AUGUST 2010 - Cameron Recruitment Newsletter

Welcome

We are days away from the national election and instability in the employment market has become high again. Though we do predict things will settle after the election no matter who wins.

The National Australia Bank's quarterly survey has revealed that business confidence has fallen sharply and that unemployment has started to rise as a result.

Pundits warn that the industrial relations legislation is a smoking gun for both parties - so whoever wins, the issues of the employment sector will remain paramount. NAB's monthly business survey showed business confidence fell for the fifth consecutive month, with confidence particularly hard hit in the manufacturing, retail and construction sectors. While the Dun & Bradstreet business expectations survey reported similarly mixed trading conditions. 28% of firms increased sales in the June quarter, 24% saw sales fall; while 14% hired, 10% reduced staff; and while 19% of firms saw profits increase, 18% experienced a drop in profit.

The NAB survey also showed a rebound in the strength of mining sector confidence following the Government's mining tax deal.

Whatever the outcome of the election, we need to brace for swift changes ahead. Vote wise - as far as employment is concerned every vote will count.

Yours Sincerely, Diane Humphries Director

Best wishes for 2010,
Diane Humphries, CPA
Director | Cameron Recruitment

Did someone say there was an election on?

Employment issues have emerged as a cornerstone in the 2010 election. As decision day looms here is a snapshot of what is on the table.

The Incumbent:

Modern awards

The new national Modern Awards remain the centrepiece of Gillard's Fair Work industrial relations regime. Some employers are still unhappy with the awards regime - particularly those in big employing sectors such as retail. Workplace Relations Minister Simon Crean said Labor would not release a new industrial relations policy before the election. "We have a workplace relations policy; it is called the Fair Work Act," he said.

Apprentice Incentive

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has focused on skills and training promising to increase cash incentive payments to apprentices by $1,700 to $5,500. The $334 million promise is aimed to encourage an extra 55,000 apprentices to take up a trade.

The Challenger:

Older workforce incentives

The Coalition has promised to provide cash incentives to employers who hire workers aged 50 years + in a policy designed to increase workforce participation for older Australians and help reduce Australia's emerging skills shortage.Under the Coalition's Seniors Employment Incentive Payment employers would receive $3250 if they hire an unemployed person over 50 years of age.The money would be paid as a lump sum after the worker has been in six months of continuous employment, although it is unclear whether the worker can be hired on a full-time or part-time basis.

Paid parental leave

The coalition has unveiled controversial plans to introduce a paid parental leave scheme funded by a 1.5% levy on businesses with over $5 million in profit.

WorkChoices

The on again, off again approach to WorkChoices by the Coalition has been seized as a political weapon by the Labor government. On day one of the campaign, Abbott declared: "WorkChoices is dead, buried and cremated," although not much detail has been revealed regarding the detail of their alternative policy.

Finding work utopia

The annual search for Australia's best places to work has discovered that the geek has inherited the earth, or at least attracted the "coolest" offices to work in.

The research reveals that three of the top five companies in BRW's Top 50 Best Places to Work list are technology-related.

Taking top spot is NetApp, an IT company specialising in storage services, while OBS, a Melbourne-based Microsoft technology partner came in third while Google came in fourth, dropping from the top ranking last year.

Second spot was taken by Sydney based Guinness maker Diageo and an education and training company based in Brisbane, Sentis came in at number 5.

The list was compiled based on research by the Great Place to Work Institute Australia, which surveyed more than 16,000 employees from 160 companies.

Job contentment and satisfaction in these top ranking companies came from excellent health programs and training opportunities with flexible working hours.

NetApp employees enjoy Nintendo Wii and Microsoft Xbox game consoles in the office, while others are treated to Friday massages and barista training.

The secrets to NetApp's attraction is that it has a strong focus on work-life balance and tries to encourage a healthy lifestyle by subsidising gym memberships. Employees can undertake around 80 hours of training per annum and up to $US5000 is allocated for tertiary education. While charity work features in NetApp's culture with staff given an extra five days of paid leave each year for community service.

The company also offers a generous stock option plan coupled with paid maternity (four weeks) and paternity leave (two days) in addition to a generous employee referral program, paying $US2500 ($2867) for each successful candidate.

For the full list go to http://www.greatplacetowork.com.au/best/list-au.htm

Why asking R U OK? is more than just polite

Thursday October 7, 2010 is dedicated to reducing stress and depression in the workplace by encouraging work colleagues to connect and support each other.

Branded "R U OK? Day" the initiative is aimed at helping reduce Australia's alarmingly high suicide rate. The Cameron Recruitment Hills District HR Discussion Group recently hosted a breakfast session featuring author Graeme Cowan.

Mr Cowan revealed that depression and workplace related stress is contributing to $4.3 billion in lost productivity each year.

The staggering and confronting statistic is a modest estimate, claims Mr Cowan, who describes the repercussions of unaddressed depression in the workplace as the "pink elephant sitting next to you that nobody wants to acknowledge."

Mr Cowan notes that organisations are often reticent to take depression and associated disorders seriously until the social and financial costs are clearly felt.

"The problem with tackling this crippling and increasingly common affliction, is that sufferers feel a significant amount of stigma attached to the condition and rarely speak out," he says.

Mr Cowan is a supporter and organiser of RUOK Day (www.ruokarvo.com.au) a national initiative which encourages businesses to reach out to someone that may be in trouble, in the hope that not only will it save a life but also open up communication in the workplace.

As a former sufferer himself, Mr Cowan says that the most positive impact on helping others is when political, business or cultural leaders talk about their own experiences with depression publicly.

In the workplace Mr Cowan, urges employees and managers who notice that a colleague may be troubled to get over their fear of not knowing what to say and avoiding the issue.

"It is crucial that if you notice a workmate in distress you take action sooner rather than later. Your first step is to put yourself in the other person shoes."

Mr Cowan's tips on helping a colleague in distress.

Break the ice - get some privacy, use relaxed body language and start a conversation.
Listen without judgement. Ask the question as an observation rather than an accusation. Get them to talk and find out the issues behind the problem.
Encourage them to take action . Guide them to take action and suggest professional help, a GP or the Black Dog Institute for discrete support.

Seeking Speakers

Join the team from Cameron Recruitment for a special networking session with Leighton Contractors Group Manager, HR Operational Services Julie Hidas.

Julie will share the HR secrets from Australia's fastest growing construction group. Tasked with looking after the HR needs of a 10,000 strong team, Julie has been responsible for crafting and implementing an extensive leadership programme for Leightons, which has been critical to their success.

She will share her experience at Leightons and reveal how their focus on teamwork and the development of their leadership programme has made it an industry leader in project delivery.

We look forward to seeing you at the breakfast on Thursday August 26.

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