Call for a code of practice to stamp out ìunethicalî behaviour in the resourcing sector

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) will be chairing a forum on September 29th in central London for recruiters in pr, marketing and creative services. The move comes following Emma Brierleyís call for a code of practice in March to stamp out ìunethicalî behaviour in this resourcing sector. Her plea has been supported by the REC and the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA) along with a number of recruitment companies and clients.

Over the last four months, Brierley has met up with the REC and other trade bodies to discuss the new sector code. In the run up to September 29th, the REC, in collaboration with Emma Brierley, will compose an agenda for the meeting which will review the issues facing the industry, consider how to adapt the REC code of practice to fit their sector and gauge interest for setting up a REC sector interest group for pr, marketing and creative services. Invitations to the forum will go out to all recruiters in the sector who are REC members during July.

Trade bodies and clients, such as the PRCA, the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) and the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA), will be invited to comment on the results of the meeting. Brierley has already held meetings to discuss the code with Patrick Barrow, director-general of the PRCA who supports her efforts.

Said CEO Brierley, who founded Xchangeteam in 1999: ìWe have had tremendous support from clients, other recruitment agencies and trade bodies for a sector code. The industry has suffered for too long from unethical behaviour, typically sending out CVs to companies without discussing the opportunity with candidates beforehand and getting their permission. I am confident that this time, with a code in place, ethics will win out. The new code will get rid of those cowboys who give our industry a bad name. I am looking forward to driving this campaign forward at the September forum.î