Workers' salary increase expectations down by 30% over last year - Findings
of a CROP-CRHA survey

MONTREAL , Oct. 7 /CNW Telbec/ - Quebec workers expect their salary increases in 2010 to be an average 30% lower than in 2009. This is the finding of a CROP survey commissioned by the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés and released today to mark the Ordre's annual conference on compensation, Rendez-vous de la rémunération.

Average expected increase of 2.5% for 2010

Quebec workers appear to be more pessimistic this year than they were a year ago. According to the survey, they expect to receive an average 2.5% increase next year, compared to the 3.6% reported at the same time last year.

What's more, women anticipate a 2.2% hike in 2010, while men are hoping for 2.8%.

Interestingly, close to one respondent in five (18%) thinks there won't be any increase in 2010, versus 14% last year.

Working conditions: organizations still on track

The CROP-CRHA poll also shed light on the impact of the economic crisis on certain working conditions in Quebec .

More than two-thirds (68%) of employees reported that their salary rose in 2009, compared to 31% who said it decreased (6%) or remained the same (25%).

The crisis appears to have had little effect on usual working hours since 77% of workers indicated that they hadn't changed. The same holds true for training opportunities offered by employers and group insurance plan benefits: respectively 79% and 75% of those interviewed reported no change despite the troubled economic times.

Other organizations neglecting employee recognition

Lastly, although 75% of respondents were satisfied with the recognition they received from their employers (congratulations, messages of appreciation, etc.) in 2009, 25% disagreed.

"We're pleased to see that many organizations have maintained the same working conditions despite the crisis. However, the lack of recognition felt by 25% of respondents is cause for concern. Marks of appreciation are crucial to employee motivation, and it is particularly important for employees to remain motivated in periods of economic instability," commented Florent Francoeur, CHRP, Ordre president and CEO.

To learn more

Highlights from the CROP-CRHA survey are presented in the appendix.

The complete survey results are available at www.portailrh.org/presse (in French only).

About the Ordre

The Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés is the primary reference organization in its field in Quebec . It has a membership of close to 9,500 professionals, candidates and students, including 5,000 CHRPs and 2,500 CIRCs. It is the only organization devoted to the protection of the public authorized by the Professional Code to confer these professional designations.

Active in all sectors, CHRPs and CIRCS contribute to the development and maintenance of a healthy working atmosphere and a safe, efficient organizational environment that respects the uniqueness of each and every employee. They also represent employers and employees in various areas of HR management, from industrial relations, to staffing, training, occupational health and safety, organizational development and compensation.

    
                          CROP-CRHA survey findings
                                 Highlights

    Average increases (%)

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Expected increase      Expected increase
    Gender                                    in 2010                in 2009
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    All workers                                  2.5%                   3.6%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Men                                          2.8%                   3.7%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Women                                        2.2%                   3.4%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------


    % by category

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Expected increase in   Expected increase in
    Categories - % increase       2010 - % of workers    2009 - % of workers
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    None                                          18%                    14%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Less than 1%                                   5%                     3%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    1 to 2.9%                                     38%                    29%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    3 to 4.9%                                     13%                    22%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    5 to 9.9 %                                     5%                    11%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    10% or more                                    4%                     7%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Don't know / No answer                        17%                    15%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

For further information: Caroline Soulas, Communications coordinator, [phone], ext. 224, Cell phone: [phone], [email protected]