The Ottawa Hospital uses IBM technology to help improve patient care
LAS VEGAS -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today unveiled a range of new business integration software capabilities designed to help organizations quickly begin incorporating the collaborative and intelligent capabilities of social media, mobile computing and cloud computing into their enterprise applications. (#IBMimpact)
The cornerstone of enabling enterprises to embrace these critical technologies is the new version of IBM WebSphere Application Server. The fastest application server on the market, WebSphere Application Server now provides clients with new flexibility for embedded deployments and is ready for cloud with built in virtualization. This new offering provides the software platform that today powers more than 100,000 clients worldwide.
Complementing WebSphere Application Server is a range of new integration software offerings including:
-- IBM Business Process Manager - Combines new capabilities around social, collaboration, governance and mobile to dramatically improve the way work is done. This allows organizations to gain visibility in the ways they change, manage, measure and improve the processes that run their business.
-- IBM Operational Decision Management - Speeds and simplifies the way that organizations manage the business rules that control a wide range of decisions across business processes and applications. The new "social media" style user interface provides an intuitive environment for collaboration and simplifies searching, viewing and making rule changes.
-- IBM WebSphere Cast Iron Live Web Application Programming Interface (API) Services - Allows companies to extend their services to support the emerging community of developers who are building new social, mobile and cloud applications. This new purpose-built offering provides a comprehensive solution to deliver, socialize and manage business API assets.
The Ottawa Hospital Turns to IBM to Improve Patient Care
One client - The Ottawa Hospital has already begun testing how these new software and services from IBM can dramatically change their business model. Working with IBM, they are building a new system that improves the quality of patient care and helps them to better manage the flow of patients throughout the hospital.
Recently, the hospital had seen a tremendous increase in patients, resulting in higher occupancy rates and ultimately, overcrowding. Additionally, the patients being admitted had complicated and acute symptoms, placing a greater strain on the need for coordinated healthcare delivery. The IBM system provides extensive patient information and hospital resource availability to the clinical staff, via mobile device, at the point of care - speeding both admission and treatment.
"Physicians should be focused on patient care, not be tied up doing lower value activity, like calling for consults or trying to negotiate admission for a patient," said Dale Potter, Senior Vice President & CIO at The Ottawa Hospital. "The concept behind our new system from IBM is that we are able to help our staff have one consolidated view on important data and processes, getting the right information to physicians at the right time."
For example, the attending physician can send an electronic request to the patient's physician for clarification on past diagnosis. The patient's doctor receives the consultation request immediately on their most accessible device - a tablet, smart phone or a computer. They respond directly to the specific consult questions electronically, so the attending physician can correctly diagnose the patient.
The new system builds upon IBM's expertise in the area of Business Process Management (BPM), Operational Decision Management and analytics, and is critical to helping the hospital rethink the manner in which it utilizes its IT infrastructure in order to cut across functional silos and better coordinate care.
A Decade of Leadership
IBM has been the overall marketshare leader in middleware software for eleven consecutive years. In fact, IBM now commands 32.1 percent market share and has extended its lead to nearly double that of its closest competitor. (1)
Key to WebSphere's success within the middleware segment is IBM's continued investment in product performance, a commitment that has once again resulted in industry leading benchmarks. In the first test of its recently announced WebSphere Application Server v8.5, IBM was named world leader in middleware performance as measured by SPECjEnterprise 2010 in EjOPS/processor core which measures efficiency of middleware software servers. Based upon the latest industry standard benchmark results, IBM's middleware software is 16 percent faster than any other vendor's middleware software on equivalent hardware. (2)
These new capabilities are on display at this year's IMPACT conference, which features more than 8,500 attendees and hundreds of client testimonials, presentations, workshops and product demos. For more information, visit: http://www.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressk...
For more information on how IBM is helping clients and partners make smarter, faster decisions and increase their business, visit: http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet
(1) Gartner, Inc., Market Share: All Software Markets, Worldwide, 2011, March 29, 2012
(2) SPEC and SPECjEnterprise 2010 are registered trademarks of the Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation.
