Five employers – Lincoln Benbow from Halcyon Knights, Tim Brady from Credo, Leigh Jasper from Aconex, David Markus from Combo, and Paul Rae from Bourke Group – discussed their approach to attracting and retaining staff (Via BRW Fast Club)

(PS: Video will open in new window)

Here’s the latest from Tom Peters. He is frustrated with HR, particularly with standard evaluation forms.

What do you use in your organisation?

“ Snobbery is a global phenomenon…… and the dominant kind of snobbery that exists nowadays is job snobbery. You encounter it within minutes at a party, when you get asked that famous iconic question of the early 21st century, "What do you do?"  – Alain de Botton.

A witty look at our ideas of success and failure.

Stefan Sagmeister closes his New York studio every seven years to take a year long sabbatical.

For a whole year, he pursued other interests that were not possible in a normal working environment. Refreshed and rejuvenated, on his return, Sagmeister found that his job became a calling again, is more enjoyable and financially more rewarding.

Sagmeister explains the value of taking time off by demonstrating how a year spent in Bali inspired him to take up innovative projects. Interestingly, Sagmeister suggested we cut five retirement years and spread it across our working years for periodic sabbaticals. He explains how innovative organisations are already embracing this culture. 

Forget sabbaticals, Australians don’t even take leave. It is estimated 121 million days of accrued leave valued at around $31 billion in wages remained unclaimed.  Surely, there is value for both employers and employees when time is allotted for rest and rejuvenation. In an increasing 24/7 business environment, the issue of time off will  become more important. 

Listen to Sagmeister, you might just be tempted to pack your bags. And, don’t forget to forward it to your boss.

Lava Communications alerted me to a recruitment Video they produced for Optiver Trading.

Lava claimed they registered 60,000 views in three weeks. By any standard, it’s an impressive result.

Watching VIDEO online is popular. Twenty hours of VIDEO gets uploaded on YouTube every minute, equivalent to 86,00 full-length movies per week. A new research shows that watching VIDEO online is more popular than Facebook or Twitter.

Whatever the goal – marketing, recruiting or employment branding – VIDEO makes a strong case to be taken seriously. At some point, someone is going to search your brand name on YouTube. You wanted to be ready, when that happens.

But, why is uptake of VIDEO so poor in our industry?  One reason could be producing a quality VIDEO is not easy. But, that is no excuse to ignore a medium that is growing exponentially, has a wide reach and goes viral easily.

Do you have a VIDEO strategy? If not, why not?