On the move: Get Qualified Australia

A study of more than 1000 Australians undertaken by registered training provider Get Qualified Australia.

GQA founder Adam Wadi says those earning more than $200,000 are twice as likely to seek a promotion or switch jobs this year.

On the move

A study of more than 1000 Australians undertaken by registered training provider Get Qualified Australia, says 38 per cent of employees intend to seek a promotion or switch jobs this year.

The survey found 25 per cent of respondents will study or seek additional qualifications this year, to get a new job, achieve a pay rise or a promotion.

GQA founder Adam Wadi says those earning more than $200,000 are twice as likely to seek a promotion or switch jobs this year and five times more likely to seek a pay rise than those earning between $35,000 and $50,000.

“The new year is always defined as a time of change and self-improvement,” Mr Wadi says.

“What most Australians simply do not know is that getting the qualification they might need to change their job or secure a promotion is a lot easier than they may think.”

He says recognition of prior learning is important, and many people should check a qualification is recognised to ensure they do not waste time going over skills already learnt.

Tips for keeping staff

Workplace software company WFS Australia says there are several key ingredients to keeping workers engaged and happy including financial incentives and other perks, but companies can undertake simple steps to retain staff.

Strategy director James Kissell says employee satisfaction should be at the top of a manager’s daily list of things to do.

He says taking clocks off walls helps, because technology keeps time, and workplaces could encourage flexibility without having time watchers.

Other tips can include allowing staff to book and manage their leave, comparing time off with other companies to ensure they have equal or better packages and perks such as increased holiday pay, removing the Big Brother notion of making workers feel they need to clock on and off or allowing them to manage their own shift swaps, and allowing them to keep an eye on workforce operational data.

Ready to recruit

Recruitment firm Hudson says hiring intentions among Australian employers have hit a four-year high, with new data showing a job market in flux and 62 per cent of employees considering a job switch. Hudson’s Forward Focus 2016 report tracked the hiring intentions of 3793 employers and 4198 employees, finding 32 per cent of employers were planning to increase staff in the first half of this year.

Hudson Australia & New Zealand executive general manager Dean Davidson says while the economy is facing challenges, the results show organisations are optimistic.

“Employers who have been taking a wait-and-see approach to hiring are finally feeling confident enough to make a move,” Davidson says.

The report found information technology, professional services, and retail were the top three sectors planning to increase numbers. The top three in-demand professions were legal services, human resources and financial services.

“Some of this hiring will be the result of pent-up demand, as many organisations have tried to make do with less for as long as possible,” he says.

“While the main reason companies are adding headcount is to grow, almost a third are addressing an increased workload.”

Domestic violence

Employment law firm McDonald Murholme says while domestic violence is often reported to colleagues at work, few people act on allegations.

Lawyer Trent Hancock says recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show 45 per cent of employees report domestic violence to a workmate, but only 10 per cent found their response useful.

Hancock says many issues can arise from employees suffering domestic abuse.

“Issues such as absenteeism or unsatisfactory work performance can be common for employees suffering from domestic abuse, particularly if they do not feel supported enough at work to seek assistance from their employer,” he says.

“Employees need to be reassured of their job security and supported through these difficult circumstances even when they arise outside of the workplace.”

He says the Fair Work Act allows employees to request flexible working conditions if they are experiencing violence, and protects them from adverse employer responses if they take time off.