Recruitment News Round-Up – The Brutal Truth #6.

by Howard Greenwood, 21st July 2023

Recruitment News Round-Up – The Brutal Truth #6

As the year gathers momentum and we enter the holiday season, certain things remain the same, focusing on hitting your 2023’s targets and setting up 2024. Employees are critical to both of these things, and a lot has been written about how management makes employees feel, and the argument for hybrid or remote working still lingers. In this episode, we explore those things, as well looking at the market stats, and we discover what LinkedIn wrote in 2019 about what recruitment will look like in 2025. 

The Power of Employee Feedback: Fostering Growth and Engagement.

Employee feedback plays a crucial role in shaping successful organisations. It fosters growth, engagement, and innovation. In a recent article titled “6 Ways to Gather Meaningful Employee Feedback” by Employee Benefits, the significance of employee feedback is highlighted. This article explores its importance in driving employee satisfaction, productivity, and organisational success.

1. Enhancing Engagement: Employee feedback boosts engagement levels, leading to motivation, commitment, and productivity. It creates an environment where employees feel valued and encourages open communication channels.
2. Identifying Areas for Improvement: Feedback provides insights into an organisation’s strengths and weaknesses. It helps identify areas that require improvement, streamline operations, and create a positive work environment.
3. Promoting Innovation and Creativity: Feedback encourages employees to share ideas, leading to innovative solutions, process improvements, and new strategies. It fosters a culture of creativity and supports fresh ideas.
4. Strengthening Relationships: Feedback sessions foster trust, build rapport, and strengthen relationships. Employees who feel heard and understood are more satisfied, loyal, and committed.
5. Driving Employee Development: Constructive feedback helps employees identify areas for improvement, set goals, and receive targeted training. This leads to a highly skilled and motivated workforce.
6. Cultivating a Positive Culture: A feedback-driven culture promotes transparency, inclusivity, and accountability. It creates a sense of belonging, empowerment, and ownership.

Employee feedback drives growth, engagement, and innovation. It enhances satisfaction, identifies improvement areas, promotes innovation, strengthens relationships, drives development, and cultivates a positive culture. The article “6 Ways to Gather Meaningful Employee Feedback” emphasises the significance of feedback in creating a thriving workplace. Embracing a feedback-driven approach is essential for organisational success in today’s competitive landscape.

Remote Working, the Key.

Remote working has recently gained significant popularity.

One of the key benefits of remote working is increased productivity. Without the distractions and interruptions in a traditional office setting, employees can often focus better on their tasks and accomplish more in less time. Additionally, remote working allows individuals to structure their workday to suit their personal preferences and peak productivity hours. This flexibility can lead to improved job satisfaction and overall performance. Furthermore, remote working can attract and retain top talent by offering a desirable work arrangement that appeals to individuals seeking greater autonomy and work-life integration.

1. One of the main challenges of managing remote sales teams is the need for face-to-face contact. It is essential to create a culture of trust and collaboration, despite the physical distance. 
2. Communication is vital when managing remote sales teams. Clear communication channels like video conferencing help ensure everyone stays informed and connected. 
3. It is crucial to create a supportive environment for your remote sales teams. This includes providing regular feedback, offering incentives, and daily recognising team members’ accomplishments. 
4. Team morale can be improved by having regular social activities or virtual meetings. This can create a sense of camaraderie and build relationships within the team. 
5. Technology can be a great asset when managing remote sales teams. It can streamline processes and allow for better collaboration. 
6. A well-defined sales process can help ensure everyone is on the same page. This includes setting goals, tracking progress, and providing regular feedback. 
7. Managing remote sales teams can be difficult, but it is essential to maintain the team’s morale. This includes providing rewards and recognition and offering support and guidance. 
8. It is important to clearly understand each team member’s roles and responsibilities. This will help to ensure that everyone is working together effectively. 
9. Communication is essential for managing remote sales teams. Regular check-ins ensure everyone is on the same page and that any issues are addressed quickly. 
10. Managing remote sales teams requires flexibility and adaptability. It is essential to be open to change and to adjust strategies as needed. 

However, remote working has its challenges. Communication and collaboration can become more complex when teams are dispersed geographically. Moreover, remote workers may feel isolated or reduced social interaction, which can impact their mental well-being. Employers should prioritise fostering a sense of connection and belonging among remote employees through regular check-ins, virtual team-building activities, and creating opportunities for virtual collaboration and knowledge sharing. Additionally, it is essential to establish clear expectations and guidelines for remote work, ensuring that employees have the necessary resources and support to be successful in their roles.

According to a new survey in HR Magazine of young professionals globally, the majority (61%) believe a hybrid working model will positively impact their career prospects. 

The way we work is shifting, and young professionals are embracing the idea of hybrid working, but will it go full circle, and will workers crave human interaction in work again? Post your thoughts! 

July Labour Market Report by the Office of National Statistics 

It’s been an interesting year for UK employment! 

This recent report released by the Office for National Statistics provides an in-depth look at the UK labour market in July 2023. Here are six key facts from the report:

1. The UK employment rate was estimated at 76.0% in March to May 2023, 0.2 percentage points higher than December 2022 to February 2023.
2. The estimate of payrolled employees for June 2023 shows a monthly decrease, down 9,000 on the revised May 2023 figure, to 30.0 million.
3. In April to June 2023, the estimated number of vacancies fell by 85,000 on the quarter to 1,034,000. Vacancies fell on the quarter for the 12th consecutive period. This figure is up by 232,000 from the same period in 2020.
4. In real terms (adjusted for inflation), growth in total and regular pay fell on the year from March to May 2023, by 1.2% for total pay and 0.8% for regular pay.
5. There were 128,000 working days lost because of labour disputes in May 2023, the lowest number of days lost since July 2022.
6. Total actual weekly hours worked increased on the quarter. Quarter change up 4.5 million.

The UK labour market has been significantly impacted in this year’s first and second quarters. However, we are seeing green shoots, and the signs for quarter three are looking up.

LinkedIn Prediction from 2019 on What Recruitment Will Look Like in 2025.

Recruiting has come a long way in the last few years, and it will only get more advanced. 

This article from LinkedIn Talent Solutions predicts that recruiting will look drastically different in 2025. Was their prediction right or wrong?

From AI-assisted interviews to increased automation, the future of recruiting is expected to focus on creating a better candidate experience, including more “human” interactions. 

The article also predicts that recruiters will use more data to make decisions and will be more likely to use analytics to measure their success. 

Additionally, recruiters can expect to see more virtual events and experiences and more opportunities to use technology to create a more personalised experience for candidates. 

It’s clear that recruiting will only become more advanced in the coming years, and it’s exciting to think about the possibilities! If you think AI and Automation will kill recruitment, think again. 

We would love to hear your thoughts on employee engagement and whether or not hybrid working benefits your business. Are the stats telling the same story in your recruitment sector, and was LinkedIn right?

Please leave a comment.