SmartPulse — our weekly reader poll in Smartbrief on Workforce — tracks feedback from leading managers and HR practitioners. We run the poll question each Wednesday in our e-newsletter.
Last week, we asked: Have you hired any unemployed workers because of the HIRE act tax breaks?
- We aren’t doing any hiring, 57%
- It’s nice if we get it, but we aren’t targeting our efforts, 34%
- Yes, 5%
- No, but we are trying, 4%
With over half of people responding saying they weren’t doing any hiring and a third of others saying they aren’t targeting their recruitment efforts to take advantage of the HIRE act tax benefits, are the new series of tax breaks really helping? I’ve got to wonder if this is an example of something sounding like a good idea but simply doesn’t address the key points preventing hiring at this time. Slow employment gains need to be addressed at the source rather than through gimmicky tax breaks.
Lance Haun is community director for ERE.net, the main guy over at Rehaul.com and a member of the SmartBrief on Workforce Advisory Board.