Latest News

Hays wins in temp-to-perm fee legal dispute

10 Jul 2008
The Queensland District Court has ruled that a recruitment company's terms and conditions form part of its client contracts, in ordering an employer to pay a temp-to-perm fee to Hays. The case involved recruitment firm Hays, which supplied a temp to car dealership Motorline Pty Ltd. When Motorline hired the temp as a permanent employee it disputed its obligation to pay Hays a $6,500 temp-to-perm fee and Hays launched legal action. Source: Recruiter Daily

Job ads now in clear decline

7 Jul 2008
The Olivier Job Index fell by 3.58 per cent (seasonally adjusted) in June and is now trending down for the first time since September 2002. Job ads fell in 14 of the 16 sectors surveyed, with the biggest drop in transport (down 8.8%). In the past year, banking and financial services (down 9.3%) and IT&T (down 1.3%) have been hit the hardest. Bob Olivier says that while ads have dipped by 5.82 per cent in the past six months, the real question is whether this will flow through to a trend in the official unemployment rate. "That will be the real tipping point for confidence in the economy." "Winning" industries in the past year have been engineering (up 45.3%), trades and services (up 44.9%), building and construction (36.6%), education (29.4%) and healthcare (20.3%). Source: Recruiter Daily

Employers' hiring intentions decline: Hudson

4 Jul 2008
The latest Hudson Report: Employment Expectations shows the number of employers looking to increase their headcount in Q3 is down 2.9 percentage points on the previous quarter, to a net 40.8 per cent. The number of organisations intending to decrease their staff numbers increased slightly to a net 6.6 per cent (up 0.8pp). Western Australia remains the most confident state, and employers in the construction, property and engineering sector are the most optimistic. Source: Recruiter Daily

Pay teachers more, says science body

3 Jul 2008
An Australian science organisation has supported calls for higher pay for teachers. On 2 July 2008, Julie Campbell of the Australian Academy of Science said that paying teachers more could help to solve the problem of attracting science teachers. She said that Australia faces a shortage of scientists and engineers, and it will not be able to provide its own skilled workers. In May, the Business Council of Australia proposed a $A4 billion scheme to increase the salaries of teachers. Source: Australian Financial Review

Labor force firm fined $27,500 over incident

26 Jun 2008
A worker provided to Bestbar by Skilled Group incurred serious harm when he was crushed by an unguarded radius machine. The Fremantle Magistrates Court fined Skilled Group $A27,500 over the August 2005 incident. The court held that the on-hire firm permitted the employee go to a workplace without checking its safety. The company pleaded guilty to violating workplace safety rules. Bestbar was fined $A30,000 over the injury and has since fitted a guard to the machine. Source: Benchmarking HR

Forget about Venus, we share the same universe

24 Jun 2008
The approach to work by men and women is far more similar than people are lead to believe. Too much emphasis is placed on the different ways that people think. Many of the contemporary assumptions about what women want from a job and career have been countered by research from the Families & Work Institute and Catalyst. This research shows that women and men want challenging work and a supportive environment. They also want a balance between work and non-work life, decent pay, a chance for achievement and to work for a company with high values. Source: Australian Financial Review

Talent war rages despite lean times

20 Jun 2008
Employers are creatively enticing graduates for 2009, and recruiting the same amount as in previous years despite economic volatility. In the private sector, law firms such as Mallesons Stephens Jacques are keeping intakes at a steady level, resources companies are keeping up numbers as the boom continues, and investment banks are attempting to maintain a good image by keeping their graduate intake high. The skills shortage means that companies need to be "creative" in their recruitment campaigns, and offer greater incentives. Source: Australian Financial Review

Working women face "hourglass ceiling"

20 Jun 2008
Dr Lyndall Strazdins, of the Australian National University, says Australia's culture of long hours creates an "hourglass ceiling" for mothers. Strazdins notes that work hours in Australia are among the longest in the OECD. She says research indicates that mothers do not have as much time to devote to work as fathers do, and that their careers and wellbeing can suffer as a result. Strazdins cites data showing that families often devote 70-to-80 hours per week to work, up from roughly 45 hours 30 years ago. Source: Benchmarking HR

RCSA slams plan to axe jobs scheme

20 Jun 2008
The Department of Education, Employment & Workplace Services issued "The Future of Employment Services in Australia". In the report, the Department contends that altered labour market conditions and the need for fiscal responsibility make it desirable to terminate the Job Placement Licensed Organisations scheme. The report reveals that 645,000 placements were facilitated by the scheme in 2006-07. The Recruitment & Consulting Services Association is critical of plans to end the employment scheme. It will lodge a submission on the matter. Source: Benchmarking HR

Building salaries rising

19 Jun 2008
Building sector employee placement firm Hudson Property & Construction has issued new data on wages growth in the industry. The figures show that pay levels increased by as much as 15% in 2007-08 and that this trend is set to continue during the new financial year. Development directors can demand salaries of as much as $A350,000 per annum, and valuers are also highly sought after, as part of a general skilled labour supply crisis for the construction and real estate sector. Meanwhile the Australian Retailers Association says 11% of businesses in that industry are having to pay higher wages. Source: The Age

