Posted on: Sunday, August 17, 2008
Older workers bolder about asking for a raise
Compiled by John MacIntyre
Percentage of employees who say they "would never dream of asking for a pay raise," according to a study conducted by Ceridian for Online Recruitment: 16
Percentage of workers 34 years old or younger who say they would be comfortable asking for a pay raise: 19
Percentage of workers 34 and older who say they would be comfortable asking for a pay raise: 81
PRESTIGIOUS JOBS
Ranks of firefighter, scientist, doctor, nurse and teacher on the list of the most prestigious occupations, according to a Harris Poll: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Ranks of real estate agent/broker, stock broker, banker, accountant and entertainer on the list of the least prestigious occupations: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
EMIGRATION
Number of times higher that the desire to emigrate is in countries at the bottom quartile in GDP (Gross Domestic Product) worldwide than in countries in the top quartile in GDP, according to the Migration and Remittances Factbook 2008: 2
Percentage emigration rate among college graduates in Belize: 51
Estimated emigration rate of college graduates in Guyana, Jamaica and Haiti: 80
PAY INCREASES
Projected average percentage merit pay increases that U.S. employers are planning to give their employees in 2009, according to a report by Watson Wyatt Worldwide: 3.5
Percentage average increase for employees whose performance ratings exceed expectations: 4.4
Percentage average increase for employees who far exceed expectations: 6
FINANCIAL THRESHOLD
Average age at which college students reported that they took responsibility for their own finances, according to a survey by Higher One: 18.8
GENDER EQUALITY
Percentage of female workers who say they feel that they are paid less than counterparts of the opposite sex with the same skills and qualifications, according to the "Workplace Equality" survey from www.CareerBuilder.com: 34
Percentage of men who say they feel they are paid less than their female counterparts: 11
RETIREMENT IMPACT
Percentage of companies that anticipate a serious loss of talent and institutional know-how with the retirement of baby boomers, but currently do not have any steps in place to mitigate this loss, according to a survey of senior HR executives in North America by Novations Group: 18
Percentage of companies who don't expect an unusually large loss of talent with baby boomer retirements: 36
CORPORATE INCENTIVE
In order to attract and retain proven corporate leaders, percentage of companies that are offering non-compete agreements, according to a survey of business leaders conducted by ExecuNet: 65
Percentage who are offering guaranteed severance: 44
Percentage who are offering stock options/equity: 51
Percentage who are promising a performance bonus: 80
LAST-MINUTE TRIPS
Percentage of leisure travelers who embarked on a last-minute trip last year, according to the 2008 Ypartnership/Yankelovich National Leisure Travel MONITOR: 33
Average number of days in advance of their departure that travelers planned late-breaking trips: 15
Ranks of Friday and Saturday as the most popular days that the majority of last-minute bookers favor as departure days: 1, 2
MANAGING MONEY
Percentage of Americans who say they do a better job of saving and protecting their money than their parents, according to a survey from ING and conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs: 58
Percentage who say they do a better job saving and protecting money than their friends and acquaintances: 65
IDLE THOUGHT
"Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value."
— Albert Einstein
Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre@bwr.eastlink.ca.
