Firms prioritise staff over Brexit preparations

Businesses are more concerned about retaining and developing staff than the potential impact of Brexit, according to new research.

Talent acquisition and management specialist Alexander Mann Solutions surveyed senior HR professionals, and discovered that almost a quarter of companies’ top priority was working out how to retain top staff, compared to 9% of firms focussing on what to expect when Article 50 is triggered.

Previous research has already shown that 81% of UK CEOs are putting a strong emphasis on amending their talent processes to ensure retention. Many British employers rely on workers from the EU, so while many aren’t directly addressing Brexit, safeguarding businesses by ensuring the safety of their staff could be on employers’ minds.

The specialist company also believes a large contributor to changing workforce priorities is the rise of the Millennial influence. As the younger generation continues to enter the working world and demand more out of their bosses, more and more employers are also concerned about losing staff due to less job loyalty. Focussing on benefits and ways to connect with a young and vocal generation could be the next step for big businesses.

“This need for greater engagement with talent is further emphasised by the growing focus on internal mobility, with a quarter of those surveyed identifying that facilitating the internal movement of their best employees is a top priority in the immediate future,” explained Jeremy Tipper, director of consulting and innovation at Alexander Mann Solutions.

“Given the increasing demand from staff to have access to a wider variety of opportunities, relocating talent across the company will certainly aid staff retention. With this emphasis on staff retention and development, it’s no wonder that a quarter of those we polled also plan to invest in more appropriate assessment processes in the coming months.”