Northgate acquires TAPS

Northgate Information Solutions Australia recently acquired the Association for Payroll Specialists Pty Ltd (TAPS) and its payroll outsourcing business, Australian Payroll Services Pty Ltd (APS). Under the deal, which more than doubles the size of Northgate’s Australian operations, TAPS will maintain its existing branding and will operate as a separate autonomous and independent association for payroll specialists under the management of its existing general manager, Jason Low. The previous owner and founder, Ken Low, has been retained for up to two years in an advisory consulting capacity.

Bloggers targeted to fill empty job seats

Blogs and chat communities are now being targeted to unearth potential employees who may not even be looking for work, according to RPO Group managing director Liam Ovenden. Severe skills shortages in the Australian workforce had forced his company to investigate every available avenue in an effort gain a competitive edge, he said. “As the skills shortage has really begun to bite, times have changed and the recruitment industry has had to move with those times,” Ovenden said. “Candidates can be found through a myriad of innovative channels, and many of them are online.”

Don’t bother – the deal’s done

Almost half of all employers counter-offer resigning staff but the majority of these attempts are unsuccessful, according to a salary survey by Hays Human Resources. Of 1,700 employers surveyed, 48 per cent said they counter-offer staff. But 80 per cent of counter-offered staff still left the business within 12 months – 30 per cent left as planned despite the counter offer, 42 per cent stayed less than 3 months and 8 per cent stayed between 3 and 12 months. Just 20 per cent of those counter-offered remained with the business longer than 12 months. “As the skills shortage continues, employers will increase their efforts to attract, retain and reward quality staff,” said Nicole Isaacs, regional director of Hays Human Resources.