Results from www.spec.org as of 04/29/2012 Oracle Sun Blade X6270 M2 - 452.285 SPECjEnterprise2010 EjOPS/core (equivalent hardware to world record result), Oracle Sun Fire X4170 M3 - 519.386 SPECjEnterprise2010 EjOPS/core (Oracle's best SPECjEnterprise2010 EjOPS/core result so far). IBM HS 22 Blade - 524.621 SPECjEnterprise2010 EjOPS/core (world record SPECjEnterprise2010 EJOPS/core result)
IBM, the IBM logo, ibm.com, WebSphere, SmartSOA, Smarter Planet and the planet icon are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. Other product and service names might be trademarks of IBM or other companies. For a current list of IBM trademarks, please see www.ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtml
All other company, product or service names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of others. Statements concerning IBM's future development plans and schedules are made for planning purposes only, and are subject to change or withdrawal without notice. Reseller prices may vary.
Lincoln Financial Group Announces New York Availability of Lincoln LifeReserve® Indexed UL Accumulator - Yahoo Finance
RADNOR, Pa., May 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Lincoln Financial Group (LNC) today announced that the Lincoln LifeReserve® Indexed UL (IUL) Accumulator life product is now available in the state of New York. Issued by Lincoln Life & Annuity Company of New York, Syracuse, NY, Lincoln LifeReserve® IUL Accumulator is designed to provide the protection of life insurance with the opportunity to build cash value that can provide tax-advantaged income to supplement retirement or for expenses such as college tuition.
Lincoln LifeReserve® IUL Accumulator policy holders can allocate their premium between three indexed accounts, which offer potential account value gains based on S&P 500 Index® performance. If the S&P 500 Index® value increases over a specific period of time, the account is credited positive interest based on the crediting method chosen.
Regardless of market fluctuations, the account will never be credited less than a one percent guaranteed rate, providing downside protection. Policy holders can also select a fixed account option offering a set interest rate for one year. Premiums can be allocated to a single account, or spread across the four account options based on risk/reward objectives.
"As the industry's leading provider of Universal Life products, Lincoln is excited to bring Lincoln LifeReserve® Indexed UL Accumulator to New York, and provide consumers of the state with a solution offering the potential to strengthen income while protecting beneficiaries," said Michael Parker, vice president, Life Product Management, Lincoln Financial Group. "With this product, clients get the protection of a death benefit, while also having the opportunity to accumulate assets that can be utilized for the financial necessities that we encounter in the various stages of life."
With Lincoln LifeReserve® IUL Accumulator, policy holders can take loans from the account as a source of income(1). Policy holders can borrow up to 100 percent of the cash surrender value at any time during the life of the policy. With the product's "participating" loan feature, all borrowed and unborrowed policy value continues to earn interest. The loan also offers a guaranteed loan interest charged rate.
Lincoln LifeReserve® IUL Accumulator also offers the following features in New York:
- Competitive rates, streamlined forms and pre-set illustration software options to enhance the buyer and advisor experience
- A 12.5 percent cap on the one-year point-to-point indexed account
- A 10-year no-lapse guarantee as long as the cumulative premium requirement is met
- An optional Terminal Illness rider(2)
Lincoln LifeReserve® Indexed UL Accumulator is immediately available in New York through Lincoln's network of distribution partners.
Disclosure
Policies sold in New York are issued on policy form UL5062N by Lincoln Life & Annuity Company of New York, Syracuse, NY, and distributed by Lincoln Financial Distributors, Inc., a broker/dealer.
All guarantees and benefits of the insurance policy are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. They are not backed by the broker/dealer and/or insurance agency selling the policy, or any affiliates of those entities other than the issuing company affiliates, and none make any representations or guarantees regarding the claims-paying ability of the issuer.
The S&P 500 Index is a price index and does not reflect dividends paid on the underlying stocks. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. "Standard & Poor's®", "S&P®", "S&P 500®", "Standard & Poor's 500", and "500" are trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and have been licensed for use by Lincoln Variable Insurance Products Trust and its affiliates. The product is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor's and Standard & Poor's makes no representation regarding the advisability of purchasing the product.
1. Loans and withdrawals reduce the policy's cash surrender value and death benefit, may cause the policy to lapse, and may have tax implications. While interest accounts are protected by a 1% guaranteed minimum interest rate, policy charges remain in effect and could reduce the policy value.
2. Additional cost applies if Rider is exercised.
About Lincoln Financial Group
Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (LNC) and its affiliates. With headquarters in the Philadelphia region, the companies of Lincoln Financial Group had assets under management of $170 billion as of March 31, 2012. Through its affiliated companies, Lincoln Financial Group offers: annuities; life, group life, disability and dental insurance; 401(k) and 403(b) plans; savings plans; and comprehensive financial planning and advisory services. For more information, including a copy of our most recent SEC reports containing our balance sheets, please visit www.LincolnFinancial.com.
