LinkedIn: 'Millennials think workplace friendships help career'

Research by LinkedIn claims that millennials are far more inclined to believe socialising with their colleagues will help them climb the career ladder than their older colleagues.

The Relationships@Work survey found that around a third of 18 to 24 year olds believed that hanging out with workmates would help their career while only five per cent of baby boomers felt the same way.

A large number of Millennials also agreed that friendships in the workplace have a positive impact on happiness, motivation, and productivity. However, fewer than half of workers in the 55-65 age range reported that it had no effect on their performance.

Despite the value put on friendship by young employees they don’t appear willing to let them stand in the way of their career. 68% of millennials surveyed said they would have no problem sacrificing a workplace friendship to get a promotion – nearly the same percentage of baby boomers said that they wouldn’t.

Source: hrgrapevine.com

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Is it ever OK to spy on an employee?

We live in a world that is often portrayed as secretive and suspicious. Where whistleblowing cases make front page news and staff sneak out for interviews with competitors who they have met ‘networking’.

All the while employers anxiously spend copious amounts of time and money to ensure that confidential data is kept within the parameters of the company firewall whilst wondering how honest their staff are and whether they spend more time playing ‘Angry Birds’ on their phones than they do working.

So when spying apps such as MrFollow, are released, it is perhaps understandable that some companies would be tempted to install the software onto their employee’s smartphones.

However, employers could soon find themselves in breach of contract if they were to follow through with such actions. Law firm, Slater Heelis, told HR Grapevine:  “An employer should not “spy” on its employees by tracking their mobile phone activity unless the employee has signed a policy explaining that the employee’s phone use may be monitored.”

The law firm recommends that employers put in place a policy regarding the use of mobile devices which would cover personal or company devices including smartphones and tablets.

They continue: “The policy would apply to all devices used to access the employer’s IT resources and communications systems. It should contain a section to confirm that personal data may also be inadvertently monitored and that the employee should therefore have no expectation of privacy for any data on the device. The policy should explain why monitoring takes place, for example in order to prevent misuse of the device and protect Company data, to monitor performance at work or to ensure that staff members do not use the Company’s facilities or systems for any unlawful purposes or activities that could damage its business or reputation”.

Without informing the employee of the fact that such monitoring could take place, any spying would breach the employee’s data protection and privacy rights.

Source: hrgrapevine.com

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Could dating apps be future of recruitment?

As more and more graduates turn to mobile dating apps to try and fan the flames of romance, is there also an opportunity to find the next bright sparks for your company?

Communications agency BJL evidently think so after last week taking to dating app Tinder in an attempt to find the perfect match for its ‘BJL Brilliance’ recruitment campaign.

Stepping up its flirtation with social media, the company is hoping to get lucky and find some lonely hearts looking for careers in advertising and brand marketing.

The campaign, also supported by poster drops at universities and graduation shows across the country, will see Tinder users coming into contact with the BJL profile will be met with a picture of an empty yellow seat which is “looking for ass”.

Users may ‘swipe right’ to show interest in potential matches or left to reject them. The job post invites users to swipe right if they’re keen to get their “career off to a flyer”. Further information including the Twitter handle @BJLGroup, hashtag #BJLseat and URL www.bjl.co.uk/Seat are also included on the profile, to help interested Tinderers find out more about how to get involved with the scheme.

Jack Rigby, PR Account Manager at BJL, said: “If we can help just one person find a career in advertising, creative, marketing or PR amongst the uncertainty of online dating, then it will make the whole thing worthwhile. Users should be warned though, we can be quite choosy when it comes to who gets the #BJLseat.”

Everyone engaging with the campaign will be asked to respond to one of several briefs before being whittled down to a group of 20 finalists invited to a ceremony at BJL’s offices in Manchester on August 28th. The most talented individuals will go on to benefit from career enhancing opportunities including mentor programs and paid placements at the Manchester and London based agency where they’ll sit in the prolific yellow seat.

Source: hrgrapevine.com

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