This Week's Herman Trend Alert Navigating the Next Year

The Herman Trend Alert July 16, 2008 Supporting Family Centeredness In this era when human resource professionals are practically expected to be magicians, any low-cost means for helping employees reduce their stress and be more engaged and productive is very welcome. In our book, "Lean & Meaningful ", we defined "meaningfulness" at work with 12 elements; one was "Family Centeredness". Supporting family centeredness also helps to make an organization an Employer of Choice® (a registered certification mark of Employer of Choice, Inc.; for more about being recognized, visit www.employerofchoice.com). Helping HR professionals to support family centeredness is former "BusinessWeek" writer, Michelle Nichols. In 1998, Nichols unexpectedly lost her young son, Mark to brain cancer. Later, she put up two billboards along Houston's freeways in his memory, suggesting that parents hug their kids each day. The outpouring of response inspired Nichols to write her new book, "Hug your Kids Today!: 5 Lessons for Every Working Parent". This 156-page, easy-to-read paperback book not only chronicles Nichols' story, but offers advice to stressed parents as well: "Don't try to 'balance'", says the author, "rather prioritize". She urges parents to "put family first and work a close second". "Spend a few minutes hugging your kids every morning", Nichols advises, "and you will have more peace of mind, joy, and success". Her strong feelings about the value of hugs also prompted her to create "National Hug Your Kids Day". Next Monday, July 21, there are events scheduled in Georgia, Florida, California, and Nevada. In addition, eight of Major League Baseball's electronic billboards will highlight the special day. Several roadside billboards throughout the United States will promote the celebration. For more, visit http://www.hugyourkidstoday.com. (Incidentally, medical evidence proves that hugging is therapeutic for both parties, bolstering the immune system and creating endorphins that make people feel good.) Encouraging working parents to hug their kids every morning is not a major undertaking and it will result in less-stressed employees. Expect more of these low-tech, yet effective ideas to support employees in many ways. We also anticipate seeing an uptick in the number of "lunch and learn" presentations with books like this one, delivered on parenting and other high-stress inducing challenges employees face. © 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. 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