Special Features writer Erin Boyle wraps up recruitment for 2009 and reveals some good news for employees this year.

After bunkering down to avoid redundancy, many employees are relieved 2009 is over. Now, this year, the tables may turn

with companies being warned not to take their staff for granted while considering what new employees can bring to companies looking to rebuild.

Howard Ross, general manager of Momentum Consulting Group — whose core business is about providing human resource consultancy services to public and private sector clients and candidates — says 2009 can best be summarised into three categories.

“For the first quarter, businesses were doing nothing and the world really felt like it was caving in. Then around April-May, businesses were still cautious, but were willing to replace critical roles. And then spring happened, what a relief! From the end of September, clients have been interested in engaging and have been requiring people on a contract and permanent basis.”

Last year Christien Winter, director of Sheffield Auckland which provides services in search, selection and organisational development, saw many businesses contracting and refocusing on what could keep the dollar coming in.

“It was a year of contraction. Hiring was cautious and tightly controlled. Businesses have also had to intensify their focus on their key performance drivers, or to put it another way, what really drives their revenues.”

David Hollander, director of Powerhouse People – which specialises in the recruitment and contracting of executives and professionals for private, public and not-for-profit organisations — noticed a change not just in businesses, but in how employees’ attitudes were altered because of the worldwide recession.

“Most business owners have probably been through this before unlike employees, who in many cases have experienced recession for the first time. So staff were bunkering down in an attempt to not be noticed, therefore their roles would be safe.”

Although no one can predict the exact outcome of the year ahead, Hollander sees the glass as half full.

“There will certainly continue to be more change over the

next 12 months but I suspect the number of redundancies will ease off. I like to think we are moving off the bottom and that things should improve over the coming year.”

Winter shares that enthusiasm and believes businesses will be looking to hire people who will increase productivity and efficiency.

“Companies need to be careful not to take their employees for granted, or when the

economy picks up these workers will take their skills, knowledge and

experience elsewhere.”– Mike Stenhouse, director of Sheffield Christchurch.

“Sheffield,s experience of the downturn in the 1990s was

that, as businesses climbed out of a slump, many organisations needed to drive stronger sales performance. We predict there will be demand for top notch sales and marketing managers who can energise and realise the potential of their teams to maximise effort in their market.”

It’s not just about hiring the right people though as Mike Stenhouse, director of Sheffield Christchurch, says businesses need to be wary about losing the employees they have.

“Companies need to be careful not to take their employees for granted, or when the economy picks up these workers will take their skills, knowledge and experience elsewhere. International research consistently shows development opportunities are a key factor in employee attraction and retention.”

So with the new year under way, it’s all about taking stock of 2009 but ensuring its memory doesn’t stop businesses from growing through hiring more staff. As Ross says, staff resources have been stretched to the maximum.

“With economic growth this year, businesses will definitely need more staff to cope. People have been very grateful to have a job but we see those attitudes changing and employees that haven’t been looked after or engaged with properly are definitely on the lookout.”

www.sheffield.co.nz • www.momentum.co.nzwww.powerhousepeople.co.nz

2009 done and dusted ... Let’s move on

Director of Sheffield Auckland

Christien Winter

Powerhouse People Director

David Hollander

Momentum General Manager

Howard Ross

Director of Sheffield ChristchurchMike Stenhouse

(Advertising Feature)

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