European Stocks Are Little Changed; Banks Drop, Rio Rises - Bloomberg
European Stocks Rise on Greek Opinion Polls
Ian Waldie/Bloomberg
Rio Tinto, the third-biggest mining company, gained 4 percent to 2,907 pence.
Rio Tinto, the third-biggest mining company, gained 4 percent to 2,907 pence. Photographer: Ian Waldie/Bloomberg
European stocks were little changed, following last week’s rally for the region’s equity benchmark, as a selloff in banks offset Greek opinion polls that eased concern the country will leave the euro.
Bankia SA (BKIA) sank 13 percent after the lender said it will seek 19 billion euros ($24 billion) of state funds and Spanish borrowing costs surged. Mining companies limited losses, led by Rio Tinto Group and Antofagasta Plc, as copper climbed amid dwindling stockpiles in China.
The Stoxx Europe 600 Index (SXXP) slipped less than 0.1 percent to 242.47 at the close in London. Markets in Denmark, Iceland, Luxembourg, Austria, Norway and Switzerland were closed for a public holiday today, while U.S. exchanges were shut for Memorial Day.
“Investor sentiment is very cautious and there is likely to be a lot of volatility with the Greek elections looming over the market,” said Keith Bowman, an equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown Plc in London. “A lot of people are sitting on the sidelines where they can and are waiting for a bit more certainty.”
European stocks posted their first weekly gain of the month last week as China pledged to bolster growth and a three-week selloff left the Stoxx 600 at its cheapest valuation since January. The gauge has still slumped 11 percent from this year’s high on March 16 amid concern Greece will fail to implement the measures required to stay in the euro.
Greek Opinion Polls
Greece’s New Democracy, which supports the spending cuts and tax increases imposed by the European Union, came first in all six opinion polls published on May 26 as campaigning continued for the general election on June 17.
Party leader Antonis Samaras said Greece’s departure from the euro would cause incomes, bank deposits and property values to lose at least half their value within days, while food prices would rise by a quarter.
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde upbraided Greek taxpayers and Juergen Fitschen, the incoming co-chief executive officer of Deutsche Bank AG, referred to the country as a “failed state.”
In Ireland, supporters of the EU’s fiscal pact maintained their lead before the 31 May referendum. Four polls over the weekend gave the yes campaign an average lead of 17.5 percentage points, when undecideds are excluded.
National benchmark indexes declined in 7 of the 12 western- European markets that opened today. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 gained 0.1 percent, Germany’s DAX dropped 0.3 percent and France’s CAC 40 decreased 0.2 percent.
Spain’s IBEX 35 Index sank 2.2 percent as bonds retreated, pushing 10-year yields to their highest relative to benchmark German bunds since the euro was created.
Bankia Shares Plunge
Bankia, the lender that Spain nationalized this month, tumbled 13 percent to 1.36 euros after the group said it will seek state funds as it set aside provisions for residential mortgages and lending to companies.
The group took provisions of 5.5 billion euros for non-real estate lending after stress-testing the loans, Director General Jose Sevilla told reporters in Madrid on May 26. It also reclassified 300 million euros of lending, that it had booked as loans to small- and medium-sized companies, as lending to property developers, Chairman Jose Ignacio Goirigolzarri said.
Standard & Poor’s cut the credit ratings of Bankia, Banco Popular Espanol SA (POP) and Bankinter SA (BKT) to junk on May 25, citing Spain’s weakening economy. The rating company downgraded 11 Spanish banks on April 30.
Banco Popular, Bankinter
Banco Popular retreated 7.5 percent to 1.71 euros and Bankinter dropped 4.3 percent to 2.81 euros. A gauge of bank shares lost 1 percent, led by Spanish and Italian lenders.
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (IAG) dropped 2.7 percent to 137.1 pence amid concern that Bankia, its largest shareholder, may sell a stake in the company. Bankia’s Goirigolzarri said on May 26 that the bank will give details on any share sales when it presents its strategic plan in June.
Rio Tinto, the world’s third-biggest mining company, gained 2.2 percent to 2,857.5 pence, Antofagasta Plc (ANTO) increased 2.1 percent to 1,038 pence and BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP), the largest mining company, rose 0.8 percent to 1,716.5 pence.
A gauge of mining shares increased 1.5 percent for the biggest advance of the 19 industry groups in the Stoxx 600 as copper climbed for a third day in London.
Inventories of the metal monitored by the Shanghai Futures Exchange slumped for a seventh week, the longest losing streak in a year, data from the bourse showed.
