Section Fourthe likelihood of unionism such as the individual characteristics
of the work-force, job content, compensation, industry, job
satisfaction, perceptions of union instrumentality,
characteristics of unions, governmental regulation, and
macroeconomic influences. Because of space limitations,
a detailed discussion of these influences cannot be
provided here.^21
DEALING WITH EMPLOYEE SHORTAGES
The combination of demographic influences and a robust
economy can produce severe labor shortages in many
occupations. Upturns and downturns are normal features of the
economy, and individual employers may experience skill
shortages of qualified managerial and professional personnel at
a particular point in time. Nonetheless, technology workers
have been in particularly short supply. Companies have gone to
great lengths to meet the demand for technical specialists. For
example, Burlington Northern Santa Fe has implemented an
employee referral program for technical employees in which
current employees can receive a $3,000 reward for referring a
technical employee who is hired.^22 Vmware Inc., a software
company in Palo Alto, California, obtained most of its 62 new
hires in one recent year mostly through word of mouth.^23
Employee referrals are often an excellent source of employees