Improving productivity is top priority for employers in 2008

Employers are focusing on getting their staff to work harder in 2008, the findings of two surveys have revealed.

A study of 2,033 employers, by recruitment firm Manpower, found that increasing workforce productivity was the top human rresources (HR) priority for this year.

Getting the most from staff has moved up the HR agenda from fourth place in 2007 to number one.

It replaces staff retention  which dropped to second place, with absence management, succession planning and wage inflation also considered HR priorities in 2008.

Mark Cahill, managing director of Manpower UK, said: “Improving labour force productivity and maximising efficiency is currently top of the company health-check agenda.”

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

Email(Required)

OptOut

From time to time, we will send you emails about selected products, events and services from Personnel Today and OHW+ - but you can choose to opt-out at any time. If you do not wish to receive these emails, please tick this box.

Phone

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Δ

A survey of 136 HR directors, by outsourcing provider Northgate HR, revealed employee productivity was the top HR concern for 75% of respondents.

Workforce morale and reward and recognition strategies were also rated as important.