MUST READ: Employee poaching is unethical –Experts

Due to the dearth of expertise in certain fields, organisations engage in poaching the best talents from their competitors in order to develop and improve their business.

This act, which involves the use of coaxing strategies, is believed to be unethical and against the laws guiding human resource management.

Human resources experts note that the talented employees, who are the most valuable asset of a company, are lured by attractive salaries and better conditions of service.

According to them, such talented employees often find the offers irresistible especially in the labour market where job offers are minimal.

During the pre-consolidation era in the banking sector, the new generation banks poached staff from the old banks. However, the reverse is the case now.

Human resource professionals add that the practice is still common in other sectors of the economy but not as pronounced.

Continue reading after the cut....

Poaching is an illegal act

The Managing Director/CEO, Kairos Business Services Limited, Mr. Babatunde Fajimi, says using poaching in recruitment and selection suggests that the person initiating the hiring is using an unorthodox method to acquire talents.

According to him, the luring of employed people is a common practice that is rampant in different sectors of the economy.

He says literally, the word ‘poaching’ means an illegal activity associated with fishing or hunting.

He said, “It is a common practice but that does not make it right. Though poaching talents is a common practice across the industry and in various sectors, but from a professional point of view, it is an unwholesome practice and companies that are socially responsible and ethical in their approach should not engage in poaching talents.

“There are better methods of getting talents. We operate a free market and individuals are supposed to be guided by their business ethics and conscience.”

Therefore using poaching in recruitment and selection suggests that the person initiating the hiring is using unconventional method to acquire talents, Fajimi says.

Disadvantages

A human resource expert, Mr. Gboyega Adegbite, says poaching is a form of aggressive hiring that involves coaxing an employed person who has not shown interest in leaving the organisation to work for a rival organisation.

According to him, the illegal act has long-term disadvantages to the two organisations involved and the talent being poached.

He adds, “ Some Nigerians who have good jobs and are always looking for better opportunities. As a result, the employee will be viewed as someone who is unstable and may lose the chance to acquire requisite skills to attain higher positions. Those in the practice of poaching also risk losing the respect of their competitors.”

Fajimi says, “ Individuals will not be able to develop their competencies well enough to assume higher responsibilities. As a result, when they face higher responsibilities, they may not have the leadership skills to manage the portfolio given to them.”

It brings bad reputation to the poaching company

Fajimi posits that the practice is not beneficial to the industry because it leads to depletion of robust human resources in the labour market.

He says, “ When they are poached, the likelihood is that if they see someone who pays a higher premium than you, they will leave. For the employer, there is no commitment and loyalty.”

Bond signing prevents poaching

For employees who have been equipped with overseas training to improve their performance on the job, Fajimi says these employees are made to sign a bond, which is an agreement.

He says, “In a situation whereby I have sent someone to acquire a skill overseas, the person is bonded to me. Most times when employees are sent overseas to acquire training, they sign bonds that they will work with such organisations for a specified number of years and after, another company poaches the person because he or she has the requisite training or talent instead of arranging the same overseas training for the its own employees. It causes confusion in the market and lack of depth in talent development.”

While companies are threatened every day with the loss of their key staff to rival organisations, experts have suggested ways of preventing the practice.

Culled -  Ife Adedapo/Punch

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