Turkeys

America: A Nation of Permanent Freelancers and Temps

/ SupremeCmdr / 1 Comment

We are quickly becoming a nation of permanent freelancers and temps. In 2006, the last time the federal government counted, the number of independent and contingent workers—contractors, temps, and the self-employed—stood at 42.6 million, or about 30 percent of the workforce. How many are there today? We have no idea since 2006 was the last year that the government bothered to count this huge and growing sector of the American workforce.

 

Traditionally, being self-employed used to come with a social stigma; you were self-employed if you couldn’t get a “real job.” Work was inconsistent and so was the pay. Today, the opportunities for contingent, project-based work are exploding, as is the development of tools that allow people to work independently across industries like software, design, marketing, legal services, architecture, healthcare, and engineering.

via America: A Nation of Permanent Freelancers and Temps – Jeremy Neuner – The Atlantic Cities.

 

As Telecommuting Debate Rages, Aetna Sticks by Big At-Home Workforce – Insurance & Technology

/ SupremeCmdr / Leave a comment

In 2012, 63 percent of companies allowed employees to work some hours from home compared with 34 percent in 2005, according to the National Study of Employers, which was produced by the Society for Human Resource Management and the Families and Work Institute.

A 2010 survey by SHRM, the human resources industry’s largest trade group, said that providing flexible work arrangements such as telecommuting, part-time work and phased-in retirement was the best way to attract and retain the best workers. And 20 percent of companies allow workers to work full-time from home.

Of health insurer Aetna’s 35,000 employees, 14,500 do not have a desk at Aetna, a move that the company’s top executives, CEO Mark Bertolini and national business chief Joseph Zubretsky, have said helps cut costs in real estate.

via As Telecommuting Debate Rages, Aetna Sticks by Big At-Home Workforce – Insurance & Technology.

HT – Hank George

New Research: What Yahoo Should Know About Good Managers and Remote Workers – E. Glenn Dutcher – Harvard Business Review

/ SupremeCmdr / Leave a comment

We found that individual effort was highest in the 100%-in-house teams. The addition of remote workers reduced the in-house workers’ exertion.

And why did the in-house people reduce their effort when a teleworker was added to the team? Because they believed that the teleworkers were less productive. Which wasn’t true, by the way. We found no evidence that the teleworkers were shirking.

The implication is that teams containing teleworkers would benefit from knowing that remote members are working just as hard as everyone else. Managers can play a role in this, providing data about teleworkers’ productivity. Our research indicates that if team members know that all other members are working hard, the negative effect of including teleworkers in teams goes away.

So companies don’t have to get caught in a tug-of-war between letting their employees work remotely or forcing them to come to work and collaborate. Collaboration can happen even among in-house employees and teleworkers. It simply takes a different managerial skill set.

via New Research: What Yahoo Should Know About Good Managers and Remote Workers – E. Glenn Dutcher – Harvard Business Review.

New Employees: ‘We Were Jobbed About This Job’ – Workforce.com

/ SupremeCmdr / Leave a comment

More than half, or 51 percent, of new employees hired in 2012 have “buyer’s remorse” and 88 percent are looking to make a change, notes DDI’s report. Their chief complaint: The hiring process “failed to paint a realistic or accurate picture of the job.”

via New Employees: ‘We Were Jobbed About This Job’ | Latest News – Workforce.com.

Surprise!

Over 30 years ago I was lied to during a job interview.  The agent of misinformation was to be my future boss.  Some things never change.

New Rules for Life Insurers – WSJ.com

/ SupremeCmdr / Leave a comment

State regulators on Sunday approved new rules for how U.S. life insurers set reserves for future claims, a decision that may ultimately free up billions of dollars for acquisitions, stock buybacks, dividend increases and other uses designed to boost the industry’s flagging returns.

New Rules for Life Insurers – WSJ.com.

Link posted without further comment.

I am having a nice peaceful day and I want to keep it that way.