Jun 17, 2005: 2005 Annual HR Seminar

The pace of economic growth in Russia, while bringing smiles to financial managers watching companies’ bottom lines, poses a complex set of problems for Human Resources managers charged with the hiring, retention and training of staff.

Focusing on the problems faced in such a unique environment, the Human Resources Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia held its annual HR conference at the Marriott Aurora Hotel on June 17. Entitled "People Aspects of Managing Your Business in an Environment of Accelerated Growth," the event drew over 100 leading HR practitioners from Moscow‘s top firms.

Greg Thain, chairman of IMS, delivered an overview of the drivers behind the growth rates leading companies to add employees. Emphasizing the expanding consumer market as the most important economic indicator, he noted that all consumer-related industries were showing strong growth. Additionally, expansion in the retail trade, telecommunications and financial sectors are all spurring companies to hire more personnel.

However, even as companies are hiring, they are discovering it is not easy to attract and retain talented professionals.

Said Yekaterina Gorokhova, general manager and vice president of Kelly Services CIS, "Money is important, but not everything."

Citing statistics gathered from an online Kelly Services survey, she noted that in Russia 25- to 35-year-olds reported the highest level of job satisfaction, but that this feeling was linked not only to salary, but to feelings of self-fulfillment and stress levels.

While Thain and Gorokhova focused on the positive aspects of the hiring boom, Marina Ryzhkova of the Salans law firm, presented the downside – the many pitfalls that can be faced if companies do not comply with often Byzantine labor codes while rapidly hiring new personnel.

Following the morning presentations, the HR practitioners broke into working groups to focus on retaining employees, integrating staff of merging companies and determining compensation packages in a competitive environment.

To download a copy of the IMS PowerPoint presentation, please click here.

To download a copy of the Baker & McKenzie PowerPoint presentation, please click here.

To download a copy of the Salans PowerPoint presentation, please click here.

To download a copy of the Sara Lee PowerPoint presentation, please click here.

To download a copy of the Ancor PowerPoint presentation, please click here.

To download a copy of the Avon PowerPoint presentation, please click here.

To download a copy of the Ernst & Young PowerPoint presentation, please click here.

To download a copy of the PwC PowerPoint presentation, please click here.

To download a copy of the Kelly Services PowerPoint presentation, please click here.

The Chamber expresses its thanks to Kelly Services for its sponsorship of this event.