Don’t miss today’s free webinar

Don’t miss the final webinar in our Workforce 2020 series today at 1 pm ET/10 am PT.

Oxford Economics’ Technology Practice Lead Ed Cone will be speaking with PwC’s Sayed Sadjady and SAP’s David Swanson on how companies are bridging the skills gap in their companies. The hosts will also be taking questions from the audience about best practices for cultivating strong learning and development programs.

Today’s attendees will earn a unit of credit toward HRCI certification. Register here.

Searching for satisfaction at work

The more we think about the results of our workforce strategy surveys, the more we realize the significance of the numbers. This data is personal; each stat represents the feelings of a real employee, and each key theme mirrors a thought we’ve all had about our job at one point or another.

It’s no surprise then that these issues are in the news—the search for job satisfaction is important to all of us, and whether or not we find it has the power to change not only our own lives, but also the success of broader companies and economies.

So what does a great place to work really look like? We’ve revealed some of our own strategies over the past few months on this blog. For another take, check out this recent article from Tony Schwartz.

Register for our webinar on The Learning Mandate

You can still register for the last webinar in our Workforce 2020 series, Bridging the Skills Gap: The Learning Mandate. Next Wednesday, January 14, Oxford Economics’ Technology Practice Lead Ed Cone will be speaking with PwC’s Sayed Sadjady and SAP’s David Swanson on how companies are approaching learning and development.

Attendees will be able to participate in a question and answer session with the hosts and will earn a unit of credit toward HRCI certification. You can register for the webinar here.

Building a flexible workforce

With more and more companies turning to consultant, intermittent, and seasonal workers, the global workforce is demanding increasing flexibility. Our survey shows that employees are looking for less-rigid schedules and work locations. And while these benefits are not ranked as highly as cash-based rewards (like competitive compensation, bonuses, and retirement plans), 44% of employees say a flexible work location is very important to their job satisfaction.

But managing a flexible workforce comes with a host of operational, training, and technology challenges—and there may be downsides for workers, too. In response to a recent report from the Inspector General of the US Postal Service, the American Postal Workers Union pointed out that these measures threaten stability and allow organizations to schedule workers according to demand.

To successfully build a flexible workforce, companies must take measures to make sure that contract workers are not only leading to business success for the organization, but also furthering the goals of its employees.

Making resolutions for 2015

As we make resolutions for the upcoming year, we should look to make ourselves happier and more productive at work. This article from FastCompany suggests ten ways we can all be better—and more satisfied—employees in 2015.

Stand out in crowd

On their list of to-dos? Replace your bragging about number of hours worked with your level of efficiency, be open about what you need from your boss and other employees, and give and receive feedback gracefully, among others.

And if you’re looking to be a better boss in the year ahead, check out this list of leadership resolutions for 2015, too.

Workforce 2020 webinars to continue in 2015

We are starting off 2015 with a handful of new webinars on our Workforce 2020 research.

On Wednesday, January 14, Oxford Economics’ Technology Practice Lead will be speaking with PwC’s Sayed Sadjady and SAP’s David Swanson on how companies are approaching learning and development.

Attendees will earn a unit of credit toward HRCI certification. Click here to register.

Later in the month, stay tuned for other upcoming webinars that focus on the retail and financial services industries.

Setting goals for the year ahead

Many use this quiet time at the end of the year to reflect upon the last year’s accomplishments and set strategies for the month ahead.

As you think about your work strategies for the new year—including how you approach leadership, development, and even what is most important to you as an employee—check out our Workforce 2020 research. You can see the reports, fact sheets, and infographics on the SuccessFactors landing page, as well as our series of webinars on-demand.