Skills shortage gives project managers salary power

19 Jun 2008
Employee placement group Hudson has issued its latest survey of salary levels in the IT sector. The figures indicate that an acute undersupply of qualified staff in certain areas means remuneration has risen significantly. Business analysts and project managers can command salaries that have increased by as much as 15% in 12 months. In New South Wales, project managers expect to be paid up to $A160,000 in base salary. CIOs get as much as $A400,000 per annum. Source: Australian Financial Review

Unis rue 'lost generation' of academics

19 Jun 2008
Australia will lose between a fifth and a third of its academic staff by 2018 through retirement. A parliamentary committee heard on 18 June 2008 that universities went on strong recruiting drives during the 1960s, 70s and early 80s, but even as student numbers rose in the 90s, fewer academic staff were hired. As a result, their workload increased by a third from 1996 to 2003. Arts, humanities, social sciences, science, technology and engineering were identified as key areas facing a shortage of "Generation X" professors. Source: Australian Financial Review

Your choice: the holiday leave or the money

17 Jun 2008
The Australian Government released its new national employment standards on 16 June 2008. Included in the 10 standards were the right to up to 12 months' unpaid parental leave and provisions to allow workers to cash out their annual leave in return for higher pay. Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia CEO, Tony Steven, said the new requirements represented an additional burden for small business, particularly with the ongoing skills shortage threatening to reduce productivity. Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Skills shortage won't go away

16 Jun 2008
The shortage of skilled labour is being acutely felt throughout the Australian economy. A number of issues are having an effect on the supply of skilled labour, including the low level of labour mobility and the nation's low fertility rate. The labour constraints have forced many companies to seek to hire staff from overseas, and there is likely to be a growing trend toward hiring unskilled or semi-skilled workers from overseas. Concerns that doing so will lead to lower wages are unfounded, and Australia's continued prosperity will require the nation to become more reliant on such guest workers. Source: Australian Financial Review

NSW feels the deepest cut as firms lay off staff

13 Jun 2008
Over 17,000 workers in New South Wales left or lost their jobs in May 2008, according to a Government report released on 12 June 2008. Analysts attributed the result to the state's dependence on industries that rely heavily on interest rates, such as the property, retail and finance sectors. ABN Amro chief economist, Kieran Davies, said the labour market appears to be in the grip of a downturn, making it likely that the unemployment rate in the state will rise to around five per cent in late 2008. Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Salaries rise despite economic slowdown

11 Jun 2008
Australian salaries have increased by 4.7 per cent in the 2007-08 financial year, according to a new survey. The National Salary Survey, of just over 720 large and small companies, was conducted by the Australian Institute of Management (AIM). The increase compares with 4.6 per cent in the previous financial year, with the greatest rises occurring in Western Australia (up 6.4 per cent) and Queensland (up 5.7 per cent). The AIM survey also found that voluntary staff turnover has risen from 12.6 per cent in the previous financial year to 13.3 per cent. Source: Money Management

Job ads down, newspapers see biggest drop in eight years

10 Jun 2008
The total number of jobs on the internet and in major newspapers fell 1.7% during May, according to the ANZ job advertisement series. In newspapers alone, job ads fell 13.5% - the biggest monthly decline in nearly eight years. Newspaper job ads are now 16% lower than they were this time last year. Online job ads remained largely flat, decreasing 0.7% during the month.

Hiring plans shelved

10 Jun 2008
According to the quarterly Manpower Employment Outlook survey, employers around the country have reduced their hiring expectations for the next three months, The survey, which queried over 2,700 employers about their hiring plans for the next three months, found that 27% planned to increase their staff numbers, 7% intended to reduce their numbers, and 62% expected no change.

Gender wage gap under review

10 Jun 2008
The Australian Government is considering establishing a new body to address the gender pay gap between men and women. The gap often results in women earning less than men in comparable roles. The department of Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has revealed consideration of a pay equity tribunal to a Senate estimates committee. Australian Bureau of Statistics data show that full-time female employees earned an average of $A1,004 a week in February 2008, compared with $A1,190 for men. Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Lawyer pay rising

10 Jun 2008
The salaries of Australian lawyers will continue to rise in 2008-09. A survey by Michael Page International has indicated that 60 per cent of salary increases will be over six per cent. Talent shortages mean that lateral hires will command wage rises of between seven per cent and 15 per cent. The survey shows that career advancement is the main reason for changing jobs, far ahead of salary. An increasing number of expatriate Australian lawyers are considering moving back to Australia. Source: Australian Financial Review

Woolies sets pace on maternity leave

10 Jun 2008
Australian retailer, Woolworths, will introduce paid maternity leave. Permanent staff will be eligible for eight weeks' paid maternity leave, while the length of unpaid parental leave will be doubled to two years. Rivals, Myer and Aldi, have already embraced the measure. Woolworths' move will increase pressure on other large retailers to offer the same benefits to their staff. Woolworths will be the nation's largest private sector employer offering paid maternity leave. Source: Australian Financial Review

