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The Boston Globe
Out in the Field

8/7/05

FITNESS
New job could mean a weightier worker

A new job may fatten your wallet, but it can also broaden your backside, according to a survey of 1,600 US workers.

Conducted by CareerBuilder.com, the survey found that almost half the people polled had gained some extra pounds after they started a new job. The reason? Many new workers, eager to make friends and build contacts, eagerly accept invitations to lunch and dinner, and their waistlines widen as a result.

Sometimes workers simply don't have the time to exercise or prepare healthy meals. For example, when researchers questioned employees about their eating habits at work, 39 percent said they eat out during the workday at least three times per week.

One in 10 eats out five times a week, 35 percent said they snack at the office at least twice a day, and 43 percent acknowledged they eat healthier snacks at home than at work.

Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder.com, said the situation is often compounded by the fact that many employers do not offer weight loss supports, though some major employers are now offering wellness programs that focus on weight loss and maintenance.

"Seventy-three percent of workers say their employers do not offer workout facilities, gym passes, or weight loss programs," said Haefner.

There are ways to keep workplace weight gain in check. Here are some tips:

  • Skip the deli counter, and brown bag it instead. Bringing your lunch allows you to control portions, eat healthy, and save money at the same time.
  • Try getting some exercise in the office. Hang up the telephone and walk around. If you need to talk to a co-worker, forget about e-mail or the telephone. Walk over to their cubicle or department.
  • Ignore the vending machines. "Pack healthier snacks like yogurt and veggies in your work bag each day," said Haefner. "That way when afternoon hunger hits, you won't beeline to the vending machines."
  • Drink water. Haefner suggested workers keep bottled water handy. So, rather than reach for food when you're stressed, anxious, or bored, you'll reach for water. "You'll feel fuller and be less tempted to chow down," Haefner said.

EMPLOYEES
Hiring, keeping talent ranks near the top

Attracting and retaining top-notch employees remains high on the wish lists of executives, according to consulting firm Accenture.

The company's global survey of 425 high-ranking executives sought to identify and prioritize the issues of greatest concern to senior managers in the United States, Europe, and Asia.

"The most powerful theme emerging this year is a strong and consistent focus on people," said Peter Cheese, global managing partner of the firm's human performance practice.

"Business leaders are increasingly aware that nothing happens unless people-talent is engaged in the right way," Cheese added.

A majority of the respondents - 35 percent - said a key focus this year would be finding and keeping talented workers.

Thirty-three percent said they will focus on changing the corporate culture at their firms and employee attitudes, 28 percent are concerned about workforce performance, 26 percent said they will spend a good portion of the time turning "employees into capable leaders."

Retaining good customers occupied top slots on the list, with 32 percent saying they would focus on bringing in new customers and 29 percent planning to "increase customer loyalty."

AFL-CIO
Group aims for more diversity at the top

AFL-CIO president John Sweeney plans to increase diversity within his organization's top ranks.

The resolution to boost the numbers of women, minorities, and gays was approved last week at the AFL-CIO convention in Chicago. It was part of a reform plan advanced several weeks ago by Sweeney.

The decision came during a tumultuous week in which the Service Employees International Union and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters pulled out of the federation to form their own labor coalition.

For the AFL-CIO, the decision will mean the loss of $20 million in annual dues and the combined loss of 3.1 million members. Without the two unions, the federation of more than 50 labor unions will see its numbers drop to about 10.4 million, down from approximately 13.5 million members.

"The leadership of the union movement needs to accurately reflect the diversity of our membership and our communities," Sweeney said.

Among other things, the resolution will:

  • Require that women and people of color are represented among convention delegates at least in proportion to their representation in the federation.
  • Seek to fully integrate the federation's constituency groups. These groups are organizations or associations that represent women or lobby on behalf of minorities or lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgendered workers.

IT JOBS
Women lack in pay, more likely to leave

Pennsylvania State University researchers have found new evidence that companies are not doing enough to foster the development of female information technology professionals.

Relying on interviews with more than 2,800 information technology employees, they found that even though women may have similar education backgrounds, they earn $15,000 less than men in similar positions and are 2.5 times more likely than males to leave the industry.

"We have known that women are underrepresented in the IT workforce, but the assumption has been that if they have professional IT skills, they can enter the IT workforce and be successful," said Mark Wardell, associate professor of labor studies and sociology. "But our research shows that it does not get any easier for women even after they have their feet in the door."

The study, co-authored by Wardell, is called "Women in the United States IT Workforce: Current Status and Issues." It is culled from interviews with college graduates who were awarded degrees since 1988. The interviews lasted up to 45 minutes. In reviewing the data, researchers found that the highest paid male earned $900,000, but the highest paid woman among those interviewed earned only $539,000 even though she was doing similar work, and had similar skills and educational backgrounds.

In addition, the median salary of the males in the study was $80,000. By contrast, women earned a median salary of $65,000. "The magnitude of the salary differential between men and women is far greater than we expected," said Steve Sawyer, a professor at the Penn State School of Information Sciences and Technology and a co-researcher on the study.

Researchers also found that women drop out of the industry in greater numbers. In all, 33.6 percent of the women dropped out within 14 years after graduating. By contrast, only 14 percent of the men had dropped out.

Diane E. Lewis can be reached at .


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