Volunteer and Reduce Employee Turnover
Did you know: two hours of helping others per week results in higher satisfaction with life? Happier employees are more productive than unhappy ones, reports Christina Desmarais for Inc. Offering volunteer opportunities can help reduce employee turnover. In her article, Ms. Desmarais spotlights an Indiana-based chain of mobile phone stores which has implemented a “culture of good” through regular employee volunteer programs and events. The program is making an impact to employee satisfaction. When its 800+ employees were polled about the program, 86% said the program gives them a sense of fulfillment in their work, 65% said it has encouraged…
How Do Your Employees Bond?
It is summertime and for many companies also a time to build company culture and deepen employee and team relationships. Enter the sometimes “dreaded” employee engagement event. All joking aside, sporting events, golf tournaments, happy hours, movies, dinners, picnics and boat outings are all very popular employee-outings here in Minnesota. A recent article in the Twin Cities Business Magazine even sited paint ball as a growing choice for local corporate team building events. The article featured local medical device manufacturer, Minnetronix, pitting engineers against operators in an ultimate “do or dye” team building event. Big or small, simple or extreme,…
The Flip Side of Lower Unemployment
In June, Minnesota saw its unemployment rate decrease to 4.5%. While this is a good sign for the economy, there is a flip side. It means a tighter market for skilled workers. Precision manufacturing and medtech in particular have experienced this downside for quite some time. David Fondler of the Saint Paul Pioneer Press recently interviewed MPS Technical about the flip side of lower unemployment. When asked if businesses are suffering from the current environment MPS responded, “Absolutely.” They point not only to a tighter market for skilled-workers, but also to demographic and cultural trends. There aren’t enough young folks to…
Recruiting Tips from the Marketing Department
When you think about “marketing” you might first think about “branding”, but there are three other elements important to marketers that also apply to recruiting candidates. Kevin Wheeler for HR resource site ERE.net points out that recruiters like marketers cannot lose sight of: Design Data Engagement First design, Mr. Wheeler suggests “one of the ways [to add value] is to enable potential candidates and people in the organization to share information, talk about the brand, about daily life, and about the good and not so good sides of working there.” The design of websites, social media and communications plays an…
Minnesota Manufacturing: Thriving
Jake Anderson of the Twin Cities Business Magazine recently reported “More Minnesota Manufacturers Say They’re Thriving” based on a new report. The report also showed that Minnesota is also faring better than the nation as a whole. The annual report by McGladrey LLP surveyed 920 U.S. manufacturing and distribution firms, 62 from Minnesota, reports Mr. Anderson. Here are some of the results: 42% of MN respondents said they were “thriving” compared to 36% nationally Sales grew for 74% of the MN respondents versus 69% nationwide Wisconsin is even more confident with 44% reporting they are “thriving” Mr. Anderson reports these…
Interview Tips: Power Poses
During a job interview, we are very familiar with the positive and negative effects our body language can have on how others perceive our abilities. But, did you know that your body language can affect the way you see yourself and impact how you perform in an interview? Professor Amy Cuddy of Harvard Business School has found that your body language shapes your self-confidence and in turn can impact how you perform during a job interview. Professor Cuddy explained in a Business Insider article, “Certain power poses don’t just change how others perceive you. They immediately change your body chemistry.…