Workforce News
Feature Story
Chamber Recognizes 16 Area Employers for Exemplary Workplace Flexibility and Effectiveness Practices
The Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce recognized nine winners and seven honorable mentions of the 2008 Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility on Thursday, June 19, at an awards recognition breakfast at the Rochester International Event Center. These organizations have distinguished themselves as leading practitioners of workplace flexibility in Rochester and across the nation.
Local winners and honorable mentions of the 2008 Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility announced on June 19 include:
- Cardinal of Minnesota, LTD.
- Custom Alarm/Custom Communications, Inc.
- First Alliance Credit Union
- IBM
- RSM McGladrey, Inc. and McGladrey & Pullen, LLP
- Southeast Service Cooperative
- Stanley Jones & Associates, Inc.
- Venture Computer Systems
- Winona State University – Rochester
Honorable Mentions: Dunlap & Seeger, P.A., Home Federal Bank, Kwik Trip, Rochester Community & Technical College, Rochester Golf & Country Club, United Way of Olmsted County and Wells Fargo Bank.
Click here for full story
Number of High School Graduates Expected to Decline, Diversity to Increase
The U.S. production of high school graduates is set to begin a long decline in total numbers while experiencing increasing student diversity, according to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. These projections present both significant challenges and opportunities for state K-16 education systems and state economies.
The report includes the following three major findings:
- After fifteen straight years of rapid growth in high school graduate numbers from 1992 to 2008, projections show a gradual, downward trend for the nation through 2014 and then a slow increase to 2022.
- The trends in numbers of graduates between the peak of 2008 and 2022 vary significantly by region, with the Northeast down by 13 percent and the Midwest down by 7 percent while the West and the South are expected to grow by 5 and 10 percent, respectively.
- All four areas of the country will experience increasing diversity among high school graduates, impacted by projected declines in the share of White non-Hispanic graduates and increases among Hispanics and Asian Pacific/Islanders.
Related Link:
- Knocking at the College Door: Projections of High School Graduates by State and Race/Ethnicity, 1992 to 2022, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, March 2008
House Passes Resolution Recognizing Career and Technical Education Month
Late on February 25, the U.S. House of Representatives approved House Resolution 930, recognizing February as national "Career and Technical Education Month." The resolution was approved by a vote of 380-0.
The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) and Rep. Phil English (R-PA), co-chairs of the Congressional CTE Caucus, resolves that the United States House of Representatives:
- supports the goals and ideals of Career and Technical Education Month;
- recognizes the importance of career and technical education in preparing a well-educated and skilled workforce in America; and
- encourages educators, counselors, and administrators to promote career and technical education as an option to students.
This is the first time in recent history that Congress has recognized the annual CTE celebration.
Source: NGA Center for Best Practices Workforce Update
New Publication: Workplace Flexibility -
Employers Respond to the Changing Workforce
Two irreversible demographic trends are adversely affecting the workforce: First, for the first time in the nation's history, four distinct generations are working side by side. Second, over the next decade, an entire generation of Baby Boomers is expected to retire. These two trends spell a worker shortage on an unprecedented scale. Therefore, employers must develop new recruitment and retention policies. In fact, many companies have begun to institute innovative workplace practices. Whether it means developing strategies to attract the best talent or implementing incentives to retain workers who already have important skills and valuable experience, employers are striving to make their workplaces as effective as possible.
Through the When Work Works initiative, ICW, in partnership with the Families and Work Institute and the Twiga Foundation, has released Workplace Flexibility -- Employers Respond to the Changing Workforce. This new publication describes the principles of effective and flexible workplaces, outlines strategies for implementing flexible workplace practices, and features case studies of winners of the Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility. Focusing on the principles of workplace flexibility can help employers and chamber of commerce members meet the challenges of finding and retaining the best worker talent.
Originally Printed January 2008 by ICW's Workforce and Education Newsletter, a monthly publication of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for a Competitive Workforce
Rochester selected as one of 30 regions in country to promote business excellence in workplace flexibility
The Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce and the Workforce 2020 coalition have been selected as one of 30 regions across the country to promote business excellence in workplace flexibility.
When Work Works is an ongoing, recruitment and retention initiative sponsored by the TWIGA Foundation, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Institute for a Competitive Workforce, an affiliate of the US Chamber of Commerce. This initiative will nationally highlight and acknowledge Rochester area businesses that are finding new ways to create effective and flexible workplaces to enhance their competitive advantage in a global economy.
The “When Work Works” one-year grant cycle began in September of this year and culminates with an awards ceremony recognizing award winners. These national, locally-based awards recognize exemplary employers of all types and sizes for their innovative workplace effectiveness and flexibility programs and practices. Rochester Area Chamber businesses will have the opportunity to apply for this recognition through the Chamber website and through local business visits.
As a part of this initiative, The Rochester Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Chamber’s Business Learning Network, look forward to provide educational and training forums to the business community on the changing workforce. Topics will range from intergenerational dynamics in the workplace to talent management.
The Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce strongly encourages business to use workplace flexibility as a cutting-edge tool to benefit employers and employees in the 21st century workplace.
Special thanks to the community leaders and Workforce 2020 coalition members who made this opportunity possible: Karel Weigel, Tim Geisler, George Thompson, Barbara Porter, Gary Smith, Steve Thornton, Jennifer Ridgeway, Rick Roy, Randy Johnson, Dan McElroy, Jeff Korsmo, Eric Cleveland, Audrey Groteboer, John Wade and Jess Ihrke.