ChicagoJobTalk.org

When it comes to attracting the best and brightest young people in today’s tight labor market, a leading workplace issues expert forecasts that employers who publicly discuss their commitment to being “green” (i.e. eco-friendly) are likely to gain a significant recruiting advantage over their competition. “High oil prices, instability in the Middle East, and the threat of global warming have made the environment the cause célèbre of the new millennium, particularly among younger generations X and Y. These individuals are highly sought after by companies trying to strengthen their ranks in preparation for baby boomer retirements,” said John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc., the global outplacement consultancy. “As employers struggle to fill positions amid rock-bottom unemployment, those who underestimate the recruiting power of being green could be making a serious mistake, especially considering that several recent surveys indicate a growing number of Americans want to work for an environmentally conscious company,” said Challenger. Challenger pointed to a survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of a staffing firm, which found that 33 percent of Americans would be more inclined to work for a green company compared to an organization that does not make conscious efforts to promote socially and environmentally friendly practices. The Harris Poll survey also revealed that 52 percent of employed adults think their companies should do more to be environmentally responsible. In the United Kingdom, over 60 percent of the workforce believes that their employer should be environmentally friendly, according to a survey by Internet firm WebEx. Meanwhile, a 2006 poll by Mortgage Lenders Network USA found that 94 percent of Americans prefer to work in a building that is designed to be energy efficient and ecologically sound. In this poll, 72 percent of working women and 64 percent of men declared a strong preference for green employers. “A decade ago, a workplace was eco-friendly if it simply kept a recycling bin in the break room. Today’s environmentally conscious workers are more demanding. A company is not even considered green unless it makes a significant commitment to reducing its impact on the environment, from the products and services it offers to the way it heats and cools its offices,” said Challenger. “Companies that can offer current and prospective employees environmentally friendly programs such telecommuting, car pooling and public transportation subsidies will have an advantage over companies that ignore the environment.” Read more at the Challenger, Gray & Christmas website