Business should be investing in a strong future by employing better qualified staff and training, re-skilling and motivating their employees, according to leading new apprenticeship centre, MAS National
Business should be investing in a strong future by employing better qualified staff and training, re-skilling and motivating their employees, according to leading new apprenticeship centre, MAS National. Speaking in response to the current debate about shortages of labour skills in Australia, MAS national chief executive Garry Thomas said any money spent on training by industry would be repaid many times over in the future. “In jobs which are physically taxing there are opportunities to retrain and retain older employees rather than lose them altogether,” he said. “Many want to stay involved in their 50s and 60s and they could be re-skilled to take on a less physical role within the company.”
Reputation and staff retention key risks
Reputation risk and the acquisition and retention of skilled staff are the key risks for corporate Australia, attendees heard at a recent forum held by Aon. “The acquisition and retention of skilled staff are key risk issues for the boards I am involved in including the ASC – particularly in light of their new business win,” said Stephen Young, a non-executive director of ASC Limited. “Reputation risk is another major issue for Australian businesses. However organisations need to do more than just have risk management systems and frameworks. They need to drive and promote a risk culture from factory floor to the boardroom,” he said.
Super choice moves ahead
Twenty-nine per cent of Australian workers have already decided to switch superannuation funds on or after 1 July, with a further 32 per cent considering changing their current funds. A survey of 1,100 people by Talent2 also found 11 per cent said the returns are too low in their current fund and 10 per cent believe the management fees are to high in their current fund. John Rawlinson, CEO of Talent2, also said 54 per cent currently have more than one superannuation fund, while 29 per cent of that number have two different funds currently and 18 per cent three funds. A further 23 per cent of respondents said they were not aware of the choice of fund legislation while 15 per cent did not understand what choice of fund actually means.
