Letters

This week’s letters.

Succinct insight to overseas
recruits

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

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

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

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