Finding a Home

It’s easy to find inspiration from global sporting events like FIFA’s recent World Cup in Brazil. Games were played in locations near rain forests and coastlines by teams that came together from professional leagues all over the world for the chance to play under their chosen country’s flag.

I say “chosen” because for many players—including at least five from the U.S. squad—the decision wasn’t so clear. U.S. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann, a former German soccer superstar, actively recruited German-American players who had U.S. servicemen as fathers and Germans as mothers. To say it was a success is an understatement; some of these recruits rank at the top of the U.S.’ depth chart.

Is this talent for hire? Is it fair for one country to take (borrow?) what another country has ostensibly groomed? Or is it a simple case of talent shuffling, of players moving to teams that have more need than their own in order to create opportunities for themselves?

It’s a discussion full of nuances, and one I see reflected in our own industry. After all, the CLM’s Claims College has its roots in the fact that insurance companies were putting the brakes on claims training programs in part because they saw their newly educated employees taking those new skills elsewhere, earning bigger paychecks and position titles. Many companies scaled back their efforts, opting to dole out the basics instead of conducting months-long training that exposed new hires to all aspects of the business, not just claims.

I guess it boils down to one thing: Give your employees opportunities or they’re likely to find a new home.