Small Ways Employers Can Retain Good Employees

It Starts with “Thank You”

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal, Businesses Mount Efforts to Retain Valued Employees, started me thinking about the topic of gratitude in the workplace. One thing that was particularly interesting in was a study cited in this piece about the discrepancy between what employers think keeps workers happy (“management climate and workers’ relationships with their bosses”) and what employees say (“pay and benefits”).

We all know that a “thank you” from a boss can make a worker to feel appreciated. But that doesn’t always mean just a pat on the back for a job well done. Perceptive employers taking a closer look might acknowledge good employees struggling to accomplish tasks/projects with less personnel and resources. How this is conveyed to workers is a key factor, too.

Click to read more ...

Ways to Show Gratitude to Your Employer

“Today, I’m grateful for…”

This time of year, it’s important to feel some gratitude and not just for your mom’s amazing pecan pie. When I was a counselor in an alcohol and drug treatment program, one of the first things patients focused on in early recovery was the “gratitude list.” It’s easy - at the end of every day, list at least 5 things (10 is better) for which you are grateful. It became a habit for me. Some really bad days, maybe all I came up with was “I’m grateful I have a garage so I don’t have to hack 10 inches of snow off my car.” But doing it reminded me to pay attention to the good stuff.

How about showing a little love to your employer? What?! The same people who gave you a .05 salary increase this year and laid off your buddies?

Click to read more ...

3 Ways to Use Twitter at Work

Twitter is all the rage these days. Even organizations like ESPN and CNN are using their own accounts to spread their message far and wide. But for some people, employers may discourage the use of Twitter in the workplace. I'm going to share a few ways that might help you to get your tweet on at work. In my previous job, Twitter was blocked, but I found some workarounds. In my current position, Twitter is not blocked, and I have used it to great success with researching and connecting to other professionals in my industry. I can definitely make the case for tweeting on the job!

Click to read more ...

Making Common Workplace Fears More Manageable

You’re probably thinking that I'm going to talk about the fear of public speaking, which is often identified as our #1 fear. But I’m thinking of more subtle fears that people don’t always discuss that make the workplace extremely difficult for some workers.

As a therapist, I’ve treated people with diagnosed anxiety disorders, but also milder anxiety symptoms and signs. Worry over finances, health issues, parenting, school and relationships fall into that category. These fears fall somewhere between the two. What kinds of fears do people struggle with at work?

Click to read more ...

6 Reasons Staff Evaluations FAIL

I've worked on staff evaluations before, but this year, as I pressed forward on a batch of them, it occurred to me how royally f'd up the system is.  With the economy still 'uncertain,' many companies are stingier than ever when it comes to raises and praise.  Apparently the two go hand-in-hand.  The suits think that if you shower an employee with commendations, they will expect a raise to match.  But since 2009 is the year of the tide wad, it appears most organizations are holding back in all categories.

The annual review is designed to keep employees happy - but not too happy.  In other words, staff evaluations are approached as a mechanism to maintain the status quo.  As a younger worker, I lived and died by the annual review.  Now I see what a useless gauge it really is. Every company handles evaluations and merit raises differently, but in my experience, here are a few reasons why staff evals FAIL.

Click to read more ...

Obama to Hold '09 Job Forum

CNNMoney.com says that President Obama plans to hold a job forum at the White House in December to brainstorm about job creation. Those invited to the forum will include CEOs, small business owners, economists, financial experts, and representatives from labor and non-profits. (Jobacle is patiently  awaiting our invite). The president is facing a 10.2% unemployment rate but says there have been encouraging signs of economic growth and a slowing of the loss of jobs in recent months, but also said employers are still reluctant to hire and millions are desperate to find work.

Click to read more ...

How to Look Productive While Goofing Off

It’s not online Shopping, It’s “Research”

We’re approaching that time of year where workers typically develop a case of “holiday distraction disorder.” Most of us become overloaded with holiday plans and the end-of-year work push. (I’ll suggest some stress-busters later this month.)

There’s much discussion about being productive in this time of layoffs and working leaner/meaner. But let’s not forget the fine art of looking productive while goofing off. Now, I’m not talking about the slackers in your office - any efforts they make to look busy are useless. I mean those of us normally hard-working types who just need to blow a few hours or a day or two.
 
One maneuver I perfected while working in a hospital-based substance abuse program was the “consult.”

Click to read more ...

6 Tips to Jumpstart Your Holiday Job Search

Seventy percent of jobs today are not advertised.  Unlock the Hidden Job Market, a new book from executive career consultant Duncan Mathison, shows how smart job seekers target the larger hidden job market by approaching it with different attitudes, upgraded networking techniques and job searching tools that are specifically relevant to today’s economy.  

So what does this mean to those who are looking for jobs during the holiday season?

Click to read more ...

Softscape Introduces New Job Distribution Service

Softscape recently announced the Softscape Job Distribution Service that utilizes social networking sites and enables customers to reach a considerably greater candidate pool with each job posting. The service is offered as part of the Hiring & Recruiting Suite within Softscape's complete talent management software platform. The Softscape Job Distribution Service taps into social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

Click to read more ...

How Do You Politely Decline the Workplace Holiday Ritual?

You know it’s almost here; that time of year for the ubiquitous holiday work party/ritual. It started last month with the orange and black cupcakes in the break room and will continue into January. Most companies have wisely jettisoned the office party with booze - too many scary liability concerns. But there will still be potlucks and other festivities. How can you avoid them without looking or feeling bad?

Click to read more ...