Employee Performance
Employee PerformanceDoes social media hurt or hinder employee performance?
Sunday, 24 July 2011 16:00  The use of social media by businesses as a marketing tool has been shown to be effective and popular. However, its effect on employee performance and workplace stress is debatable, according to IDG News. Social media may help workers obtain information faster, gain business contacts and build a team atmosphere, the news provider reports. Additionally, workers who take short breaks throughout the day to check in on friends or view a funny video can refresh their minds. A University of Melbourne study revealed that the minor distractions actually improved employee performance by 9 percent. However, IDG also reported that use of social media sites can turn into a major distraction, especially for the weak-willed. A report by OpenDNS stated that Facebook, MySpace and YouTube are the top three blacklisted sites in the workplace. Twitter also ranked in the top five of most commonly blocked sites. These findings suggest that organizations should have clear rules regarding social media and keep track of how such sites are being used. Additionally, e-learning programs that provide resources for stress management may be a useful alternative for companies that have found social media to be more of a distraction than a productivity tool. Personal and job resources both needed for strong employee engagement
Wednesday, 20 July 2011 16:00  In order for an employee to become fully immersed in their responsibilities, it's essential that they have proper resources from their employer as well as personal resources, such as wellness, according to psychologist and researcher Arnold Bakker.Bakker, from Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands, created a model that organizations can reference in order to improve employee engagement. His research is published in the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science. Job resources that can lead to better employee performance include social support, feedback and the opportunity for advancement. Additionally, Bakker recommends that organizations allow their workers to have some autonomy in the workplace so employees can design their day to suit their needs and preferences. Personal resources include self-esteem, optimism and good mental and physical well-being. Bakker said that a happy and healthy employee is likely to be a productive worker. Employee wellness programs may be considered a job resource that also strengthens an individual's personal resources by providing tools for stress management and advice for healthy living. Creative professionals may be playing bigger role, working more hours
Thursday, 14 July 2011 16:00  Writers, advertisers, graphic designers and the like may be facing some changes in the workplace soon as the technologies and strategies they use become more advanced, and creative skills become a bigger asset to organizations across the country.As a result, they may also be looking at longer workdays and telecommuting as organizations demand more of their service, according to a survey from The Creative Group and the American Advertising Federation. “Organizations are increasingly turning to their marketing and creative teams for help generating ideas and solutions that solve business problems, improve customer service and, ultimately, grow the bottom line,” said Donna Farrugia, executive director of The Creative Group. A total of 62 percent of respondents said they expect longer workweeks over the next few weeks, and a whopping 85 percent estimated that they may even have to complete tasks outside of those regular hours. Additionally, 84 percent of those surveyed expect telecommuting to become more common in creative fields within three to five years. More responsibilities may mean more stress for these professionals. As a result, organizations may want to consider employee wellness programs that provide workers with tools and resources for stress management. Healthcare organizations making targeted efforts toward employee satisfaction
Tuesday, 12 July 2011 16:00  A white paper recently published on the website of Healthcare Technology Online reports that in light of impending healthcare reform, organizations in the field are taking strides to improve employee wellness while keeping costs low.One way companies are doing this is by providing workers with tools that allow them to have flexible schedules, which may improve both job satisfaction as well as the employee's quality of life. The paper states that increasing employee engagement is key in maintaining strong performance and retaining high-quality talent. News and research company Gallup reports that top-performing companies tend to have at least one thing in common: a strategy for strong employee engagement. Additionally, the organization reports that disengaged workers may "erode" the success and progression of a business. According to Gallup, companies that make investments in strengthening employee engagement and satisfaction tend to make a significant return in profit due to improved performance. This suggests that employee wellness programs that provide workers with tools and resources for healthy living and stress management may later boast the benefits of an engaged, motivated workforce. CEOs setting lofty goals for 2011
Monday, 27 June 2011 16:00  Top executives at U.S. organizations are aiming for a 5.4 percent productivity growth this year, and in order to reach their goals, they hope to increase employee performance by about 6 percent.While a total of 54 percent of businesses surveyed worry that their staff is already overworked, they believe that strategic performance management may help to keep employees on track. "Businesses that want to improve performance management don’t need to throw out their existing systems," said Katie Lemaire, VP of Hay Group, the consultancy that conducted the study. "Rather, they need to think about how to enhance their current system by having leaders provide more direction and clarity, so that employees know how their efforts tie into the broader strategy and impact results." Authors of the study noted that the most successful organizations view performance management as a way to empower and drive workers, instead of seeing it as a method to control employee compensation. Extensive research has shown that a happy, stress-free employee is also a productive worker. Employee wellness programs that provide tools and resources for stress management and healthy living may help to strengthen employee performance and drive growth. More Articles...Page 3 of 6 |
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