Workplace Trends for 2015 #3

3.  Honesty becomes a revered leadership trait.  "Companies are going to start embracing transparency more next year as younger generations are demanding it.  Leaders won't just have to be good at inspiring and educating, they will have to be able to instill trust through honesty."

HRi:  We all encounter issues with honesty in the workplace from time to time.  How we handle these situations makes the difference in how our employees and coworkers view and trust us.  And, every organization is different.  In an environment where employees are forced into competition with each other, such focus may be at the expense of honest behavior.   Leaders should hold themselves to a high moral and ethical standard, leading employees by example.  Promote honest and open communication, ensuring the environment is free from rumors and negativity.  To quote Rex Huppke; ". . . a workplace needs to find honesty equilibrium - enough permissible white lies that co-workers aren't beating each other up for saying, "Those jeans DO make you look fat!" combined with a culture that promotes honesty."

Workplace Trends for 2015 #2

Trend #2 as reported in Forbes:

2.  More millennials are taking leadership roles.  "A few years ago, PayScale.com and my company found that nearly 13% of all millennials in America were managers already.  That number is expected to grow in 2015 as millennials become the largest workforce for the very first time."

HRi:  In late November the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted that millennials will make up approximately 75% of the workforce by 2030.  Now, in 2015, millennials account for the highest percentage of workers compared to Gen X and Boomers.   Adding to the equation, millennials are the most educated generation in history as well as ambitious and eager for career advancement!

Workplace Trends for 2015 #1

Over the next ten days I'll share the top ten employment predictions for 2015 (as reported on Forbes)!  Let's see how they fare with their predictions.  So let's kick off with prediction number 1:

1.  Companies hiring Generation Z for internships.   "While many companies are still trying to understand and connect with Gen Y (or millennials), some companies are going to be heavily invested in the upcoming generation, Gen Z.  Gen Z's, born between 1994 and 2010, will become a major target for companies looking to recruit interns next year."

HRi:  We all recognize the growing skills gap and many companies are faced with a workforce not properly trained for a job.  Students are not ready to be effective employees until they have experience with employment.   While internships do not guarantee permanent placement, they do provide individuals with an opportunity to work in a specific field and hone their skills.  Organizations may be able to partially close the skills gap and hire knowledgeable individuals. 

New OSHA Reporting Requirements.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) updated injury and illness recordkeeping and reporting requirements went into effect Jan. 1, 2015. In addition to new requirements on what must be reported, employers in dozens of industries are now required to maintain OSHA 300 logs for the first time, while others previously covered became exempt.