No tolerance for rude bosses

EIGHTY-TWO per cent of Australian workers say they have worked for an idiot. Results of a survey show that many of the 520 employees surveyed believed they should not put up with a boss who displays a bad attitude, and said they would deal with the situation by:

Resigning and getting a new job 54%

Whinging to colleagues, supervisors or partners 21%

Complaining directly to their boss 8%

The most common attribute that made a boss unbearable was arrogance (18 per cent) followed by being too controlling (12 per cent), always being unpleasant (11 per cent) and never giving positive feedback (9 per cent).

Source: LinkMe.com.au

Mixing booze with business a no-no

SIXTY-FOUR per cent of people who attend lunch meetings do not drink alcohol as a rule. Of the 722 people surveyed, 40 per cent believe it is unprofessional to drink during business meetings, even if it is during lunchtime. However, more than 72 per cent are quite comfortable for their colleagues to partake in a glass or two, even if they decline. Almost one quarter of respondents also found lunch meetings to be a waste of time.

Source: Talent2

Little business a big worry

TWENTY-ONE per cent of Australian employers are stressed over lack of business. According to a survey of 520 people, employees noticed their employers were troubled by too little cash flow into their business. However, the biggest worries faced by bosses were:

Staff turnover 7%

Retention 12%

Skill shortages 10%

Furthermore, 9 per cent of bosses are stressed about industrial relations reforms while the threat of terrorism is a passing thought for a majority of business leaders (3 per cent). The survey also showed that 14 per cent were stressed by the thought of too much business.

Source: www.linkme.com.au

Utility companies an endangered species

THE UTILITY industry faces a severe staffing shortage, as the majority of its workforce plans retirement. According to the results of a US study, 40 per cent of senior electrical engineers and 43 per cent of shift supervisors will be eligible for retirement by 2009. More than two thirds of utility companies also have no succession plan for supervisors and 44 percent have no plan for vice presidents. Furthermore, universities are now graduating an average of 10 power engineers per state per year, compared to 2000 graduates in the 1980s.

Source: Hay Group

Cultural fit the key to hiring

FORTY-TWO per cent of recruitment consultants believe the ability to fit in with a new workplace culture is the most important factor in the hiring process. The character and personality of potential employees is the next most important factor at 32 per cent, while actual work experience comes in at only 17 per cent, followed by growth potential (8 per cent). The education of candidates was rated as the least influential factor (1 per cent) of the 200 consultants surveyed.

Source: Korn/Ferry

Employee performance a good investment

TWO THIRDS of investors say employee performance management systems sway their investment decisions. A survey of 75 Australian investors and financial analysts found that employee performance management systems have a significant impact on business performance, leading to a preference in investing in these companies. However, 45 per cent of investors do not believe there is a link between employee performance objectives and strategic outcomes.

Source: Performance Management Institute of Australia

Good managers bring in the numbers

ONLY sixty-five per cent of managers regularly display authenticity, based on responses from 627 leaders and 116 HR representatives in Australia and New Zealand. Leaders nominated the ability to bring in the numbers as the most respected quality (39 per cent), but more alarmingly, displays of integrity and ethics were respected by only 3 per cent of respondents but qualities such as interpersonal skills (16 per cent), the ability to motivate a team (13 per cent) and technical expertise (5 per cent) rated higher.

Source: DDI Australia

New year, new jobs

EIGHTY-SEVEN per cent of CEOs will be searching for a new company in 2006, and 52 per cent would not consider a counter offer from their current employer. Meanwhile, more than two thirds of Australian employees claimed they intend to change jobs in the New Year. Respondents said the key motivators for moving on were:

Career progression 32%

Desire for a new culture 14%

Looking for greener pastures 11%

The survey found that 2006 is indeed a time for change as only 31 per cent of employees said they would consider a revised offer from their current employer. Almost a quarter would have to be offered more money, with 12 per cent requiring a totally different career path in the company.

Source: Talent2

Money in workmates

SIXTY per cent of Australians attempt to befriend people for the sake of making money. According to a survey of business relationships, 64 per cent of those that use friendships as a source of money are successful. The art of maintaining contacts has also changed, with less people having the time to socialise freely after work hours with business associates. Sustaining business relationships also proved to be financially important, with 47 per cent of people saying they keep in very close touch with contacts they have made throughout their career.

Source: Linkme.com.au

More Christmas cheer for lawyers

TWENTY-ONE per cent of employees receive a Christmas bonus, according to a survey of 722 workers. Results showed a massive 60 per cent of those in the legal sector receive a bonus, as do almost one third of those in the banking and finance sector. Of those who are rewarded with an increased pay packet at the end of the year, the amounts are said to vary depending on:

Profitability of the business 30%

Level of work achieved 22%

Company procedure 7%

Source: Talent2