Many companies are trimming costs, rather than employees, because they want to avoid having to staff up again if a recession is mild. "Most CFOs are very reluctant to let staff go in what seems to probably be a pretty mild recession," says Alexander Bant, chief of research for CFOs at Gartner.
Employers need to learn how to work with different generations of employees, writes Jikku Venkat, co-founder and CEO of technology company WorkEQ. Encourage "knowledge exchange" with more senior employees mentoring less-experienced ones, and learn how to best communicate with younger workers who may respond better to texts versus emails, Venkat suggests.
Helping workers who are also caregivers Employers, here's a way to show your support for workers who are also family caregivers. The on-demand Prepare to Care Workshop offers tips and resources and can make caring for a loved one more manageable. Ask your employees to register today.
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Salary transparency laws challenge small businesses more than large ones because of greater budget constraints and recruiting struggles, says Joe Galvin, research chief at executive coaching firm Vistage. Smaller companies can compete by amping up flexible work models or benefits, or by shifting money from benefits to salaries, Galvin suggests.
An increasing number of community colleges are offering degrees and certifications in technology, in part, because of partnerships with Big Tech companies. Intel offers its AI for Workforce program in 74 colleges and partners with Dell in the Artificial Intelligence Incubator Network, which helps colleges build AI labs.
With a never-ending list of things to do around the holidays, some people may find themselves feeling irritable, and experts suggest analyzing the root of the issue to find ways to feel better and prioritizing tasks that bring joy. "We hear it all the time: Put on your oxygen mask first and take care of yourself," says licensed clinical social worker Jourdan Travers, noting that the holiday season isn't an exception to that idea.
Jordan, a hulking 6’1”, 200-pound senior linebacker, sneered as stood over my nephew, Vince, the quarterback who Jordan had just sacked. Vince ignored the taunt, jumped up off the ground and tossed the ball back to the referee.
On the next down, Vince dropped back into the pocket, rolled out to his right and looked down field. Jordan fought off a tackle and sprinted toward Vince. Just as he was closing in, Vince found his target and released the ball. Jordan veered off to avoid hitting him. Vince turned to the big lineman.
“You’re not big enough to KEEP me down,” he growled before jogging back to his huddle.
Vince told me that story at Sunday dinner that weekend. I remember being struck by his words. I had just started this job and was still feeling inadequate about certain aspects of it. His statement lit something inside me. However inadequate I felt about being a manager, that emotion wasn’t big enough to keep me down, to keep me from learning to do my job well. I felt a surge of encouragement.
I wrote Vince’s words in my planner that night when I got home. I wanted to see them every day for the next week. They’d be my reminder to fight when the demons of insecurity hit. I snapped a shot of the planner page and sent it to him with a note.
“I learn from you, kiddo. I needed this shot of motivation and encouragement. Love you, son,” I wrote.
Our workplaces are a cornucopia of skill sets, backgrounds and age groups, as we see in our Recruiting & Retention story today. We can -- and should! -- learn from others, regardless of their ages or years of experience. Some of the most powerful career lessons I’ve received have come from people younger than me. Rachael taught me about project management. Jared taught me about creative product design. Megan taught me about diplomacy and gentleness in leadership. All three have helped me grow in my field and skills.
Are you managing a multigenerational workforce? How do you help the different generations work together and learn from each other? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.
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