They are using their smart phones. While some people are checking out Facebook, getting directions, reading the news or just plain addicted, many are still on the clock.

While smart phones have made it easier for workers to stay connected to the office, they have also made it more difficult to disconnect during personal time.

CareerBuilder conducted a survey on this very topic and workers with smart phones said they are checking in with the office on their smart phones from virtually anywhere and everywhere, including:

• During a meal – 62%
• On vacation – 60%
• While in the bathroom – 57%
• Lying in bed at night – 50%
• At a movie, play, musical, etc… – 25%
• On a date – 18%
• Working out at the gym – 17%
• At a child’s event of function – 17%
• At church – 11%

Here are some other interesting things workers admitted to:

• 14% of workers said they feel obligated to constantly stay in touch with work because of the current tough economy
• 21% of workers say they check their mobile device every time it vibrates or beeps
• 18% report they are required by their company to be accessible beyond office hours via mobile device
• 23% of workers who are required to be accessible beyond office hours report that being too connected to their jobs via technology has caused issues or arguments with their friends and family.

“The lines between work and life can be very blurry these days — 17% of workers said they feel like their work day never ends because of technology connecting them to the office,” says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder. “To reduce burnout and avoid potentially risky behavior, workers should allot technology-free time when away from work.”

In related news, watch the clip below of Jerry Seinfeld doing stand-up in his recent appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. At the 2:45 mark, he starts his bit about smart phones.  Can you relate?

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Or so I thought.

Color me foolish upon reading that 70 percent of workers consider their current jobs ideal, according to a new Gallup Daily survey. Seventy. Seven. Zero. Maybe I’m naïve but that number surprised me.

Not surprising, however, is the correlation between income and viewing a job as ideal. Of workers who earn $12,000 or less, only 57 percent think they work in a job that is ideal for them. For workers earning $120,000 or more, the number jumps to 77 percent.

Workers in certain industries are also much more likely to consider their jobs ideal than others. For example, business owners, farmers and professionals (think of doctors, lawyers, teachers and the like) think they’re in an ideal position with 87, 82 and 79 percent respectively. This shouldn’t be surprising, I suppose. If you’re a business owner, you actively began your own venture, so chances are the job is the direct result of your efforts. Professionals often go to school and train for several years, so they’ve been preparing for this position. However, service, clerical and manufacturing workers had the lowest views of being in ideal workplaces, as they all hovered near 60 percent.

Age factors into the equation of ideals, too. If you’re 18-29 years old, only 52 percent of you think your current job is deal. But if you’re 50-65 years old, then 78 percent of you are in an ideal job. Again, not surprising. At the start of your career, you’re trying to accrue experience and probably don’t have the professional capital to land the job of your dreams. By the time you’re nearing retirement, hopefully you’ve been able to work toward the job you’ve always wanted or that best suits you.

I recommend reading all the survey results because there are a lot of ways to slice the data and see different patterns. It’s also interesting to think that, even now, when employees are struggling to get their work done because they’re doing the jobs of several people in this economy, more than half of all demographics view their jobs as ideal. Overall, people with jobs are doing what they think is right for them.

So how about you—what’s the ideal job for you? Are you in one? Did you previously have one? If you’re looking for one, what are the qualifications necessary to make it ideal? Let us know!

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Considering the kind of job market we’ve had since 2008, you might not expect many people to leave their jobs at all. Keep in mind that last year, in order to stay afloat, many companies did some trimming–of personnel, budget, perks and benefits. As a result, workplaces operations have been lean and employees want happier times back.

• 12 percent of workers whose companies either cut benefits or perks plan to stay at their job for six months or less
• 27 percent of workers who received neither a raise nor a promotion  last year will leave their position in less than a year if they don’t receive either.
• 18 percent of workers who received pay cuts will only stay in their current position for six months or less

If you’re someone looking for a job, this means many workers will be vacating their spots and hopefully you can swoop in and replace them!

And if you’re one of the workers who’s deciding whether to stay put or move on to greener (aka better paying) pastures this year, see how you stack up against other workers:

• 57 percent of workers did not receive a raise in 2009; in 2008 only 35 percent of people said that
• 28 percent of workers who were luck enough to get raises only received a bump of 3 percent or less
• 71 percent of workers did not get a bonus in 2009
• 23 percent of workers have some level of dissatisfaction with their work/life balance; last year only 18 percent felt the same
• 23 percent of workers give their corporate leaders a rating of poor or very poor (ouch!)
• The top reasons for being concerned with senior leadership are inability to address employee morale, lack of transparency, and initiating major changes without warning

To read even more results from the survey, read the full release here.

