Reflections on change brought about by the economic and political impacts of the recession.

After too long of a hiatus away from my blog, I have returned with a year’s worth of thoughts and ideas that I want to share with you and get your input. This past year has been anything but normal, but if I hear the phrase “new normal” again, I think I might throw my book Dictionary of Corporate B*** S*** at the unwitting perpetrator. Not really, but I think we are all in a period of recalibration of our focus as HR professionals. We are under considerable stress and scrutiny no not only justify our own existence, but also provide meaningful information to our executive staff by which they can make intelligent decisions as we work on setting a new strategic course.

Public Sector Impacts

Although it seemed that the private sector took the first assault wave from the market crash, the public sector workforce contingent has also had a huge wake up call. Between wage decreases, freezes furlough, and layoffs, the once supposedly “cushy” government employment is anything but, at least in my world.  And yet, because our funding is from taxpayers, we seen to incur the ire and myopic review of an even greater constituency. Our stakeholders include our taxed public, politicians, special interest groups, Board Members, Commissioners, or other governing bodies. We are more under the microscope than ever.  Florida’s Governor Scott recently commented on how much money has been saved by not providing merit increases to state employees for the past 5 years, and is proposing more draconian cuts in the future. Read the rest of this entry