I admire the reportage of Cindy Krischer Goodman, CEO of BalanceGalLLC. She is a beacon for working moms everywhere. At the end of 2013 she gathered research which focused on emerging trends I feel our politicians and economic policy wonks have either ignored or dismissed. These issues are not going away; they will play an increasingly important role in the job marketplace.
- More than 80 percent of working Americans report job stress in at least one aspect of their jobs, according to a 2013 Work Stress Survey by Harris Interactive.
- Suits are being filed against employers for misclassifying employees as independent contractors to avoid paying benefits and overtime.
- Gen X and Y managers are moving into positions created by growing numbers of retiring Boomers.
- One billion women will enter the workplace in the next decade. According to a Pew Research white paper, four in 10 current American households with children younger than age 18 include a mother who is the sole or primary earner for her family. Research indicates that women entering the workplace are more educated than men and are starting to move into leadership positions.
- According to the latest Workplace Report from Gallup, seven in 10 employees don’t like their jobs. Job retention and workplace disengagement are growing problems for employers.
It will be fascinating to see how these trends play out in 2014 and beyond.