LAS VEGAS — I know this might come across as a little Smallville, but I'd be lying if I didn't confess my quiet awe when strolling into the buzz saw of HR personnel swarming the Las Vegas Convention Center this week. I had a flashback to that first traumatic day of grade school so many years ago (but without the cocktails).
I admit, it's my first time. And, from the looks of things, a trip to SHRM's conference is overdue.
But it's been encouraging. While both economic and political uncertainty have been haunting the benefits business for a few years now, from what I've seen here so far this week, the mood seems to plateau on the human resource side of things.
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And SHRM's 2011 Employee Benefits Study — which just dropped Sunday — backs me up on that.
Over the last couple of years, according to this latest study, employee benefit costs, as a chunk of total employee compensation, has remained relatively flat. And the only major changes coming from the employer side are big jumps in the prevalence of both consumer-driven health plans and wellness initiatives, both of which signal a long-overdue shift in the way we all treat not only employee benefit, but our own personal health and well-being.
Now, if I could just get another drink…
And on a side note: Despite all the sounds fury stirred up by that pesky McKinsey report a couple weeks back, SHRM's new study — and all the anecdotal evidence out here in Vegas — seem to indicate the continued stagnation of the American economy weigh far more heavily on the minds of business owners and business managers than any legislation or reform coming out Washington. Not that anyone's getting bottle service at the club after the Keith Urban concert tonight, but things aren't nearly as bad as the talking heads would have you believe.
Now if only could get someone over at McKinsey to call me back…
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