Compare his views on law 2011 and some of the thinking of Richard Susskind

Adapt or Die is applicable to many law firms across the UK and beyond and only those who do adapt will be around into 2012 and beyond.

It’s a serious question. Many large businesses have dedicated HR provision which handles all recruitment and legal issues where staffing is concerned. It all churns along until the supply of candidates fails to meet demand. Does HR don its proverbial underpants outside its corporate trousers? Not that Chris Slay has witnessed, if anything HR can, in a self protective overdrive be another obstacle. What does HR do exactly? How is its function viewed by the board, the dustpan of all things employee related that the senior management cannot bear to view or an integral and valuable addition to the core business? The answer is very often, ‘ not sure’. Time their purpose was found out. For more information read here.

One of the many groans often heard from businesses is how hard it is to manage staff. Chris Slay thinks the problems start much earlier than ongoing employment issues, its often all down to a recruitment error of judgement. Employing staff is often rushed into with no clear job description or thought to skills needed. Small wonder then, that it all starts to unravel in the relationship. If you think recruitment agencies are an unnecessary expense wait until you need to call the employment lawyers in, that plus your management time and the lack of skills you need and its looking like false economy. Get in the professionals from the start and stop wasting time and money. More information here.

On a grey day in the UK with the constant drizzle of rain, who hasn’t thought about living and working somewhere sunny? Do you look at the ads of Christmas in Australia where your lunch is served on the beach? Whether your dream is the sun, the sandy beaches, the outback, the culture or the sun (again) could this honestly be a reality for you?

On the basis that you’re not a lottery winner (sadly) earning a living is one of the first things you need to consider. So just who is eligible to work in Australia?

18-30?
No matter what your skills are, a working holiday is a great place to start your adventure, provided that you have medical insurance and enough money to keep yourself. Getting a working holiday visa is a great “try before you buy” option but perhaps not for the fainthearted who prefer to know they have a job to go to.

Over 30 and looking for a job?
A good recruitment agency should be your starting point. Only roughly 1 in 3 Australian jobs are actually advertised, with Australian employers preferring to use alternative recruitment processes that weed out all the non-qualifying applicants at an early stage. The right agency, think Skills Provision ( link to Skills) will be able to tell you
- what skills are in demand
- what actual jobs they can submit your application for
- about the whole recruitment process in Australia and guide you through it

A job offer means you can apply for a work visa.

Do I have the right qualification and skills?
There is no definitive list so this is where a good recruitment agency can guide you. However if, for example you have a minimum of 2 to 3 years practical experience and have a
- have a Certified Trade Skill OR
- are a professional with a degree
then your dream can become a reality.

Too good to be true?
Australia has a third of the UK’s population, the population is ageing and lots of essential skills are not available.

Australia isn’t for everyone, but it may be for you, if it is, get in touch.

Let’s be frank, privately nobody is welcoming this legislation, many regard it as a hammer to crack a nut. Already controversial, the delay in finalising the details, implementation and guidance has not done much to promote a cheery smile when thinking about the Agency Workers Directive.

To many this just seems like another attempt to scramble to comply with the EU and in a straw poll taken amongst agency bosses the fear is that many agencies and hirers will not be ready in time for implementation on 1 October 2011.

So what is it all about?

The force behind this legislation is to give temporary agency workers equal basic working and employment conditions as if they has been employed directly to do the same job.

So just how equal is equal?

So equal means equal, right? No, not exactly.

Temporary agency workers will get equal pay, working hours, overtime, breaks and rest periods, holidays, training and access to collective facilities, such as childcare.

In this case equal treatment does not include pension provision, occupational sick pay, or change in employment status.

Oh, and did I mention that this equal treatment starts once the agency worker has worked in the relevant role for 12 weeks?

Guidance?

Confused? So are we all. The long awaited draft guidance notes released by the government on the afternoon of April 1st have not been welcomed with a round of applause.

The reality

I see major implications in implementation and costs. Whilst professional bodies such as the ALP will put on educational road shows many of these will take place before anybody know the precise rules?

Are the Agencies ready?

How can they be? With draft guidance notes, and no consensus on interpreting the legislation which seems to just be creating a minefield that will only be sorted out by the courts in due course.

When asked to hazard a guess of how many agencies had an effective plan one boss commented the top 5% and perhaps 20% of the others. Another Managing Director estimated less than a third.

OK, there are some organisations that are well ahead of the game pulling together the recruitment skills, legal advice and software designed to cope with the requirements of the Agency Workers Directive. Even these can only run around in no man’s land with cardboard weapons until the guidance notes are actually finalised.

 Talking to a friend recently, she said that when she dreamt of working in Australia she thinks about a fulfilling career, getting both reward and recognition. She went onto enthuse about earning more money than she did now, living in a great environment and enjoying a good lifestyle.

It just happened that I had a report from our business partners in Australia who had interviewed a number of 2009 and 2010 immigrants from around the world. They wanted to find out their views on “real” Australia now they had actually been there for some time. I’d like to share the results with you.

 Careers:

•   100% felt valued in their new environment and had high self esteem as they brought much needed skills into the local community.
•   Virtually all interviewees had a positive impression about how they had been treated since their arrival
•   Most people felt that there was no limit as to how high you can climb the corporate ladder with most bosses being supportive of additional training.
•  A large majority had increased their earnings potential and felt that their business contribution would be recognised and rewarded.

Culture

•  90% were very happy with their location having researched thoroughly before moving to Australia.
• Affordable quality homes was seen as a benefit by most interviewees about 66% rented for the first year to make sure the job and location was right for them.
• Schooling brought the biggest split in views with the response being governed by the country of origin of the immigrant.

Lifestyle

•  Undoubtedly this was the big win people had gained from working in Australia.
• Beaches, beaches, and more beaches – clean, largely uncrowded and accessible to most.
• Wildlife – great opportunities for getting close up at the weekends.
• Scenery – from urban sprawl to stunning countryside and ocean scenery.
• Outdoor life style – the climate allowing families to unite and enjoy time together, with one English family commenting the virtually overnight change in their kids from  “phone and Facebook” to enjoying the outdoors.  And yes, the BBQs too!

As one interviewee put it “every weekend is a vacation at the moment”.

Of course, Australia may not be for everyone. I always advise that if you are thinking about making the move properly, you set out your goals, do your research and take advantage of your advisors’ knowledege.

From the research though, for those that do make the move life seems fulfilling and a whole lot of fun.