PERSONAL NOTE FROM THE CAPTAIN
I just returned from Montreal this week where I was working with one of the largest restaurant chains in Canada. I know Montreal is a beautiful place, but I all saw was snow. This organization has over 270 restaurants where employee turnover is hovering between 80-100%. When compared to the U.S., Canada is facing a more acute shortage of workers. We soon will have in place an employee retention strategy to reduce employee turnover and save millions of dollars in recruitment, hiring, and training costs.
-Next week I head off to the Bahamas to participate on a three-day leadership conference on a cruise ship. I know—tough life!
-Do you Trust Your HR Department? After being delayed several months with other projects, I hope to send you the results in March. (I hope) The results may alarm you.
Here are a couple of other special events during the month of March
–March is Employee Spirit Month
—DISC Assessment Teleseminar (See details below)
REWARD AND RECOGNITION PODCAST
I have a special bonus for you this week. I have placed one of my Podcasts on my website called Reward and Recognition Strategies that Energize and Engage.
SURVEY DATA
EXECUTIVE PERKS
The Executive Compensation 2007/2008 Survey of 5,300 employers finds 63 percent of organizations offered cell phones to executives as a perk, and an additional 44 percent provided laptops or home PCs in 2007.
Source: Compdata Surveys ~ Olathe, Kan.
GRADUATES GOING FAST
The College Student Career Confidence Survey of 247 recent college graduates finds 61 percent expect to remain with their first employer for less than three years.
Source: Right Management ~ Philadelphia
EVOLVING EVALUATIONS
When 150 senior executives were asked, “How often, if ever, do you conduct formal performance appraisals of your staff?” they responded:
Once a year- 58%
Twice a year-31%
Quarterly- 8%
Never- 2%
As necessary-1%
Source: Office Team ~ Menlo Park, Calif.
As reported by the Human Resource Executive Magazine
HEALTHCARE SHORTAGES COULD WRECK HAVOC
In an article written by Bill Leonard in HR Staffing News he said . . .”Estimates from the National Institutes of Health show that U.S. health care organizations could face a shortage of 1 million registered nurses by 2020. A study released in July 2007 by Watson Wyatt Worldwide and the American Society for Healthcare Human Resources found more than two-thirds of health care employers report having moderate to great trouble retaining employees with critical skills, such as nurses, compared to 43 percent of organizations across all industries.
The Watson Wyatt study found that, while compensation was a key ingredient to retaining skilled health care workers, employers with the best retention records offered a variety of perks, such as flexible scheduling and more vacation time. According to Watson Wyatt consultant Jamie Hale, the high-stress environment in hospitals explains why some workers choose to leave, and a chronic shortage of registered nurses and physical therapists just adds to employee retention problems.”
RETENTION TIP
30-60-90 Plan
Mercy Hospital has a 30-60-90 day plan for all new hires. At 30 days a survey is sent asking how their initiation into Mercy was and requesting feedback on HR and orientation. At 60 days the manager sits down with the new employee to find out more about them: their hobbies, interests, what committees they might want to be on. At 90 days the employee is invited to meet with administration (VP and CEO) to share ideas for the future, what impressed them about Mercy, and what they would change. Each employee is given a “hand” decal for his or her name badge. This lets others know they are new and reminds them to extend a helping hand or an extra hand. At 90 days, they peel off the sticker and are given a Mercy logo gift.
Source: 401 Proven Ways to Retain Your Best Employees
UNDERSTANDING DISC ASSESSEMENT TELESEMINAR
This teleseminar teaches people how to communicate using the DISC language as a way of understanding themselves and others. Learn how to interact with others and appreciate different behavioral styles within the organization.
DISC is a model of human behavior that helps people understand “why they do what they do.” The dimensions of Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Compliance make up the model and interact with other factors to describe human behavior.
Thursday, March 20
3:00-4:30 p.m. EST (Atlanta time)
90 minutes/$79 per person
Register Online
ADVANCED DISC CERTIFICATION TRAINING COURSE
Upon successful completion of the training, you may teach the DISC model in your organization or use it in other applications outside of your business. You may also develop training programs around the DISC model. You will be qualified to use DISC assessments for hiring and development.
Training is conducted with Greg during four, one-hour phone sessions. More information on our DISC training programs
NATIONAL EVENTS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH
– March is American Red Cross Month – Created by President George W. Bush to honor and support the American Red Cross for their humanitarian mission. It is also a time to reach out and become a volunteer for the many projects and efforts this organization is involved with.
– March is National Ethics Awareness Month – Created to promote ethics awareness in businesses and organizations across the country, by taking a closer look at how we make decisions.
– March is National Women’s History Month – A time to celebrate contributions and achievements from women throughout history, and where it has brought us today.
– March is Employee Spirit Month – A time for leaders, CEOs and managers to inspire and motivate their employees to create a better spirit and a better organization.
– The third week in March is ACT HAPPY Week – This is a time to discover your “ACT HAPPY” method technique and use it to aid your body in health, wealth and friendship.
– March 9th Daylight Savings Time begins – Remember to turn your clocks forward one hour!
– March 17 is Saint Patrick’s Day- A day to honor the Patron Saint of Ireland, Bishop Patrick.
Source: Pam Lontos, PR/PR
