based interviewing, selecting, and hiring the best-and-brightest
candidates for his clients. These people make a difference each-and-every
day.
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James R. Ziegler, Ph.D. is author of the "Contract Employee's Handbook", a free,
online resource for technical and professional contractors. Dr. Ziegler is also the Founder and Executive Director of
the Professional Association of Contract Employees (P.A.C.E.),
a unique employer of record service for Contract Professionals.
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As a Passion Catalyst (sm), Curt Rosengren helps people discover their passions and create careers that ignite them. His work is based on the Occupational Adventure Guide (sm), a passion pursuit / career development model he created to offer people an easily understood and effective approach to finding the career of their dreams.
Curt shares his thoughts daily at the Occupational Adventure Blog, "an ever-unfolding mixed bag of nuts, loosely clustered around the the central theme of Occupational Adventure - that is, a career that really gets you juiced." He also writes a monthly passion pursuit e-newsletter called Passionkey (sm).
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Jason Butler is the editor of numerous workforce related sites including "The Job Blog" and "The HR Blog" on the BostonWorks.com website. He has also written for the past three years on his personal blog, at jpbutler.com. Jason has worked in the Internet space since 1997, as a project manager for PlanetAll, as a program manager for Amazon.com, and as Director of Product Development for Abuzz, a division of New York Times Digital.
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Allan Schweyer has been involved in Internet recruiting since 1994 when he pioneered e-recruitment solutions for Human Resources Development Canada. He also currently consults with large organizations on HR strategies and specializes in e-recruitment projects. Alan is a senior researcher and analyst with HR.com and the guest editor of the HR.com staffing vertical.
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Tom Mochal is President of TenStep, Inc., a methodology development, consulting and training company. He has published a book on project management called Lessons in Project Management (Apress 2003). He has also developed a complete portfolio management process for companies called PortfolioStep (www.PortfolioStep.com), a project management methodology called TenStep (www.TenStep.com) and a framework for implementing and supporting project management within companies called PMOStep (www.PMOStep.com). Tom has over 23 years of IT experience, at Geac Computers, The Coca-Cola Company, Cap Gemini E&Y and Eastman Kodak. Tom has published hundreds of columns, and has presented and trained on project management and life-cycle topics around the world.
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