It’s August, which means two things. First, it’s hot out there! And second, there’s not a lot going on. But we have a few articles from online sources for you to explore. So, stay cool and read on.
Training Magazine
So, what’s “secret sauce” for effective employee engagement? Treat your employees like customers! From the article: “So what’s the secret sauce for engaging and retaining employees—for lighting the spark at work? It may very well be treating them like customers, believes Krysta Van Ranst, CEO and founder of learning and development consulting firm Building PPL. ‘Providing our employees with the same attention, resources, and five-star service we extend to our clients creates a work culture where they feel valued, have the tools to do their best work, and gain a deep understanding of their role in achieving business goals,’ she explains. Find out the three steps to create a customer experience for your employees in “Why Treating Your Employees Like Customers Is Key to Their Retention and Engagement.”
Be sure to read the rest of the article for other tips for engaging today’s workforce. And be sure to check out the article linked above. And while you’re at it, be sure to check out the rest of this month’s issue.
United States Qualification Framework (link)
In many countries, qualifications (certificates, certifications, and degrees) are arranged in a hierarchy by profession/occupation. This is known as a “qualifications framework.” These frameworks serve both employers and employees by providing commonly understood qualifications, as well as career paths for employees. Some nations—particularly the East Asian “Tigers” like Singapore and Taiwan—used their qualifications frameworks to transform their societies from being largely agrarian to becoming two of the world’s technical powerhouses. But in the United States, we’ve lagged in this concept, relying instead on a massive college and university presence (more than 4,000 degree-granting schools) and a hodge-podge of technical schools, trade schools, and the like. Some professions have well-defined qualifications, but most do not.
Now there’s an effort to bring together government, employers, and employees into a network called the U.S. Qualifications Framework. Exciting stuff, and I encourage you to go to the website to read more, and maybe even get involved!
Money for nothing: is universal basic income about to transform society? (link)
How about something a little more controversial? There is a concept floating around academic, social, and governmental circles called “universal basic income” (UBI), where everyone in a particular group receives the same basic income, regardless of their work status. They don’t work to earn it; it’s provided to everyone for their own well-being.
In a society based on capitalism, people (workers) are paid what they earn. But what if society’s technology grew so fast as to not need everyone’s labor? (I hear you coming, AI.) And if people were given a basic income, what innovative and creative things might they do once free from having to cover the basics? These, and many more elements to this issue are discussed in this article. The concepts of UBI are complex and controversial, but they’re also exciting to contemplate. Don’t miss it!
That will do it for this month. Come back in September and see what new breakthroughs and ideas are produced in our profession. See you then.