Aveva, Technicolor Climb
Aveva Group Plc (AVV) led technology companies higher, surging 11 percent to 1,638 pence. The maker of engineering software products reported full-year revenue of 195.9 million pounds ($307 million), topping the average analyst estimate of 192.2 million pounds. Chief Executive Officer Richard Longdon said, “We are confident about the prospects for 2012-13.”
Technicolor SA (TCH) surged 8.9 percent to 1.52 euros in Paris after investor Vector Capital Corp. offered to back a 186 million-euro capital increase and increase its holding in the producer of film-making technology to almost 30 percent.
The volume of shares changing hands on the Stoxx 600 was 44 percent lower than the average of the past 30 days, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
To contact the reporter on this story: Sarah Jones in London at sjones35@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew Rummer at arummer@bloomberg.net
SquareTwo Financial Announces Launch Of New Florida Partner, Federated Law Group - Marketwatch
DENVER, May 29, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- SquareTwo Financial, a leader in the $100 billion asset recovery and management industry, today announced the launch of a new Partner in Florida called Federated Law Group, located in Palm Beach County.
Federated Law Group opened its doors May 14 as part of the national SquareTwo Partner Network and is the third Partner for SquareTwo Financial in Florida. The office is managed by a team of seasoned professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds including underwriting, banking, processing, and volume litigation. SquareTwo Financial provided Federated Law Group extensive support, including office setup, space location, talent acquisition, staffing, vendor setup and integration, and training to create a systemic and best-in-class program.
"We are welcoming Federated Law Group as our newest partner after an extensive nationwide search designed to find a highly skilled and entrepreneurial leadership team," said Paul A. Larkins, president and CEO of SquareTwo Financial. "We are confident we have found all of the qualities inherent in a top-flight Partner in the Federated Law Group, and we look forward to working with this talented team to achieve peak performance and profitability."
SquareTwo Financial franchises, referred to as "Partners," are independently owned and operated law firms that work with consumers to remedy their outstanding debts. Franchise Partners have exclusive rights to license SquareTwo Financial's proprietary technology and perform asset recovery work on the company's behalf, with support from state-of-the-art technology and analytics, high-quality portfolios and drastically reduced overhead. Partner franchise leadership typically consists of a senior business executive, an operational general manager, and a licensed managing attorney, who together oversee business strategy, operations, and legal activities for the Partner organization.
"When we became fully aware of the potential for success offered by the SquareTwo Financial Partner Network, we seized the opportunity to get involved," said Nick Rojo, who heads the team's operational affairs. "The support provided by the company is enabling us to launch our office with ease, and we anticipate a strong relationship going forward that will spur us to reach -- and hopefully exceed -- our performance targets."
"Federated Law Group is looking forward to making an impact as a SquareTwo Financial Partner and creating jobs that will benefit the Florida economy," said Aaron Cushman, general manager. "We are confident we've assembled a talented and experienced team that will set a high bar for the asset recovery industry."
SquareTwo Financial is actively seeking additional Partners throughout North America, especially in the Cincinnati and Washington, D.C. areas. Ideal candidates are highly entrepreneurial, experienced in negotiations and civil procedures, and able to show a track record of long-term success and innovation.
For more information, email bparker@squaretwofinancial.com or call 303-713-2036.
About SquareTwo Financial:SquareTwo Financial is a leader in the $100 billion asset recovery and management industry. Through its award-winning technology and unique Partner Network, SquareTwo Financial creates a more effective way for companies and consumers to resolve their debt commitments. Fortune 500 companies in the health care, banking and credit card industries trust SquareTwo Financial to manage their debt portfolios. The company's national network of legal partners is dedicated to treating consumers fairly and ethically. SquareTwo Financial is based in Denver, Colo. Visit www.squaretwofinancial.com for more information.
SquareTwo Financial Website: www.squaretwofinancial.com
CONTACTS:
Rick RothChief Marketing OfficerSquareTwo Financial303.713.2231rroth@squaretwofinancial.com
Cori Keeton PopeKeeton Public Relations303-282-4981cori@keetonpr.com
SOURCE SquareTwo Financial
Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved
Give these overpaid CEOs asbos (that's Antisocial Business Orders) - The Guardian
Forget civil servants. Forget academic expertise. Forget irksome consultation and careful study of what happens in other countries. No, today's Downing Street wonk knows just how to sort out any problem of public policy: just add CEO.
