What to expect from a secondment for the employer,the secondee and the host organisation
As the world of work becomes ever more flexible the idea of secondments is becoming increasingly attractive to both employers and employees. In particular, employees like the idea of satisfying the need for change without leaving their home organisation - and their employers like the contribution of secondments to their talent management programmes.
Definition of secondment
A loan of an employee on a temporary basis to another part of the organisation or to a different organisation
A secondee gains experience outside their usual place of work and learns new skills in a fresh environment. An employer retains its talented staff for a longer period of time particularly if there are very few opportunities for promotion in the near future.
Although secondments last anywhere between 1 month and 4 years it is generally agreed by employers that anything less than 1 year does not allow secondees to develop added knowledge whereas more than 2 years may mean the member of staff becomes stale in approach.
Advantages to individuals accepting a secondment
∙ improves career chances by adding different experiences to CV
∙ gives chance to try something new
∙ provides opportunities for promotion in flatter management structures
∙ demonstrates adaptability and flexibility of employee
∙ secondments increasingly recognised as very effective in developing leaders
∙ excellent opportunity to meet colleagues in other parts of organisation
Advantages to employers of secondees
∙ creates learning and developmental opportunities for the members of staff now temporarily doing secondee’s original job
∙ improves workplace morale and motivation
∙ after completion of secondment, gains enhanced workplace skills, team working and cross functional communications
∙ builds on reputation as good employer who contributes to the community
Challenges to employers of secondees
∙ secondee may have difficulty in settling into different culture
∙ secondee may find it difficult to settle back into original post
∙ good secondee could be “poached” by host organisation
Advantages to host organisation
∙ gains extra assistance with projects
∙ builds an external perspective
∙ an external candidate may bring newer, fresher ideas
Key to a successful secondment
∙ all parties should be clear about their expectations, obligations, accountabilities and performance objectives
∙ usually, the secondee’s employer continues to pay their wages and connected costs
However, it may wish to draw up a short list (hopefully never needed) of possible difficulties which would allow it to withdraw from the arrangement eg long –term sickness of the secondee
Examples of legal secondment agreements
Updated: 29 July 2008