CBI: Clarity and candidacy help pick up the pace

Effective communication and engagement with staff can play a key role in improving performance, helping businesses recover from the recession and build a strong platform for future growth.

That is the message emerging from a new report by the CBI, entitled 'Picking up the Pace', which sounded a positive note for the sales recruitment industry amid a broadly optimistic summary on the state of employee and employer attitudes.

The study showed businesses remain cautious - with many sales teams operating without any changes to their basic pay as just three per cent of all firms plan to make an above-inflation pay award - but also demonstrated the impact of candid and clear communication.

John Cridland, CBI deputy director-general, commented: "Employers have come out the other side of the recession, having managed to keep many more people in jobs than had been expected.

"This has been largely down to the flexibility and goodwill of staff who quickly adapted to emergency measures, including pay and recruitment freezes. Good communication played a key role in helping employees understand the changes needed to safeguard jobs."

While the signs are that sales job prospects are improving - with recruiting to key vacancies a priority for 42 per cent of firms - it is anticipated that large increases in salary are less likely.

At present earnings growth in the public sector is outstripping the private sector, although this may well change following details of a wide range of cuts in expenditure in public services by the new coalition government.

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Posted by John Oak and Wayne Bly

Filed: 25-05-2010