Happy Wednesday…   Still raining here in Indianapolis…

Brain Drain or Lost Boss?

There was a big article in our local paper about the 80% of academically talented high school seniors who will be attending college here in Indiana.  Brain drain problem solved…

The issue isn’t where our smart kids are going to go to college, it’s where they’ll wind up after they graduate.  There’s lots of good reasons to stay in state for school:  wanting to be close to home, not having to pay out-of-state tuition, excellent colleges to choose from, where your friends are attending…

That’s not the case with a job.  And it’s not where our kids start working when they come out of school that is the brain drain problem. The governments own employment data indicates employees under 35 stay in their job just a few years.  The younger they are, the less time they stay.  The issue is where people “put down roots” once they get married and have kids.  And that all depends on how well they are being treated at the time those roots are ready to take hold.

Powerless to Fix This Fast

Average age of the worker:  51 years old

Turnover rates:  50-60% per year

Percentage of positions that may need to be filled in five years:  40%

In many companies, one third of employees are going to retire in five years just as the industry is investing in technology

The industry has partnered with workforce development agencies to recruit and train new workers

Average time in on-the-job training:  8000 hours

Ready?? Utility Line Workers, yes, the guys up on the poles.  The ones who get your electricity online after a tornado or violent storm.

It’s a Small World

Towers Perrin reports that nearly 60% of workers in China and India are actively looking for jobs or are open to offers.   That’s one of the big differences between engaged employees and satisfied ones.  Satisfied employees will leave you for a quarter more an hour, while fully engaged workers will stay with their organization even if offered slightly more money to go somewhere else.

Good to know that there are lost bosses all over the world.

Chicken or Egg?

According to the results of the 2008 Employee Hold’em National Benchmark on Workforce Engagement, 40% of part-time workers are unengaged, halfway out the door, and putting relationships with customers are at risk.  Nice to know your part-time employees can lead to full-time dissatisfaction from your customers.