HR skills shortage lifts salaries

10 Jun 2008
A shortage of human resources professionals has resulted in increased salaries for the profession. Grahame Doyle, of Hays Human Resources, says demand has been at record high levels in the last year. The growth of the underlying industry dictated demand. Businesses are implementing strategies to recruit and retain employees. Most salaries rose by between three per cent and six per cent over the past year. Source: Australian Financial Review

Most companies will keep Vista at bay

10 Jun 2008
Many companies in Australia plan to stick with Microsoft's Windows XP software for the time being. They do not plan to upgrade to Microsoft's Vista operating system over the coming year. A survey of IT executives found that a number of IT managers are comfortable with XP and do not want to change. A survey showed that the resistance to Vista is based on two things - it requires more powerful computer hardware and there is a perception that it lacks "wow" factor features. Some respondents indicated that they may skip Vista and wait until Microsoft releases its Windows 7 software. Source: Australian Financial Review

Bureaucrats upset by long hours spent on trivial issues

3 Jun 2008
Complaints by federal public servants about their workload have been downplayed by Institute of Public Administration Australia president, Andrew Podger. Podger, a former head of the Australian Public Service Commission, said large workloads are common during the first few years of a new federal government, but noted that some public servants could have genuine cause for complaint if they were being required to work long hours on trivial matters. Podger said that during his career public servants rose to significant demands made of them if they thought they were working on issues of significance. Source: Australian Financial Review

Living away from home has its benefits

28 May 2008
There is a need for the Australian Government and Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to clarify rules regarding the living away from home allowance. Employers pay the allowance to employees living away from home to work, to compensate for additional expenses such as accommodation and food. The allowance does not have to be included as part of the employee's accessible income, with companies required to pay fringe benefit tax on parts of the allowance that are not tax free. An employee's tax can be significantly reduced at no additional cost to the company provided the allowance is for reasonable expenses. PKF Australia tax partner, Mark Pollock, said the current ATO ruling on the allowance is obsolete and contradicts consequent case law. Source: Australian Financial Review

It's a long and winding road to reasonable hours

27 May 2008
The reduction of long working hours to retain and attract skilled professionals is not supported by the reality for most female workers. Research has shown that the long-hours culture persists in many occupations, particularly those of high socio-economic status. CEOs often pay lip-service to workplace flexibility and do not lead by example. Long working hours do not only limit the hours spent with family, but reduce the quality of that time. Anecdotal evidence shows that the intensification of work is increasing. Source: Australian Financial Review

Unions press Rudd over parental leave

27 May 2008
Labour unions are pushing the Australian Government to introduce leave arrangements similar to British reforms. UK law allows employers to reject requests for leave on reasonable business grounds, but also gives employees the right to appeal based on the process, rather than the content, of the decision. Australian unions are specifically calling for Australian workers with children aged up to 16 years to have the right to request flexible leave. They are also urging the Government to allow appeals if leave requests are rejected. Meanwhile, in late May 2008, the ACTU is stepping up its lobbying for the Australian Government's proposed national employment standards to guarantee paid maternity leave. Source: Australian Financial Review

Lack of on-hire safety training poses big risk

27 May 2008
WorkPro has announced the results of the "Workplace Pulse Quarterly Survey". Although 98 per cent of staff surveyed at recruitment agencies viewed workplace safety as a significant issue for office-based positions, employers were found to have a "hit and miss" approach to the safety induction of on-hired clerical staff. Some 52 per cent of respondents revealed that their employer did not assess the ergonomic safety of their workstation. WorkPro's Tania Evans notes that on-hire employers face a genuine risk of heavy penalties for injuries. Source: Benchmarking HR

Putting promotion before cash

27 May 2008
Over 6,000 staff from the UK, US, Europe and the Asia Pacific were surveyed by Robert Walters. Some 33 per cent of respondents cited lack of career progression as the primary reason they would consider looking for a new job. Just 18 per cent of Australian respondents said they would consider leaving their current position due to a disappointing pay package. This compares with 24 per cent in the UK. The MD of Robert Walters Australia, James Nicholson, says investing in career progression can make a great difference to staff satisfaction and retention. Source: Benchmarking HR

Industry, recruiters divided over 457 visa moves

27 May 2008
Plans to expand the 457 visa program have been announced by the Australian Government. The Immigration Minister, Senator Chris Evans, said the Government will adopt all but two of the 16 recommendations in the External Reference Group's final report. The Department of Immigration has been ordered to deal with a backlog of 6,000 visa applications by the end of 2007-08. The Recruitment & Consulting Association is disappointed that the Government retained the requirement for on-hire companies to enter into agreements prior to sponsoring visa holders. Source: Benchmarking HR

Be prepared for potential mature worker exodus

27 May 2008
The co-founder of consultancy act3, Craig Perrett, spoke at the Australian Institute of Company Directors' conference. Perrett urged employers to take a more flexible approach to mature workers and be alert to the prospect of mass retirement by older workers. He noted that most employers have no strategy to handle the fact in the next five years, 40 per cent of workers will reach retirement age. Perrett said that baby boomers are more loyal than younger staff, and many want to keep working. The Institute's president, John Story, spoke of the need to reduce the personal liability burden on directors. Source: Benchmarking HR

