Employers to commit to their staff more than ever

While salary is undoubtedly important to us all, there are other factors to take into account when considering a job. You want to know as much as possible about the organisation you are considering joining, and you want to be reassured that it is committed to its employees and prepared to invest in your future. Likewise, organisations want to differentiate themselves from their competitors to ensure they attract the ‘cream of the crop'.

Julie Skinner, Resourcing Specialist at Robert Gordon University, said, "There is no doubt that in the current economic climate the job market has slowed dramatically. There are fewer jobs out there and often the knock on effect of this is that people tend to commit a longer period of time to their current employer. The advantages of this are two-fold; people are looking at their company in a more long-term way than in recent years and may want a more continuous plan for their future within that organisation. In turn, this gives companies the opportunity to keep the skills they have fostered in their employees within the organisation."

One example of how an organisation can commit to investing in their employees, and illustrate this commitment, is through their accreditation by the aptly named Investors in People (IiP). IiP is achieved in recognition of an organisation's commitment and investment in its staff and organisations are assessed through rigorous inspection, assessment and interviews with employees selected by the IiP.

Renee Raper, Organisational Development Specialist at Robert Gordon University, explains, "The fundamental underpinning of the IiP process is based on what employees say and feel about their organisation. All IiP interviews are private and confidential so employees are able to speak openly and freely to the IiP about their experiences. I think this speaks volumes about how an organisation engages with and supports their employees. This is what gives the IiP standard such significance."

Research also suggests that organisations which test themselves against the standard, and respond accordingly with improvements, perform better than those which do not. This gives the process additional merit.

Andrew Youngson (27), from Aberdeen, is a Communications Officer with the University who joined in August last year. He said, "There were many factors which I took into account when considering the job with the University. Knowing that the institution was not only one of the first to achieve accreditation since the IiPs inception in 1995, but is the first university in Scotland to meet the new additional standard, I was reassured that they would be committed to my development."

Renee continues, "The new standard allows organisations to not only meet the IiPs core criteria, but it supports continuous improvements in key strategic areas.  Companies which strive to meet the new standard will undoubtedly stand out from the rest."

For more information go to www.investorsinpeople.co.uk  

ENDS                                                                     16 March 2010

Gail Caie

Senior Communications Officer

Robert Gordon University

Schoolhill

Aberdeen

AB10 1FR

Tel: 01224 262210

Email: g.caie@rgu.ac.uk

Go to Home Page