Recycling Human Assets

1>want to fire.
Just because a person was miscast for a job does
In Economics 101 I learned the basic laws of supplynot mean that person is not capable of being a good
and demand. When the demand was high and theemployee. Simply put, a liability in one context could
supply was low . . . prices went up. From anbe an asset in another. Are employees being
employer’s perspective, I would say thatexpected to perform work that doesn’t suit
lesson accurately describes today’s jobtheir skills, attitudes, or personalities?
market.·First of all, companies who take the time to
The economy is great. Companies are growing.identify and assess the strengths and weaknesses of
Corporate demand for quality employees to feedtheir current employees are wisely protecting
that growth is high. But because of lowthemselves from costs associated with unnecessary
unemployment, the supply of quality job applicants isterminations and increased recruiting efforts.
far smaller than most companies have grown·Secondly, when employees are performing in
accustomed to. With recruiting costs escalating,positions that best suit their interests, skills, and
mistakes and wasteful use of human resources arepersonalities, they are less likely to leave.
more obvious than ever.·Finally, properly cast employees tend to get more
Some of the best candidates for available positions inwork accomplished. When more work can be
your company could be right under your nose.accomplished by fewer people, pressure is reduced
Promoting from within is relatively easy whento find more people in a job market in which top
you’re talking about top performers. But whatprospects are scarce.
about those employees who just don’t seemHave you taken inventory of your human assets
to be getting it done? You know . . . the ones youlately?