Succinct insight to overseas recruits
l The news story ‘Lack of top execs forces firms to search overseas’ (News, 2 April) provided a succinct insight into the trend towards overseas recruitment.
Recent research among HR professionals, commissioned by Propeller in conjunction with the CIPD, supports the results of TMP Worldwide’s study, which was covered in the news story.
Our survey shows that, in the wake of 11 September, confidence within the global business community is returning. The HR professionals surveyed confirmed the need to recruit from overseas, because of the continued demand for top executives and a shortfall in suitable candidates in the UK.
Our research also reveals that some international assignments are being replaced with shorter, more frequent business trips, e-mails and videoconferencing. However, the general consensus was that the need for companies to move staff across borders will increase, but with a greater emphasis on safety for expatriate staff.
David Kneeshaw
Chief executive
Propeller
Harassment is a criminal offence
l I’m sure I am not the only person to spot a contradiction in 23 April issue of Personnel Today.
On the back page and in Paul Nelson’s article on page 9 (Analysis, 23 April), the CIPD’s Diane Sinclair is quoted as saying: “Harassment is not a criminal offence, so if an employer receives an harassment complaint they are unable to covertly monitor for it.”
If you then take the time to read page 13 of the same issue (Legal, 23 April), it references the criminal offence of harassment as covered by the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. This actually makes it a criminal offence.
Ian Green
Training controller
Surprise at Asda bingo recruits
l I was really surprised to read ‘Asda scours bingo halls for staff’ (News, 23 April).
The news story claims that by seeking older employees Asda can reduce employee turnover.
But in Asda’s successful bid to become the best company to work for in The Sunday Times, it quotes its annual employee turn-over as 2 per cent – an increase on last year from 1 per cent.
Why waste time on employee recruitment when your company has the best employee retention possible in the world of retail outlets? Could it be that its best companies to work for submission was flawed?
Bear in mind that a 2 per cent turnover equates to 2,400 leavers per year from its 120,000-employee population – a remarkable figure.
Tony Howell
CIPD elective student
Swindon College
E-mail policies must be reviewed
l The Information Commissioner’s code of practice banning the blanket monitoring of e-mails should be seen as an indication for companies to review their e-mail policies.
Everyone should be concerned about e-mail communication where security is compromised, where a PR disaster is in the making or where costs are running out of control.
It is easy enough for companies to include e-mail audits as part of regular security health checks. They are not a tool for spying on employees, but a way to implement an effective e-mail policy, or if a policy already exists, to check that it works.
Jocelyn Honeybunn
Business development director
Failsafe
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