Since the beginning of the year our articles have covered such topics as Interviewing, Employment Relations update, job hunting, the value of recruitment company's in a tight market and Office Environment. The hot topic of course all year has been the State of the Economy with differing conjectures flying all over the place.

What seems to be consistent is the amount of contradictory reports out there and we read on one day a positive review only to be followed the next by a negative one. An Economist in an attempt at wit stated "When it comes to immediate jobs outlook the best that can be said is that things are getting worse more slowly".

Conversely, NZ retailers are reporting one of the best winter's turnover in years, contributed in turn by one of the harsher early winters that we have had for sometime.

Therefore it is difficult to identify just where we stand and if the light in the tunnel is no longer the proverbial train, but the actual end of the tunnel.

 

Certainly the private sector demand for staff has begun to stabilize, following the surge of redundancies earlier in the year. But it will take time for companies to benefit from the last round of redundancies and we are seeing the early indications of improved employer optimism. NZ is said to be showing signs of an earlier recovery than other parts of the world and it's encouraging when reports come to hand that the US is making inroads on their road to recovery.

Research shows that a company's progress is often hindered by poor relationships between managers and staff which, coupled with any continued redundancies, has seen a significant decline in staff moral and motivation. We need therefore to be mindful of the way forward and be aware of any possible residual damage. A large percentage of remaining staff recognize the pressure to perform and to prove their worth. Recognition is required of this by management. Meaningful consultation has the greatest impact of improving trust.

What would be tragic to companies is if they have kept good staff on only to run the risk of loosing them when they feel they have options when the labour market improves. A good working relationship is key to improving the overall efficiency of an organisation.
In the UK (perhaps tongue in cheek) some suggested a National Hug Your Boss Day, suggesting too that responsibility also lies with the employee to create a happy work environment. The most significant change has been within the media. There seems to be a new positivity amidst the recession which is lifting out spirits.

We have got this far with our positive attitudes why stop now......?