We get many press releases every day that mainly announce new products. However, I did get one from CareerBuilder.com that was fairly interesting. The topic is sales hiring in 2009 and, not surprisingly, many companies are going to be “cautious.”
The format is basically a survey of 2009 trends and the press release lists highlights of their findings. I apologize for not having a link though I suspect it may be on the CareerBuilder website now.
Here is what caught my eye:
2. More Flexibility – Flexible work options continue to be an important benefit for sales employers to provide workers. Nearly four-in-ten (37 percent) of sales employers will provide more flexible work arrangements for employees in 2009, including:
•Alternative schedules – come in early and leave early or come in later and leave later – 66 percent •Telecommuting – 44 percent •Compressed work weeks – work the same hours, but in fewer days – 37 percent •Summer hours – 21 percent •Job sharing – 17 percent
Two-thirds offer alternative schedules? I find that remarkable. I used to work for a manager who required promoted alternative work schedules – come in early and leave late.
It is interesting how all of the trends are moving away from the old-fashioned M-F, 8-5 work week. We receive emails and phone calls from customers well after dinner time and they have the expectation that we will respond/talk that evening. The ubiquitous nature of technology seems to be erasing the long-established boundaries of the “typical” work day. Perhaps the saying “quittin’ time” will eventually disappear from our lexicon.