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EMPLOYMENT BRIEFS; A collection of workplace trends and career tips

Source: Tribune Media Services

Volunteerism on the rise

Though volunteering through organizations has remained stable in the last several years, a report from AARP finds that informal service work among Baby Boomers and others 45+ is on the rise. According to the report, the number of Boomers and older Americans engaged in self-directed volunteering — volunteering on their own, outside of a formal organization — increased from 34 percent in 2003 to 57 percent in 2009. Additionally, seven in 10 boomers reported they are engaged in volunteering either on their own or through an organization, which is a 20 percent increase over the number of people who say they volunteer through an organization alone.

Salary does not compute

In the face of nearly flat salaries for tech professionals — a 1 percent increase in average pay to $78,845 — technology professionals cited an increase in salary dissatisfaction, according to the 2009-2010 Annual Salary Survey from Dice, a career site for technology and engineering professionals. Further, technology professionals were disappointed with efforts by employers to keep them motivated via non-compensation related incentives during the recession. Close to half (47 percent) say their employers are doing nothing to keep them motivated; just 19 percent are being offered more interesting or challenging assignments, and 14 percent benefit from more flexible work hours.

Compensation tool

Staffing firm Robert Half International recently introduced online salary calculators to provide job seekers and employers with immediate access to average starting salaries in the accounting and finance, information technology, legal, administrative, and creative and marketing fields. The salary guides also provide insight into the latest employment trends in a given field. The new salary calculators allow users to quickly determine an average starting salary range for their job title and location; job seekers also can see what a position pays in neighboring cities. Visit www.roberthalf.com for more information.

Unhealthy insurance

Employers in the United States have become less satisfied with their health insurers, according to a study released by PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Health Research Institute. Hit hard by the recession, employers of all sizes are taking a critical look at their health benefits strategy and the value they derive from it. They are looking to their health plan providers for information, technology and strategies to help reduce waste in healthcare spending and better engage employees in managing their health.

© 2010, Tribune Media Services