The worth of measuring employee happiness

27 May 2008
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has issued a report called "Managing people in a changing world". The report explores how employers can gauge levels of staff engagement. It covers areas including outsourcing, financial performance, talent management and diversity. Richard Phelps, a partner at PwC, says interest in evidence-based human capital (HC) metrics is growing as managers become more aware of the need to select the correct HC policies. Phelps says the metrics help businesses with their efforts to develop attractive employer brands. Source: Benchmarking HR

Recruiters find a shortage of skilled candidates

23 May 2008
Recruitment professionals in Australia are still having problems finding suitable candidates for positions. According to a survey by the Recruitment & Consulting Services Association (RCSA), 71% of recruitment firm owners are wary of a possible economic downturn, while 93% are still having difficulty attracting suitable candidates. RCSA CEO, Julie Mills, said the shortage of candidates is the result of long-term under-investment in skills and training, and will likely continue for some time. Source: Australian Financial Review

Happy bludgeday to you!

23 May 2008
Some firms in Australia give their employees "birthday leave". The lucky employee gets his or her birthday off, to enjoy the day in peace. One employer to do this is the law firm Sparke Helmore, which offers employees a half-day off to enjoy the day. The market research firm Colmar Brunton also gives its employees the day off on their birthday. Fone Zone, which is part of the listed Vita Group, has enshrined birthday leave in its certified agreement with employees. Some firms only give this leave to employees who have worked at their firm for 12 months or more. Source: Australian Financial Review

Hasta la vista, baby

23 May 2008
A survey undertaken by the Melbourne Business School indicates there is a great deal of discrimination against women who take maternity leave. The survey involved asking 44 women who had worked in the financial sector why they were no longer doing so. Many replied that they had been retrenched, with quite a number of these women stating their retrenchment had occurred after they had tried to return to work after having a baby. One respondent stated her career effectively ended after she stated she wanted to work part-time after her first baby. Many of the organisations criticised by the women were on the surface favourable to work-life balance, with some winning awards in this area. Source: BRW Magazine

Industry lauds skills spending

19 May 2008
Employer special interest groups have welcomed the measures on education contained in the May 2008 Australian Budget. The new Federal Government has set up a special $A11bn Education Investment Fund vehicle, and vowed to alleviate the skills shortage in the labour market with an increased focus on technical colleges and training of the unemployed. The TAFE Directors Australia lobby group said the initiatives would help the sector prepare a larger workforce for the economy to meet demand for skilled staff. The previous government's Australian Technical Colleges meanwhile are to be slowly phased out in favour of new trades training centres based in high schools. Source: Australian Financial Review

RCSA survey identifies hardest to find

16 May 2008
A recent RCSA survey has identified the hardest to find candidates in Australia - they are: Non-building professional engineers; Business professionals; Non-building engineering associates and technicians; Building professionals; Building associates and technicians; Non-building electrical/electronic trades; Health professionals; Electrical trades (building); Receptionists and telephonists; and IT and telecommunications professionals.

Doors open to newcomers to combat skills shortage

14 May 2008
The Australian Government will boost skilled migration numbers by 30% to 133,500. This is the highest level in over 50 years. Academic Bob Birrell has warned that there is no justification for the increase, given evidence that employers are shunning non-English speaking workers. Only 25% of 20-to-29-year-old foreign-born accountants are in employment despite a considerable shortage of professionals. Birrell also warns that a boost in immigration will put added pressure on housing and rental prices. Immigration Minister Chris Evans defended the move, stating that the program will maximise employer-sponsored migration. Source: The Melbourne Age

Tax officer wins payout for dismissal

14 May 2008
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) was found guilty of unlawful discrimination on 13 May 2008. According to evidence presented before the Federal Court, Launceston man Mark Gordon underwent a medical exam on 22 April as part of an employment contract with the ATO. Gordon was found to have dangerously high blood pressure as part of the exam and was subsequently removed from training and given a letter stating that his offer of employment had been withdrawn. Judge Peter Heerey fined the ATO more than $A120,000, saying the loss Gordon suffered should be reflected in compensation. Source: Australian Financial Review

Three's a crowd at Canberra

12 May 2008
A plan for three terms at University of Canberra has raised union concerns. The university has proposed a trimester model to cater to students wanting to accelerate their course and to international students. However, staff are concerned that the teaching year would be increased by 10 weeks. The National Tertiary Education Industry Union has called for further investigation and the presentation of an educational and business case to back the proposal. Source: Australian Financial Review

