Ericsson: IT employees change job for career opportunities

“People leave primarily to learn, and place much emphasis on training when discussing employment conditions. Many have been working since college, or learn on their own because they are passionate, and they are used because of what they know, although there is little invested in them,” says Horia Toader, HR Manager of the Ericsson Romania telecommunications solutions supplier. The company increased its employees in 2007 by 160 people and created the General Delivery and Support Center, an Ericsson IT solution division. Some 70 percent of its employees are graduates of technical colleges.

“There is still a major deficit in terms of IT employees, compared to the need of the market, and the rise in salaries is unjustified, sometimes similar to the real estate market,” Toader says. He added that there is a continuing 10-12 percent annual upward trend for wages.

In order to ensure that its employees stay with the company, Ericsson Romania balances working envinronment, access to information, and good wages. Every employee benefits from an average annual 10 training days, and those with potential may even take full MBA courses. All the company’s staff receives private medical care, meal tickets, an annual performance bonus, and an allowance for sports.