Category — Employment and People

Summer brings fresh crop of labor reforms to France…

France made front news (see editorial of 14 August) as the government announced that effective immediately small companies could hire staff in France on an “employment at will” principle for up to two years, or in other words to terminate without cause staff hired under such contract during this test period. Of course, there is an overall 10% tax on salaries and eligible companies need to comply with strict controls such as a notice period (15 days to 1 month), but this is already great improvement for employers. Also, though this law applies to companies of 20 employees or less, it disregards the revenue size and whether the company is part of a larger group, either in France or abroad. In practice therefore many international groups who want to enter the French market or who have operations in France but have the possibility of creating a separate entity to isolate certain activities will be able to use these arrangements.

The new laws passed in the spring and during the summer have lead to other major changes - most of which were passed unnoticed - which will undoubtedly prove making life easier for employers :

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Innovation is at the heart of long-term growth, shareholder returns, and the ability to remain at the leading edge of the market. Much has been said about innovation and its importance to the growth and prosperity of the healthcare industry and this has raised a number of questions about what actually drives success. Whilst many companies appear to be creative and resourceful, they do not always achieve success. According to the Harvard Business Review (2004) only 1 out of 10 new product introductions succeed in the market, thus provoking numerous attempts to identify the key factors in an effort to improve the outcome.

Just to be clear about definitions: Creativity is about the generation of ideas and innovation is about putting them into action. Innovation is about making ideas happen, and is more a blend of people and processes.

RELEVANCE & IMPORTANCE

Research conducted by Mike Warren at GreyMatter involving 65 global organisations [Read more →]

Marketing as a philosophy and crucial function within commercial organisations was born in the 60�s, with classical consumer companies including Kellog�s, Proctor and Gamble, Unilever, and other leading consumer goods companies, who foresaw the importance of customer understanding, brand image and awareness as the crucial tool in developing and communicating their product and service benefits both nationally and internationally.

Since then, the marketing philosophy has been developed and taken up by new market sectors and industries, who initially �played� with the �fashionable� idea of marketing without fully committing to its cross functional understanding and commitment.

Retail banking, tourism, telecoms, car servicing, insurance and other industries have all gone through the painful surprise where a new player has revolutionised their market with a �disruptive� approach based on incisive customer understanding. Then on, all surviving competitors realise that marketing is an innovative strategic weapon, not a �gloss� or �status quo� item.

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Healthcare sales and marketing executives and managers are increasingly finding themselves carrying a wider and deeper bag. Within the bag may be a mix of disposable, lower priced reusable, capital purchases, and service contracts. More and more of us are finding ourselves responsible for the success of a product line where the individual components of the line have different decision makers, decision influencers, and are purchased within the context of very different customer decision making strategies.

This results in a nightmare for all those from the newest salesperson to the most seasoned senior manager.

As a result, the following concerns are commonly heard:

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This AP - Yahoo news update refers to a small but important step in creating a more flexible work force in one of Europe’s biggest economies.

Companies (small) in France will now be able to terminate workers with less than two years service for little, if any reason. The government hopes this move will (among other incentives) stimulate employment in small business.

Having recently returned from a trip to China visiting healthcare manufacturers it makes you wonder if this is not too little too late.

As a small business owner based in France however, I must say this is good news!

This may also provide the additional stimulus to some of our healthcare clients to establish some form of direct distribution operations in France as opposed to the classical “can you find us a distributor because we don’t want to hire our own people route”.

We can get you more information if you need it.

Frank Sielaff - Multilingual sales and marketing healthcare executive in Germany available for consulting projects and will consider full time positions.

Healthcare experience includes large blue chip medical device companies, entrepreneurial start ups in Germany and several other countries. Extensive experience with leading mobility and rehabilitation company.

Ideally suited to assisting companies looking to enter the German market or solving problems for companies already in Germany.

A downloadable executive bio is available by clicking here>

SIX GREATEST STRENGTHS

1. International Business

• Strong track record of sustained international successes by growing earnings and market shares.
• Developed increasing international business opportunities by living, working and traveling in many countries.
• Developed key human talent into large business contributors in both U.S. and Latin America.

2. Multi-industry Expertise
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