People & Culture

AI and the human touch in recruitment

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept or a futuristic experiment, it’s here, reshaping the way businesses operate and hire talent.

Sick office worker

The dilemma of presenteeism vs absenteeism

More than half of Kiwi workers are guilty of going to work sick: So why are the germ spreaders showing up at the office? In a recent survey Frog Recruitment asked 1,500 Kiwi workers if they go to work even when they feel sick, and more than half (52 percent) admitted they are guilty of being germ spreaders in the workplace. Frog Recruitment MD Shannon Barlow (pictured below) says the behaviour is driven by various factors, including financial constraints, the pressure of heavy workloads and the culture of New Zealand’s strong work ethic, where workers feel pressured to demonstrate their commitment to their employer. “Presenteeism is when people turn up to work while they’re unwell and, in part, is driven

Diversity 2023

Finalists announced in 2023 Diversity Awards

Finalists in the 2023 Diversity Awards NZ™ have been announced, with judges recognising 33 entrants for the mahi they’re doing to advance a culture of belonging in workplaces. Diversity Works New Zealand CEO Maretha Smit says selecting finalists was a difficult task, with an astounding range of entries in terms of depth and breadth. “The submissions this year demonstrated a better understanding of the awards categories and criteria, and included an array of evidence demonstrating the positive impact this mahi is having on the culture of organisations and the experience of the people who work within them.” The judging panel is looking forward to the next step in the process, finalists visits and interviews, which will provide greater insight into

Employee Perks

Less a recession, more a perk-cession

Kiwi businesses are showing signs of a global trend known as the ‘Perk-cession’, cutting back on employee benefits and rethinking rewards to attract and engage employees. In a recent poll by Frog Recruitment of 503 New Zealand workers, one in four workers said their employers had cut employee benefits in the last six months, including removing complimentary coffee and fruit and reducing the availability of gym memberships. The results come as no surprise to Frog Recruitment Managing Director Shannon Barlow. “For most businesses operating in this current difficult economic environment and in the face of a looming recession, perks are on the chopping block. However, retaining talent is more critical than ever, and when salary raises are not an option,

Thrive members with The Boss Book

New planning resource empowers entrepreneurs

Thrive Whanganui, a team of economic diversity enablers, have announced the launch of their self-guided business resource: The Boss Book – Te Pukapuka Pāhi. This new book takes entrepreneurs through the process of creating a business plan step by step – providing examples, templates and exercises to take the guesswork out of where to start your business journey. The book is the culmination of five years of working in the community and developing resources to help people through their business planning journey. It contains whakataukī and example businesses to help inspire new pakihi. “We wanted to take the mystery out of starting a new business by breaking the process down into easy-to-follow exercises and steps,” says Elise Goodge, Programme and

Mark Smith-people2people

The top 5 reasons employees are quitting

A new survey across New Zealand, Australia and the UK has revealed the five major reasons why people recently quit or are quitting their jobs. According to people2people Recruitment’s 2023 Annual Salary and Employment Report, when asked why employees recently quit or are considering quitting, 46 percent indicated it was due to a lack of career opportunities, up 29 percent from 2022. This was followed by low pay (35 percent), management (28 percent), non-supportive culture (27  percent), and stressful working conditions (26 percent). people2people Recruitment’s Group Managing Director Mark Smith (pictured) says, “On reflection, 2022 wasn’t without its roadblocks. Given the uncertain business landscape in 2023, an unyielding focus on talent attraction and retention will be essential to ensure organisations

Kathryn Sandford closeup & cropped

Unlocking the power of workforce management

Kathryn Sandford has some timely advice for employers looking to attract, retain and develop top talent. Inefficient and antiquated hiring practices are not only preventing New Zealand businesses from attracting the right talent but also causing them to lose top performers at an alarming rate.  Many businesses are struggling with too many gatekeepers, long and arduous hiring processes, and an unrealistic set of expectations and requirements for the current job market. As a result, businesses are left with a revolving door of employees, with high turnover rates and low morale.  Furthermore, companies often desire top-notch talent, but they are unwilling to pay the high salaries that come with it, leading to a significant talent gap in the industry. This talent

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