The best way to handle a downturn is to provide jobs

9 May 2008
The labour market in Australia is very tight in May 2008. The number of jobs created rose strongly in April, even though the official unemployment rate lifted slightly to 4.2%. Australia is thus close to statistical full employment and most people who want work can get it. This full employment means that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will be watching to see if it has to raise interest rates yet again, to cool demand. Economists agree that the RBA board will definitely increase rates again if new wage data, due later in May 2008, shows hefty rises. The Victorian Government recently raised the pay of teachers in state schools by 15%. This could prove to be the catalyst for many other groups seeking higher wages. If Australia's economy slows, the more people there are in jobs, the less pain will be felt. Source: The Melbourne Age

Pay gap shrinks as workers catch up

8 May 2008
Australia's labour market demand has driven up wages for low-skilled workers, closing the gap between the highest and lowest paid. According to an annual study by Hays Group, which researched 12 million international employees, Australian pay structures are among the most egalitarian across the world in 2008, with a ratio of 3.2. Developing countries maintain the highest levels of salary disparity between executives and labourers, due to a shortage of employees at management level. Norway had the smallest ratio with 2.3, while China reached 11.8 and Thailand rose to 10.7. Source: The Melbourne Age

Job training role for business

8 May 2008
A report says business should join employment services providers and compete for public funds for programs that locate work for the unemployed. The paper by Per Capita executive director, David Hetherington, said the Job Network does not fit with the current economic climate, where there is a shortage of labour and not jobs. The Job Network is currently under review, with Australian Employment Participation Minister, Brendan O'Connor, suggesting earlier in 2008 that business may become more directly involved in vocational education and training. Source: Australian Financial Review

Ties that don't bind help bring success

6 May 2008
New research suggests that workplaces are more innovative if employees are not grouped into friends, but are part of a wide network of acquaintances. Lynda Gratton, of the London Business School, suggests that tight groups can turn workplaces into "country clubs" where people have nothing new to say to each other. This is not the ideal environment for innovative thinking. Individuals are also more likely to succeed if they know hundreds of people merely by name, rather than the intimate details of few. Source: Australian Financial Review

Putting a HECS on life

6 May 2008
The concept of the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) could be applied to other areas of government grants and social security. The suggestion is based on a loan that is repaid only when the capacity to repay reaches specified limits. So a drought-affected farmer would receive a loan, instead of assistance, that can be repaid when economic times turn good. Elite athletes could repay part of their tuition from the Australian Institute of Sport. Maternity leave could be funded through such a scheme, and fine defaulters could repay when they can rather than the government writing off the fine as too difficult to collect. Income-contingent loans may be the way forward. Source: Australian Financial Review

Blackberry backlash building

6 May 2008
The benefits of BlackBerry technology are proven, but the negative side to the mobile communication device's usage is just as evident. Users are often distracted from the task at hand, tend to delegate less, spend too much energy and thought on email responses, and damage business and personal relationships by only being half-attentive. The Canadian Government, and various lobby groups, seek to ban the use of the devices overnight. The positive side to BlackBerry ownership however is increased productivity, free movement, and opportunities to create a greater work-life balance. Source: Australian Financial Review

Lack of career progression biggest quit motivator

6 May 2008
A major survey by Robert Walters has found that lack of career progression is the main reason why Australians quit a job. Some 33 per cent of workers said this would motivate them to quit, ahead of lack of recognition and appreciation from management (32%). Poor salary packages/benefits would cause 17 per cent of workers to leave a job, as would the wrong corporate values and culture. Only one per cent of workers said they would quit over a disappointing bonus. Source: Recruiter Daily

Youth 'cannot live without the internet'

5 May 2008
Research by Synovate has confirmed the popularity of the internet among teenagers and people in their 20s. The study, part of a survey of people aged between eight and 24 in 11 countries in the Asia Pacific region, also confirmed the ability of young people to take in different media simultaneously. They were able to fit in 38 hours of activity, including 11 hours of media, into a single day. The 3.4 hours a day spent on the internet was still below the 4.1 hours a day spent watching TV, but 60% said they had increased their internet usage in the past year and it was the medium to which they had the greatest attachment. Source: Australian Financial Review

Labour there for those who pay

30 Apr 2008
Labour supply is becoming an increasingly serious issue for Australian businesses and by extension the wider economy. As only those firms prepared to pay higher wages are able to attract suitably qualified staff, there will be a boost to inflation by the increased salaries. Experts forecast a drop in the growth of labour supply from 1.77% annually during 1998 to 2008 to 1.25% in the following decade. So far wage costs have risen only by a moderate 0.9% in the first quarter of 2008 and 3.5% for the year to that period, but there are indications this will accelerate. Source: Australian Financial Review

Skills policy defended after poor take-up

30 Apr 2008
The Australian Government has defended the implementation of its skills policy. During the 2007 election campaign, the Australian Labor Party promised to address the shortage of skilled workers. However, few training organisations are offering new courses and few students have begun training. Industry is disappointed at the lack of progress. On 29 April, the Education, Employment & Workplace Relations Minister, Julia Gillard, said the Government is working hard but it will take time to solve the problem. Source: Australian Financial Review

