UK - CIPD 2009 Moves To Manchester

The CIPD will be relocating its Annual Conference and Exhibition to Manchester Central Convention Complex from 2009. The conference will also be moving from its current September slot to a new slot in November to coincide with the move to Manchester. The dates for the 2009 Annual Conference and Exhibition will be Tuesday 17 November to Thursday 19 November 2009.

CIPD to move Annual Conference and Exhibition to Manchester from 2009

UK - Employment Situation

ILO-defined unemployment in January to March was 1.61 million (5.2%) - up by 14,000 unemployed on the quarter but down 83,000 from this time last year.

Employment Statistics

UK - Employment Law Updates

Employment Law Legal Update 12/05/2008

*Court of Appeal decision on the burden of proof for unfair dismissal
* Identity cards to be issued for some foreign nationals present in the UK
* Employer's benefits package held not to be discriminatory on grounds of age

Canada - Unemployment Rate At 6.1%

Statistics Canada reports that the unemployment rate rose to 6.1% in April even though employment increased by an estimated 19,000 over the month as more people entered the job market. Calculated in the U.S. manner, the participation rate reached 64.5% in April.


Canadian Unemployment Rate At 6.1%

Australia - Employment Statistics

Australian Unemployment at 4.2%

Seasonally adjusted, the number of people in employment also rose by 25,400 to 10,712,900 in April.

USA - Unemployment Rate At 5.0%

Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nonfarm payroll employment fell by 20,000 in April and the unemployment rate was little changed at 5.0%.

US Unemployment at 5.0%

HR And That Elusive Strategic Role

It seems that finally senior managers - some of them, at least - are willing to give HR managers a significant role in strategic decisions. But how many human resource managers know how to fulfill that role? (Updated May 1 2008)

HR And That Elusive Strategic Role

USA - Bad Language Can Get You Fired

With the economy threatening recession, a new survey suggests that cursing and cussing in the workplace are not likely to help your career. The survey shows that 36% of bosses in the U.S. have issued a formal warning, and 6% have actually fired an employee for swearing.

Bad Language Can Get You Fired

UK - Employment Law Legal Update

Employment Law Legal Update 28/04/2008 from Steeles Law

*Appeal decision on definition of redundancy
* ‘Working for a healthier tomorrow'
* Requirements of step one grievance are minimal

USA - Pre-employment Screening Becomes More Complex

The Background Screening division of Kroll, a leading risk consulting firm, has released its annual Hit Ratio Report revealing that employment screening criminal record convictions are continuing on an upward trend:

* 8.5 % in 2005
* 9.1% in 2006, and
* 9.5% in 2007

Kroll's report reveals that construction, automotive and retail industry sectors had the highest criminal record hit ratios, while education had the lowest.

Pre-employment Screening Becomes More Complex

UK - Depression In The Workplace

Research studies by the CIPD, Shaw Trust and Future Foundation show that managers typically underestimate the extent that colleagues and employees suffer from stress, anxiety and depression. In fact, nearly 30% of workers experience a mental health problem in any one year.

Acas has provided advice for managers and colleagues on how to spot and deal with mental health problems at work:


Depression In The Workplace

UK - Virgin Trains Onboard With COA Solutions

COA Solutions (formerly CedarOpenAccounts) has won a £750,000 contract to supply Virgin Trains with an integrated financial management system comprising a comprehensive portfolio of financial, procurement, forecasting and document management solutions. In time, Virgin Trains will look at adding HR and recruitment functionality COA Solutions’ system, which will be made available to 250 Virgin Trains staff across the UK, is expected to go-live in September 2008. (News Release)

Virgin Trains Onboard With COA Solutions

UK - Recruitment and Retention

With the government offering former midwives a "golden hello" package worth £3,000 to encourage them back into the profession the issue of recruiting and retaining employees is a topical subject.

Spotlight On Recruitment And Retention

UK - Staff Training - 'Every Little Helps'

Good employees are the greatest asset for any organisation and to invest in them provides a definite return on investment, adding value to the company as a whole. Sarah Alsop head of operations at leading global recruiters Source People discusses how companies like McDonald's are 'supersizing' their workforce through professional development.

