Month: June 2017

Study Says $15/Hr Minimum Wage in Seattle Harms Workers

EmploycoUSA

Employment trends expert discusses troubling new findings

Rob Wilson, president of Employco USA and employment trends expert is unsurprised by these latest findings. He says, “Past numbers show that increasing the minimum wage has a direct and negative impact not only on businesses, but on workers themselves. Research by economists Jeffrey Clemens and Michael Wither of the University of California-San Diego showed that minimum wage increases were responsible for 14 percent of the job losses suffered between 2006 and 2012.”

Furthermore, Wilson says, only 1.8 percent of Americans earn minimum wage.

Wilson explains, “The reality is that most companies endeavor to pay a competitive wage to lure talent and ensure employee loyalty. However, certain positions (such as retail and hospitality) have a very thin margin of profit. These employers can only afford to pay workers minimum wage if they want to stay profitable and remain in business. An increase hits their businesses hard, which is why so many people have actually lost their jobs due to the minimum wage increases across the country.”

There is another downside as well.

“Traditionally, minimum wage jobs have been employment opportunities for young adults and those first entering the workforce. When these jobs are reduced, teens and other inexperienced workers suffer as a result.”

For more on this topic, please contact Rob Wilson at rwilson@thewilsoncompanies.com.

Why 74% of People Want to Leave Their Current Job

EmploycoUSA

Employment expert reveals the reasons behind why people leave their jobs

A recent survey found that 74 percent of people say that they are looking for a new job. Although that number might sound high, employment expert Rob Wilson says that the number is accurate. And here’s something else: Hating your job now can equal poorer health even years in the future.

“Many people are dissatisfied at their current place of employment, so even if they aren’t actively searching for new employment each day, they are passively keeping an eye out and networking when possible,” he says. “And now a new study shows that poor job satisfaction in your late 20s and 30s can have a huge negative impact on your physical and emotional health even decades in the future.”

So what is the reason why so many Americans aren’t happy with their jobs?

“The number one reason that people say they leave their jobs is because they aren’t happy with the possibilities for advancement,” says Wilson, CEO of Employco USA. “No one likes to feel like they are spinning their wheels. And the corporate culture itself is changing. Staying at a job for decades used to be a mark of accomplishment and loyalty. Now, today’s generation view that as stagnation—they are always looking for the next best thing.”

What are the other reasons people give for why they want out of their current jobs?

“The other two reasons are that people are unsatisfied with their management and/or their office climate,” he says, “Overly restrictive bosses or unfair management practices can make people feel like their work isn’t appreciated or as though they are being treated like children, rather than as valued employees.”

For more on this topic, please contact Rob Wilson at rwilson@thewilsoncompanies.com.

Are Summer Dress Codes Unfair to the Trans Community?

EmploycoUSA

Employment expert explains how companies can ensure their dress codes are equitable for all

With summer temperatures climbing, employees are looking for ways to keep cool while in the office. But what happens when office dress codes are biased towards the cis community?

Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and employment trends expert, says, “Summer dress codes present a big issue for many companies. This is a particularly important to discuss as June is Pride Month, and many dress codes are seen as transphobic.”

So how companies create a comprehensive and equitable dress code for men and women, including those in the LGBTQIA community?

Here, employment expert Wilson outlines the important steps that companies of every size should take:

  1. Don’t use gender-specific language in your company policies. “For example, instead of saying ‘Women should not wear miniskirts’ or ‘Men must wear a tie’ simply state ‘No miniskirts’ or ‘Business professional attire required.’ Don’t assume that all of your employees identify as cissexual or that they all dress according to specific gender stereotypes.”
  2. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. “If you allow your female staff to wear dark nail polish and edgy hair styles like pastel dye, then realize that is setting a precedent for the entire office. This means that all of your employees, including transwomen or men or those who identify as non-binary, will expect to have equal rights when it comes to expressing their fashion tastes. If you want to limit such expressions of individuality, then make a policy that only light nail polish is allowed and that no extreme hair colors or styles are permitted.”
  3. Send out a reminder at the start of each season. “As the weather gets warmer, more people are going to start reaching for open-toed shoes and sundresses,” says Wilson. “Now is the best time to send out a mass email to your staff with clear and concise instructions about summer dress.” Continue reading →