Optimistic message from HR executives: We have to reinvent employees

“I have a budget. How do I allocate it?” was the question on the lips of many of the 120 human resource managers, consultants, lawyers and general managers present yesterday at the conference titled “HR prospects in 2011: What can HR managers do to develop companies?” organised by Ziarul Financiar in partnership with insurance firm Alico, law firm PeliFilip and Regina Maria private clinics network.

They showed more optimism as to the unfreezing of hiring and of training budgets this year, after two years of debates being focused on issues having to do with the possibilities of cutting employee costs and retention of performers in the company for less money and with greater responsibilities.

It is a mistake to try to do the same thing and expect different results, said Adela Jansen, HR executive manager of BRD Groupe Société Générale, which has around 9,300 employees under management.

In terms of recruitment, many HR people have turned to companies that hire employees, with the business of temporary employment agencies tripling between 2008 and 2010.

“Whilst in 2004 in Romania there were 4,000 temporary employees, at present there are around 50,000 temporary employees, accounting for 1.1% of the total number of employees. European-wide, 30% of temporary employees become permanent employees, with the rate of penetration of temporary employees amounting to 1.7%,” said Christos Misailidis, Zone Director Eastern Europe of Adecco, one of the world’s biggest recruitment companies and one of the big suppliers of temporary employment.