Integrity of 457 visa program under review

30 Apr 2008
The Australian Government has asked Barbara Deegan to undertake a review of the integrity of the "457" visa scheme. Deegan, who is currently the Industrial Relations Commissioner, will take leave for six months from her position to undertake her review. She is expected to present her findings to the Government by 1 October 2008. Deegan, who will be assisted by industry and union representatives, will examine a range of issues in connection with those who are granted the temporary migrant work visas, including their salary and other employment conditions, and the degree to which they are protected against possible exploitation. Source: Benchmarking HR

Worrying signs

30 Apr 2008
Stressed employees are exacting a growing toll on business. Data from the Australian Safety & Compensation Council shows a 100 per cent jump in the number of stress-related damages claims in the seven years to 2004. The average claim costs $A12,800. Charles Power, of Holding Redlich, notes that costs extend beyond compensation payments, and that stress tends to affect higher-paid workers. The problem contributes to "presenteeism", which Medibank Private estimates to have an economic cost of $A25.7 billion per year. Research by Gallup shows that problems with supervisors are the main cause of stress. Source: HR Monthly

Men recognise glass ceiling too, says workplace survey

29 Apr 2008
A survey has found that 46% of Australian men believe their company has a "boys' club mentality", and that women do not have the same opportunity for progress. Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency director, Anna McPhee, stated that more than 260,000 educated and experienced women are seeking more demanding work, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. McPhee highlights the potential boost to Australian economic productivity if businesses were to make simple changes in the workplace environment to encourage equal opportunity. Source: The Age

Labor under pressure over training places

29 Apr 2008
The Australian Government has failed to attract organisations capable of training workers in areas of critical shortage such as construction and mining. The Australian Labor Party promised to create 450,000 training places over four years before the federal election and committed itself to accelerating creation of 20,000 of these places in January 2008, but only 40 people have been enrolled to date. The Australian Mines & Metals Association expressed concern about the lack of mining courses. Australian Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Minister, Julia Gillard, noted the program is still in its early stages. Australian Treasurer, Wayne Swan, has said capacity constraints associated with the undersupply of skilled labour are inflating prices.

Paid maternity leave 'urgent'

23 Apr 2008
New Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick says paid maternity leave must be introduced as a matter of great urgency. She argues that wide-ranging consultation she engaged in prior to taking up her five-year appointment has shown her that the issue ranks very highly among the nation's female workforce. While there are a range of support and welfare payments available to working mothers in Australia, the nation stands alone with the US among industrialised countries in not having a paid leave scheme. The international standard is 14 weeks, which is supported by the ACTU union umbrella group as well as the Council of Small Business. Source: Australian Financial Review

Pick up signals and keep staff

22 Apr 2008
Research by Hudson has found that 56 per cent of Australasian employees are actively or passively considering a new job at any one time. In many cases, the departure of an employee may come as a surprise to the employer. However, Tom Pietkiewicz of ResolutionsRTK says employee absenteeism or lateness may be indicators that a staff member has lost interest in the workplace and may be considering resignation. According to Pietkiewicz, it is often the top performers in a company who are the ones to depart, especially if they feel they are not being provided with the opportunity to develop. Lack of career opportunity, boredom, isolation, being taken for granted and "rule-driven behaviour" have been listed as factors that may prompt high performers to seek alternative employment. Source: Australian Financial Review

Australians still high on job confidence

21 Apr 2008
Over 1,800 job seekers in a range of countries took part in a survey by Robert Walters. The recruitment consultancy found that Australians were very confident, with 78 per cent of respondents sure they would find a new position within two months. By contrast, just 43 per cent of US job seekers thought they would succeed in two months. There have been ongoing increases in the confidence of Australian job applicants since March 2007. The MD of Robert Walters Australia, James Nicholson, says employees have the upper hand due to the skills shortage. Source: Benchmarking HR

Focus on trades criticised

16 Apr 2008
A Monash University study has found that demand for managers and professionals has significantly exceeded demand for tradespeople over the last 10 years. The study's authors said it is a misconception that there is the most critical shortage in trades, with a worsening undersupply of professionals. The study found that 46% of the 1.47 million jobs created between 1996 and 2006 were at the professional or associate professional level, while there was only 7% growth in trades. There has been a federal focus on vocational education, while university enrolments in disciplines such as engineering and IT have stagnated or declined. Source: Australian Financial Review

Recruiters on the job despite share dive

16 Apr 2008
Recruitment companies appear unlikely to feel the full force of the slowing Australian economy, with new figures showing employers are continuing to hire. Data released in February 2008 showed an unemployment rate of just four per cent, while there was year-on-year jobs growth of 2.9 per cent. Shares in a number of recruitment companies have fallen by up to 50 per cent as a result of recent turmoil, with Clarius Group, Ross Human Directions and Peoplebank Australia the worst affected. Source: Australian Financial Review

Battle lines drawn over right to view office email

15 Apr 2008
Allowing employers to access employee emails could help prevent terrorism, according to Australia's Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard. Speaking on 14 April 2008, Gillard said the proposal would not pose a threat to privacy and could be used to protect large institutions such as banks from online terrorist attacks. Electronic Frontiers Australia chair, Dale Clapperton, said employers could potentially abuse such a system, resulting in "eavesdropping and corporate witch-hunts". Source: Australian Financial Review

