Business Leaders Lose Six to Nine Hours to Disorganization

Express Employment Professionals’ recent hiring trends survey of more than 18,000 business leaders brought to light some interesting statistics about time management. The survey confirmed what many in business have struggled with for years; there isn’t enough time in the day to accomplish everything.

The survey found that 31 percent of leaders did not consider a lack of time in their day an issue in their roles. For the other leaders in business, the survey revealed some telling information about what causes the lost time and how it can cost companies money. More than half of those surveyed said they lose nine work hours a week due to a lack of organization and 57 percent said they lose six work hours a week because of a lack of time due to disorganization.

Disorganization not only hurts deadlines, projects, and leadership accountability, but can cost companies money in lost hours and missed business opportunities. According to the survey, disorganized employees who earn $50,000 a year can cost companies an estimated $11,000 a year in lost hours. Whether it’s office and desk clutter or a flood of disorganized emails every day, lack of time management can hurt the entire company.

But, the affects of this lost time are not only experienced in the workplace. In a 2009 survey conducted by AOL, 62 percent of at-work email users check their work email over the weekend, and 50 percent check it while on vacation. This trend can lead to stress in workers’ lives, which can cause more strain and distraction while they are at work. Taking work home leads to health problems as well. In a 2008 Health of Financial Advisors report, 63 percent of the respondents who said they lacked time management skills, also experienced health issues including sleep apnea and high blood pressure.

In the hiring trends survey, 55 percent of those surveyed said their company did not provide training on managing increased workloads. As a company leader, it’s important to take action by holding a class and providing resources for employees to learn from so they become more productive and happier in their careers. As new employees join the organization, provide materials on time management expectations of the job and check back with them to make sure they’re meeting those expectations.

Stress and worry do not have to be the status quo at your organization, and the cost of letting them become part of your culture is too great to let disorganization continue. At Express, we can help your company manage the work overload by meeting human resources needs through flexible staffing, evaluation hire, and a toll-free HR hotline. We can also provide knowledge-based training programs to help your employees stay engaged and learn valuable time management techniques.

Untrained Employees Lose Companies Time and Money

Company leaders are in a place of great influence and responsibility, so if they lack training and knowledge in how to manage their own workflow, problems can spread quickly throughout an organization. Dr. Cubie King, a business professor atNationalUniversityinSan Diego,Calif., believes most employees desire to be the best for their company. “Underneath that suit of clothes beats the heart of a real person who, more often than not, truly wants to do a great job for your company or organization,” King said. But, to be able to do their best for their company, employees need the right tools and training to help ensure success.

In a recent Hiring Trends survey conducted by Express Employment Professionals of companies, 55 percent of respondents said they do not train their leaders on how to handle an increased workload. This lack of training becomes apparent most often when deadlines need to be met and the pressure to reach goals is at its highest. So what can employees do to avoid letting the organization down when the demand is high?

Make sure employees are fully aware of job expectations so they can focus on growing the company. Fifty-four percent of business leaders who took the Express survey say they lose up to six hours a week because they are busy being reactive instead of proactive. Oftentimes, the employees in an organization begin working within the parameters of their position, and down the road take on tasks they should delegate to others. Training every person in the organization will help them know their responsibilities and what is expected of them.

If it becomes clear that employees are struggling to keep up with their workloads, consider offering company-sponsored training classes on how to utilize technology, deal with time management, and improve work-flow processes. You can also save money by utilizing people within your own company to teach the classes. Talk with your human resources and information technology teams to see if they would be willing to offer their perspective on the topic of time management. For example,MaryvilleCollegeinTennesseeutilizes its staff members by having them lead different employee workshops. This easy solution to a training problem is cost effective and offers employees more time in their own familiar office setting. The trainers may also have information to offer on time management or project management software that could bring an added benefit to the training.

It’s also important to ensure leaders know the value of showing appreciation for their team’s accomplishments. If a complicated, quick turn-around order gets shipped out on time, employees love hearing a “congratulations” or “nice work” from their supervisor. Big parties and free food are great, but they don’t need to be a weekly occurrence. So often, it’s the small thank-you cards or emails and handshakes that can keep an employee motivated to continue working hard.

Finally, make sure the next person you hire understands the demands of the job. For instance, ask them how they handle high pressure situations, working under deadlines that can quickly change, and how they work with teammates to reach goals. A mentoring system is also important, so that new employees can have someone in place to help them during the first few critical months. Heather Brighton of The Brighton Group, a strategic management and consulting firm, believes this is an overlooked, but very successful tactic. “By introducing recruits to the office culture immediately, mentors make them feel important and necessary to the company’s success,”Brighton said.

Untrained leaders and employees do not need to be the status quo of your business. Simple changes will help make sure your organization has the best trained and prepared leaders who can improve productivity and employee engagement.

What Employers Can Do to Keep Their Best Employees

The current economic climate has led to an interesting new trend in business. In a recent study by CareerBuilder, only 45 percent of employers saw employee retention as a problem, while 87 percent of employees are open to a new job opportunity or are actively seeking a new job. This extreme difference in the views of the current hiring situation shows that many businesses may be vulnerable to losing their top employees, and may not even know it.

So what can businesses do to guarantee that their best employees won’t be leaving for greener pastures? There are several steps employers can take to make sure the most valuable employees in their company are going to be there long term.

