In the Game of Hiring, Flexible Employers Win

NEW YORK, NY of US workers now consider work-life balance and flexibility to be the most important factor in considering job offers, according to a new Hudson (NASDAQ: HHGP) survey. Compensation still matters, of course, but it finished second (23 percent) behind lifestyle when workers were asked to name the primary reason they accepted their current positions.

"Money will always be important to people, but in this age of Internet powered remote access where there are so many virtual options, employees place a much higher premium on flexible work arrangements," said Robert Morgan, co-president of Recruitment and Talent Management, Hudson. "As the pool of qualified candidates shrinks, it seems that employers can compete more effectively for talent if they can offer work-life balance to go along with the competitive pay."

When it comes to interviewing for jobs, the survey also found that workers are generally quite satisfied with how their current employer handled it. Three-quarters of workers rated their company's interview process as "excellent" or "good." Only five percent rated it as "poor." Sixty-eight percent of workers said there was less than one month between the time when they applied for the position and when they actually began work.

However, there remains room for improvement. One in five (20 percent) workers said that the position they accepted did not quite match up with the job they heard about during their interview. And remarkably, a similar number (19 percent) actually claim that they did not meet their boss before joining the company.

"It is the company's responsibility to make sure all candidates considered for a position understand what the job will entail. Failing to do so will create retention problems and may even have legal consequences," added Morgan.

Additional survey findings include:

--  Only 26 percent of workers were recruited for their current job, while
    66 percent responded that they were actively seeking a job.
--  Sixty-one percent of workers met with just 1-2 people during the
    interview process. Nineteen percent met with 3-4 people.
--  Among workers who earn $75,000-$100,000 per year, 32 percent said that
    compensation was the primary reason they accepted their current job.

About the Survey

This Hudson survey is based on a national poll of 1,634 U.S. workers who have been with their company for less than five years conducted January 26-27, 2008 and was compiled by Rasmussen Reports, LLC, an independent research firm (www.RasmussenReports.com). The margin of sampling error for a survey based on this number of interviews is approximately +/-2.4 percent with a 95 percent level of confidence. A more detailed data report is available at www.hudson-index.com.

Hudson, one of the world's leading professional staffing, outsourcing and talent management solutions providers, also publishes the Hudson Employment Index(SM), a monthly measure of the U.S. work force's confidence in the employment market. The next Hudson Employment Index will be released on March 4.

Hudson

Hudson (NASDAQ: HHGP) is a leading provider of permanent recruitment, contract professionals and talent management services worldwide. From single placements to total outsourced solutions, Hudson helps clients achieve greater organizational performance by assessing, recruiting, developing and engaging the best and brightest people for their businesses. The company employs more than 3,600 professionals serving clients and candidates in more than 20 countries. More information is available at www.hudson.com.

Contact: Jamie Hamburg Hudson (312) 795-4210 Email Contact

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