As U.S. Workplaces Celebrate March Madness, RiseSmart Brings the Fun and Excitement of the NCAA Office Pool to a Forgotten Segment of the Workforce - the Unemployed

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As millions of U.S. workers begin filling out NCAA tournament brackets to celebrate March Madness, RiseSmart, the leading provider of next-generation outplacement solutions, today launched the RiseSmart Challenge, a March Madness "office pool" for all transitioning workers utilizing its flagship outplacement solution, Transition Concierge. The program serves as a fun way to help unemployed workers take a break from the job search to participate in one of the traditional rites of American office life.

"March Madness marks an exciting time in which offices are abuzz with colleagues engaged in heated water-cooler debates over who will make the Final Four and be crowned champion," said Sanjay Sathe, founder and CEO of RiseSmart.  "We wanted to offer those in the Transition Concierge program the chance to experience this same sense of fun even while they are between jobs.  So we created the RiseSmart Challenge."

The RiseSmart Challenge is open to thousands of transitioning workers currently in the Transition Concierge system.  Participants can access the RiseSmart Challenge tournament bracket online; top prognosticators will receive special recognition and prizes.

"In our five years of helping put Americans back to work, we've found that the unemployed find work faster when they treat their job search with a sense of adventure and fun.  We try to create an atmosphere that encourages this positive approach," Sathe said.  "The RiseSmart Challenge is a fun way to lift the spirits of workers in transition and energize them for the real challenge ahead – reentering the workforce."

A 2011 Harris Interactive survey showed that 20 percent of U.S. workers – or about 30 million Americans -- participate in a March Madness office pool. RiseSmart encourages companies to embrace this annual tradition by enacting a program that builds interpersonal relationships across the organization and instills a sense of belonging and fun.  Banning pools in an attempt to prevent lost productivity during the tournament is generally ineffective and can result in reduced morale.

About RiseSmart
RiseSmart is the leading provider of next-generation outplacement solutions. The company leverages a cloud-based technology platform, proven methodologies, and one-on-one support to help employers with their workforce strategy, and displaced employees with their career strategy. RiseSmart drives significant ROI to organizations by offering affordable pricing while reducing unemployment insurance taxes and severance costs. RiseSmart has received a wide range of awards and recognition from organizations including the Golden Bridge Awards, the Momentum Index, Red Herring, the San Francisco Business Times, SiliconIndia, the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, the Stevie Awards and TiE. For more information, visit http://www.RiseSmart.com.

Scott Baradell
RiseSmart
[email protected]
972-235-3439

SOURCE RiseSmart

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