Improve the Work Environment

First, provide a work environment that gives employees respect, recognition, and feedback, with some fun mixed in every now and then for good measure. Top employees want to know they will be given one of the basic aspects of the work place, respect. Remove respect from your office, and be prepared to see the very best of the team walk out the door quickly. A respectful work environment should include recognition for accomplishments and goals being met, but also feedback and constructive criticism to encourage growth.

Most employees want to do a great job for their company, and desire to produce great results, so they deserve to be recognized for their efforts. Helpful advice on a project or tips on what to do before the next presentation helps employees perform better and feel like they are needed at work. And, a work environment with the occasional family day or ice cream social during a break lets employees know the company cares about them.

Offer Training Opportunities

The next way to encourage the best employees to stay with a company is to offer training and learning options. Training can come in several varieties, including onsite computer or leadership classes, mentorship programs, or reimbursement for classes at a local university or vocational school. In a survey of 1,400 chief financial officers, 29 percent planned on offering training or education in 2011, while 24 percent planned on offering a mentorship program.

These additional learning opportunities not only help employees feel more committed to the company, but also provide businesses with employees who are better trained, loyal to the company and willing to go out into the community to talk about the great benefits they receive.

Competitive Compensation

The final, and usually most talked about way to retain great employees, is to offer a competitive compensation and benefits package. The most obvious of ways to keep great employees is to pay them more, but in today’s economic climate, a pay raise may not be feasible for small businesses. But, that doesn’t mean there aren’t creative ways to offer the hardest working employees benefits other companies don’t have.

The best employees know their company may not be able to give them a bonus or pay raise right now, but a small form of appreciation can make a big difference in their decision to search for a new job or stay in their current position. Consider offering a flexible work schedule one or two days a week. In a 2010 report from the president’s Council of Economic Advisers, a flexible work program that allowed 10 to 15 percent of its employee’s flexible hours helped increase retention rates by 15 percent.

If it’s not already offered, a corporate wellness program – whether through an onsite work gym, weight management programs, company-paid gym memberships, or wellness activities like company sports teams in local intramural leagues –is a great way to help retain your top talent. A survey by the Principal Financial Group showed that 53 percent of employees used company-offered weight-loss programs in 2010, compared to 28 percent the year before. The same survey also showed that 48 percent of employees participating in some form of company wellness programs were motivated to stay with their employer.

The best employees will always be in high demand, but that doesn’t mean companies have to lose them. With a few, cost-effective programs and work environment changes, the best employees will be more committed to their employer and, because of their contentment in their role, can attract even more hard-working, dedicated employees.

Staying Encouraged During the Job Hunt

While recent unemployment rates have slowly declined, the average job hunt is still lasting six to eight months, discouraging many job seekers. Despite positive reports, such as CNNMoney’s recent survey where economists predict an average of 2.5 million jobs to be added to the U.S. in 2011, the growth is slow.

As Christine Owens, from the National Employment Law Project, reported on the radio program Marketplace, while the rate decreases are encouraging, the number of discouraged job seekers is growing. Some people on the job hunt have given up altogether, which means they are no longer even being counted as “unemployed.”

As the search for a job drags on, it can be hard to remain upbeat and positive. But, today’s job hunt is a marathon, not a sprint, so it’s imperative that job seekers not give up and stay motivated. Searching for a job is a job in and of itself, which means the same tips that apply to discouraged and unmotivated employees apply to today’s job seekers. So, if you’re feeling the strain of searching for a job or know someone who is, take a look at these tips to stay motivated.

Get Organized

After a few months, or even just a few weeks, of calling employers, searching job boards, and emailing résumés, all your efforts can run together. You are required to track at least some of your job search activities to receive unemployment, but if you’re doing anything additional you need your own tracking system. Whether you prefer a notebook or a spreadsheet on your computer, keep a list of the companies you’ve contacted, who you talked to, when you talked with them, if you spoke over the phone, in-person, or through e-mail, what they said, and what the results were. Not only will this ensure you don’t contact the same employer too often, but it will also give you a sense of accomplishment that you have been trying and doing everything in your power to find a job.

Change Your Surroundings

Sitting around your house at your dining room table or on your couch day after day sifting through the want ads or scanning for jobs online can get old fast. Try going to a local bookstore or coffee shop for a change of scenery. Your public library is also a good place to go, especially if you need a computer for searching job sites or emailing applications. Local meeting places such as these often have bulletin boards where employers post job openings, which are another great resource for your hunt.

Take a Break

Everyone needs a break from their day-to-day activities, and that includes job hunting. If you’ve been job searching for a while, take a day or two off. Work around the house. Go to the park with your family. Volunteer with a local non-profit. See a dollar movie. You’ll come back to the job hunt feeling refreshed, less stressed, and with a new outlook. You’ll be ready to start again with new energy, and you never know what networking opportunities you might find on your break.

Ask for Help

With the number of individuals searching for jobs, it never hurts to have as many people as possible helping you market your skills and experience. Make sure all your family members, friends, and acquaintances know you’re looking for work. Contact your local staffing companies and give them your information. As a job seeker, you should not be charged, and you’ll gain access to companies and job openings that you didn’t have access to before.

Whether you’ve been searching for a few days or for six months, the job hunt can be discouraging. Experts are predicting good things in 2011. Make it your goal to get one of those 2.5 millions jobs in 2011, stay motivated, and keep trying.