I'm not referring solely to private-equity baron Adrian Beecroft and last week's publication of his 16 pages of under-researched chest-puffery on how employment regulation should be slashed (actually, let's be fair: take away the gubbins and it's only 13 pages of under-researched chest-puffery). That merely follows on from Mary Portas and her government-commissioned proposals on how to revivify Britain's high streets; and from Topshop boss Philip Green and his 2010 report for David Cameron on how to cut waste in Whitehall.
The old cliche that every journalist has a novel inside them must be updated; now, it appears, every Rich List boss yearns to produce a report on reducing contraflows on the M25.
Not all these ideas stink as bad as Beecroft's, but the notion that business people have some unique cache of wisdom off-limits to anyone else is swiftly dispelled by a glance at the Green report on making government more efficient. Since I can't better it, let me quote the conclusion of Peter Smith, former director of purchasing for the Department of Social Security: "There is not a single procurement idea here that I have not read about in a previous report; is not already being implemented; or has not been tried and failed."
Like many bad things in public policy, you can trace the roots of this to Gordon Brown and his trick of pulling in big-name business people to head mammoth policy reviews: BA's Rod Eddington to look at transport or NatWest's former head Derek Wanless to study health funding. It was typical Third Way gimmickry – but at least back then the bosses sat alongside civil servants and produced something substantial (and, with the Wanless review, something positive, too: a compelling case to spend more money on the NHS). The same cannot be said for those 13 pages of saloon-bar guff from Beecroft.
In the media too, the voice of big business is loud and constant. No BBC discussion of globalisation is complete without advertising boss Martin Sorrell. Rare is the debate over the eurozone that does not feature Next's CEO Simon Wolfson. The logic of booking such people is never spelled out, but is nevertheless obvious: they have made a bit of money, therefore they must know all about economics. In the process, the subject is trivialised and the views of the powerful, on areas well outside their expertise, is given unnecessary amplification. Needless to say, the same courtesy is rarely extended to trade unionists or campaigners from NGOs.
And besides, why not extend the argument further? Jonny Logan was magnificent on Eurovision all those years ago with Hold Me Now, so why not invite him to front a documentary on Ireland's sovereign debt problems?
What's really odd here is that the representation of big business in the media and in public policy comes precisely as major chief executives are increasingly remote from the rest of us. Their pay packages are bigger than at any point in living memory, while many feel less obliged to pay taxes to the countries they deign to advise. Cameron's former efficiency tsar, Philip Green, is equally efficient in the organisation of his tax affairs: he legally avoids paying millions to Revenue and Customs by paying himself in the form of a dividend to a Channel Islands company owned by his wife, Tina, who in turn is legally resident in the tax haven of Monaco.
But for chutzpah, Sorrell goes one better. In September 2008, he wrote an op-ed for the FT about how his London staff suffered "ruinous housing costs, high crime levels and creaking public transport". Just a few months after issuing this plea for greater public spending, he moved his FTSE 100 firm to Dublin for tax purposes, even while keeping its offices in London. Oh, and as Ferdinand Mount points out in his book The New Few, in 2008 the WPP boss got 631 times the wage of his average employee. Yet somehow Sorrell's views on what should be done about taxes for the super-rich get far more airtime on Newsnight than, say, a tax-justice campaigner such as John Christensen.
In an ideal world, the media and government would simply give less prominence to big business. But that isn't going to happen any time soon. So meanwhile, the rest of us should at least get some say on which business people should not be allowed to pronounce on public policy. We could do it through a scheme called Antisocial Business Orders, or asbos, for short.
Executives of a company might earn an asbo if they are on excessive pay packages, or arrange their tax affairs so as to (let's be gentle here) inconvenience the Revenue. Or a boss might not give enough of his corporate budget to training staff, or investing in wider community projects. Chris Bones, a professor at Manchester Business School, suggests awarding asbos for climate-destructive corporate behaviour.
Unlike the other asbos, the ones for business wouldn't carry any punishment – a committee of judges would simply slap them on firms behaving perfectly legally, just very, very badly. And then, when the Today programme stuck on Sorrell for the umpteenth time, families across the land would know not to pay him any heed. After all, he earned his asbo a long time ago.
Business breakfasts launched at Mimosa in Colchester - essexcountystandard.co.uk
Business breakfasts launched at Mimosa in Colchester
11:25am Tuesday 29th May 2012 in News
MONTHLY business breakfasts have been launched to increase links between Colchester companies.
Mimosa in Colchester Business Park was packed for the first Quality Square business breakfast, organised by Green Square communications and solicitors Fisher Jones & Greenwood.
