What are HR’s top consideration for setting wages and salaries?

Stats NZ survey also looks at changes around flexible work, leave entitlements, employee benefits

What are HR’s top consideration for setting wages and salaries?

The New Zealand government’s annual business operations survey provides plenty of insights when it comes to business operations, information and communications technology (ICT), price and wage setting, and business finance. 

Of interest to HR is the question around wages and salaries, and what considerations are most important.

Not surprisingly, retaining hard-to-replace workers came out on top, with 74% saying it’s very important and 19% saying it’s moderately important.

Importance in setting wages and salaries

 

Not important

Moderately/very important

Retaining hard-to-replace workers

4%

93%

Changes in business conditions

9%

85%

Competing with other firms for staff

16%

78%

Uncertainty about business conditions

21%

70%

Changes in productivity

28%

65%

Changes in government regulations

30%

61%

Changes in product demand

34%

58%

Agreements with unions

75%

9%

 

The number of companies that are being transparent on pay offers in job postings has more than doubled over the past year, according to a new report.

Flexible work options

The annual survey also found, not surprisingly, that more than half of employers boosted sick leave entitlements during their last two financial years.

 

Decreased

Stayed the same

Increased

Sick leave entitlements

0%

37%

56%

Employee choice over hours

2%

64%

26%

Employee choice over work location

1%

63%

23%

Annual/discretionary leave entitlements

0%

70%

22%

Training opportunities

4%

67%

21%

Employer-subsidised benefits

2%

68%

9%

Employer-provided benefits

1%

66%

9%

 

Auckland has placed fifth in Forbes' worldwide index on the best cities for work-life balance.