New standards pave way for major changes to REC membership

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has signalled the start of its pledge to ìraise the barî in industry standards by making widespread changes to its levels of entry for membership and for the very first time will be taking active steps to enforce its Code of Practice.

The modifications are included in renewal notices, which have just been sent out to the RECís 8,000 corporate members that comprise recruitment agencies and businesses.

Among the changes is a series of services and measures to ensure quality validation through the membership fee and that the Code of Professional Practice is being met throughout.

These include:
Two client and two candidate references for each new member in addition to the existing checks already taken

Random inspections - the REC will carry out to a percentage of member offices to approve services being delivered against the Code of Professional Practice

Also, as one of the conditions of membership, each business must complete a compulsory self-assessment questionnaire through which each must demonstrate their commitment to REC standards in tandem with a formal pledge undertaking ongoing co-operation with the organisation.

To enable these services to be carried out, the REC proposes to recruit four enforcement officers to carry out the branch inspections and an additional member of staff to manage the self-assessments.

The RECís Chief Executive Officer Marcia Roberts explained: ìI have listened to the wishes of over 1000 members in my first month as CEO. The overwhelming desire is for greater enforcement of REC standards.

ìThese are our mechanisms to make those wishes a reality. Through delivering these new standards and services, we are both setting a higher and more appropriate threshold for corporate membership and are actively monitoring existing members.

ìThe recruitment industry is going from strength to strength and it is RECís role to create the best possible environment in which our members can do business and their end-users can be guaranteed the best possible service without exception.î

Marcia added: ìIt was a commitment that both the Board of Directors and I made from the outset that we should provide services members wanted and that amounted to us raising the bar throughout the industry.

ìThese standards may appear stringent but in every case are necessary to guarantee that the REC continues to represent strong value for money for those who are committed enough to honour them.î