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We can safely say that 2009 was a year where the economy struggled, and we still have some work to do in 2010. However, this year 20 percent of employers plan to add new employees in 2010–in 2009 only 14 percent said so. Employers are certainly taking a wait-and-see approach to hiring, so expect them to remain cautious, but at least their outlook is definitely better than last year. Although 9 percent of employers expect to decrease headcount in 2010, that’s a significant increase compared to the 16 percent from last year.

If you’re wondering where the jobs are, look to the West, where 24 percent of employers intend to add full-time workers. Employers in the Northeast anticipate the next highest amount of hiring, followed by the South and Midwest.

The industries where you can expect to see the largest hiring increases are information technology, manufacturing, financial services, professional and business services, and sales.

Perhaps the one topic you care most about is pay. Specifically, should you expect a raise in 2010 or a high starting salary? Fifty-seven percent of employers report their companies will increase salaries for existing employees in 2010, down from 65 percent in 2009. Thirty-six percent expect to raise salaries of existing employees by 3 percent or more, while 11 percent anticipate increases of 5 percent or more.

Twenty-nine of employers plan to increase salaries on initial offers to new employees, down from 33 percent in 2009. Nearly one-in-five (18 percent) employers will raise salaries on initial offers by 3 percent or more while 7 percent anticipate increases of 5 percent or more.

What else should you expect in 2010? Employers intend to replace their lowest performing workers. They also intend to implement flexible work arrangements that help employees maintain a good work-life balance and consequently keep them happy. And in an effort to retain top talent, many organizations will ask some employees to postpone retirement or they will rehire some retirees.

To read more about what employers are planning, read the highlights here or the full forecast here.

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Tomorrow we’ll have all the info so that you know what employers are planning in the new year.

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This morning on my daily bus ride, I found the results of yet another poll. This one came from a joint venture with 60 Minutes and Vanity Fair magazine. This monthly poll covers the gamut of news and pop culture asking multiple choice-questions like: “Could you confidently explain what exactly the [Health Care] public option is to someone who didn’t know?” and “If you could add a president to Mount Rushmore, which one of these would you pick?”

Here’s how the 60 Minutes watchers and Vanity Fair readers to the following question: “Which one of the following are you most likely to do at your company holiday party this year?”

• Drink way too much:  3.79%
• Only stop by for 10 minutes to show your face:  15.15%
• Kiss a co-worker:  4.41%
• Take a picture with the boss:  2.00%
• Forget someone’s name:  12.47%
• What holiday party?:  62.19%

How would you vote? If you want to see the entire poll and vote yourself, click here … or watch the Web cast below:

Watch CBS News Videos Online

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I was pleasantly surprised, however, by a new CareerBuilder survey about employers’ plans to cut back on their 2009 holiday parties. While 11% of employers don’t plan to give a holiday party to employees though they had in previous years, almost 50% plan to give holiday parties – either on a smaller or the same scale as previous years. Although budgets are still tight, there’s a reason employers are trying to spread a little holiday cheer.

Experts predict that when the job climate improves, those employees who did survive mass layoffs and cut paychecks will start looking for greener pastures … and that has employers worried. Keeping those celebrations might be just one of the things employers need to do to show their top performers that they are valued. A survey by Chartered Management Institute (CMI) shows that two thirds (65%) of managers across the UK believe that Christmas parties are important in helping to improve employee engagement.

The survey, of 1,337 managers, found that 66% claimed that the office Christmas party is a vital way of recognising the hard work undertaken throughout the year.  A slightly higher proportion of managers (71%) also believe end of year celebrations should continue in spite of the recession.
 
But the findings also show that managers recognise the need for responsible reward and celebration.  When asked about public perceptions, 58% agreed that an expensive party could damage their organization’s reputation.  The research also discovered that half of those questioned (50 per cent) believe that a “team lunch is better than an organization-wide party.”

If you are lucky enough to be treated to a holiday office fete this year, make sure you remember that what happens at the office party does not stay at the office party.

