FIFTY-TWO per cent of Australian companies have seen an increase in overtime levels among employees in the past year, according to a survey of 1,700 companies
FIFTY-TWO per cent of Australian companies have seen an increase in overtime levels among employees in the past year, according to a survey of 1,700 companies. The amount of extra overtime per week worked by employees was:
Five hours or less 56%
Five to ten hours 24%
More than ten hours 7%
Source: Hays
Email’s age of overuse
SIXTY-TWO per cent of HR professionals believe that email is relied upon too heavily as a method of communicating with employees, according to a poll of 865 American practitioners. It also found that 31 per cent said email didn’t believe this was the case, while 7 per cent were unsure or felt it depended on the matter being communicated.
Source: Workforce
Regulatory workload to stretch company budgets
THIRTY-SIX per cent of employers believe their need for project or interim talent will increase over the next 12 months, while 43 per cent predict their needs will be stable. A survey of CFOs from 69 large organisations across the Asia Pacific also found that 23 per cent of companies attribute an increased use of contractors to workloads resulting from additional compliance requirements, with the main projects/business issues including:
Sarbanes-Oxley compliance 29%
Business transformation projects 22%
Non-ERP systems implementations 16%
Source: Resources Connection Australia
Accountants are hot property
SEVENTY-ONE per cent of Australian HR and finance managers will maintain current staffing levels within their finance teams, according to a survey of 74 finance managers and 76 HR managers. It also found that 38 per cent of finance managers believe that accountants are the most sought after financial experts, followed by business analysts (27 per cent) and business controllers (21 per cent).
Source: Robert Half Management Resources
Pay up slightly for retail staff: UK
Retail staff are likely to receive an average salary increase of 2.8 per cent next year, according to a survey of 18 British organistions with some 7,000 employees. The figure, which is slightly lower than in 2002 when staff received pay rises of 3.1 per cent, also found that 50 per cent of companies use broadbanding to determine salary levels while 42 per cent use competency-based pay schemes.
Source: Mercer Human Resource Consulting
The link between new ideas and napping
THIRTY per cent of British adults believe they come up with their best ideas when drifting off to sleep, compared to just 10 per cent who believe their work desk is the best place for generating creativity. A study of 1,000 people found that although 70 per cent considered themselves ideas people, employers should make food and drinks available for staff to prompt ideas, provide a creativity room for brainstorming and allow employees to take regular breaks in order to face challenges afresh.
Source: East of England Development Agency
HR not helpful with bad bosses
SEVENTY-SIX per cent of employees believe that HR staff are not helpful in dealing with bad bosses, according to a poll of 1,505 people. Just 1 per cent believe that HR is very helpful in such matters.
Source: Badbossology.com
The OHS hazards of the office
FIFTY per cent of office workers who use the phone for an average of 2.6 hours each day suffer from neck pain while 31 per cent suffer from lower back pain. The two month study of 26 office workers also found that 65 per cent suffered from headaches when using a telephone handset for more than two hours a day, compared to 38 per cent who experienced the same when using a headset.
Source: Plantronics
Gifts for the departed
FIFTY per cent of companies give gifts to resigning staff, compared to just 27 per cent who reward existing staff for a job well done, according to a survey of 2,930 Australian employees. While 12 per cent say their employer has never spent anything on them, companies also give employees gifts for:
Long service 25%
Client schmoozing 23%
Meeting sales targets/KPIs 21%
The survey also found that women receive the lion’s share of gifts and/or prizes for social occasions such as for farewells, but men are more likely to receive gifts and/or prizes for a job well done.
Source: RedBalloon Days
Aussies fearful of new technology: IT
EIGHTY-SIX per cent of Australians believe there is a cultural divide between technical staff and other employees and 34 per cent say the employees in their organisations do not understand their roles as IT professionals. A survey of more than 1,000 people It also found that 67 per cent believe that the geek perception of IT professionals still exists in the modern workplace.
Source: Talent2
Poor management trips up small business
SEVENTY-FIVE per cent of small businesses fail in their first five years largely due to poor management practices, according to a survey of 818 Australian employers and 396 blue collar workers. It also found that 37 per cent of sole traders felt they could sustain their income if unable to work for four weeks, with the same proportion admitting they would be forced to delve into their savings to keep their head above water.
Source: Combined Insurance
