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Categories Insights Tags Department of Labor (DoL), Labor, National Office of Job Corps, Special Populations, Thought Leadership

How Millennials are Changing the Workplace

Millennials, as defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, were born between 1981 and 2000. They have been transforming the workplace for the past decade or so, arriving on the work scene with new attitudes and impressive characteristics that inspired both excitement and resentment from previous generations.  The big question is how will millennials change the workforce once they gain more experience?  

Some employers may feel that millennials are “job hoppers” and are unable to commit to one employer.  About 60% of millennials are currently open to a new job opportunity and are by far the most likely generation to switch jobs.  Millennials may seek multiple opportunities until they find the career they want, and this can have a positive impact on the employee and the employer.   

Leaving one job for another does not necessarily mean the employee lacks commitment; sometimes the job is just not a good fit, or the company does not provide enough benefits or career advancement opportunities, or other reasons.  One thing is clear: millennials will continue to take advantage of and are opening themselves up for more chances expand their career experiences.  

Here are 3 positive ways millennials are changing the workplace:  

  1. Push harder for diversity and inclusion 

Millennials feel strongly about diversity and inclusion.  Partly because they are naturally passionate and feel that diversity was poorly handled by generations in the past.  In the future, we will notice an increase in diversity, inclusion programs and incentives.   Millennials are quickly becoming the majority in just about every sector of the business world and the push for diversity seems to be more pronounced in certain industries such as health care and medicine, technology, and higher education.
 

  1. Adapt to new technology trends 

Millennials are the first generation grow up with the internet and cell phones.  As such, technology has been integrated fully into their lives. Millennials in the workplace are a benefit for any employer because of their intuitive ability to adapt to change, especially as it relates to technology. Not only is this a generation constantly connected to smartphones, but the millennial mindset is focused on making all things easier, faster, more efficient and mobile, as well as more personal, inclusive and intuitive. 

  1. Set new standards in leadership 

According to Forbes, about 20 percent of millennials hold leadership roles and is expected to grow in 2018.  With more Baby Boomers retiring, the millennials are defining a new generation of leadership and influence.  Millennials prioritize their values, flexibility, ethics, and feedback.  As millennials gain more experience and take more positions of leadership, millennials are going to have an even more pronounced effect on how the workplace develops soon.  

Categories Insights Tags Department of Labor (DoL), Labor, National Office of Job Corps, Special Populations, Thought Leadership

Job Corps Graduates are Increasing their Earning Potential

After decades of pushing bachelor’s degrees, recent studies have shown that the there is a high-demand for skilled workers with trade degrees.  According to the National Electrical Contractors Association, 7,000 electricians join the field each year, but 10,000 retire, leaving a gap that could affect us all. The Department of Labor’s Job Corps program aims to fill that gap.  

Job Corps is the largest free residential education and job training program for young adults ages 16-24 and offers technical training in more than 100 career areas.  With over a 100 Job Corps centers across the nation and training over 60,000 students per year, there are opportunities for students to get connected with the skills and education for a top-notch career.  While receiving hands-on training, students increase their earning potential in career fields such as healthcare, information technology, hospitality and homeland security.  

Not only does Job Corps help students develop a career plan and provide the training to help them achieve their goals, but once training is completed Job Corps will assist in students’ job placement.  Students are provided with a placement specialist that will work with them for up to 21 months after graduation to assist in helping them find the right job.  Job Corps counselors also help connect students with local housing, transportation, and child care resources if needed.  Recently, Job Corps decided to take steps to help protect our environment and connect students with businesses and their surrounding communities through green training.  Job Corps is preparing students for the green economy through green training in the advanced manufacturing, automotive, and construction industry areas.  

The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) recognizes that the culture of today’s workforce and industries entail further development of students’ soft skills, including life skills and interpersonal skills, which will help to ensure that they maximize their potential for career placement and sustainability. 

Bizzell is passionate about workforce development and is currently working with The National Office of Job Corps on data analysis and accountability measures that involve the overall integrity and compliance of the program with contractual performance.  The outcome associated with integrity and compliance impacts student success directly by ensuring they receive the education and resources needed to be successful in Job Corps and beyond.  

Categories Insights, Mental Health Tags Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Behavioral Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health, Mental Health, Special Populations, Thought Leadership

National Autism Awareness Month

For over 50 years the Autism Society has provided services and programming to support individuals living with autism. National Autism Awareness Month, observed every April, has been an occasion to promote awareness of autism and work to ensure that each person with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can achieve the highest possible quality of life.  

