The disclosure of decision-useful information on human capital: the perspectives of preparers of corporate annual reports

The objective of this paper was to examine the perspectives of the preparers of Corporate Annual Reports being Finance Directors of top-listed South African companies on the disclosure of decision-useful information on Human Capital. Using existing literature, a total of 91 Human Capital Disclosure items was developed which formed the basis of survey questionnaire. This questionnaire was utilised to determine whether or not the Human Capital Disclosure items were considered and included in their Corporate Annual Reports. For the purpose of cross-checking data, a content analysis of the Corporate Annual Reports produced by relevant companies was also carried out. Our findings reveal that the majority of Human Capital disclosure items were not reflected in the Corporate Annual Reports even though the financial directors had indicated that these were important on the survey. We therefore argue that the claims as indicated by the results of the survey by the finance directors that employees are their most important asset could not be substantiated by adequate disclosure of decision-useful information on Human Capital in their Corporate Annual Reports. The implication of the non-disclosure of this information is that it could limit its usefulness to the users of Corporate Annual Reports.