The Creative Group, a creative services staffing firm, reports that nine out of 10 advertising and marketing executives (92 percent) they polled said workers’ office party antics can affect their career prospects. When asked, “To what extent do you think an employee’s behavior at an office holiday party can affect — either positively or negatively — his or her career advancement prospects?” 44% said greatly and 48% said somewhat. Only 8% said not at all.

The goal is to use the holiday party — no matter how big or small — as an opportunity to give yourself some positive work PR. “There often are many influential people in the room at office holiday parties,” said Donna Farrugia, executive director of The Creative Group. “Although these gatherings can be festive, it’s important to keep in mind that they are still work events. You want to exhibit poise and good judgment throughout, no matter how casual the celebration may seem.”

Farrugia noted that office holiday parties are an opportune time to network within your company. “In many businesses, there may be few chances to mingle with corporate executives and others throughout the organization,” she said. “Employees should use these events to form positive connections with colleagues outside their usual circle. Being well-networked internally can help professionals perform better and enhance their value to their firms.” Something to consider if you are treated to some merriment by your employer this year.

If you’re one of the almost 50% of workers who will not have a holiday party this year, however, watch this clip from The Office so you don’t feel like you’re missing out.

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Believe it or not, you boss knows you’re shopping online, and for the most part he or she doesn’t care as long as you’re still doing your job. But don’t take advantage of your employer’s generosity. Nearly half of surveyed employers monitor their employees’ online activity, which includes e-mails and browsing. You don’t want to lose your job, well, ever, but especially not during gift-giving season, and especially not due to something as preventable as online shopping.

Of course, you and I both know you’re not just spending a few minutes buying Grandma a new toaster. You need to log in to one (or all) of your social networking sites to see what friends are up to. After all, the survey found that 61 percent of full-time workers have profiles. Here are other facts the survey discovered about workers with social networking profiles:

• 51 percent spend time on their social networking page during the workday; 11 percent spend one hour or more.
• 25 percent include information about their employer in their communications on social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace; 15 percent include company information on Twitter; 13 percent of workers with personal blogs say they blog about their companies.
• 13 percent of workers are “friends” with their boss on their social networking profile.
• 22 percent of workers have separate social networking profiles for personal and business use.

Companies know that you’re out there talking about them, so many have implemented policies regarding this messaging:

• 37 percent of employers have a policy on whether workers can communicate about the company on social media sites; 17 percent have implemented a stricter policy on employees communicating about the company on social media sites in the last year.
• 21 percent prohibit employees from communicating about the company. Thirteen percent have designated certain employees to post on behalf of the company.
• 16 percent monitor social networking profiles of employees and 14 percent monitor blogs.

Now, just because they know you’re doing these things doesn’t mean they’re OK with everything. They understand but they’ve still got a business to run. I mean, 58 percent of workers claim to spend some of their online time doing non-work activities, so that adds up to a lot of unproductive hours. So you’re probably not shocked that 20 percent of employers have fired someone for online activities not related to work. (And if you are shocked, stop reading this blog and get back to work!)

Other notable results:

• 32 percent of employers monitor emails and 16 percent monitor instant messaging.
• 8 percent have fired someone for non-work related emails.
• 5 percent of employers have fired someone for holiday shopping online at work.

So the moral of the story? Your boss understands everyone’s a little distracted during the next few weeks of work, and if you spend a few minutes adding a new video game to your shopping cart, you’re probably fine. But don’t take advantage of your boss’ generosity. You still have to get work done and you can take care of your shopping once you get home or during your lunch hour.

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“Competition for seasonal positions will be intense as the job market is flooded with qualified candidates vying for a smaller number of open positions,” said Brent Rasmussen, President of CareerBuilder North America. “Employers tell us they are accepting the majority of their seasonal applications during October and November, meaning job seekers need to identify and apply for those opportunities now.”

Because of the weaker economy and expected soft holiday retail sales, employers do not anticipate a robust seasonal hiring period this year. The outlook for seasonal hiring in the fourth quarter of 2009 is projected to be similar to 2008, according to CareerBuilder’s “Seasonal Hiring 2009″ survey of more than 2,900 hiring managers. Eighteen percent of hiring managers plan to take on seasonal workers to meet business needs associated with the holidays and end-of-the-year wrap-ups, on par with 17 percent in 2008.