Autism spectrum disorder is a complex developmental disability that affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Signs of autism, which usually appear early in childhood, are: delayed learning of language; little or no eye contact with other people; lack of interest in peer relationships; lack of spontaneous or make-believe play; fixation on particular objects; difficulty with executive functioning (which relates to reasoning and planning); narrow, intense interests; poor motor skills; repetitive use of language; repetitive movements (such as hand-flapping); and sensory issues. ASD is a “spectrum condition” that affects individuals to varying degrees. A diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders reflects the number and severity of these behaviors a person shows. 

In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the prevalence of autism in the United States was 1 in every 68 births, and 1 in every 54 boys. The overall prevalence in 2016 was twice the rate in 2004, which was 1 in every 125 births. Autism services cost U.S. citizens $236 to $262 billion annually. Most of this amount is for adult services—$175–$196 billion, compared to $61–$66 billion for children. Cost of lifelong care can be reduced by two-thirds with early diagnosis and intervention.  

Autism is treatable. Studies show that early diagnosis and intervention can change lives. Intervention plans must be unique to the individual, but they usually involve behavioral treatment, medicines, or both. Early behavioral treatment requires intensive collaboration between a child’s family and a team of professionals and may consist of parent training and individual therapy in a special center or classroom. Many people with ASD have other associated medical conditions, such as sleep disturbance or seizures, and improving these conditions can improve attention, learning, and behavior. Different interventions are needed as a child develops and acquires social and learning skills—for example, specialized social skills training may be help children with autism when they enter school. Adolescents with autism can benefit from supportive services that help them transition to employment and independence as adults.  

According to Autism Speaks (www.autismspeaks.org), a small minority of people with ASD progress to the point that they no longer meet the diagnostic criteria for autism. These individuals may have been misdiagnosed, may have “matured out” of some symptoms, or may have responded especially well to treatment. Some individuals have the “best possible outcomes”; their test scores are within normal ranges for IQ, language, functioning, school placement and personality, but they still have mild symptoms on some personality and diagnostic tests.  

This April, the Autism Society also wants to encourage people and groups to become partners in a movement toward accepting and appreciating people with ASD and including them in our schools and communities in a way that reflects true appreciation of the unique qualities of all people. “We want to get one step closer to a society where those with ASDs are truly valued for their unique talents and gifts,” says the Society’s website. 

 

 

Categories Insights Tags Alcohol, Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Thought Leadership

National Alcohol Screening Day

National Alcohol Screening Day (NASD) is an initiative first launched in 1999 by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  NASD is held annually on the first Thursday of the first full week of April. The purpose of this event is to increase public awareness that alcohol abuse and alcoholism are recognized disorders which can be treated. During this day, members of the public are encouraged to visit screening centers and asked to complete written self-assessments about their alcohol use.     

According to The Community Guide, there are 2,000 alcohol poisoning deaths in the U.S. each year and alcohol abuse is higher in college students, who do tend to frequently drink in large volumes.  Excessive, fast consumption of alcohol is known as ‘binge drinking’, and this kind of alcohol abuse can lead to many recognized health problems such as anxiety, depression or sexual problems.  The long-term effects of alcohol abuse include an increased risk of developing certain cancers, liver cirrhosis, high blood pressure and heart problems.   

National Alcohol Screening Day awareness continues to grow nationally, and the U.S. government is supporting programs and policies to reduce binge drinking and expand access through the Affordable Care Act to new health insurance plans to cover alcohol screening and brief counseling. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has launched two online screening tools that providers can use to assess for substance use disorder (SUD) risk among adolescents 12-17 years old.   

Two Screening Options: Providers can select the tool that makes sense for their clinical practice.  

 

 CAGE Questionnaire  

The CAGE can identify alcohol problems over the lifetime. Two positive responses are considered a positive test and indicate further assessment is warranted.  

The questionnaire takes less than one minute to administer and is often used in the primary care of other general settings as a quick screening tool rather than as an in-depth interview for those who have alcoholism.  The CAGE questionnaire does not have a specific intended population and is meant to find those who drink excessively and need treatment. The CAGE questionnaire is reliable and valid for assessment of alcohol abuse; however, it is not valid for diagnosis of other substance use disorders, although somewhat modified versions of the CAGE questionnaire have been frequently implemented for such a purpose.  

AUDIT-C Overview  

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) can detect alcohol problems experienced in the last year. A score of 8+ on the AUDIT generally indicates harmful or hazardous drinking. Questions 1–8 = 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 points. Questions 9 and 10 are scored 0, 2, or 4 only. The Audit-C is a 3-item alcohol screen that can help identify persons who are hazardous drinkers or have active alcohol use disorders (including alcohol abuse or dependence). The AUDIT-C is a modified version of the question AUDIT instrument.    

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