September - HR Review

Social networking popular among HR decision makers

Eight out of ten HR decision makers now belong to online communities or social networking sites, according to new research.
The findings reveal that HR professionals are using online social networking for focused and commercial purposes, with 32.3% claiming to have already asked for supplier recommendations through it. More than a quarter (25.7%) have become aware of a supplier this way. Moreover, 28% of respondents have used online networking to share advice or guidance with peers.
The research also shows that increased numbers of HR professionals are likely to use online social networking in the future. Of the respondents, 51.8% say they expect to move towards online social networking in the next year, whereas 19.8% plan to use it less.

Interim Trends
Public sector interim management placements have outstripped the demand in the private sector for the first time since tracking began in 2006.
According to findings from the Interim Management Association?s (IMA) Ipsos MORI report, 51% of all completed interim assignments in Q2 were from the public sector, up from 43% in Q1.
The latest findings show local government (30%), healthcare (25%) and non-departmental government bodies (10%) specifically as key areas of the public sector pushing demand up for interim managers.
Still strong within the private sector, banking and finance once again took top spot with a quarter (25%) of assignments, followed by IT and telecommunications with 12%, and pharmaceuticals with 10%.
With the recession still impacting heavily on the UK economy, business programme and project management remains the most requested reason for assignment with a third (33%) of overall demand, with gap management (28%) and business improvement (21%) next in popularity.

Small firms gain 'free access' to Government contracts

Small businesses throughout the UK have been granted free access to Government contracts worth up to ?100,000.
Previously, firms were charged a fee for browsing the thousands of public sector procurement opportunities advertised on the Government's website www.supply2.gov.uk.
However, earlier this month the Business Minister announced that the ?180 annual subscription charge will be abolished to help enterprises expand.
'Small businesses are facing significant pressure in this downturn and new contracts are essential for their return to growth,' commented the Minister.
'We want to support small businesses by making it easier to access the thousands of Government procurement opportunities that are directly relevant to them.'

HR Focus

Organisations believe that only a minority of HR professionals are placing enough importance on treating people with integrity and respect during the recession. The research also outlines four main focuses that organisations desire from HR.

Operational efficiency in HR activity was listed as the first of these focuses, including adapting processes and policies in-line with cutbacks, and delivering lower cost alternatives.

Furthermore, balancing the short and long term was also listed as important for HR functions to deliver. HR managers are advised to balance saving money yet still need to identify the right staff, then develop and retain them.

Organisations have further suggested that HR need to focus on what is important, and decisions need to be fact-based, in order to maintain business reputation.

Finally, emotional support to the organisation was listed as another desire from the HR function. In the current economic climate, the respondents believe that HR professionals need to keep up morale and manage processes effectively.

Job Advertising
British firms will be required to advertise posts in UK Jobcentres for a month before recruiting from overseas, under changes announced by Home Secretary Alan Johnson, to afford UK workers a better chance of finding employment.
Speaking to the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) in London, Johnson said that the qualification eligibility period for skilled foreign workers recruited by multinational companies is also set to rise from six months to a year.
Currently, jobs have to be advertised in the UK for only a week before being offered abroad.
And Finally?.
Almost two thirds (58%) of British workers don?t settle back into a regular working pattern immediately following a holiday, according to new research conducted by YouGov on behalf of Investors in People. The online survey reveals that employers will have to wait longer for a rejuvenated workforce after the summer holiday, with 39% of employees taking at least a day to return to their regular working pattern, and one in six taking two or three days.
Moreover, one third of employees claimed that they dread going back to work following a break. 32% of respondents claimed that they felt less motivated than when they left before their holiday. In addition, 34% of respondents cited having too many emails and correspondence to deal with as another major barrier affecting motivation.