Ranking Employees: Most People Are Slightly Worse Than Average, With A Few Superstars

A new system to evaluate the efficacy of staff at Yahoo has led to increased moroseness and frustration among employees. The employee evaluation system recently implemented by CEO Marissa Mayer has apparently resulted in the firings of more than 600 people in recent weeks.
Along this evaluation system, managers are asked to rank their employees on a bell curve. Low performers, thus those having gotten lower scores and therefore being ranked at the lower end of the curve, are to be dismissed.

Yahoo's Latest HR Disaster: Ranking Workers on a Curve

As the article points out, many people have lost faith in the efficacy of ranking employees since employee performance does not follow a bell curve.
Moreover, while exerting a little ("healthy") pressure on employees can result in higher levels of motivation among staff, "constantly pitting employees against one another is terrible for morale."
Especially for companies such as Yahoo, being highly dependent on innovation and the creativeness of its employees, this could have a detrimental impact. Being afraid of scoring low in regular evaluations, employees are more risk averse and thus less innovative.

What is your personal opinion on Yahoo's most recent HR policy?
How do you feel about employee rankings in general, and what effects do you suggest might a direct comparison and pitting of employee performance against each other have on staff motivation and working morale?

Job satisfaction

Hey there!

I found an interesting article about job satisfaction, where it says that a bonus doesn´t have that much impact on motivation, they state that only 13% get motivated by it.

What do you think, which factors lead to job satisfaction? Are intrinsic or extrinsic motivation factors more important or is it better if there is a balance between those two.

I´m looking forward to hear your opinions!

Cheers
Tanja
http://uk.hrmanager.com/articles/share/88063/

Swiss pay referendum

Hi,

on sunday Switzerland will vote on wether to prevent earnings of a company's top managers to be higher than 12 times the income of the lowest paid employee.

http://www.businessinsider.com/switzerland-to-vote-on-executive-pay-law-sunday-2013-11

What do you think about this 1:12 referendum? Is it fair to limit the sallary of the highest paid employees or is it ok that a manager's monthly salary is higher than the annual income of low paid workers?
Is this proposed law a constraint of freedom for the companies and  can it harm competitiveness?

I am looking forward to your opinions!

Wired Interview Questions

In the last session we had to define a selection process.
There I came to several wired Interview Questions.

Would be interesting what you answer.
Feel free to be creative with your answers.

Dell asks: "What songs best describe your work ethic?"
Jiffy Software asks: "Have you ever stolen a pen from work?
Google asks: "How many cows are in Canada?
Kimberly-Clark asks: "If you had turned your cell phone to silent, and it rang really loudly despite it being on silent, what would you tell me?"
Zappos asked: "What superhero would you be and would you dress up at work given the chance?"
Gallop asked: "What do you think about when you are alone in your car?"

Clark Construction Group asked candidates for an engineer position: "A penguin walks through that door right now wearing a sombrero. What does he say and why is he here?"

Apple asks: "What kind of animal would you be and why?"
http://www.businessinsider.com/weird-interview-questions-from-apple-google-amazon-2013-9?op=1

Yahoo's Latest HR Disaster: Ranking Workers on a Curve

Hey y'all :)

There‘s a new scandal regarding Yahoo: Apparently, managers were obliged to rank employees on a bell curve and afterwards fire those at the low end. This was „in“ during the 1980s, but nowadays only about 5% of high-performing companies use a forced ranking system. 

A bit of pressure can motivate people, however being judged all the time can be bad for your motivation. 

What do you think about this method of judging and comparing employees to each other? Do you think this approach is motivating or shouldn‘t you try to rationalize people‘s performance like this? 

I would like to hear your opinion!

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-11-12/yahoos-latest-hr-disaster-ranking-workers-on-a-curve

Dear fellows,

As you might have heard, the career calling job fair took place in Vienna last Thursday, which is only one example of tons of similar fairs in Austria.
Maybe you visited one of those, and I am interested in your opinion.

