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Executive Consultants stems the brain drain Ray Smuts - Freight & Trading Weekly - 12 March 2000 edition -
- Freight & Trading Weekly
12 March 2000 edition
Executive Consultants stems the brain drainRay Smuts |
AN INGENIOUS concept to curb the "brain drain" of experienced shipping personnel has been devised by Cape Town based personnel recruitment specialist Lee Botti & Associates. Breaking the news exclusively to FTW last week, Lee Botti said the new initiative, to be headed by herself, would be known as Executive Consultants and was already offering available market expertise by way of her internet website at www.nowjobs.co.za. "The idea was given to me by a client who felt there was a large gap in the personnel industry for this service," says Botti. Executive Consultants are experienced managers from the shipping industry who are leaving the industry as a result of mergers or being put on retirement, but are still keen to contribute to the industry and maintain contact in the workplace. Most are 55 years or older and have a wealth of experience to offer. They are available on short or long term assignments. Companies will use these consultants to initiate or drive projects, or train less experienced staff to their full potential. "As the new labour legislation brings inexperienced people into the market, with companies preparing their Employment Equity plans and Skills Development Plans, a lot of time will be spent training on a junior level. Using Executive Consultants for key projects ensures that the thrust of business continues, freeing others in the company to train the newcomers. It provides a flexible solution" says Botti. Lee Botti & Associates has drawn up its own Employment Equity Plan for the coming year to make provisions for employing people of colour according to the demographics of its variously-placed branches (Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban). What the new legislation requires is that all companies have such a plan in place before the end of this year, spelling out precisely to what degree people of colour will feature on an ongoing basis in the overall structure. In terms of the Skills Development plan, which should be in place by April 1, all companies are required to pay 0.5 % of their payroll in tax to the Receiver of Revenue. Once their plan has been approved by the authorities, companies may approach their Sector Education Training Authority (SETA) for partial reimbursement on such tax paid and even for a further payback if they have initiated "learnership" programmes, that is, training for people from scratch. "As consultants in the personnel industry, our responsibility is now far broader than it was six years ago. Not only do we place candidates with clients, we are required to find solutions for our clients, who are endeavouring to drive their core business, as well as keep them informed of the changing labour legislation. For this reason we run labour seminars, and publish guides on interviewing techniques," says Botti. To assist smaller companies who do not have an Human Resources Department, they subcontract an experienced Human Resources specialist to clients to enable them to draw up letters of appointment, performance appraisals, Employment Equity and Skills Development plans. Copyright Now Media (Pty) Ltd |
