CEO Survey results - Wages

In 2009, by what percent will wages at your company increase overall?
	2008	2007	Change from 2007 (% pts.)
At the rate of inflation (5%)	38%	53%	-15.0
Above the rate of inflation	8	24	-16.1
Below the rate of inflation	33	14	+18.9
Freeze pay	14	3	+11.1
Don’t know/not sure	7	6	+1.1

Viewpoint Wages
Patricia J. Engfer
Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport
General Manager
Orlando

At the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport, our 2009 wage increases will be commensurate with 2008 levels. Our pay is based on our employees’ quality of performance rather than their length of service, so their salary increases represent their contributions to the company. We also do an annual study of pay ranges within the hospitality industry to make sure that our rate of pay is competitive with that of other first-class hotels in the Orlando area. Based on demand for particular areas of expertise, such as culinary or engineering, we often make adjustments in what we offer as compensation. When we experience a drop in occupancies, we adjust our staffing schedules accordingly, but this doesn’t affect wage levels. Our workers’ earnings are also affected in another way. At Hyatt, all employees start at an entry level, but they can work their way to supervisory positions and then into management very quickly.

CEO Survey results - Staffing Levels

Do you expect to increase or decrease your full-time staff count in 2009, or will it be unchanged from 2008?
	2008	2007	Change from 2007 (% pts.)
Increase	28%	47%	-19.1
Decrease	28	16	+12.1
Unchanged	41	35	+6.3
Don’t know/not sure	3	2	+0.7

Viewpoint Staffing Levels
Chris Hart
Workforce Florida Inc.
President/CEO
Tallahassee

That 69% of CEOs expect no change or an increase in their employee ranks is a reason for optimism during these tough economic times. However, Florida businesses need to maintain and grow a highly skilled workforce to remain competitive, and we at Workforce Florida are doing all we can to assist them. Since the largest cost to any company is labor, we are focusing our efforts statewide on skills-upgrade training to ensure workers are as productive as possible, thus helping themselves and their companies to be competitive. In doing so, we help retain both businesses and skilled talent during this slowdown. An example of this strategy is our work with our partners focused on Florida’s aerospace industry and the impact of the transition from the Shuttle to the new Constellation program. Thanks to the space program, we have a highly skilled pool of about 3,000 workers that will be affected by this change.

CEO Survey results - Recruitment

How much trouble does your company have recruiting workers with sufficient skills?
	2008	2007	Change from 2007 (% pts.)
A lot	14%	16%	-1.9
Some	42	56	-14.4
Only a little	24	14	+10.5
None	17	12	+4.7
Not looking for new workers	3	2	+1.1

CEO Survey results - Housing Market Impact

What impact has the state’s housing market had on your company’s recruiting and retention efforts??
	2008
Positive	6%
Negative	45
No impact	42
Don’t know/not sure	7

Viewpoint Recruitment/Housing Market Impact
Leo DiBenigno
Florida Lottery
Secretary
Tallahassee

We get hundreds of responses for every open position in our organization, so we usually have a big pool to choose from. Though it is difficult to wade through the sheer volume of applicants, we seem to have luck in finding people with the right skills. The Florida Lottery is really one huge computer system, which means we need a lot of people with technical backgrounds. IT workers are the hardest for us to find because what we offer in salary may not conform to what prospective applicants can get in the private sector. Housing can be an issue, too. Unlike the private sector, we don’t have the luxury of helping the employee find or purchase a home; we just don’t have the funds. The good thing about working for the Lottery is that it’s usually a stable industry, although lately, because of the economy, we’re seeing people cut back on discretionary spending, which may impact how often they play our games.