“42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.”Â
Steven Wright
Another addition of leadership and talent management “facts” from all over the world. Some intuitive and some not….what do you think?
1. According to a survey of more than 500 U.S. employees conducted by United Sample, 45 percent of all employees work an average of just 15 minutes before being interrupted. The most common distractions included phone calls (28%), processing emails (23%), toggling between applications on the computer (10%), talking with co-workers (10%), and personal web searches/Facebook (9%), instant messaging (5%), meetings (3%), and web searching (3%).
2. A global survey of more than 7,700 businesses in 39 countries by international accounting organization Grant Thornton International found Finland, Sweden and Australia as the countries with the highest percentage of companies offering flexible work arrangements, while Japan, Greece and Armenia were the lowest.
3. A recent survey conducted by Randstad, global provider of HR services found that 62 percent of workers reporting they feel their employers really care about them. While a majority of workers say they love their jobs and feel their company cares for them, more than half of workers (52 percent) say they don’t believe their current job is going anywhere in terms of promotions or skills development opportunities.
4. In a recent survey of executives in Fortune 500 companies commissioned by Brandman University, respondents reported that slightly less than half (40%) of all their employees work on virtual teams.
5. In a 2011 survey of 30,000 workers worldwide (2,400 workers in the US) by Mercer (What’s Working Survey), nearly one in three US workers is seriously considering leaving his/her organization at the present time–up from the 23% in 2005. Those who are youngest (ages 25-34) were the most likely to consider leaving and 21% are not leaving but view their employers unfavorably.
6. A recent engagement survey by the International Association of Business Communicators Research Foundation of nearly 1, 000 U.S. based professionals reported that the most important factors increased employee engagement: 1) The amount of employee communication; 2) A change in leadership; and 3) Employee rewards and recognition.
7. A survey on employee recognition programs by the Society for Human Resources Management indicated that only 31% of HR professionals said employees were satisfied with the recognition they get for doing a good job. The most common forms of employee recognition that the survey revealed included: Years of service (58%), Going above and beyond regular work assignments (48%), Boosting the financial bottom line of the company (43%) and Exemplary behavior (37%).
8. Did you check your email tonight? A new survey by Right Management indicates that 33% of employees often get emails from their boss during the weekend and expect a response (30% only from time to time). Only 37 percent reported they never get email from their bosses.
9. A poll of 1,857 U.S. based employees (2011 Employee Engagement Poll by Maritz Research) suggests that workers are less engaged than in 2010 and only 31 percent felt their “personal values were aligned with their companies’ values.” Only 10 percent of employees trust management to make the right decision in times of uncertainty and only 14 percent believe their company’s leaders are ethical and honest–honestly!
10. In a recent survey by iPass Inc. of 3,100 employees at 1,100 companies’ worldwide, 38 percent report working before they commute to the job, 25% work during their commute, 37% working during lunch and 37% work after hours at night. The report found that 27 percent of mobile employees surveyed are using a tablet, typically an iPad, for work related activities.
11. A survey by the Society for Human Resource Management in April 2011 of 417 respondents revealed that 26% of their organizations use search engines to search for job applicants but only 18% use social media sites like LinkedIn or Twitter for these purposes.
12. A report containing findings from a national survey of 2,952 U.S. based college graduates conducted by Knowledge Networks found significant roadblocks to leadership for Asians. Asian in America: Unleashing the Potential of the “Model Minority” found that nearly 63% of Asian men reported they feel stalled in their careers which was dramatically higher than any other racial or ethnic group despite their skills, educational and dedication.
13. Did you expect to get a raise this year? If you do, bet it will be small (about 2.3% to 3%) as projected estimates from Towers Watson and Hay Group.
Back to research some new talent development facts….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)
