business

Aviva Update – 07.05.2012

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Aviva Plc, the U.K.’s second-biggest insurer by market value, plans to exit almost a third of its units to bolster capital reserves and limit the impact of further turmoil in the euro region.

The insurer plans to sell 16 non-core divisions including U.K. bulk-purchase annuities, its South Korean unit and some partnerships in Italy, the London-based firm said in a statement today. The company is aiming to bring its capital levels in line with other insurers to between 160 percent and 170 percent of reserves required by regulators from 140 percent today.

via Aviva to Exit a Third of Business as Insurer Boosts Capital – Insurance Networking News.

Why Good People Can’t Find Jobs – Part 2

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The sad truth is that it’s costly and risky to hire anyone to do anything, and “bankable projects” that might generate profit/require more labor are few and far between. The overhead costs for employees have skyrocketed. So even though the wages employees see on their paychecks have stagnated, the total compensation costs the employer pays have risen substantially.

via charles hugh smith-Dear Person Seeking a Job: Why I Can’t Hire You.

Go read this article.  There are quite a few insightful observations.

Why Good People Can’t Find Jobs

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A Manpower survey asks employers if they’re having trouble finding people to hire. In that survey, about 11 percent say they can’t get people to accept jobs at the wages they’re paying. So 11 percent are saying we’re not paying enough. The real number is probably double that. We’re not very good at identifying problems we create ourselves. If they’re not finding [employees], don’t call it a skills gap; don’t call it a skills mismatch – you’re just being cheap

via Why Good People Can’t Find Jobs.

Fire Your Company! Employee Benefit News

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Despite national economic and employment uncertainty, many American workers who identify themselves as top performers are thinking about changing jobs. In line with research showing the recent uptick of voluntary turnover in the workplace, the 2012 Aflac WorkForces Report revealed nearly half of U.S. workers 49% are at least somewhat likely to look for a job this year. More troubling for employers, a majority of those who say they are extremely or very likely to leave their jobs describe themselves as the kind of workers companies need to retain to remain competitive in a tight economy.

via Aflac offers insight to how employers can retain top talent – Articles – Employee Benefit News.

No surprises to this underwriter.  Take a SWAG at what the most popular tags and categories are on this website.  This is the kind of stuff that keeps managers awake at night.

More Ambien!

Italy’s Generali Board Ousts Chief Executive – WSJ.com

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The board of Assicurazioni Generali SpA ousted the insurer’s chief executive on Saturday, the company said in a statement, in a management coup that leaves a question mark over the future strategy of one of Italy’s most important companies.At the hastily-called meeting, 10 out of Generali’s 17 board members approved a motion of no-confidence against Giovanni Perissinotto, according to the statement and a person briefed on the vote tally. The board also named Mario Greco, chief executive of Zurich Insurance Group as Generali’s new CEO, the statement added.

via Italy’s Generali Board Ousts Chief Executive – WSJ.com.

Mr. Perissinotto said the reason for his ouster was political.

Really?

How to Be Happier at Work – Start Something!

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Start something. More specifically, start something outside of work.

via How to Be Happier at Work – Leonard A. Schlesinger, Charles F. Kiefer, and Paul B. Brown – Harvard Business Review.

Before you get mad at me take note of where this article comes from.  Harvard Business Review Blog Network is the source of this article.  This article reminds me of what I did several years ago.  I started something.

When I started something I had no clue what it was I started.  What I thought I started was not what I am doing today.  In other words, my original plan failed but ultimately my little business succeeded.

Take a risk.  Start something!

  What are you avoiding doing that you know needs to be done?”  We seem to have a talent for burying the truth, covering it up, distracting ourselves from it… When was the last time you took a risk in the direction of your dance?

Laurie Beth Jones