Combet targets skills crisis

15 Apr 2008
Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement, Greg Combet, wants competing companies to provide joint training. The radical plan, revealed on 14 April 2008, is intended to help solve a skilled labour shortage in the sector. Combet acknowledged that red tape is a barrier for organisations trying to access current government-funded training resources. A report by the Australian Industry Group has forecast a shortage of 12,000 engineers and tradespeople by 2018. Source: Australian Financial Review

Short-term visas under fresh scrutiny

14 Apr 2008
Following a review to streamline visa processing times, the Australian Government has announced plans to address concerns of foreign temporary worker welfare. The Immigration and Citizenship Minister, Chris Evans, has appointed a commissioner to review aspects of employment conditions, exploitation, salary levels, language requirements and health, safety and training. Industry and trade unions have welcomed the initiative, stating that they have been waiting some time for an inquiry into temporary workers' employment conditions. Source: Australian Financial review

Aldi sets maternity leave benchmark

14 Apr 2008
A number of Australian retailers offer paid maternity leave to female employees. The German-based Aldi supermarket group has a large number of stores in Australia and it has introduced a 14-week maternity leave program for its staff, paid at 50% of average wages. Earlier, the Australian department store chain, Myer, introduced six weeks' paid maternity leave for its permanent workforce. Michael Kloeters, of Aldi, said that the maternity leave will help Aldi to retain its best workers. Other retailers in Australia which offer maternity leave include Ikea, Beacon Lighting, Noni B and Yum. The Shop Assistants' Union has welcomed the move by Aldi. Aldi is also known to pay its employees higher wages than Coles and Woolworths. Source: Inside Retailing

Support for paid maternity leave grows

9 Apr 2008
Unions, business leaders and Australia's Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission have called for the introduction of a paid maternity leave scheme. Speaking on 8 April 2008, Small Business of Australia spokesperson, Tony Steven, said his organisation is in favour of a 14-week paid maternity leave period. Australian Industry Group CEO, Heather Ridout, said such a scheme would provide benefits for women, children, society and the workplace. Source: Financial Review

Top trio press for baby leave

8 Apr 2008
Three prominent women have urged the Australian Government to introduce paid maternity leave. A government-funded scheme has been supported by Elizabeth Broderick, the Sex Discrimination Commissioner; Sharan Burrow, president of the ACTU; and Heather Ridout, the CEO of the Australian Industry Group. They said that a scheme would address inequality. On 7 April 2008, the Productivity Commission released a discussion paper on the issues that it will cover in its investigation into paid parental leave. Source: The Age

Part-timers fail at work, home

8 Apr 2008
A new report claims that part-time work is failing to provide benefits in terms of both career development and family life. The report is based on a survey by Beaton consulting of 12,000 white-collar workers. It found that many part-time professionals are facing career dead-ends, reduced income and inadequate family time. The survey suggests that a number of part-time workers feel obliged to work as hard as their full-time counterparts, with fewer rewards. Women professionals who had opted for part-time work as a means of achieving a work-life balance are thought to be among the hardest hit. Source: The Australian

Push for 48 hour cap on work week

8 Apr 2008
Australians work the longest week in the developed world, raising concerns for employee safety and productivity. Government intervention has been called for, with a push to limit legal working hours to 48 per week, with the exemption of professionals and other high-income earners. Business groups are calling for measurements for working hours to be stretched over longer periods, even up to a year, in response to the proposal. Source: Australian Financial Review

Going Concerns

8 Apr 2008
Human resources (HR) staff at some companies may not be making their CEOs sufficiently aware of the problems caused by increased staff turnover. The most recent survey by the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) found that the staff turnover rate across all organisations is at 18.5 per cent. Staff turnover in Australia is reckoned to have increased by over five per cent recently, increasing employer costs by around $A20 billion. John Asquith, the MD of TalentDrain, says companies need to spend more of their HR budgets on staff retention. Source: HR Monthly

Defence cuts put squeeze on business

8 Apr 2008
Australia's defence procurement chief has enlisted major defence contractors in a bid to save $200 million next financial year on operating and servicing defence equipment as part of a broader cost-cutting drive by the Rudd government...

Read the Australian Financial Review article...

Job ads flatten in March

8 Apr 2008
The number of ads posted on job boards flattened in March, according to the Olivier Job Index, while the ANZ reports print ads are at their lowest level in almost 15 years. Olivier's research shows that employers are now preferring to offer temporary, rather than permanent jobs, "indicating their uncertainty" about the current economic situation.