According to the National Retail Federation, retailers hired an additional 231,000 workers during the 2008 holiday season, a substantial drop from the 618,000 they hired in 2007. During the holidays, while some retailers were hiring seasonal workers, others were shedding full- and part-time jobs from stores and corporate offices. Since January 1, 2008, the retail industry has lost 770,000 jobs.

Here are some of the other results from the CareerBuilder survey:

• 12% of employed workers plan to take on a seasonal job to help make ends meet.
• 44% of hiring managers expect to pay $10 or more per hour and 12 percent expect to pay $16 or more per hour; 34 % of hiring managers plan to pay between $8 and $10 per hour and 20% expect to pay between $6 and $8.
• The most popular positions identified for seasonal recruitment include customer service, retail sales, administrative/clerical, hospitality, shipping/delivery, inventory, technology and accounting/finance.

What’s the good news long-term job seekers? Seasonal positions may prove to be the break job seekers are looking for as 31% of hiring managers indicate they are likely to hire a seasonal worker for a full-time position. Here are some tips if you are seeking seasonal employment:

• Start applying early – 77% of hiring managers do not plan to accept applications for seasonal workers beyond November. Especially in a competitive job market, getting your resume in early will help your chances of securing a position.
• Do your homework – Nearly a quarter of hiring managers say that having no knowledge of the company or products deterred them from hiring a seasonal candidate in the past. Check out the company’s Web site before the interview and familiarize yourself with products, services, press announcements, etc so the hiring manager knows you’re serious about the opportunity.  
• Show enthusiasm – Nearly half of employers say they were turned off by a candidate who lacked enthusiasm during their interview. Convey that you’re excited about the opportunity to contribute to the success of the organization and stay away from saying the primary reason you want the position is for the employee discount.
• Dress the part – If you are interviewing for a job in a retail clothing store, it’s a good idea to show up dressed in an outfit from that store. One-in-ten (11 percent) hiring managers said candidates who interviewed for a job in a competitor’s ensemble were ultimately not considered for the open position.
• Be flexible regarding your schedule – Forty-seven percent of hiring managers said they were turned off by a candidate who refused to work certain hours. Seasonal hours tend to fluctuate; you need to be open and flexible to alternative schedules.
• Use specific keywords – To find the most relevant jobs, search online using the following terms: seasonal, holiday, part-time, temporary and Christmas.

Want to know more? Check out this article on companies hiring this holiday season.

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I’ve always wondered, why is it that we feel the need to give an excuse anyway? Sometimes, we are sick and that’s a reason in itself; but other times, we just need a day away from the office. What’s wrong with that?

A new CareerBuilder survey says that the economy is playing a role in employees calling in “sick” to work. The annual survey on absenteeism shows 32 percent of workers have played hooky from the office this year, calling in sick when they were well at least once. Twenty-eight percent of employers think more employees are absent with fake excuses due to increased stress and burnout caused by the recession.

About 12 percent of employees said they played hooky from work to avoid a meeting, give themselves some more time to work on a project or avoid the wrath of a boss, colleague or client. Others missed work because:

• 31 percent needed to go to a doctor’s appointment
• 28 percent needed to relax
• 16 percent needed to catch up on sleep
• 13 percent had to run personal errands
• 10 percent had to catch up on housework
• s10 percent wanted to spend time with family and friends
• 32 percent just didn’t feel like going to work that day

Of course, CareerBuilder also asked employers to share the most unusual excuses they’ve heard from employees calling in sick.  Here are the top 12:

1. I got sunburned at a nude beach and can’t wear clothes.
2. I woke up in Canada.
3. I got caught selling an alligator.
4. My buddies locked me in the trunk of an abandoned car after a weekend of drinking.
5. My mom said I was not allowed to go to work today.
6. A bee flew in my mouth.
7. I’m just not into it today.
8. I accidentally hit a nun with my motorcycle.
9. A random person threw poison ivy in my face and now I have a rash.
10. I’m convinced my spouse is having an affair and I’m staying home to catch them.
11. I was injured chasing a seagull.
12. I have a headache from eating hot peppers.

Click here to read the full survey.

What about you guys? What excuses have you given to play hooky? Employers, what have you heard from employees?

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