This Week's Herman Trend Alert Navigating the Next Year

The Herman Trend Alert October 8, 2008 Corporate Blindness According to the latest Economic Anxiety at the Workplace poll results just released by Elliot Masie, 85 percent of respondents have at least some economic anxiety in their workplace and 29 percent experience “severe or high anxiety” in their workplaces. Only 15 percent reported "low or no anxiety in the workplace". The respondents were answering the question, "What is the level of economic anxiety in your workplace?" Interestingly, over 1,444 learning professionals worldwide responded to his poll in 72 hours. This poll is Masie's attempt to take the pulse of how workers and workplaces are reacting to the current economic crisis in the United States (and beyond). Masie's poll asked one additional question: "What, if any, action(s) has your organization's leadership taken to respond to the economic anxiety in the workplace?" The responses to this question reflect that corporations are "out of touch" with the feelings of their employees. The results were as follows: 21 percent said their organizations had provided "briefings by leadership on organization's economic health"; 13 percent said their organizations had provided "briefings by leadership on the economic crisis"; another 13 percent responded that managers had "conversations with employees on economic anxiety"; 7 percent provide "workshops/briefings on dealing with 401K management"; and a full 46 percent reported their organizations had taken "no actions as of today". Elliott Masie heads The MASIE Center, a Saratoga Springs, New York think tank focused on how organizations can support learning and knowledge within the workforce. Earlier this year, Gallup conducted a survey of Americans and reported that "the percentage of Americans saying they worry 'a great deal' about the economy has surged by more than 20 points over the past year", moving the issue from 6th on the list of 12 national issues measured in 2007 to a virtual tie for first today with healthcare. Healthcare issues are a concern for about 60 percent and the economy about 58 percent. These results are certainly a wake-up call for employers to take action and take it quickly. This economic anxiety is surely going to take a toll on productivity and retention. © Copyright 1998-2008 by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." RESOLVE TO ADDRESS EMPLOYEE TURNOVER IN 2009 If you knew just how much money turnover is costing your company, you would have handled it ages ago! Turnover costs A LOT and it comes right off the bottom line. Let The Herman Group and its team of very experienced consultants help you address your turnover issues right away. We have an impressive track record and stand ready to help you. Call Carol at 800-227-3566; international, call 336-210-3547 for a no-obligation conference call. EMPLOYEE RETENTION BEGINS WITH GOOD SELECTION If you are not using pre-employment assessments, you are flying without radar---not very smart in today's highly competitive environment. Let us help you better understand your candidates and your employees. In less than 30 minutes, you will know if they can do the job (abilities); their work behaviors, even their personality and attitudes (like integrity & ethics), and those can't be trained. It's very cost effective, too! For more information, contact Joyce at 336-210-3548 or e-mail assessments@hermangroup.com. Validated for many countries and cultures. We offer in-depth help with job descriptions, too! GET INSIDE THE MINDS OF YOUR EMPLOYEES Find out what's really going on inside the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-648-1918 or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html. To read this Herman Trend Alert on the web: http://www.hermangroup.com/alert/archive_9-24-2008.html. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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