Staff Training - 'Every Little Helps'

UK - Employment Law Updates

April 8 2008 Employment Law Enews

* Sex discrimination: employers liability for third party harassment
* Employers application process for licence as a sponsor gets underway as part of proposed replacement of existing work permit scheme
* "Time limits" at the tribunal's discretion
* Increases to statutory sick, maternity, paternity and adoption pay

Gut Feelings - Intuitive Decisions

Research has shed new light on "gut feelings" arguing that they are real psychological phenomena that should be taken seriously.

Gut Feelings

UK - Fire Service Diversity

Following recent criticism of the lack of diversity in the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS), Parmjit Dhanda, Fire Minister for England, has committed £3million towards increasing diversity, including plans for a national graduate entry scheme.

Fire Service Diversity

UK - New Film Industry Training Board

The Film Industry Training Board has been set up to enhance skills development in the UK film industry. This is the first industrial training board to be launched in two decades. ITBs are statutory bodies set up under the industrial Training Act 1982. The FITB will oversee delivery and operation of the Skills Investment Fund (SIF), currently a voluntary training levy for the film production industry which will become mandatory towards the end of 2008.

Film Industry Training Board (FITB)

USA - Sick Day Entitlement Survey

The latest survey of sick days in the U.S. found that time off policies are continuing to evolve with a number of states and cities exploring mandatory paid sick leave.

Sick Day Entitlement Survey

Canada - EDC named one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers

Export Development Canada (EDC) was today named one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers by Maclean's Magazine. EDC is the only Crown Corporation to have won the award. (News Release)

EDC named one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers

Canada - Ontario Minimum Wage Rises

On Monday, March 31 2008 Ontario's minimum wage rises to CDN$8.75.

Ontario Minimum Wage Increases

UK - Empire Launch HR Drivetime

Employment law experts Empire HR have launched a new initiative to allow employers and HR teams to keep up-to-date more easily with the latest in employment law. (News Release)

Empire Launch HR Drivetime

USA - Ascentis Merger

(News Release) Over 25 years of their combined expertise will greatly benefit their current customers with ease of use and customization capability of both products as well as responsive and friendly customer support.

Ascentis in Bellevue, WA, a HR solutions provider has merged with EBS On Line in San Mateo, CA, a Payroll solutions provider

Canada - B.C. Improves Foreign Credential Recognition Programs

British Columbia Economic Development Minister Colin Hansen has announced CDN$1 million in funding to improve international credential recognition programs in the province.

B.C. Improves Foreign Credential Recognition Programs

UK - Jackie Orme New CIPD CEO

Jackie Orme is now Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development - the leading professional body for all those involved in the management and development of people in the UK and Ireland.

CIPD

USA - Aging Workforces

A survey by the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) found that almost a third of small-business owners are creating 'knowledge transfer' plans - transferring key knowledge from older to younger workers - as a means of
coping with the retirement of millions of baby boomers.

Aging Workforces

UK - Employment Law Updates

March 25 2008 Employment Law Enews

* Changing terms and conditions
* Age discrimination: dismissed for being too young
* Discrimination: part time workers
* New national minimum wage rates

USA - Time Management Produces Results

Time management is an ongoing favorite in the corporate trainer's armory of courses while training in delegation skills appears to be neglected.

A survey of 330 companies by the Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp) last year found that while 53% of respondents had a 'somewhat high' or 'high' degree of concern about their employees' time-management skills and 46% were similarly concerned about delegation skills, only 28% of businesses offered delegation training compared to 49% that provided time management courses.

Time Management Produces Results

Australia - Ban on new AWAs

Unions have welcomed the ban on new AWAs following the passage of The Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Bill through Parliament.


Ban On New Australian Workplace Agreements

Australia - Mature Age Workers Key To Skills Shortage

Wile the hospitality and travel sectors are continuing to experience difficulties in recruiting skilled staff, the solution may lie with mature-age workers - the over 50's - according to TMS Asia-Pacific.