Since a job fair provides its participants with the possibility of getting in contact easily with representatives of a large pool of national and international businesses, it seems as a successful trigger in order to build up your future career.

However, do you personally think that a job fair such as career calling is a good and, as the most important reason, an effective mode of constructing networks on the job market? Since we do not live in Utopia, we should be aware that statements like "oh you perfectly fit our team" has been said hundreds of times before to other visitors. Of course, such a fair is also for companies a pre-selection tool  of potential applicants, although it sometime seems as an alibi-interest the representatives pretend to have in their visitors. What do you think?

I just read one corresponding article in this manner which I would like to share with you.
Thx

http://www.examiner.com/article/job-fairs-pros-and-cons-for-seeking-employment

Women quota - will it become effective in the EU?

Hi guys,

in the link you can find a short statement about current developments about passing the woman quota in Europe.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/10378585/EU-quota-for-40pc-of-women-on-boards-moves-step-closer.html

According to this statement the legislation about it could be passed aftr the European elections in 2014, so already in some years four out of every ten management positions could be taken by women.

What is your opinion about the women quota? Do you see it from the positive point of view, that women are encouraged to take management positions?
Or do you rather see the negative side; e.g. positive discrimination?
Wouldn't it also be expensive for many European companies if this quota was introduced?

Looking forward to a discussion.

Lisa

Hi,

Please find attached the link to an article which was very attracting to me, since it deals with the attitude of young labor market rookies and the trend to rather start an own business instead of initially enter the labor market via the traditional way. Find the link below.

http://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/hro/news/1075315/global-entrepreneurship-week-young-people-develop-employ-attitude

I think a not insignificant portion of young people (15-20) need to improve their attitude regarding work, because my experience taught me that many of them quickly know much more about paid leaves and holidays rather than their obligations and objectives. In my opinion, this fact requires attention and provides some space for adjustments.

What do you think, what is right, what is wrong? Please share your opinion!

Thanks,
Michael

Why I left Google

Good afternoon everyone :)

On one of our lectures Niko mentioned article about lady who was very successful in Google but she decided to leave. Here is the link: https://medium.com/this-happened-to-me/c02f1ff471c6

She wrote "I was resisting because I would be giving up the safety and prestige associated with life as a Googler". From my point of view this is the biggest dilemma individual faces while making decision on leaving the job or staying.

I am interested to know what will you do?

San Francisco - The Family-Friendliest Place on Earth

http://www.geniushr.com/san-francisco-family-friendliest-place-earth/

Hi guys,

I just read that interesting article about a new law in San Francisco. It gives employees the right to request changes in their work schedule, location, assignment and working hours to care for a child, family member or spouse.

Sounds like pretty good news to San Francsico residents. But what about employers? They might not be so happy about this. And is it even realistic? Or do you think it could even have advantages for employers? Let me know what you think!

Job Crafting - can you make your job more meaningful?

Hey guys,

I hope all is well. As probably all of you remember, we shortly discussed ‘Job crafting’ in our last session and learned that it is a naturally occurring phenomenon whereby employees mold their tasks to fit their individual strengths, passions and motives better. I found a pretty interesting article which defines the expression of job crafting a bit differently. 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/groupthink/2013/06/20/job-crafting-the-great-opportunity-in-the-job-you-already-have/

Interestingly here the author states in an example that more and more people do far more than what is simply written in a job description, in the centre stands how our work affects others or whom it might benefit in the end, not the “me” but the “we” is the heart of job crafting. Shortly, jobs should be expanded to meet desires which make (hopefully) a difference. 

Have you ever thought about to what extent your tasks at work can do good things for others? Or is it all about your own interests like money/recognition/security? Is it even important for you how you relate to your work? 

Looking forward to our discussion!

Female-to-male management ratio across Europe is 29:71

Hi everybody!

I found an interesting article about the female-to-male ratio in executive management roles.
In Europe is it still 71% men and 29% women in such higher positions.
What do you think about this facts? What is your opinion on why it is still this way?

http://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/hro/news/1020893/female-male-management-ratio-europe-71-mercer