Wage and hiring freezes are starting to thaw at U.S. companiesthat implemented the freezes during the recession, according to aWatson Wyatt survey.
|The Washington-based human resources consulting firm reported 54percent of employers that froze salaries plan to unfreeze themwithin the next 6 months, up sharply from 33 percent in August andjust 17 percent in June. At companies that implemented hiringfreezes, 49 percent expect to at least partially reverse them inthe next 6 months.
|“The general economic picture right now is definitely brighterthan it was just a few months ago,” said Laura Sejen, Watson Wyattglobal director of strategic rewards consulting. “However, therecovery is uneven and most employers aren't fully convinced thatimprovements they've seen are here to stay [and] they remainconcerned about their ability to attract and retain the rightpeople.”
|Not all companies are out of the woods, either. About one-fifthof those surveyed still anticipate making layoffs this year ornext, according to the survey.
|With the holiday season approaching, there is still littlereason to hope for a big office party. Only 37 percent of employersplan to organize a holiday party this year, compared with 70percent in 2007.
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