A Dimension 11 Publication. Please Visit our Website: www.dimension11.com
Recently I was chatting with a client – considered a small business with fewer than 100 employees. There is a need for a position to be filled and after trying and trying they decided it was time to outsource the search. The result – a filled position!
Why can an agency fill a position when the organization couldn’t do it themselves? Because they do not do this off the side of their desk – it is what they are trained to do and they know what kind of salary it will take to entice people, they know the skills needed and they know how to match an individual to the culture of the organization. This last one is the real killer – no match, no success. And all too often when an employer hires, he or she lives by the “Halo Effect” – they like to hire someone just like them; they can be biased and do not hire what they need, they hire who they like. This is not a good way to move your business forward.
You’re a business owner and you’re worried? You should be – the tsunami has started! For years I have been advocating to employers to train their younger workers as the Baby Boomers ( began to retire around 2011) will begin to retire and someone is needed to fill those positions. Some laughed at me – well, it is no longer a laughing matter.
According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) small and medium sized businesses have 430,000 job vacancies as of December 4, 2018! Yup, that’s this month! Right here in Saskatchewan the job vacancy rate is 2.0% (the 3rd lowest in the country). Ouch – that means you are going to have more and more problems hiring. The stat might not sound too bad to you – consider this – that means 6,900 job openings in Saskatchewan.
Got your attention? Well, let’s look at what you can do about this:
- Kiss the feet of your good employees! – not really, I am being a little facetious here and yet the truth is, if you don’t treat these people well, they will be sought after by other companies and you will be the loser
- Look at your retirees – how can you support the older worker’s interest in work – job sharing, allowing them to become trainers, reduced hours, 3 or maybe 6 month contracts
- Consider what your “fair pay for a fair day’s work” is – check it out and see if it is appropriate today – someone who has been with you for 15 years is very possibly below what today’s norm is for the same position
- Train your younger workers – hiring someone out of school may fill the position – great – however, it is the older individuals who have been with you for some time who know the little quirks and the fixes to get the job done fast and right
- Establish a “Transfer of Wisdom” process – this is a system that allows you to capture the knowledge needed to help your employees be the best they can be
- Filling a position simply because it needs filling costs money – sometimes BIG money if an employee wrecks equipment or worse yet, destroys your culture – don’t do it – find ways to work around this until you can get the right person in the right job
- Automate – add automation to your business – in manufacturing this is a huge investment, I know – in other types of businesses it may be as simple as getting payroll automated so you can spend your time doing what you need to do to build the business
- Hire New Canadians who often have amazing education and experience – and our own First Nations people who are seeking employment and yet may not have the experience
- Keep your employees “in the know” so they can help you think “outside the box” – Canadians rarely help their organization improve because there is little recognition for doing this while in Japan this is how most organizations flourish
It has just begun – the Baby Boomers are/have retired – remember, this has been the biggest cohort in history. You had people to choose from. It’s not that way any more and it won’t be for at least another decade. The Millennials (those generally born before 2000) are the next largest cohort and yet there are still not enough of them to fill every role that is required.
If you are wondering how you are going to take your business to the next level, be assured, the only way you will be able to do it is with good employees. Think about it – how you master this labour shortage is up to you. Want to talk – just call me at (306) 586-2315.
Sherry’s CORNER
As I write this, 2019 is just around the corner! This past week I facilitated a workshop on Vision Boards to help the participants to get clarity on what it is they want their lives to be in 2019.
It was very interesting to see, people focused on – good health, relationships, abundance, legacy. All in all, people are looking for a better life – I didn’t really hear anyone focus on things that would be important like a bigger, better car, or more money in the bank. Instead this group got clarity on what’s important to their lives in the long term rather than the short.
Have you decided what you want your life to be next year? I would love to hear what you want your life to look like in the coming year.
Just email me at sherry@dimension11.com.
QUOTE
“I am convinced that nothing we do is more important than hiring and developing people. At the end of the day, you bet on people, not on strategies.“
Lawrence Bossidy
2301–15th Avenue ♦ Regina SK ♦ CANADA S4P 1A3 ♦ 306-586-2315 or 800-586-2315
www.dimension11.com ♦ sherry@dimension11.com
