SEVENTY-ONE per cent of executives believe that successful delivery of HR is very important to overall company success, while 92 per cent state that employee alignment is important to their organisation’s business goals. A US survey of 168 non-HR executives, 107 non-HR senior managers and 310 HR executives also found that 81 per cent believe that HR can help organisations control costs and increase retention
SEVENTY-ONE per cent of executives believe that successful delivery of HR is very important to overall company success, while 92 per cent state that employee alignment is important to their organisation’s business goals. A US survey of 168 non-HR executives, 107 non-HR senior managers and 310 HR executives also found that 81 per cent believe that HR can help organisations control costs and increase retention, as well as:
Increasing productivity 71%
Identifying future business leaders 69%
Acting as a trusted advisor 64%
Source: Society for Human Resource Management
Lost at work: phone messages not getting through
SIXTY-FOUR per cent of Australian employees don’t get their phone messages on time with all the correct information, and a further 66 per cent suspect their messages don’t get passed on at all. A survey of 1,000 Australian workers also found that 36 per cent reported that their relationship with a crucial client was damaged as a result of not receiving an important message.
Source: Talent2
Employee fraud’s risky business
FIFTY per cent of HR and finance managers believe that employee fraud is more likely to affect Australian businesses than any other types of fraud. Other risks facing business include:
Financial reporting 19%
Computer crime 9%
Supplier/third party fraud 6%
The survey found that 59 per cent of HR and finance managers have increased controls to detect fraud in the past two years, while 73 per cent use internal controls and internal audit to detect fraud.
Source: Robert Half Finance & Accounting
Choice the key to staff retention
FORTY-THREE per cent of Australian managers admit that a lack of career options forces their staff to leave. A study of 150 HR and finance managers found that they also blamed corporate culture (14 per cent) and an inadequate salary (10 per cent) as reasons for staff leaving.
Source: OfficeTeam
Workers jaded over work/life balance
FIFTY-THREE per cent of Australian employees are planning to spend more time on personal matters and less on their job, while 23 per cent believe that management do not recognise the importance of family life. A survey of 602 workers also found that only 46 per cent feel they are valued as much as their company’s shareholders and less than 50 per cent of employees would recommend their company as one of the best places to work
Source: Aon Consulting
Business owners brew over skills shortages
THIRTY per cent of Australian business owners believe that the skills shortage will be the biggest constraint on business, compared to a global average of 23 per cent, according to a survey of 6,300 medium-sized businesses from 24 countries. It also found that 62 per cent of Australian companies have a formal documented mechanism for succession planning, 33 per cent have executives who are able to negotiate in more than one language and 22 per cent of senior management of Australian companies is comprised of women.
Source: Grant Thornton
De-stressing through dogs bodies
TWENTY-FIVE per cent of Australian employees believe that bringing their pets to work would reduce the amount of stress they suffer during business hours, according to a survey of more than 1,000 workers. It also found that while 14 per cent of the working population would love to bring their pets to work, only 3 per cent of businesses actually allow this.
Source: Talent2
US: Top benefits priorities for 2005
NINETEEN per cent of HR professionals are aiming to make employees more aware of the value of benefits in 2005, according to a survey of 306 US practitioners. It also found that other priorities include:
Improving HRIT/ESS options 14%
More flexible/telecommuting options 12%
Adding/improving wellness programs 10%
Source: Workforce
Sexes weigh in on ageing workforce options
ELDERCARE assistance programs increase men’s average retirement age by eight months, versus just one month for women, while phased retirement programs stretch women’s average retirement age by 21 months, versus five months for men. A US survey of 37,000 workers found that 20 per cent of large and medium-sized firms currently offer eldercare assistance (which help workers identify and evaluate services needed to care for elderly relatives) while 16 per cent offer a formal phased retirement program (which allow workers to transition into retirement by switching to a part-time or flexible work schedule).
Source: Watson Wyatt
UK: Lack of trust in those at the top
FORTY-ONE per cent of private sector employees in the UK place little or no trust in senior management, according to a survey of more than 1,000 employees. It also found that UK employees felt they:
Had little control at work 42%
Received minimal supervisor support 26%
Had very stressful jobs 21%
A further 37 per cent said their workload is too heavy and 20 per cent did not believe the demands of their job were realistic.
Source: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
