Refresh Leadership | Fresh Ideas for Today's Business Leaders

Survey of Businesses Shows Health Insurance Ranks as Most Important Job Benefit

March 6th, 2014

Retirement Plans and Paid Time Off Round Out the Top 3 In Survey Of
Employers, HR/Hiring Managers, and Employees

Express Employment Professionals recently released the results of a survey about the most important benefits offered by employers. Responses came from nearly 1,500 employers, HR/hiring managers and employees surveyed in February 2014 as part of the ongoing America Employed campaign.

When asked to name the “top three most important benefits offered by employers” other than wages, respondents most often chose health care plans (84.0%), retirement plans (66.1%), and paid time off (61.9%). Another 46.4 percent said vacation. Only 16 percent of respondents did not choose health care.

Among non-management employees, health care was still the most commonly named benefit (82.6%), though they considered retirement plans more important (72.8%) than did employers or HR/hiring professionals by 19.33 percent and 4.7 percent respectively. Read More→

5 Things to Do this Month: March 2014

March 3rd, 2014

After the bitter winter weather that hit much of North America, most of our readers are probably ready for spring. This month is the start of a new season full of possibilities. So besides waiting for the snow to melt, here are five things to do in the month of March.

Celebrate Women’s History Month

From Joan of Arc to Marie Curie to Rosa Parks, history was cultivated by inspirational, driven women. And with March being Women’s History Month, this is a perfect time to celebrate the many women who have helped bring us into the 21st century. Women have made drastic advancements in the workplace, and according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, percentage of women in the labor force has jumped from 43.3% in 1970 to 58.6% in 2010. Whether a CEO, department head, executive admin, or up-and-coming talent, there have been effective leaders who have shaped our careers. Be sure to encourage your employees to think on who has been an inspiration in their lives and what they can learn from them. Who knows, maybe the next Susan B. Anthony is in your office! Read More→

Has Corporate Social Responsibility Become an Essential Pillar of Business?

March 3rd, 2014

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) – aka corporate conscience or corporate citizenship – is essentially the idea that businesses and corporations have a responsibility as members of society to ensure compliance with laws, ethical standards, and cultural norms and should actively seek out opportunities to impact change in the world around them.

CSR initiatives can help bolster a company’s public image. Making corporate social responsibility an essential business pillar has become almost standard practice, and with good reason. Consumers will support and promote a company they respect and believe to be making a positive impact.

And while there are many benefits beyond making a positive impact on the world for companies who embrace their corporate social responsibility, it can often be a delicate balancing act between sincerity and PR stunt. Read More→

Question of the Month: Would an Increase in Minimum Wage Affect Your Hiring Strategies?

February 28th, 2014

President Obama, along with Senate Democrats, have been making their case for a minimum-wage increase from the current $7.25 an hour to $10.10 an hour. If the wage hike goes into effect, it is expected to boost the earnings of about 16.5 million American workers. However, the Congressional Budget Office released a report showing an increase in minimum wage could lead to a reduction in total employment of .3%, or about 500,000 workers.

For our March Question of the Month, we want to know:

8 Important Hiring Trends for 2014 [Infographic]

February 26th, 2014

In the battle for top talent, what do hiring managers have to contend with in 2014? Check out this infographic from human resource news site HireDaily.com for some insight into a few important hiring trends. Read More→

The Affordable Care Act’s Impact on Job Creation

February 25th, 2014

As the economic effects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) continue to be debated, Express Employment Professionals, the nation’s largest privately held staffing firm, released the results of a survey of business owners, hiring managers, and human resource professionals on the ACA and its impact on hiring decisions.

Sixty percent of respondents believe the ACA will lead to less job creation, while 53 percent said it would negatively affect their own businesses.

When asked about how the ACA’s mandates will affect their hiring decisions, the majority of businesses with fewer than 50 employees said they would “try to remain under 50 full–time employees.” Seventy percent of survey respondents whose companies have 45–49 employees said they would try to remain under 50 employees (see chart below). The ACA mandates that businesses with 50 or more full–time employees, defined as those working 30 hours or more a week, provide health care coverage to their full–time workers. Read More→

Fuzzy Math: Are You Striving to Improve Irrelevant Statistics?

February 20th, 2014

We live in a world of numbers, calculations, and statistics. As Warren Buffett said, “We seem to know the cost of everything and the value of nothing.”

I have long believed that the thing we measure is the thing we will improve, so it’s critical we are looking at the right numbers among the myriad of statistics with which we are confronted. I find in business and in life there are too many people looking at the wrong number and striving to improve an irrelevant statistic.

The sports world, as usual, gives us some great examples. In baseball for many decades, players were judged based upon their batting average. The higher the batting average, the more valuable and successful the player. Recently, some astute coaches and statisticians determined that “on-base percentage” is a much more valid number. Many players who have a lower batting average have a higher on-base percentage because they get a lot of walks. Baseball games are won by the team with the most runs. The only way to get runs is to get on base though it doesn’t really matter how you got there. A walk is just as valuable as a single. Read More→

How You Can Win Over Millennials

February 19th, 2014

Retail sales are what drive the economy, and with the largest generation since Baby Boomers in the workforce, the spenders of the future are changing how businesses target consumers.

In a recent article on QUARTZ, author Venkatesh Bala explains that businesses can reach Millennials – they just need to be willing to adapt and be innovative. And with $600 billion in Millennial spending at stake, it’s more crucial than ever to think outside the box. Follow the link below to learn steps you can take to appeal to this generation:

How even the stodgiest retailer can win over millennials

How do you think Millennials have affected the retail and sales industry? Are there any specific strategies you have for reaching this demographic? Let us know in the comments section below! Read More→

12 Secrets to Creating a Joyful Workplace

February 18th, 2014

Check out this short video to hear workplace performance and communication expert, Amanda Gore, share her 12 secrets to creating a joyful workplace. By incorporating these elements into your workplace, you’re creating an environment that inspires everyone to be their best.

Amanda Gore is an award-winning professional speaker, author, and workplace performance and communication expert. Her high-energy, entertaining, and informative presentation style has delighted audiences around the world. For more information about Amanda, visit AmandaGore.com. Read More→

No Joke: Seinfeld Can Help You Be More Successful

February 14th, 2014

One of the most recognizable comedians may know a thing or two about achieving goals. Jerry Seinfeld wasn’t a television sensation overnight; it was a day-to-day process. Seinfeld had a simple strategy that made him who he is today – and the same strategy can help you be more successful at work! He explains that first you pick one thing you want to get better at, and then do something every single day to achieve that goal. His goal was to create better jokes, so his one thing was to simply write every day. Read the entire article to find out more:

No joke: How Seinfeld can help you get better at work

What are some strategies you use to achieve goals? How do you think Seinfeld’s strategy would work for you? Let us know in the comments section below! Read More→