Most Americans would rather work for a man than a woman, according to a recent Gallup poll. Forty-eight percent said they’d prefer a male boss, while 22 percent would choose a woman and 28 percent said they don’t care one way or another.
Men have been the preferred bosses in the Gallup survey for more than 50 years, but women are gradually closing the gap. In 1953, only 5 percent of Americans preferred a female boss.
Younger women, ages 18 to 29, tend to favor women at the helm by 39 percent, compared to 23 percent for women over 30. But there’s little difference in preferences among men. Forty-four percent of those 18 to 29 said they’d choose a male boss compared to 45 percent of men over 30.
Even across the globe, the guys have it. In 1995, Gallup surveyed 22 countries and found that there is an overall bias toward male bosses.
FAMILY LEAVE
COMPANIES FACING CRUNCH
Because many workers cannot schedule leave time in advance, companies say they’re having a hard time implementing the Family and Medical Leave Act without overburdening other employees, according to a survey conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management.
Sixty-percent of employees who take FMLA leave do not schedule it in advance, the survey says. Managers often do not have time to plan for work disruptions, and other employees wind up picking up the slack.
The act, in effect since 1993, provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for births or adoptions, employee illness, or serious illness of a family member.
STOP THE VIOLENCE
BEHAVIOR STUDY CAN PAY OFF
With workplace violence in the news and uppermost in workers’ and managers’ minds, ComPsych Corp., which helps companies build behavioral health and work-life programs worldwide, has some advice.
First, pay attention to unusual behavior and address it immediately. Dealing with irrational behavior early can prevent it from escalating into something more serious. Also, adopt security measures to protect employees, and screen job candidates by asking questions to gauge their ability to deal with high-pressure situations.
ROGUE E-RECRUITERS
PRIVACY NOT A PRIORITY
If you’ve posted your resume online, don’t be surprised if you receive e-mail from an independent e-recruiter. These folks are hired by companies to scour Internet job boards for potential candidates to pass along to hiring managers.
Some of them work from home and, therefore, use their personal e-mail accounts rather than addresses from the companies they represent.
One job hunter, Jim, was particularly bugged after he received an e-mail message from an independent recruiter clearly using a Web address he shared with his spouse.
Jim didn’t like the idea of his work record, which he considers confidential, landing in the mailbox of someone’s significant other or in a non-official computer. Jim also feared that a rogue headhunter would gain access to his information and distribute it.
If this bugs you, too, here’s what you can do: After initial contact from an e-recruiter, request that all future correspondence be on official company e-mail, and request the name and number of the hiring manager to verify the relationship.
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PERKS PASSE
CUTTING BACK ON THE COFFEE
Those little extras provided by the company–like free coffee and tea–are gradually disappearing at companies of all sizes as executives cut perks to save money in the wake of the recent economic slowdown.
Critics say most of the cutbacks are cosmetic and the reduction in morale won’t be worth the savings.
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