The CEOs of the largest companies in Poland plan to increase the number of employees. KPMG’s CEO Outlook survey shows that 40% of CEOs intend to increase employment in their organisation by 6 to 10% in the near future. At the same time, 8 out of 10 business leaders believe that a stronger emphasis on collaborative leadership, with shared managerial and operational responsibilities, will enable the company to achieve greater success. Encouraging employees to return to the office could be a challenge – the vast majority of CEOs from Poland participating in the survey plan to abandon remote work completely.
Despite the low level of unemployment in Poland, companies are struggling with the problem of a lack of appropriately qualified workers. Finding the best candidates for specialised positions is often a complicated and lengthy process. The “KPMG CEO Outlook” report shows that the CEOs of the largest companies in Poland plan to increase the number of workers increasingly. 40% of CEOs from Poland participating in the survey confirmed that they intend to increase employment by 6 to 10% in the next 3 years. This year’s edition of the survey also indicates that most of the executives in Poland (56%) prioritise investing in the development of employees’ skills and potential, rather than in technology.
“In today’s dynamic business world, it’s crucial to uncover and develop the hidden potential within people. As artificial intelligence changes the structure of the labour market, areas where human talents and skills remain unique are becoming increasingly important. Organisations must adapt to these changes by investing in developing appropriate skills, creating an environment that encourages innovative thinking and shaping flexible development paths for employees. As organisations become aware of the strengths within their teams, they open up to new possibilities and achieve surprising results. Hidden potential in people is not only the future of business but also the foundation of long-term success that comes from the inner strength and engagement of employees,” says Iwona Sprycha, Partner at Deal Advisory, Head of HR Advisory & Change Management and, Head of Forensic Team KPMG in Poland.
The survey results highlight the scale of challenges related to human capital management faced by business leaders. In the face of global crises, leadership oriented towards purpose and collaboration is gaining ground. 80% of respondents from Poland believe that a stronger emphasis on collaborative leadership, with shared managerial and operational responsibilities, will enable a company to achieve greater success. 60% of CEOs from Poland confirm that the rapid pace at which the world is changing and the continuing uncertainty about the future have changed their approach to succession planning.
Remote work is a thing of the past
Currently, there is a huge mobilisation of employers around the world to return to office work. There is a significant change in perception of this area compared to the previous edition of the KPMG survey. 88% of CEOs of the largest companies in Poland participating in the survey plan to completely abandon remote work for employees whose traditional roles have been based on stationary work. Additionally, surveyed leaders in Poland are considering rewarding employees who strive to come to the office by assigning preferred tasks, raises or promotions. It is a little different with regard to CEOs based in key world economies. 64% of them plan to return workers only to stationary work, 28% intend to maintain hybrid work, and 7% remote work exclusively.
“Managers would willingly obligate employees to work permanently in the office, but these employees prefer a considerable part of their work to be remote. Introducing the obligation to work at the company’s headquarters may result in employees terminating the terms of their contract. The task of managers, with the support of HR, is to create an environment that makes working in the office a valuable experience,” says Iwona Sprycha, Partner at Deal Advisory, Head of HR Advisory & Change Management and Head of Forensic Team KPMG in Poland.
