Kansas City
Job News & Opportunities
Kansas City Front Page is a weekly news publication, with daily updates, spotlighting attractions, events, business and hospitality in Kansas City.
Archived Kansas City Job News:
 Demand For Landscape Architecture Services Remains High
Survey Reports Workers Still Feel Secure in Current Jobs
Office Building Conditions Have Major Impact on Worker Attitudes, Productivity and Motivation
Gender Plays Strong Role in Receiving Annuity, Pension Income
Presenteeism Puts Companies at Risk, Employers Tell Sick Workers to Go Home
Fewer Workers Could Lead to Lower Standard of Living
Nearly 80 Percent of Workers Remain Confident in Job Security
Help-Wanted Advertising Declined in All Nine U.S. Regions
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Global Survey Shows U.S. Employees Give Highest Marks to Their Managers
KANSAS CITY (PRNewswire), February 24, 2008 - A new global survey shows U.S. employees have among the most positive opinions and friendliest relationships with their managers, leading them to be the least likely to disobey their supervisors' direction than other international workers.
U.S. employees also have the highest perceptions of their managers as competent, talented and open to feedback, according to 5,500 workers surveyed in 10 countries by BPI, a leading European management and HR consulting firm that owns a majority interest in Chicago-based SSP-BPI Group.
The international "Employees Assess Their Manager" survey asked employees to rate their relationship with their supervisors to gain insights about differences in workplaces and managerial styles. Along with the U.S., the survey included eight European countries and Morocco. The survey's key findings and U.S. responses indicated the following:
- 86 percent of U.S. employees reported a good opinion of their immediate
supervisor, as well as their company's other managers. Overall, about
two-thirds of global employees generally had a good opinion of their
managers.
- 62 percent of U.S. employees described their relationship with their
immediate supervisor as "friendly" while 33 percent described it as
"purely professional." The United Kingdom, Germany and Switzerland
showed similar results. In contrast, other European countries -- most
notably France -- reported more distant relationships with their
managers. The study distinguished these two different managerial
cultures among the surveyed countries.
- U.S. employees gave the highest ratings of any other country when asked
if their immediate supervisor was competent (90 percent), friendly (90
percent, tied with Switzerland), talented (87 percent), honest (87
percent) and open to feedback (83 percent). This demonstrates that
professional skills and personal friendliness go hand-in-hand in U.S.
manager-employee relationships.
- U.S. employees were most positive overall about their immediate
supervisor giving them the information and support they need to do
their jobs. Specifically, they offered the highest ratings of any other
country when asked if their immediate supervisor informs them of
company changes or strategies (81 percent), gives them honest feedback
about their work (85 percent), helps them advance at work (76 percent),
and supports them in asking for a salary increase (62 percent).
- The positive U.S. manager-employee relationship may contribute to the
finding that only 32 percent of American employees -- the lowest of all
countries surveyed -- say they either regularly or from time to time
don't follow directions from their immediate supervisor.
- U.S. employees prioritize their top expectations from supervisors as
recognition (40 percent), better organization of the team's work (36
percent) and better support in difficult situations (36 percent). This
aligns with the overall finding that most employees place the highest
priority on being recognized by their managers.
"As U.S. companies are becoming more global, it's important for leaders to understand how employees around the world view their managers and what they expect from them," said Juan Luis Goujon, SSP-BPI Group CEO. "According to the survey, the U.S. has a competitive advantage when it comes to employees feeling positive about their supervisors. This is particularly important because companies today require employees to be more engaged in order to achieve business results. Most U.S. supervisors appear to be providing a good work environment and direction, but employees still want greater recognition and support."
Researchers conducting the survey also noted that U.S employees' positive opinions of their supervisors may be attributed to greater job mobility in the U.S. market. Employees may be more likely to leave a job or seek another opportunity if they don't get along with their managers versus remaining in a position that doesn't offer their desired work environment. Thus, employees who feel less "trapped" in a position tend to have a more positive outlook. Researchers' other observations include:
- France is the country with the highest direct report-supervisor
dissatisfaction and most "purely professional" relationships.
- At the other end of the spectrum, the U.S. manager appears to develop a
relationship based on friendliness, transparency and thoroughness,
where trust is given and leadership is key.
- Italy is closer to France with an even greater level of distrust, while
Germany, the U.K. and Switzerland are midway between France and the
U.S.
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Fourth Annual Bright Future Employment Fair
KANSAS CITY (kansascityfrontpage.com), February 10, 2008 - The City of Kansas City, MO, Youth Advocacy Office, a division of the City Manager's Office, will sponsor the fourth annual Bright Future Employment Fair on March 29 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kansas City Convention Center, 301 W. 13th St.
Kansas City, MO, residents ages 15-22 who are interested in paid positions (full-time, part-time, seasonal, etc.) will have the opportunity to interview with a wide variety of employers.
"This program brings public and private sector employers together with the common goal of building a stronger work force for the future," City Manager Wayne A. Cauthen said. "One of the real benefits is that the candidates are pre-screened, which allows companies and government entities to select the employee that best suits their needs."
Applicants will have the opportunity to be interviewed and immediately hired by the more than 90 companies and City departments. Nearly 2,000 young people have been employed in the four years of the program.
The employment fair is sponsored by the City, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, the Full Employment Council, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Monster and Making it Count.
Past employers include Walton Construction, AMC, Bank of America, the Kansas City Zoo and the Federal Reserve Bank.
Workshops and mock interviews for applicants will be facilitated by Making It Count, a subsidiary of the Monster Company. Human Resource professionals from organizations such as Sprint and the Diamond Network will help with the mock interviews prior to the employment fair.
Young people and employers can register for the Bright Future Employment Fair at www.kcmo.org/youth . The deadline for young people is March 1 and for employers it is March 22.
For more information, call the Youth Employment Line, (816) 513-1276. Young people also are encouraged to call the Youth Resource Line, (816) 513-1377, to hear the latest news about opportunities available through the Youth Advocacy Office.
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