Summer is here, and rigid schedules and deadlines may not necessarily mean an increase in productivity and efficiency; in fact, it could mean the opposite. More than ninety percent of U.S. employees who are offered summer flextime say it improves morale and 80 percent say it increases productivity, according to a recent survey. Clearly, it’s not just about the money. Bonuses and promotions are still important, but the numbers show a benefit to also offering a better work-life balance, especially when warm-weather hits.
According to an article on ere.net, a good cultural fit can also contribute to greater job satisfaction, a more dedicated employee, and superior job performance. Of course, cultural fit can never trump qualifications, but it is certainly a key factor.
Who’s Hiring
Slots have opened up at the Defense Acquisition University (DAU). Once a fight to get into a classroom at DAU, government employees now have preference, which could provide the requirements needed in order to make it to the next level in civil service. When furloughs hit, it might be the time to acquire the necessary skills and education for the next job promotion.
Looking for talent but uncertain if you have the budget long-term? Don’t be. A recent survey found that 70 percent of job seekers are open to temp employment. While on-ramping new employees takes a lot of time and effort, especially in the cleared space, if you’re able to find professionals who fit the qualifications, bringing them on to help jumpstart a contract may be a win-win for everyone.
Who’s Expanding
If the jobs in cybersecurity aren’t available yet, it looks they will be over the next five years. US Department of Defense is expanding its cybersecurity program. The goal is to expand defensive and offensive cybersecurity capabilities, with an overall increase of $23 billion. It seems as though the market for cleared cyber professionals and companies just keeps growing.
Who’s Moving
Insourcing, anyone? In the constant back and forth between insourcing and privatization, congressional and public sentiment seem to be moving the pendulum back to the way of keeping more government employees. As sequestration demands more scrutiny, contractor salaries, skills and cost breakdowns are making for big debate on and off the Hill.
U.S. Defense Agencies are working on moving their information…to the cloud. Ideally, it will be done in a format that offers scalability and agility. No need to have a different pipe for each agency or branch.