Tony Fisher, senior partner at the solicitors, said the purpose was to improve the links in the business community and with institutions like Essex University.
He said: “We are hoping it will be the beginning of a constructive debate on the development of the town centre for the businesses who operate here and the people who visit.”
After enjoying a full English breakfasts guests will be treated to a talk.
The first was from Professor David Crawford, Essex University’s head of business partnerships.
He first gave an overview of the university’s three campuses and the research work carried out including robotics and the internet, and how the Knowledge Gateway is progressing.
Professor Crawford also talked about ways to ensure town centres stay prosperous.
He highlighted the success of Business Improvement Districts - where businesses agree to pay an annual rate which is pooled and spent on town centre projects - in other towns and cities across the country.
An attempt to set one up in Colchester, which would have seen £4 million invested over five years, was overwhelmingly rejected in November 2007.
* The next business breakfast is at Mimosa on Wednesday, June 27 from 7.30am to 9.30am.
Advance booking, costing £20, is essential on phepburn@qsfjg.co.uk
Inspiring your team in business - Daily Telegraph
Team building
Despite being an extremely positive exercise for any business, the words “team building” immediately carries negative connotations. For many of us it instantly makes us think of twee exercises aimed at building trust within a team.
But trust is important. Without it, business success will never be achieved. That’s why team building is still a vital ingredient of inspiring your team in business. You just have to go about it from a more creative angle.
A corporate team building event designed by United Events will not only meet all your business objectives, the variety of events will enable your staff to leave with honed business skills and a renewed team ethic.
Inspire creativity
Whatever the desired structure to draw out those skills from your team, it’s vital that you give them room to think creatively and bring some of their own ideas to the fore.
When looking at the leading conference venues available to you, opting for the conference facilities within Old Trafford, you’ll find an atmospheric space designed to draw creativity from your staff. No one wants to hear tired old clichés like “thinking outside the box”; you’ll want a venue that helps to draws this out of your staff.
Let your team use its unique attributes, not just traditionally trained skills
All the individual members of the team will have traditionally trained skills, that’s why they’re in the position. It’s likely they’ll use these every day to succeed in their role. However, to push them to the next level it’s vital that you recognise their unique attributes.
What can each member of the team bring that no one else can? How can this be used to your advantage? It pays to sit down and understand this before deciding on how best to organise your conference and team building day.
Once you recognise this, incorporate specific exercises into the day to draw this out and encourage it. Most staff don’t want to do the “same old” every day. Create a memorable event and show them they don’t have to.
Business jargon and bad spelling in job advertisements shrink the talent pool for employers, finds Monster - HRmagazine.co.uk
In a survey of over 2,000 job seekers, three quarters say they regularly see jargon or acronyms while searching for jobs and over half (57%) say this puts them off applying. With 60% of respondents saying they find jargon or acronyms in job ads annoying and a third (32%) saying it confuses them, terms such as 'leverage' , 'self starter' and 'bottleneck' were highlighted as the most common offenders.
Worryingly, many job seekers also report spelling mistakes and basic grammatical errors as a regular problem in job ads. Almost a quarter of respondents (23%) say they are shocked by the number of spelling mistakes they come across, particularly when many ads specify they are looking for candidates with 'good attention to detail.' Examples of the worst spelling mistakes given by candidates include an employer looking for someone 'capable of ruining an office', and another recruiting a 'resauce manager' (resource manager) and an 'ales manager' (sales manager).
Unclear and nonsensical job titles are also a problem for job seekers with 40% of respondents regularly seeing job titles they don't understand and almost two thirds (64%) saying this puts them off applying for the job. Unclear job titles could cause other problems for employers, as they are not ranked highly in search engine optimisation (SEO), so candidates may not be able to find the roles in the first place.
"In such a competitive job market and with many employers still reporting skills shortages, it is worrying that so many job seekers are put off applying due to poorly written job ads," said David Henry, MD at Monster.
"We regularly see job ads flooded with jargon, with businesses looking for candidates who can 'hit the ground running,' before 'penetrating the market' with 'top line ideas'. Our findings suggest that corporate waffle, jargon and acronyms could be seriously affecting employers' chances of finding the right candidates. Furthermore, advertising a role unclearly or incorrectly means many recruiters could be wasting time sifting through unsuitable CVs.
"But the most worrying finding is the extent of spelling and grammatical errors reported by job seekers, with one in four reporting this as their biggest bugbear. A job ad must make a good first impression and poor attention to detail could not only put off talented applicants but also cause permanent damage to employer brand."
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