In its report Employers’ Perspectives – Part One: Trial Periods (27 June 2012), the Department of Labour (now part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment) outlines its research into trial periods, from surveying 2000 employers.
Key findings include:
- just over half of employers are using trial periods
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employers use trial periods to address risk when hiring
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viability of positions (rather than the person) are being trialled as well
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trial periods are reported to improve employment opportunities
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indications are that youth and long-term unemployed are benefitting
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four in five employers reported they have retained employees who were on a trial period.