Fewer top execs ready to ‘jump ship’

Fewer of South Africa’s top
business leaders are “ready or
willing to jump ship” and are
confident of “fair compensation”
in terms of year-end bonuses
and salary increases in 2017.
This despite the current
political and economic turmoil
in the country, according to the
2016 Annual Bonus and Salary
Survey by SA-based executive
head-hunting company, Jack
Hammer.
“The findings of this year’s
survey are significant, given
that the prevailing sentiment in
the country seems to be one of
doom and gloom in the face of
a mooted ratings downgrade,”
said Debbie Goodman-Bhyat,
chief executive of Jack Hammer.
The 2016 Bonus and
Salary Survey polled senior
executives and managers in
various sectors – including
retail, financial services and
manufacturing – about their
expectations on bonuses, salary
increases and business growth
next year.
In last year’s survey, 50%
of leaders expected to receive
bonuses at least in line with
previous years. This year, 77%
expected the same for the year
ahead.
“This is significantly more
positive and interestingly,
there were no big differences
between industry sectors,” said
Goodman-Bhyat.
At 82%, a significant
majority of respondents
indicated that they expected
at least an inflation-linked
increase in 2017, up from 71%
last year. Few respondents
expected little or no increase.
Only 12% of respondents
indicated that business was
really bad, with no growth
prospects at all. The majority,
at 65%, felt that business was
“solid, albeit tough”.
“There also appears to be
a renewed commitment to
making things work, in one’s
company and in the country,”
said Goodman-Bhyat.
She added that this year’s
survey provided “a muchneeded
glimmer of hope” as
it showed that the country’s
business leaders were “not ready
or willing to jump ship”.