Another addition of leadership and talent management “facts” from all over the world. Some intuitive and some not….what do you think?
1. During the 2009 recession, dating web sites like Match.com and eharmony.com have experienced their greatest membership growth since 9/11 (20%). No mention if office romances have also increased.
2. US employers expect health care cost increases to hold steady at 6 percent and more plan to adopt consumer directed health plans to control costs in 2009-2010 according to the Annual National Business Group on Healthy/Watson Wyatt Report (2009). In 2006, health care costs for companies went up 8 percent.
3. The top five industries for involuntary part-time workers include: 1) Retail (860,000); 2) Hotel/Food Service (860,000); Education and Health Services (801,000); Construction (602,000); and Health Care/Social Assistance (469,000).In November 2008,7.3 million individuals were working 35 hours or less per week because of the poor economy–almost double the number in June 2006 according to the US Department of Labor.
4. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employer’s Outlook 2009 report, the percentage change in hiring expectations of new college grads from August to October 2008 included: Construction (-19.6%), Utilities (-17.6%), Agriculture (-14.2%), Trade (-7.4%), Finance/Insurance (-6.2%), Business services (-3.2%), Manufacturing (.03) and Government (19.8%).
5. According to a new survey by Proudfoot Consulting, employees in Canada only receive an average of 8 days of training annually only slightly ahead of the UK (7.6 days) and only 55% of Canadian companies regularly assess training needs compared with 84% in Brazil or 83% in India. Additional survey results suggested that supervisors in Canada only devote 6% of their time to active supervision and training of their staff.
6. A 2008 Blessing and White paper on coaching surveying over 2,000 managers in 17 countries found that establishing specific goals is the least valuable coaching action but honest dialogue and guided independent work are the most important.Â
7. A recent 2009 survey of 71 learning professionals from a variety of industries (the majority employed 1,000 or more individuals) found that only 25% reported integration between their talent development initiatives. The most integrated processes were learning and performance management, compensation and performance management and recruiting and compensation. The primary factors limiting integration included cost (70%) and lack of management buy-in (61%).
8.According to a 2009 survey by Corenet on working at home found that 86% of organizations surveyed in North America had some kind of flexible workspace program (e.g, telecommuting or working remotely) compared to 51% in Europe, 33%in Asia-Pacific regions and 31% in India.
9. According to a 2009 study by Novations, 30% of managers believe that twenty percent of their staff are really the “go to” high performers on a consistent basis supporting the popular Jack Welch 20-70-10 management philosophy popularized several years ago.
10. According to a 2009 AchieveGlobal sutdy called “Leading in Tough Times” 54% of leaders rated their employees’ level of stress as a problem or severe problem and 38% rated poor employee morale as a problem or severe problem, Approximately 70% reported they motivate their employees through ongoing and positive communications and 49% offer special rewards and recognition for those who perform well.
11. In a new 2009 report by Cogniso called “Knowledge: the New Commodity” large organizations in the U.S., reduced training staff from 5.1 to 3.4 from 2007 to 2008. Investments in employee training declined 11% from the same years and is expected to drop again this year.Â
12. A follow up to a 1982 study found that employees exposed to lead on their jobs showed significant memory loss and cognitive problems later in life and in workers over 55, the higher bone lead levels predicted poor cognition (Neuropsychology, Vol. 23, No.1, 2009).
I’m glad I sucked on my No. 2 lead pencil only in kindergarten and the first grade….Be well….
Ken Nowack
Kenneth Nowack, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist (PSY13758) and President & Chief Research Officer/Co-Founder of Envisia Learning, is a member of the Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations. Ken also serves as the Associate Editor of Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research. His recent book Clueless: Coaching People Who Just Don’t Get It is available for free for a limited time by signing up for free blog updates (Learn more at our website)
