SHRM Blog

What's next for job growth in the U.S.?

At SHRM we have been researching some of the factors that are affecting job growth in the U.S. This is important information for HR professionals who are on the frontline and in the trenches dealing with the filling of jobs. Although there are many reasons that U.S. job growth is very slow, SHRM Research has identified some problematic issues that need solutions from HR professionals.

American businesses are facing a paradox – in the midst of high unemployment and slow job growth, many organizations are faced with inability to fill key jobs in their organizations. In fact the...

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CEOs Need More Than Naysayers

At the recent annual conference of the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources, one message came through loud and clear. Repeated by multiple speakers, the concept was uttered best by Jon Love, former president of Pitney Bowes Government Solutions.
 
“I don’t need the HR police,” Love said. 
 
What CEOs and other top business leaders want—and need—from the HR professionals in their organizations are solutions to problems. Telling the C-suite why they can’t do something isn’t helping the company, according to business leaders at the conference. 
 
“If you show...
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Why Middle Managers Are Ready to Demote Themselves (and what you can do about it)

Reality Check

  • 52% of middle leaders claim they have more responsibilities since the recession but no new title
  • 89% of middle leaders do not feel well-prepared to lead change and make tough decisions
  • 83% do not feel satisfied with their overall performance as a business leader
  • 70% would take a demotion to a non-leadership role for the same or less money
  • 64% say they are not likely to be with their current employers in 2 years – are we surprised?

(All resources available upon request)

What went wrong?...

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How to Build a Social Recruiting Framework

When creating a social media recruitment strategy, there are 3 critical considerations every employer or talent organization must address directly and comprehensively.  The good news is, you already know the answers to these crucial questions, and while unique to every company, recruiter and job opportunity, those answers provide a strategic, measurable framework for social recruiting success.

The Big 3 Questions of Talent Acquisition

Hiring managers, HR business partners, recruiters and executive leadership (not to mention current employees) are all crucial stakeholders in the talent acquisition...

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The HR Point of View

What’s your Philosophy on HR? 

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to interview a lot of managers and leaders.  One of my favorite questions to ask when I interview professionals who claim to have successfully managed people in the past is this: “What is your management philosophy?”  In my experience, good leaders have an easy answer for this question.  It may not be something they have written down on a piece of paper in their desk at the office, but they can always articulate an intentional way they go about managing others.  Often, there are a couple...

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Holiday Gifts for Plaintiffs' Lawyers

The holidays are a wonderful time to share good feelings and sometimes that includes gifts.  But you don’t want your seasonal gift to result in a January gift for plaintiffs’ lawyers.

Now is a good time to look at your policies on giving and receiving gifts and remind employees of their application to the holiday season.  Here are some suggestions:

  1. Never solicit a gift.  The subtle “I am sorry but I don’t recall receiving your holiday cheer this year” is as subtle as Lady Gaga is conventional.
  2. Check your policy to see if you can
  3. ...
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Work-Life Balance Starts with HR

I saw Jack Welch speak at the 2009 Society for Human Resource Management's annual conference in New Orleans. Welch delivered the opening speech for the conference and completely dissed the idea of work-life balance for women in corporate America.

As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Welch told the audience, "There's no such thing as work-life balance. There are work-life choices, and you make them, and they have consequences."

Welch said, "We'd love to have more women moving up faster, but they've got to make the tough choices and know the consequences of each one."...

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HireHonor: Making a Difference in Veteran Hiring in America

During the month of November, the U.S. traditionally celebrates Veterans Day, focusing attention on those who have served our country through military service. It is a time to reflect not only on their contributions but also on their post-service needs, which have evolved over the years. One key challenge today, for example, is how to successfully seek employment after service.

Veterans represent an elite and diverse talent pool available for hire. Most veterans possess transferrable skills, professional discipline and positive attributes identifiable in today’s evolving workforce. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, by hiring veterans,...

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The Multi-Generational Workplace (Part 2)

Note: This series is based on the paper My Generation.

The makeup of formal – and informal - organizations has always mirrored that of society as a whole. As societal demographics shift, organizations have no choice but to consume the transformation.  A “failure to respond to the demographic changes of society will make it difficult, if not impossible, for the modern organization to meet employee needs and productively move forward.” This will leave the organization unprepared to compete – for talent or in the marketplace - eventually leading to its demise.  We are confident that businesses...

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