| HIGH
GAS PRICES FUELING CHANGES IN BUSINESS TRAVEL:
As gas prices continue to climb, many companies and
employees are curtailing travel expenses with fuel-saving
strategies, USA Today reports. Some companies
are purchasing smaller and more fuel-efficient cars,
while others are postponing the replacement of fleet
vehicles. Many employees who need to travel in order
to perform their jobs are consolidating trips to curb
back-and-forth travel or driving out of their way to
find the cheapest fuel. Still others are simply replacing
in-person visits with emails and conference calls. To
read more,
click here,
NEW
JERSEY PASSES PAID FAMILY LEAVE BILL: Last
week, New Jersey became the third state in the country
to provide workers with paid family leave. According
to Business Insurance, the legislation, slated
to go into effect next year, will allow employees to
take up to six weeks of paid leave any time during the
first year of the birth or adoption of a child, or to
care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, or domestic
partner. While on leave, employees will be able to replace
two-thirds of their salary, up to a maximum of $524
per week. Payroll deductions will fund the benefit,
which will be based on an employee's salary. Employees
will contribute a maximum of $33 per year. The state
of Washington passed a law last year that allows employees
up to five weeks of paid leave, but it has not yet gone
into effect. California enacted paid leave legislation
in 2002. For more,
click here.
COMMUNICATION
KEY TO HAPPY EMPLOYEES, HEALTHY PROFITS: The
command-and-control style of corporate communication
is no longer considered an effective way of motivating
employees to perform their best. In fact, studies show
that poor communication can frustrate employees, lead
to disengagement, and chase off potential good recruits.
According to BusinessWeek columnist Carmine
Gallo, a few unhappy employees can negatively impact
your company's customer service, performance, recruitment
efforts, and overall reputation. To improve communication,
Gallo recommends a few tips, including soliciting employee
opinions, effectively communicating change, including
employees in the feedback loop, and personalizing communications
with employees. To read the entire column,
click
here.
GLOBALIZATION BOOSTS
CORPORATE DIVERSITY EFFORTS: Globalization
is driving more employers to expand diversity efforts
in the workplace, a survey finds. According to the survey,
by the Novations Group, more than 40 percent of organizations
have expanded the scope of their diversity and inclusion
programs, an increase from 15 percent in 2005. And 24
percent of employers surveyed said they expect to increase
their diversity efforts in the near future. To read
more,
click here.
MANAGING
REMOTELY REQUIRES BONDING: As more companies
expand their efforts away from headquarters, the need
for managers to oversee remote employees is becoming
more critical, The Wall Street Journal's Elizabeth
Garone writes in a recent article posted on the Journal's
Web site. "One way to avoid some of the common
communication blunders among far-flung teams,"
the article says. "is to hire people who are ready
to work in a virtual environment from day one."
That's not always possible. In those cases, "it
is best to pack a bag and meet team members on their
turfs." To read the entire article, click
here.
WORLDWIDE
AUTOMOTIVE REPORT PODCAST: General Motors is
feeling more heat from the American Axle strike. Environmentalists
aren't happy with Chrysler's new gas offer. Arvin Meritor
makes a big move. 
 MICHIGAN
MINORITY PROCUREMENT CONFERENCE: WWJ Newsradio
950 is a sponsor the 27th Annual Michigan Minority Procurement
Conference and Trade Fair, to be held May
12-14 at
Cobo Center in Detroit. The theme for this year's event
is: “The Economic Turning Point Starts with Minority
Business." The conference will provide opportunities
for networking, training, leadership development and
relationship building designed to position minority
businesses for growth and sustainability. For more information
and to register online, click
here.
THE
FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION: Join WWJ Newsradio
950 for a business breakfast titled The Future Of Transportation
In Southeast Michigan. The event will take place May
15 at the Anderson Theatre at The Henry Ford in Dearborn.
The two-panel conference will discuss Detroit's future
in moving freight and moving people. For more information,
click
here.
|
have a related podcast at 
With a talent shortage and economic downturn looming
large, recruiting and retaining talent tops the agenda
for human resources professionals these days. At two
local employers – the Detroit Medical
Center (DMC) and R.L. Polk & Co.
– a few key strategies are making a difference.
