Time’s a wasting: meeting malady

Time’s a wasting: meeting malady

TWENTY-NINE per cent of workers say meetings are a total waste of time while a further 44 per cent believe that frequent meetings actually keep them from getting their work done, according to a survey of 1,100 Australians. The study also found that work meetings:

Aren’t necessary for most employees 47%

Generally waste CEO’s time 44%

Trap workers in them unnecessarily 35%

Source: Talent2

Contractors come in for bullying belting

SIXTY per cent of contractors are being bullied at work, according to a survey of 1,000 Australian IT contractors. It also found that 44 per cent of contractors are being bullied and haven’t notified anyone, while 15 per cent are being bullied and have notified a superior.

Source: Candle Australia

America’s hard line: Seasonal dress and vacation policies

EIGHTY per cent of organisations which have a year-round business casual dress code don’t want employees showing up for work even more casually dressed in the forthcoming American summer, according to a survey of 150 firms. It also found that of the 22 per cent of companies that offer summer work schedules, they:

Provide flexible work hours 57%

Offer alternate schedules 42%

Allow a condensed workweek 27%

The survey found that although 78 per cent of employers don’t have official alternate work schedules during the summer months, many employers offer flexibility at the departmental level.

Source: Hewitt Associates

Learning & development lagging behind

FIFTY-NINE per cent of males and 42 per cent of females don’t receive any form of training and development, according to a survey of more than 1,000 Australians. It also found that workers were looking to their employers to invest in their futures, and recommended that companies invest at least 2 per cent of their revenue in training and development.

Source: Talent2

Workplace satisfaction on the rise: UK

SIXTY-SEVEN per cent of British employees say they are satisfied at work, according to research into 1.4 million employees. It found that employees were most satisfied in the:

Financial sector 73%

Public sector 65%

Hi-tech sector 51%

Source: ORC International

Employers value experience over qualifications

SEVENTY-THREE per cent of employers feel experience is more important than qualifications when it comes to recruiting. However 87 per cent don’t feel confident that they can spot the right person when they are interviewing according to a survey of 1,000 British employers. It also found that just 20 per cent felt confident when interviewing candidates, while 63 per cent said they felt uncomfortable at times.

Source: Peninsula Lawyers

Canuck companies ease up on cutting worker costs

ONLY 12 per cent of Canadian employers plan to reduce salary-increase budgets this year, compared to 27 per cent last year, according to a study of 163 companies. It found that Canadian companies are planning to:

Hire critical-skill employees 34%

Freeze hiring altogether 17%

Lay off staff 3%

It also found that 34 per cent of employers are experiencing difficulty in attracting critical-skill employees, while 20 per cent indicated they were experiencing the same difficulty when it came to retaining those employees.

Source: Watson Wyatt

Soccer fever hits UK workplaces

FORTY-NINE per cent of Brits aren’t allowed to watch Euro 2004 soccer matches under any circumstances at work, however 19 per cent are allowed to watch matches at any time, according to a survey of 460 workers based in the UK. It also found that 22 per cent are allowed to watch games but only during their break while 10 per cent are allowed to watch the final of the competition.

Source: Monster

Glass ceilings alive and well: US

THIRTY-TWO per cent of HR professionals believe that there are obstacles at their companies that make it difficult for women to enter the ranks of senior management, according to a survey of 1,141 practitioners in the US. It also found that 45 per cent believe it’s somewhat more difficult for women to gain leadership positions than men, while 22 per cent feel there are no significant obstacles for women.

Source: Workforce

Hiring plans on the rosy side

THIRTY per cent of employers expect to hire more staff in the third quarter of the year, according to a survey of 16,000 US employers. It also found that 6 per cent of firms predict a decline in staff levels, while 5 per cent are unsure of their hiring expectations.

Source: Manpower

Half the US workforce wants to fire their boss

FORTY-EIGHT per cent of workers would like to fire their boss, while 29 per cent would have their boss assessed by a workplace psychologist, according to a poll of 1,118 American employees. It also found that 23 per cent would send their boss for management training if they had the chance.

Source: BadBossology