June 2009By Janna Charles
SOCIAL NETWORKING: Executives concerned about employee use of social networking sitesThe growth of online social networks such as Facebook and Twitter has left many business executives concerned. These social networking sites are a potential reputational risk for many organizations and their brands. A survey conducted by Deloitte LLP of over 2,000 respondents revealed that 60 percent of executives believe they have the right to know how they and their organizations are being portrayed by employees in online social networks. Fifty-three percent of employees say their social networking pages are not an employer's concern. While posting pictures, thoughts and observations is a personal decision, both employees and executives need to be mindful of the implications and potential ethical consequences of social networking sites. Companies should facilitate open discussion about potential risks to all levels of the employee base. "As business leaders, it is critical that we continue to foster solid, values-based cultures that encourage employees to behave ethically regardless of the venues," says Sharon Allen, chairman of the board, Deloitte LLP. Source: HR News. May 2009. "Most Execs Concerned About Employees' Facebook Activities." http://hr.blr.com
GENERATION GAP: CIOs take steps to accommodate Millennial employeesAs Millennials filter into the workplace, organizations make an effort to bridge the generation gap to unite their employee base. Making an effort to balance the diverse working styles of various generations is an important part of maximizing success in an organization. Chief Information Officers (CIOs) of companies that specialize in Information Technology find that tech-savvy, fast paced, innovative Millennials have a lot to contribute. To get the best out of these employees, they are taking steps to accommodate Millennial working styles. This might include being flexible as to when/where Millennials work, which can maximize their ability to be efficient. Some CIOs are becoming more open to web-integrated communications technologies (such as instant messenger) that allow for online multi-tasking and collaboration with other workers, which can improve Millennial job performance. Many Millennials are accustomed to working in groups or "pods" with others who are working on similar projects. CIO's might organize employees as such so that they can bounce ideas off of one another. These techniques are useful to any organization hoping to maximize the success of their employees. Source: Macavinta, Courtney. May 2009. "Get Ready for the Millennial Worker." http://articles.directoryM.com
GENETIC INFORMATION: Title II of GINA to affect the workplaceThe U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making implementing Title II of the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) on March 2, 2009. The proposed regulations clarify the definition of genetic information, place limitations on the intentional acquisition/use of genetic information in employment decisions and impose strict confidentiality requirements on already acquired information. These regulations will take effect on November 21, 2009. Employers should proactively develop an understanding of the requirements imposed by GINA to ensure that their business is in compliance. This includes potentially revising equal employment opportunity statements to include the prohibition of genetic discrimination, reviewing all processes and forms to determine whether the organization requests or requires genetic information, treating currently held genetic information the same as confidential medical records held separate from employee personnel records and implementing policies to prevent the inadvertent disclosure of genetic information. Sources: Pfadenhauer, Diane. March, 2009. "Proposed Rule Issued Under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act." http://www.strategicHRlawyer.com Richardson, Kimberly. March 2009. "New Rules Proposed to Implement the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA)." http://www.varnumlaw.com/News-Events
RETIREMENT: Employers and employees at odds on retirement issuesAccording to MetLife's 7th Annual Employee Benefits Trends Study, more than half of those surveyed are interested in receiving retirement-related advice in the workplace. The annual study found that this desire has increased in light of the recession, especially among older workers. Fifty-one percent of employees surveyed and 55 percent of Baby Boomers indicate an interest in access to retirement planners through their employer. This is up significantly from 44 percent in 2007 and 29 percent in 2006. In spite of this, only 37 percent of employers indicated that they have a strong responsibility to help their employees with retirement savings. Even among companies that offered resources such as retirement planning seminars, numbers indicate that employees are often unaware. Companies can research simple ways to meet employee needs while not compromising business and financial objectives. This includes implementing automatic enrollment and escalation programs to encourage saving or issuing flexible phased retirement and return to work plans. Source: Miller, Stephen. April, 20. "Employees, Employers Out of Sync on Retirement Issues." http://www.shrm.org
PREGNANCY: Women take action against pregnancy discriminationA steady increase in pregnancy discrimination complaints have been filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) over the past decade, indicating a demand for equal treatment in the workplace. In the past year, women filed 6,258 complaints, up 12 percent from the previous year and 50 percent in the past decade. These numbers indicate a growing awareness of the pregnancy discrimination issue as well as the fact that something can be done about it. Though the trend has been ongoing for about a decade, the recession might have something to do with the recent dramatic increase. John Folkerth, a Southwestern Ohio attorney claims that "when jobs are harder to come by it's more of a necessity to object when discriminated against than just finding another job." Women seem to be taking action to ensure that they are treated equally in the workplace, especially when finding another job may not be an option. Source: Latta, Tiffany. April 2009. "Pregnancy Discrimination Complaints Increasing." http://www.hirediversity.com
LAYOFFS: Optimistic organizations explore layoff alternativesAccording to Financial Executives Institute's Quarterly Optimism Index, 70 percent of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) are exploring alternatives to layoffs, the most popular being a salary freeze (51 percent). Other alternatives include:
Redistribution of responsibilities (29 percent) In addition, some businesses are opting for "furloughs" instead of layoffs. Furloughs are often considered less risky from a business perspective, as they indicate that an employee will be out for a set period of time or that the employer intends to recall the person. Layoffs, however, offer no indication that a person will be recalled. Furloughed employees might be willing to wait to be recalled, which would reduce recruiting and training costs for companies whereas laid-off employees are much more likely to begin looking elsewhere. Sources: Financial Executives International. May 2009. "70% of CFOs Exploring Layoff Alternatives, Salary Freezes Most Popular." http://www.financialexecutives.org HR News. May 2009. "The Pros and Cons of Using Furloughs Instead of Layoffs." http://hr.blr.com
UNEMPLOYMENT: Major demographic groups face varying unemployment ratesEmployment data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in April 2009 indicate increases in unemployment among all major demographic groups. However, there are significant disparities between the groups. Due to disproportionate numbers of men in manufacturing and construction sectors, April unemployment rates for males (10 percent) were higher than those for females (7.6 percent). In April, unemployment was 15 percent among black workers, 11.3 percent among Hispanic workers and 8% among white workers. The data concerning education suggests that workers with lower levels of schooling face higher unemployment rates. For those with a college degree, the unemployment rate is 4.4 percent. The rate for those with only a high school education is 9.3 percent. The report also finds that workers 16-24 that have work experience are facing a high unemployment rate of 16.7 percent. The rate for 25-54 year olds is 7.8 percent, while those over 54 are at 6.4 percent. Source: Shierholz, Heidi. May 2009. "Jobs picture, May 8, 2009." http://www.epi.org
Want to get News and Trends and our web site updates e-mailed to you monthly for free? Sign up on our new e-mail updates page!
Home | Diversity Store | Diversity Events | Jobs | Consultants | Submissions |
© 2009 The GilDeane Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Information on this site may not be reproduced in part or in full in any form without written permission from The GilDeane Group, Inc. 13751 Lake City Way NE, Suite 210, Seattle, Washington, 98125-8612. |
