Recruitment staffing stabilises

Recruitment staffing stabilises

RECRUITMENT company staff turnover has fallen slightly to 17 per cent – down from 18 per cent in December last year. Only 9 per cent of recruiters believe that there are plenty of applicants in the job market, while their greatest concerns for the future are:

Legal issues about on-hired staff 72%

Employment legislation 64%

WorkCover Legislation 61%

Recruiters also report that 37 per cent of applicants are likely to have the right mix and levels of skills and 35 per cent the correct attitude.

Source: Recruitment and Consulting Services Association

UK: Employees reluctant on harassment

ONLY 58 per cent of workers across the UK feel free to report instances of harassment in the workplace. A survey of 1,119 British employees also found only 65 per cent feel free to report dishonest or unethical behaviour, 62 per cent of middle-ranking managers feel comfortable about reporting harassment by more senior managers and only 60 per cent of workers feel they are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their position or background.

Source: Mercer Human Resource Consulting

Flexible workers satisfied/less stressed

EIGHTY-SEVEN per cent of freelancers, contractors or temps are satisfied with their overall employment situation, according to a US survey. Such workers, who now make up about 22 per cent of the total US workforce, also found the main reasons workers stay with their current employer or consider another job include:

Assurance of continued work 13%

Challenging, rewarding work 21%

Healthcare benefits 14%

The survey also found that 75 per cent of employees consider themselves committed and loyal to their employer, about 45 per cent were somewhat likely to switch companies in order to advance their careers, expand their skills and/or improve their compensation package.

Source: Kelly Services

Women want more workplace respect

FORTY-TWO per cent of female employees say their views are not as respected as those of their male counterparts, but 34 per cent of males think females’viewpoints are just as pertinent as theirs. A survey of 1,200 Australians also found certain industry types are more judgmental of females: 48 per cent of males and females in the engineering/manufacturing sector and 29 per cent of those in the legal sector believe females’ viewpoints are not as respected as males.

Source: Talent2

World is Gen Y accountant’s oyster

Healthy premiums are being paid to entice young accounting candidates to move jobs for positions under $100K, with salaries in this sector of the market on the rise by 5–7 per cent over the first half of 2005. Competition is also fierce at the executive level, with salary increases determined by an individual’s qualifications and performance. Typically, employers want an exact fit and can demand it, due to an oversupply of candidates at this level.

Source: Ambition

Compliance help wanted: enquire within

TWELVE per cent of finance managers from publicly listed companies in Europe, the UK and Oceania regions plan to hire external personnel to assist them in Sarbanes Oxley compliance. A further 33 per cent would hire external consultants on a regular basis, followed by hiring temporary staff whenever the project requires it (27 per cent), while 89 per cent of Australian finance managers have been working to improve their internal controls in the past year.

Source: Robert Half International

Class of 2005 optimistic about jobs

MEMBERS of the class of 2005 appear optimistic about finding full-time jobs soon, although they are less certain that those jobs will meet their expectations. A survey of 1,600 recent or soon-to-be college and university graduates in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Spain found 59 per cent who are not working full-time anticipate beginning a full-time job within six months, and only 20 per cent believe it will take more than one year to find a job.

Source: Accenture

Workers want same ole, same ole

SIXTY-ONE per cent of bosses in Australia institute changes to company policies and standards, but in 39 per cent of cases, these changes are not followed through. A survey of 801 employees also revealed that such changes are announced via:

Company meetings 41%

Email 19%

Company newsletters 19%

A further 10 per cent of employees believe that such changes are too complicated and time wasting, while 48% say the new initiatives get announced with great fanfare and then are never heard about again.

Source: Talent2

Women hit the guilt ceiling

WHILE 83 per cent of executives believe their organisations are supportive of women, only 10 per cent of executive management positions are held by women. A survey of 70 business decision-makers also found it is widely recognised that executives tend to delegate the recruitment and support of women internally to HR managers or functional leaders, but lack of support for such initiatives is bedded down in boardrooms and senior executive teams.

Source: Dattner Grant

UK: Dodgy job applications dumped

ONE quarter of employers in the UK withdrew at least one job offer in the past year after discovering someone had lied or otherwise misrepresented their application. A survey of 715 UK employers also found 23 per cent dismissed someone who was already in the post for the same offence, while employers:

Never check on academic qualifications 24%

Don’t always take up candidates’ references 23%

Rarely or never check on absence records 20%

Source: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development