Conditions highlight need for better employers

Monday 27th March 2006

Tougher economic conditions highlight need for better employers

Employers are going to need to step up a gear if they are going to operate successfully in tougher economic conditions according to Sustainable Business Network regional manager Calum Revfem.

The Sustainable Business Network (SBN) has identified three critical employment areas affecting business sustainability and productivity in the Bay of Plenty. The SBN says that employers are not actively seeking new knowledge - they need to get out and find out what they don't know. Then we can do something about it.

Some employers in the Bay are finding many aspects of employing staff difficult. We need to get better at finding out what skills we don't have in our work force and how we can go about getting them.

Management skills of employers are impacting on their ability to attract and retain great staff. Often the skills of employees exceeds those of their managers, so it is no surprise that we are having difficulty retaining top people. Business owners, employers and managers have seen some strong signals that it is time to address these issues.

"As economic conditions get tough good employers are able to retain great staff and lift productivity - we need more good employers" asserts Mr Revfem.

The Sustainable Business Network is working alongside other business agencies including the Department of Labour, Priority One and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise to lift in employer skills and productivity in the Bay.

Karen Bisset of HR consulting, a Tauranga based recruitment firm, says that hard evidence is emerging that employer skills and practices are affecting business sustainability and productivity in the Bay. "Tougher economic conditions will impact more heavily on employers choosing not to up-skill and manage staff more effectively".

The Sustainable Business Network are running a three workshop series entitled PEP Talk - People, Employment and Productivity. The workshops include local business presenters sharing key lessons learned that have enhanced people and productivity. For more information visit the SBN website www.sustainable.org.nz/bayofplenty

ENDS.

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