Set millennium pay now

By BRIDIE PRITCHARD
Updated:

 

The National Computing Centre (NCC) is warning companies that unless they take action to secure core employees to work over the Millennium weekend soon, they might find themselves dangerously understaffed.

NCC estimates that companies requiring IT staff to work between 31 December and 2 January greatly out-number those who have negotiated rates of pay and conditions with their employees, and may even out-number those willing to work. With only six months left before the end of the year, NCC is urging companies to act now to ensure that they are not left short-staffed.

'Many people are extremely reluctant to work over the Millennium holiday and miss the chance to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime occasion,' explains John Eary, NCC's head of Skills Source, consultancy.

'A large number of businesses are having to offer substantial bonuses to their employees to guarantee their co-operation and every month these figures have been growing.

'Employees that are aware of the staff shortages and the unique bargaining position that they are in, have been able to negotiate ever-larger deals with their employers. As increasing numbers of companies realise the importance of contingency planning and on-hand support during the date change, competition for staff intensifies. This in turn further bolsters the employees bargaining powers.'

NCC has also highlighted the dangers of enforcing lower bonuses for Millennium-weekend projects. Outlining the affect this could have on staff morale, not only over the Millennium itself, but in the critical first months of the new century, NCC has warned companies of the damage they could do to their staff retention levels.

'People are going to remember the Millennium celebrations for years to come, and if your employees' abiding memories are of unfair working conditions, then you could damage morale far into the future,' says Eary.

'Year 2000 projects are going to continue well into the New Year and will be rapidly followed by EMU projects and any other IT up-grades which were put on hold during Millennium. This will be a critical time for staff retention and few companies will be able to afford to lose disgruntled employees. It is essential for companies to act now in order to negotiate fair, yet affordable deals.'

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