Working Wednesday: Bad News and Good News

My area of expertise is Workforce Development, a subset of Economic Development. As such my first priority has been employers or job seekers, depending upon time, place, and emphasis during my career. This blog has always been to the small business owners so I have some bad and good news. First the good news.

The Manufacturing Sector is having a breakthrough. Not to say it is carrying the U.S. economy, but the trend upward is long enough for everyone to confirm and verify. Congratulations! Those in that sector have had many a month of gloom and doom. The U.S. Commerce Department reported on Friday our exports of goods and services in 2011increased 14.5% from 2010. Yes, American companies have learned to find spots around the globe that still need what they make. Our exports to Europe, just in December alone, rose 3.6%.

I have spoken before about statistics on this blog. I am willing to believe the Manufacturing Sector accounts for about 12% of our economy. Not in the Manufacturing Sector? Read on, because the bad news is for everyone.

Manufacturing is much more sophisticated. I have walked many a manufacturer's floor which is clean and the machines are computer generated, some are run by robots (yet engineered and maintained by highly skilled technicians), and many of those employed have more than a high school diploma. Business owners complain they can't find people for open positions. Employers I generally agree with you. People should consider manufacturing careers.

But you get what you pay for. Wages were stagnant before the downturn and many companies now use it to rationalize their salary structure. Employees have more responsibilities but less pay. Or they get a new title, with or without people to supervise, but no accompanying compensation. According to Pew Research Center, 55% of American workers have gone through unemployment, shrinking paychecks, or missed mortgage/rent payments, which shatters their household budgets during the Great Recession. Many workers don't trust you. You are going to have tell them more about what happened since 2008, where you stand currently, and reward your best employees. You need to show them respect in a concrete way.

Most people hire within their comfort zone. If you want a true team, it means hire someone who has expertise in the gaps. That could also mean that person may not have the perfect personality type to fit with others. The team will have to respect the skills and what the person brings to the table in order for the business to be successful. Ergo, the panoramic view. The artistic may not sit well with the logical, but if they see that both are needed and are respected equally with no competition right from the beginning, then truly a "round table" has been created and is the foundation of discussion, exchange, and action.

You are the owner, you set the environment, the amount of collaboration, the level of regard for your employees, and the pay structure. Do these correct right from the beginning and you will not be disappointed with the outcome.