Women Say Cosmetic Surgery Gives Them Competitive Edge in the Workplace
KANSAS CITY (PRNewswire-USNewswire), February 22, 2009 - Faced with news of increasing layoffs, straining economic times, and a belief that hiring is based on looks, millions of American women are looking at cosmetic medical procedures to give them a competitive edge in the workplace.
In a new telephone survey* compiled by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) of 756 women between the ages of 18 and 64, many reveal cosmetic plastic surgery procedures now appear to be an important rung on the success ladder.
- 13 percent (more than 1 out of 10 of the 115-million working-age
women) say they would consider having a cosmetic medical procedure
specifically to make them more confident and more competitive in the
job market.
- An astounding 3 percent (nearly 3.5-million working women) say they've
already had a cosmetic procedure to increase their perceived value in
the workplace.
- 73 percent (almost three out of four or, 84-million working women)
believe, particularly in these challenging economic times, appearance
and youthful looks play a part in getting hired, getting a promotion,
or getting new clients.
- 80 percent (four out of five or 92-million working women) think having
cosmetic medical procedures can boost a person's confidence.
Insurance Broker Janice Axelrod, a baby-boomer, recently had a chemical peel and fat transfers from her abdomen to her face. "Time has given me the professional knowledge. But time can take away the youthful sparkle of my appearance if I let it. When you look good, you feel confident. That gives me a competitive edge and something my clients have come to expect from me," said Axelrod.
ASPS Member Surgeon Loren Schechter, MD performed Axelrod's cosmetic procedures at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. He said "Not only do the women believe youthful looks help in the workplace... they're acting on that belief."
John Canady, MD, president of ASPS stated, "Consumers need to remember that while cosmetic procedures might help them in the job market, they're still medical procedures." Canady said women still need to proceed with caution. "Patient safety is ASPS' number one concern. Women need to do their homework. Go to the ASPS website at www.plasticsurgery.org to find an ASPS Member Surgeon in your area."
* conducted by Opinion Research Corporation
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Downsizing and Reorganization Most Acutely Felt at Bottom of Corporate Ladder
KANSAS CITY (PRNewswire-USNewswire), February 22, 2009 - The winter edition of TalentWatch, Bersin & Associates' quarterly analysis of key trends in corporate talent management and training, revealed a startling lack of confidence in the ability of first-line managers, sales representatives, customer support representatives, and entry-level employees to successfully execute their jobs.
Based on a representative survey of HR executives in companies across all industry segments, this quarter's research showed a wide variation in confidence - with top executives scoring highest when it came to perceived readiness for the job and line managers scoring lowest.
"The pressures and stresses of downsizing and reorganization are definitely felt most acutely at the bottom of the corporate ladder," said Josh Bersin, president of Bersin & Associates, a research and advisory firm focused on enterprise talent management and learning. "Supervisors and first-line managers are typically thrown into situations for which they're ill-prepared and required to make very difficult, often life-changing decisions about the people they manage."
"When times are tough, it is critically important for organizations to build and develop from the bottom up," said Bersin. "This research shows significant vulnerability in the skills and readiness of first-line managers and entry-level employees. We strongly advise HR and business leaders to focus their training, communication, and support resources on these critical audiences."
- Almost 40% of respondents said they are grappling with issues related
to layoffs and downsizing, up from 17% in the Fall.
- Creating a performance-driven culture -- which entails re-engaging
employees, increasing productivity, and improving performance -- is
the top priority for HR this quarter, with 71% of respondents citing
this as urgent or important.
- Over 60% cite cost reduction as the top business challenge this
quarter, compared to 37% three months ago.
"When times are tough, it is critically important for organizations to build and develop from the bottom up," said Bersin. "This research shows significant vulnerability in the skills and readiness of first-line managers and entry-level employees. We strongly advise HR and business leaders to focus their training, communication, and support resources on these critical audiences."
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