I consider myself fortunate that I get to read the Financial Times six days each week; on the days I receive the free digital version of CFO's monthly magazine, it's an extra-special day. As I've written for years, I just don't believe a recruiter can be wholly effective without having their finger on the pulse of finance.

In the April issue of CFO, comes this beauty: Last month, CFO surveyed 300 CFOs on a range of issues and found the results...disconcerting (my word).

On the government's actions on the economy, 78.5% rated efforts to create or preserve jobs as adequate or worse.

On those who implemented headcount reductions, benefit plan changes, and other workforce related programs, 34.7% noted that productivity had improved (81.4% saw no change in or a decrease in morale).

As noted by the author, 10.4% actually noted an improvement in morale - these folks must have let go of the right employees.

In case you didn't click on the above link, here are the tables:

If I were a leading edge recruiter (which I am), I might seriously consider networking into CFOs (which I do); they'll certainly be able to appreciate the benefits of better recruiting.