Pavel Belenko talks to HR Zone about the ups and downs of life in HR in his country including revelations regarding the average Russian HR salary and the popularity of HR as a career choice.
HR Zone Q1: What is your current involvement in HR?
Pavel Belenko: I am a senior partner of the IMICOR company which carries out executive search and personnel consulting including:
- Top management assessment.
- Competitive environment marketing.
- Business owners consulting on effective personnel management.
- Executive coaching – top managers career consultations.
HR Zone Q2: How is the HR function perceived in Russia?
Pavel Belenko: In 2005 it became clear, considering the economic environment, that it made sense to work for a longer-term perspective in Russia. It is necessary therefore, to pay due attention to working people to clearly see what they will be doing within the next three to five years. Competition has intensified. Today, personnel selection, motivation, training, team building and forming corporate culture are all in great demand.
HR Zone Q3: Where does legislation come from?
Pavel Belenko: It comes from the Labour Code. There is no other.
HR Zone Q4: Is the red-tape burden comparable to that of the UK’s?
Pavel Belenko: If it runs as a business process, not as a constant creative process there is a certain room for routine. The paper work is combined with the use of IT software. But this type of HR software is rather rare to obtain and is not well known.
HR Zone Q5: Is there a rife compensation culture in Russia?
Pavel Belenko: There is little rife compensation in Russia.
HR Zone Q6: Is it easy to sack people?
Pavel Belenko: When it is done in the right, correct way, then there is no problem with sacking staff.
HR Zone Q7: What’s the average salary of an HR professional in Russia?
Pavel Belenko: It is not an easy question to answer, the situation differs dramatically within the Russian regions, though there is a trend for regional salaries to follow the Moscow ones.
In Moscow an HR specialist receives US$500 – 1500, the average salary is US$700 – 800.
An HR director receives from US$1500 in small companies, up to US$10,000 in larger ones. The average salary makes up US$2000 – 3000. Figures denote monthly pay.
HR Zone Q8: Which HR practices and management ideas are currently popular in Russia?
Pavel Belenko:
- Personnel selection and recruiting.
- Personnel motivation and various forms of stimulation (money for example.)
- Personnel training.
- Team building.
- Business process definition and implementation.
HR Zone Q9: What’s the state of employment in Russia?
Pavel Belenko: Professional training falls behind with the market demands. There is a shortage of mid-level managers as well as a shortage of competent top managers. Salaries in Moscow are near or even higher than the European ones, though the qualification level is lower.
HR Zone Q10: Is HR a popular career in Russia?
Pavel Belenko: Yes, HR is very popular in Russia. An HR director is among the top three most sought after positions according to research conducted in 2004-2005.
HR Zone Q11: Which qualifications do HR practitioners have in Russia?
Pavel Belenko: First of all an HR practitioner needs to have a clear view of labour economy together with practical experience. There is an acute shortage of strategically-minded HR directors in Russia.
HR Zone 12: Is there a long-hours culture in Russia?
Pavel Belenko: Yes, overtime is not rare, frequently provided free of charge.
HR Zone Q13: What’s the relationship with the unions in Russia?
Pavel Belenko: The union movement is just shaping up but it doesn’t exist within small to medium sized businesses. The market regulates relations more effectively than the unions.
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