Employment in Co-ops
One of the strategic functions we need to build into our movement is an HR function. I would like to link up with people interested in setting up a co-op LinkedIn and/or a co-op recruitment and employment agency.
Norman Thu 27 Dec 2018 6:16PM
There are still some people who think a co-op is a disorganised mob awaiting the advent of the "Great Leader." On the flip side I'd be inclined to take someone with a good record at Suma as worth working with. I used to tell members at Dublin Food Co-op that I saw them as 1700 potential founders of new co-ops. What was therefore important was to increase their knowledge and involvement.
Norman Thu 27 Dec 2018 7:03PM
" It has to be done on cooperative ability not technical ability." Quite. That is precisely my point. Now what achievements, behaviours, training etc do we need as evidence?
Mark Simmonds (Co-op Culture) Fri 28 Dec 2018 4:00PM
HI @normanrides do you know about the Barefoot Co-op Development plan that I've been working on with @nathanbrown ? I agree that we should look on the members of existing co-ops as potential founders of new ones, but we also think that they can be the co-operative development advisors of the future too - barefoot developers.
We're working on a training programme with @johnatherton
Cath M in Bentley (A Commune in the North/Radical Routes/Platform6) Sat 15 Dec 2018 1:44AM
@nathanbrown i don't think it's a problem. a) i doubt coops are only advertising to existing cooperators, but you'd be crazy not to advertise to cooperators, b) there are any number of wannabe cooperators who are looking for sites like this.
It's a good way to find cooperator applicants - how coops then deal with their various applicants who've arrived at the job app through various routes is a different bit of the puzzle.
Nathan Brown (Co-op Culture) Sun 16 Dec 2018 2:07PM
Not a problem now but could become one if co-ops deafult to only using that route. Path of least resistance and all that. Not suggesting you don't advertise to co-operators but one of the causes of the lack of diversity in co-op sector may be lack of promotion outside of the existing contacts and networks
Norman Thu 27 Dec 2018 6:09PM
Cath, I recently went for a job interview with a major Irish Co-operative organisation. I didn't get shortlisted after a preliminary interview and when I asked why my co-operative experience wasn't considered I was told "the client didn't specify co-operative experience..."
Norman · Thu 27 Dec 2018 6:05PM
Bob, my business email is [email protected]. I'd love to be involved.