SHRM konferencen dag 1

Dag 1 på SHRM konferencen (26. Juli) I Las Vegas.

Når ca. 18.000 HR-folk samles så er det stort. Og når det så foregår i Las Vegas på denne årstid, så bliver der også varmt – godt 40 C. Men så drejer amerikanerne på den kolde hane, og så nærmer temperaturen sig 10 C. Sådan føles det i det mindste. Og så er det koldt.

Og der er en kvidren fra Twitter, som virker allestedsnærværende.

Førstedagen blev præget af åbningen med superiværksætteren Richard Branson som hovedtaler. Den store HR-messe åbnede og der blev offentliggjort en ny HR-undersøgelse.

Richard Branson
Han holdt en såkaldt “Stump Speech” – altså – der stilles spørgsmål til ham. Her er et udpluk af hans betragtninger:

•                On hiring talent for his Virgin Atlantic airlines: “For each person we hire, 400 apply … In the airlines, if you can get everything right (for both customers and employees) … everyone will be cheerful and happy … ands it doesn’t cost that much more.” Customers compliment the employee when the business is well-run, “and then (the employee) enjoys the job more and you then get more great people” applying to come work for you.

•                When asked if all his ventures have been successful: “You wouldn’t be a proper entrepreneur if everything was a success … you need to get out there and try things.”

•                On providing workplace flexibility for workers in a 24/7/365 world: “Workplace flexibility is critical for success, but American companies are particularly bad at it … many of your workers would like more flexibility — job sharing, part-time employment, a six-month leave of absence … and the number of holidays people are given in America stinks. It’s horrendous.”

•                On offering rewards and incentives to employees: “All these HR departments can offer a prize to their staff by sending them into space (on Virgin Galatic) … or offer a one-way trip for their CEOs!”

•                On building a socially conscious business: “Every company should be a force for the good … to really inspire your staff and customers (his non-profit socially-conscious organization is Virgin Unite). If you leave it to government’s to solve it … they don’t have an entrepreneurial way to tackle (social problems).”

HR Undersøgelse
Et andet element, der prægede dag 1 var offentliggørelsen af en stor HR-undersøgelse: SHRM/Globoforce employee engagement survey. Hovedkonklusionen må være, at næsten alle af de 700 adspurgte HR-folk peger på (99 pct) at engagement i arbejdet vil være den største udfordring. Interessant er det, at hele 86 pct. måler niveauet for engagement, men det gøres via exit-interviews, blandt de medarbejdere som slev beslutter at forlade arbejdspladsen.

Nogle andre tal fra undersøgelsen viser:

•                54 percent of HR leaders do not think managers and supervisors at their company effectively acknowledge and appreciate employees;

•                69 percent believe employees are not satisfied with the level of recognition they receive at work;

•                44 percent of respondents do not think their employees are rewarded according to job performance;

•                Only 37 percent of HR leaders said they tie employee recognition programs to corporate values;

•                Less than half — 43 percent  – recognize employees based on performance related to the organization’s financial goals.

Jeg vil forsøge at vende tilbage med nyheder fra dag 2 i morgen.