Firm's ardour for accountants abated

7 Apr 2008
Difficult global economic conditions are having little effect on the demand for accountants in Australia. Human resource experts say that employer confidence may be declining but large firms have healthy graduate programs. Deloitte Australia is planning to hire 600 graduates in 2009, while KPMG is keeping its level at 500. Companies are looking for accountants who are commercially oriented and have strong interpersonal skills, as well as those in "nuts-and-bolts" roles who can assist in ensuring compliance. The increased demand is drawing recruits from Britain and South Africa. Source: Financial Review

Raw Recruits

7 Apr 2008
Recruitment firms have been among the worst performers on the Australian stock market over the last year. Their problems began even before the overall market went into decline, leaving analysts to wonder what may happen to their share prices if the jobs market softens in 2009, as some are predicting. Investors who are willing to take a bit of risk and who have a long-time view may want to consider Ambition Group, as it has recently expanded its presence in the UK via the purchase of Witan Jardine, which helps to find temporary jobs in the UK for Australians. Source: BRW

ASG sees big void to fill in Canberra

7 Apr 2008
Perth-based information technology services group ASG is eyeing Canberra as potentially its biggest growth market, aiming for a large slice of up to $200 million in government work over the next four years, spurred on by turmoil at key rival Commander Communications.

Read article in the Financial Review...

The professional grass is greener at home

4 Apr 2008
The skills shortage may make professional development more attractive in Australia, according to the 2008 Robert Walters Global Salary Survey. The survey, which was released on 3 April 2008, suggests white-collar workers are likely to enjoy salary increases of up to 15 per cent in 2008, as upward pressure on salaries in the US and the UK begins to dwindle. Mercer's principal of human capital, David Abusah, says demand for Australian commodities and a strong local economy had made local professional development more attractive. Source: Financial Review

Canberra company Tower Software sells to HP

2 Apr 2008
Information technology industry stalwart Brand Hoff is to cash out of Tower Software Engineering, the company he founded 23 years ago, after Hewlett-Packard agreed to acquire the business for $109 million...

Read more here...

Government to fix Migrant Visas

2 Apr 2008
The Australian Government has promised to resolve problems with its skilled migrant visas. The 457 visa scheme tightened restrictions on recruitment and on-hire labour firms in October 2007. The Recruitment & Consulting Services Association says the changes are not practical and that the entry of an estimated 3,000 skilled workers has been threatened. The Immigration Minister, Chris Evans, says discussions will be organised between the association and the relevant government departments. Source: Financial Review

Trainee rollout begins

2 Apr 2008
Contracts are being sent out to more than 300 registered training organisations. The Australian Government has enlisted these organisations to provide training to ease the nation's skilled labour crisis. An estimated 20,000 extra training places are being fast-tracked under the Productivity Places program. However, Workplace Relations Minister, Julia Gillard, has declined to comment on when the Government expects to have the 20,000 extra people in training. Source: Financial Review

Pension here to stay

2 Apr 2008
Australia's Minister for Superannuation, Nick Sherry, has reassured the public. He said that the Australian Government will continue to pay the old age pension to people aged 65 and over, well into the foreseeable future. Sherry noted that super is an adjunct to the aged pension, not an "instead" for it. Thus, Australians who retire without enough super to live on will be able to get the old age pension, to top up their super. Sherry noted that the Government will live up to its election pledge and will deliver tax cuts for all in 2008. Source: Financial Review

Graduates the winners in hiring war

1 Apr 2008
Employers are scrambling to secure a share of the dwindling number of information technology graduates produced by universities and the public and private sectors come to grips with a shortage of experienced and new workers.

Read more in the Financial Review...

Unions divided on length of baby leave

31 Mar 2008
Australian unions have different views on the length of paid maternity leave. The ACTU supports a period of 14 weeks' leave as the first step. On 30 March 2008, the Community & Public Sector Union said that the international standard is 26 weeks' paid leave. The Australian Government will introduce the measure in early 2009. In late March, retailer Myer announced that male and female staff would have access to six weeks' paid parental leave. Source: Melbourne Age

Job Vacancies up

30 Mar 2008
According to the ABS's latest Job Vacancies report, vacancies have risen 10.4 per cent over the 12 months to February 2007.

Private sector job vacancies have risen by 9.9 per cent, while public sector vacancies have risen by 14.4 per cent.

Total job vacancies in February 2008 were 180,300, up 1.3 per cent (in trend terms) from November 2007.

AWAs 'dead and buried'

26 Mar 2008
With the passage of the federal Government's transitional industrial relations legislation, AWAs are all but "dead and buried".

The Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward With Fairness) Bill 2008 has passed both houses of federal Parliament, with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd saying the Government is declaring Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) "dead and buried" and that the passage of the legislation is the first step in bringing to an end the "shameful" WorkChoices chapter in Australia's workplace relations history.

Blog to build your talent pool

18 Mar 2008
Corporate recruitment blogs can help build your talent pools as well as paint a real picture of your company culture and what it's like to work there, according to Microsoft's recruitment manager.

Heather Hamilton was one of the first recruitment professionals in the US to use blogging as a means of creating talent pools. She says Microsoft's recruitment blog began as a tool for collecting resumes, "but we soon found that creating a platform for two-way communication with prospective candidates allowed us to be aware of any myths about the company, paint a real picture of what it's like to work at Microsoft, and give people the tools to tailor their resumes, thereby increasing [our] recruitment success rates".

Source: Recruiter Daily