THIRTY-FIVE per cent of new managers and executives failed in their jobs within the first 18 months of starting new positions during 2004, according to a US survey of HR managers at 100 organisations
THIRTY-FIVE per cent of new managers and executives failed in their jobs within the first 18 months of starting new positions during 2004, according to a US survey of HR managers at 100 organisations. Leaders failed in their new positions because they couldn’t:
Build strong relationships and teamwork with subordinates/peers 61%
Achieve the most important objectives expected of them 46%
Build required internal political savvy 37%
The survey found that the main way new managers and executives could increase their chances of success was to clarify with their bosses the results that are expected of them within the first year.
Source: Right Management Consultants
Internet in jobseeker sights
THIRTY-ONE per cent of jobseekers would use the internet if they had to choose a preferred method of finding jobs, a survey of 700 Australians has found. It also found that more jobseekers under 50 use the internet (42 per cent) to search for jobs than newspapers (35 per cent), while more higher income earners (43 per cent) and more 35–49 year olds (33 per cent) are using the internet in general.
Source: Newspoll/SEEK
Retrenched employees opt for sea change
FIFTY-SIX per cent of out-of-work employees think of changing careers, while only 40 per cent actually go through with the decision. A US survey of 2,500 US people in between jobs also found that they would:
Consider self-employment 44%
Not relocate for their next job 55%
Actually start their own business 10%
Source: Right Management Consultants
Multinationals prefer global pay programs
EIGHTY-FIVE per cent of multinational organisations currently have a global pay strategy in place for employees, according to a survey of nearly 90 global firms. It also found that 42 per cent have had the strategy in place for less than four years, while 43 per cent moved to a global approach more than four years ago and of the 15 per cent of firms that do not have a global pay strategy, all intend to introduce one within the next three years.
Source: Mercer Human Resource Consulting
IT nerds now sexy
FIFTY-SIX per cent of Australian workers think IT is an aspirational and exciting profession, according to a survey of more than 2,000 people. Only 8 per cent felt that the IT profession hadn’t unshackled itself from images of a nerdy, polyester-wearing boffin with limited social skills.
Source: HotHouse
Companies: Lots of positions vacant!
THIRTY-EIGHT per cent of Australian companies have unfilled positions, according to a survey of 1,200 people. It found that sales/marketing, information technology, accounting/finance and administration roles are hardest to fill, while it still takes most people more than one month to obtain a new job.
Source: Talent2
Top training dollars for top performers?
THIRTY per cent of US HR professionals believe that too much money is spent on upgrading poor or marginal performers, a survey of 203 practitioners has found. A further 26 per cent felt that such budgets are allocated appropriately while another 14 per cent said too much money is spent on a small number of the highest performers.
Source: Workforce
The business ethics of gender in Georgia
TEN per cent of companies owned or managed by men were more likely to offer bribes to government officials than those owned or managed by women. A study of 350 businesses in the republic of Georgia also found that without control mechanisms in place for business industry, size and the level of education of owners/managers, companies run by men were twice as likely to pay bribes than firms run by women.
Source: University of Maryland
UK: Workers happy with training
SEVENTY-NINE per cent of employees believe their employer offers enough training opportunities, while 94 per cent who have undertaken training in the past 12 months believe the training they received has helped them do their job better. A UK survey of 750 employees also found that 21 per cent of staff still didn’t believe they were being given enough training opportunities, while line managers:
Discussed training with staff 51%
Initiated recent staff training 45%
Let staff initiate training 17%
Source: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
Australians ho-hum on income insurance
SIXTY-SEVEN per cent of Australians have either no income protection insurance or they have income protection cover for up to two years as part of their superannuation. A survey of 467 people found that many believe they can’t afford income protection insurance (63 per cent), others feel that an accident or long-term illness is unlikely to strike them down (51 per cent) and some simply think income protection insurance is a waste of money (46 per cent).
Source: Newspoll/CommInsure
Australians not married to their jobs
SIXTY-FOUR per cent of Australians would jump at the chance to do something outside work, compared to 36 per cent who said they would stay at work to get ahead of the game. A survey of 600 managers across Australia, Brazil, Germany, Russia, UK and the US found that 78 per cent of Australians would prefer to spend extra time with their family, while workers who were most likely to keep working were from:
Russia 49%
USA 46%
Germany 45%
Source: Avaya
