Family leave, boomer retirements could gain steam in '08

Workplace change will force bosses to adapt

What's ahead for the workplace in 2008? Based on an unscientific roundup, here are some sure and not-so-sure bets:

* Expect any substantive workplace regulatory changes to be put on hold pending the outcome of the presidential election. There's not likely to be the political will to do anything but possibly a minor adjustment to the Family and Medical Leave Act.

But, if a Democrat takes the White House, expect to see the Employee Free Choice Act, which would allow employees to form unions when a majority signed cards authorizing union representation.

* Expect a lot more talk about sustainability, LEED -- or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design -- construction and "reducing your carbon footprint."

The environmental movement is going beyond recycling and energy-efficient light bulbs. Workplaces will become more actively involved in saving resources and slowing energy consumption.

* Expect more employers to create and push employees to take advantage of healthful-lifestyle programs: Stop smoking. Lose weight. Lower your cholesterol. Exercise regularly. Do what you can to reduce the odds of poor health. That's the carrot.

The stick will be more employers' adopting cost differentials in the employee share of health insurance premium costs. Those who participate in healthful lifestyle programs will be charged less.

* Expect health-care insurance costs to continue to increase, and expect more small-business operators to say they can't afford to subsidize it.

Similarly, expect more small businesses to look for ways to reduce the cost of benefits administration by turning to professional employer organizations. With PEOs, some businesses take advantage of economies of scale and relieve their human-resources staff of some duties.

* Expect the long-predicted wave of baby-boomer retirements to gain steam.

As that age cohort continues to reach Social Security eligibility, more will opt out of the workplace. At the same time, more will be invited to leave as some employers continue their cost-cutting efforts by offering early retirement and other departure incentives to older, and often highest-paid, workers.

In line with that, expect more age discrimination charges to be filed. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission during the summer started an outreach program, Youth@Work, which made clear that the agency will also protect young workers from age discrimination.

* Expect to see some major tests of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, which offers job protection for military personnel called to active duty.

As Iraqi war veterans -- many of them members of the National Guard and the Reserves -- return to work, many workplaces will deal, for the first time, with some of the re-entry-rights nuances of the law.

* Expect more attention to be paid to security in the workplace. The 9/11 attacks spawned more locked doors, surveillance cameras and employee badges at workplaces. Look for more attention to Internet security. Technological marvels such as flash drives and cell phones that can take pictures, send e-mail, cruise the Internet and even watch television shows are giving workplace security experts a headache as they try to figure out how to control instant connectivity.

* Expect to see the employment door continue to revolve. Job tenure is spinning down to less than four years in the private sector.

With the loss of experienced boomers and the movement in and out of younger workers, it's hard to build bench strength or keep talent around long enough for succession plans to take effect.