Talent and HR News Weekly Roundup: Workplace Trends

Here’s the latest on workplace trends, hiring and culture. Kick-off the last week of Summer with this mashup. Enjoy!   

1) 17 Proven Morale Boosters That Won’t Break The Bank from SnackNation

“Believe it or not, some companies are still skeptical about the value of morale boosters. Sure, morale is nice to have, their argument goes, but it’s not critical to our business, and therefore not something I need to focus on. Right? Well, Doubty McDoubterson, you couldn’t be more wrong. The benefits of high employee morale in your company can be summed up in one word: performance…”

2) Employers Find ‘Soft Skills’ Like Critical Thinking in Short Supply from The Wall Street Journal

“Companies put more time and money into teasing out job applicants’ personality traits. The job market’s most sought-after skills can be tough to spot on a résumé. Companies across the U.S. say it is becoming increasingly difficult to find applicants who can communicate clearly, take initiative, problem-solve and get along with co-workers.Those traits, often called soft skills, can make the difference between a standout employee and one who just gets by…”

3) 5 Things I've Learned About Hiring as an Entrepreneur from Entrepreneur

“Integrity is a massive trait to be looked within the candidates when you are hiring for your firm. The main challenge for the Entrepreneur while building a start-up is to build the right team, especially when you are bootstrapped. Choosing the right candidates with a perfect mixture of experienced and freshers’ who have the right attitude and desire to learn is key for the start-ups. For me, building a right team doesn’t mean hiring candidates like me. It is about hiring the candidates who are better than me and provide solutions to the problems…”

4) Employee engagement: The best kept secret that all top companies know from Smart Business Online

“What do powerful brands and successful companies have in common? They are investing in employee engagement as one of their top strategic initiatives….Still, many business leaders have no clue what employee engagement is, nor do they see it as something they need to be bothered with. However, experts and companies that are proving them wrong disagree…”

5) Amazon is piloting teams with a 30-hour workweek from MSN Money

“Amazon.com will soon launch a program to experiment with a 30-hour workweek for select employees.The program will have a few technical teams made up entirely of part-time workers. These 30-hour employees will be salaried and receive the same benefits as traditional 40-hour workers, but they will receive only 75 percent of the pay full-time workers earn. Currently, the company employs part-time workers that share the same benefits as full-time workers. However, the pilot program would differ in that an entire team, including managers, would work reduced hours...”

6) This is How Your Employees Really See Your Company Culture from Foxnews Business

“Company culture has become more and more important in the workplace, but when VitalSmarts surveyed 1,200 employees in July, it found that many employers were missing the mark. While leaders want to believe they’ve created environments filled with innovation and teamwork, there's a good chance their employees see the workplace as one of obedience, competition and predictability. Here’s what the ideal culture looks like, what employees really think and how to close this communication gap at your company…”

Kathleen O'Brien (@kathleen_eliz) is a Lead Consultant & Project Manager for exaqueo, a workforce consultancy that helps organizations build their cultures, employer brands and talent strategies. Contact exaqueo to learn more about our employer brand innovation, workforce research, and recruiting strategy offerings.

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