Over-Parenting Reported By One Out Of Four Companies

Most Sacramento area companies plan to hire this summer — a new survey finds — along with an unwelcome new trend growing in the workplace.

The trend is known as "helicopter parenting." Human Resource managers say they're hearing more and more from the parents of employees or prospective employees. Rick Reed conducted the survey for Pacific Staffing. He says 25 percent of all companies reported having this experience recently.

"It was looked at as an intrusion in the workplace," says Reed. "So it's not a phenomenon that's welcome among HR people. But it may be a result many people living with their parents these days, and the parents are just trying to help.

Some of the comments were very positive: "Thank you for hiring my child."

Others sounded like this: "Well, why did you fire my child? You just don't understand them."

Meanwhile, the survey also found that 72 percent of employers in the Sacramento region plan to hire during the third quarter, up from 67 percent a year ago.

"Just a phenomenal number," says Reed. "Many of them are looking for replacements; 51 percent say that they will likely have some attrition in July, August and September."

Reed says 19 percent of hiring will be motivated by seasonal needs.