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Another good comment on HR strategies within the highlighted section of this article:
Views on HR strategies
Source: HKET (A30)
The Managing Director of an international executive search firm shared her views and HR strategies. She believes a successful CEO has to be the role model of the company and the essential personal qualities included 5H:
HK Employees dissatisfied ....
Written by Mike Rawbone, Human Resource ConsultantAnother great clipping today……………
HK employees are dissatisfied at work despite positive on pay, survey finds
Source: SCMP (Directory P1, Aug 2)
HK employees are dissatisfied and uninspired at work, but positive on pay, recognition and management, according to a survey conducted by a global organisation covering approximately 1.4 million workforces around the world. The survey revealed that HK’s workforce was upbeat on pay with 54% agreeing that their wages were fair, almost on par with top scorers. Responses to questions relating to work and stress received responses from HK employees were far more negative than other nations like UK, US and Australia; for example, 55% HK respondents said that they liked the work they had as opposed to 84% respondents in UK, 83% in USA and 78% in Australia. HK also had the lowest positive responses regarding: personal accomplishment (56% positive), intention to stay (56% positive) and satisfaction with the company (58% positive). The HR consultants said the survey results revealed HK workforce is constantly on the move.
So then, why do employees keep moving in HK?? In no particular order, I venture the following thoughts:
Expats - HK v Singapore
Written by Mike Rawbone, Human Resource ConsultantThe South China Morning Post carries an interesting article today:
More expats interest in moving to Singapore, survey finds
Source: SCMP (CP.26, Jul 30)
There is a marked increase in the number of executives showing interest to relocate from Hong Kong to Singapore, according to a survey by a recruitment firm in the first half of the year. 24% of the respondents said they would consider moving to Singapore for their next position, 118% higher than that for the same period in 2010. The factors contributing to the change largely are rising living costs, limited education options for children and a rapidly diminishing quality of life in Hong Kong. The surging rental rates are also partly blame for the expats shift. For hiring managers looking to attract and retain expats, the recruitment firm advised them to focus more on leadership training, employee development and work-life balance initiative.
Wow, are we in danger of waking up at last? How long are we to put up with long working hours, very poor levels of holiday entitlement (it is reported we are the worlds 4th worst in this latter respect) and inadequate schooling provisions for expats?
Another great (albeit brief) article on the IHRM web site today…………
Quote:
Expectation gap between employers and young employees, survey finds
Source: HKET (A15)/ HKEJ (P.14)/ Ming Pao Daily (A14)/ Apple Daily (A17)
Significant expectation gap between employers and young employees on work performance was found, according to a survey by the HK Federation of Youth Groups, which covers 683 young employees aged 15-24 and employers from 43 organisations. The respondents gave their ratings in 18 categories under five major aspects: capability, work attitude, work performance, interpersonal skills and language ability. Some major ratings showing great discrepancies are (with 5 being the highest mark):
Staff Vacancies in Hong Kong
Written by Mike Rawbone, Human Resource ConsultantAn interesting set of statistics has appeared on the Hong Kong IHRM web site today and is reproduced below:
“Continuous hike in job vacancies
Source: HKET (A33)
“According to the Census and Statistics Department, the total employment in the private sectors surveyed increased by 3% in Mar 2011 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 57,190, representing an increase of 11,230 over last year. The highest increase in vacancies was recorded in construction (217%), followed by manufacturing (53%) and transportation, storage, postal and courier services (52%).
Hong Kong Works Hours
Written by Mike Rawbone, Human Resource ConsultantAnother excellent report from the IHRM in HK.
“Government kicks off study on standard working hours”
Source: Apple Daily (A10)
LegCo members invited the government to implement standard work hours and set up a working group to study the legislative arrangements. Matthew Cheung, Secretary for Welfare and Labour Bureau, said the government had started policy research on standard work hours and targeted for completion by mid-2012.
Hong Kong Government Pay Award
Written by Mike Rawbone, Human Resource ConsultantFor those of you who may have missed what I regard as the very excellent article in the South China Morning Post (Back page - Sunday 19th June), I would recommend you read it!
“Jakes Review” deals with the recent Government pay award levels which are reported to range between a minimum of 6.16% and 7.24% at the upper end. An anonymous Government spokesperson allegedly claims the increases are “similar” to those being awarded in the private sector here in Hong Kong. This excellent article also highlights that Government pay their staff something over 3 times as much as those who hold similar jobs within the private sector. Wow!
The Hong Kong Minimum Wage
Written by Mike Rawbone, Human Resource ConsultantLatest reports indicate that several Hong Kong employers have developed some strategies to ameliorate the introduction of the minimum wage. Like many other HR professionals, I do not support this.
The three most common reports notified to our office include financial deductions for meal breaks; deductions in payment / hours for visits to the washroom; and a reduction to working hours. In addition, it is now rumoured that some organisations have moved some ‘staff’ over from direct employment to a self-employed basis; no doubt with the objective of achieving a cost reduction in the process.
Minimum Wage law in Hong Kong 2011 - Background and calculation
Written by Mike Rawbone, Human Resource ConsultantThe new law on Minimum wage came into force on May 1, 2011. HK$28 (~US$3.60) per hour rate was set as the minimum wage.
The law does not mandate that meal breaks and rest days be paid; Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung stated that this should be decided by private negotiation between employers and employees.
The Hong Kong Minimum Wage: Calculation and confusion
Written by Mike Rawbone, Human Resource ConsultantLarge number of employers and even HR professionals have found the Government guideline on how to calculate Minimum wage ambiguous and confusing because there is a “grey area” in how many hours are there in a day (including lunch break hour or excluding lunch break hour) and how many days in a week (including or excluding the statutory rest day). The Government has left this decision to the employers and employees to negotiate.