RECRUITMENT     EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT     STRATEGIC HR

UK - Recruitment issues, employee engagement and grievances are some of the top challenges senior HR professionals would face this year if they fail to obtain their senior leaders' buy-in.

An annual survey by British law firm Speechly Bircham and Kings' College London HRM Learning Board reported that HR will face a challenging year ahead if they lack senior management's buy-in to key people strategies. One of the challenges one third of HR respondents believe they would face in the recovering economy is the possible increase in staff turnover in 2010. That's despite 44% predicting there would be a slight increase in their organisation's employee numbers along with 19% expecting a rise in graduate recruits.

But employee engagement is set to be a bigger challenge than ever, according to 68% of senior HR respondents. The survey suggested for companies to measure engagement levels to ensure their efforts are effective as the level of organisational performance grows exponentially with how engaged employees are. Engagement activities that proved to be effective include greater fairness in organisational procedures, enhanced career development opportunities, better job design and good relationships with line managers.

Grievances would also rise in 2010, said 23% of respondents, and they predicted most employees' main source of unhappiness would be related to salary issues. The survey said, "Employers need to think about whether they can meet that expectation or whether they need to manage it and/or offer other benefits or changes if salary increases are not possible."

Besides having clear processes in place to deal with grievances, HR should work on improving relationships between line managers and employees as the biggest source of internal conflict usually arises from manager-employee miscommunication. The survey said, "It should help drive engagement, as well as, reduce conflict." The survey also found that companies are favouring flexible work arrangements over retrenchments with 37% saying further flexi work plans would be rolled out in 2010.

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