Mergers and acquisitions and business restructures are the biggest
challenges facing the country’s top HR professionals.
These, closely followed by the need to recruit and develop skilled staff,
were the key concerns flagged up by delegates due to attend the Human Resources
Forum for HR directors on the cruise ship Oriana on Thursday.
The survey, which covered 314 of the 440 delegates, reveals that many are
introducing strategies to attract and retain key talent.
Almost 68 per cent are investing in technology to allow staff to work
remotely. Almost half provide stock options for their staff.
Seven out of 10 are increasing contact between staff and leadership, and 68
per cent are increasing support for team working.
But knowledge management remains a mystery to most. Just three in 10 have a
knowledge management policy in place and only one in 20 measures intellectual
capital.
More than six out of 10 have outsourced part of their HR activity, with 55
per cent expecting outsourcing to increase by the end of the year.
Respondents showed a high degree of confidence in dealing with changes in employment
legislation, with 88 per cent saying they were equipped.
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Delegates at the HR Forum hold the most senior HR positions within their
companies and command an average budget of £2.6m. They are responsible for at
least 500 staff.
