A new initiative has been launched to promote good recruitment practices among a range of different employers.
The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has developed a Good Recruitment Charter in conjunction with a range of organisations, including Santander, Royal Mail and Dixons Retail. It defines nine key principles of recruitment practice.
Areas covered by the charter include flexible working, candidate experience and extending good practice equally to permanent, temporary, contract and part-time workers.
Employers who sign up to the charter stand to enhance their brand and attract candidates by demonstrating their commitment to good recruitment practice, the REC states.
Those that participate in the 'aspirational' initiative are to be given advice, guidance and research on the latest innovations in recruitment good practice.
They will also be provided with self-assessment tools so they can evaluate their own processes and identify areas for development.
REC chief executive Kevin Green said: "This campaign was created by employers for employers with the objective of promoting good practice in recruitment and resourcing.
"As demand returns to the economy and businesses are looking to hire more staff, fine-tuning their resourcing strategies is becoming critical. This is the right time to create a national focus on good recruitment."
He added that such recruitment practices benefit candidates as well as businesses and ensure employment opportunities are maximised across the country.
Mr Green gave several reasons for the decision to launch the campaign now, HR Magazine reports.
Although there are currently 2.5 million people currently unemployed, 40 per cent of employers struggle to find the talent they need, Mr Green said.
In addition, 25 per cent of employers say poor recruitment for one role has cost them over £40,000.
Some 47 areas of the UK economy are currently experiencing skills shortages, whereas previously this was only the case for 14 areas.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's head of public policy Ben Willmott welcomed the charter, saying it provides HR practitioners with key principles that can be used to develop "sustainable recruitment and employment practices".