Mature Age Workers Key To Skills Shortage

NZ - Males Dominate Top Jobs

New Zealand's businesses are dominated by male senior managers, according to a survey conducted by Hays, the specialist recruitment company.

Males Dominate Top Jobs

Canada - BC Government Policies 'Impact Women'

Still Waiting For Justice: Provincial policies and gender equality in BC 2001-2008', a report released by the B.C. Federation of Labour concludes that the Gordon Campbell government's policies have unfairly impacted women.

B.C. Government Policies Have Negative Effect On Women

UK - Stress And Coronary Heart Disease

How work stress can lead to coronary heart disease.

Danger of the desk

UK - National Minimum Wage Increases

The UK Government has announced that the adult minimum wage rate will rise from £5.52 to £5.73 an hour in October.

National Minimum Wage Increases

USA/Canada - Finding Talent & Immigration Laws

Two-thirds of HR professionals in North America (USA - 66%, Canada - 65%) believe that tougher national immigration policies force their organizations to devote more resources to recruiting and retaining local talent.

Finding Talent Increasingly Difficult

USA - Impressive Titles Are More Than Cheap Rewards

More and more organizations are doling out impressive-sounding job titles, many including superlatives such as 'chief'. One reason is to stop key executives from leaving, according to Michael Jalbert, president of MRINetwork, a major search and recruitment organization. But titles such as chief marketing officer, chief innovation officer, and chief risk officer also mark the extra responsibilities that CEOs are delegating to senior staff.

Impressive Titles Are More Than Cheap Rewards

UK - Employment Law Updates

March 2008 Employment Law Enews

* European ruling on IVF and pregnancy
* Homophobic abuse against heterosexual
* Immigration update

USA - Few Organizations Define Diversity

While organizations tend to believe that diversity in the workplace is important, only 30% have an agreed definition of 'diversity', according to a recent Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) report.

Few Organizations Define Diversity

NZ - McDonald's staff celebrate no more youth rates

(News Release - New Zealand) Around 2000 McDonald's employees have a great reason to celebrate as they start work this week, with youth rates now a thing of the past at McDonald's restaurants nationwide.

McDonald's staff celebrate no more youth rates

USA - Teleworking Feds Survey

While 96% of 664 Federal employees surveyed could be teleworking, only 20% are currently doing so.

Teleworking Feds Could Save $5 billion In Commuting Costs

Canada - Employees' Aspirations

Canadians are most attracted by jobs in the government and entertainment sectors according to a new workplace survey conducted by Ipsos Reid for RBC. Conversely, the least desirable employment opportunities are in the accounting, financial services and trade sectors.

Canadian Employees' Aspirations

USA - Telecommuting

Employees aged 18-34 are twice as likely to prefer flexible working conditions than older employees.

Younger Workers Keener On Web Commuting

UK - Redundancy Pay

The TUC is today (Friday) calling on the Chancellor to increase the weekly limit on statutory redundancy pay from £330 to £500 in the forthcoming Budget as a major step towards restoring the real value of the limit when it was first introduced at £40 in 1965. (News Release)

Time to restore redundancy pay value

USA - Job Satisfaction Survey

State and local public sector workers under age 40 focused more on career (job security, opportunities, training) than their older colleagues and were also more likely to actively look for work elsewhere.

Job Satisfaction Survey

Brunei - Trade Union Denial

A new ITUC report on core labour standards in Brunei Darussalam issued today to coincide with the country's trade policy review at the WTO condemns the lack of trade union activity in this country. (News Release)

Denial of free trade union existence in Brunei

UK - IiP May Contribute 'Little If Anything'

A significant number of minority groups are disadvantaged with regard to training provision in workplaces with Investors in People (IiP) accreditation compared to those without the award.

IiP May Contribute 'Little If Anything'

USA - 'Surface Diversity'

Research by the non-profit RAND Corporation has found that companies recognized for their commitment to diversity may demonstrate best practice as identified in existing literature but do not always achieve a high degree of diversity in reality.

Companies Opt For Surface Diversity

NZ - HRINZ HR Awards

The Human Resources Institute of New Zealand (HRINZ) has announced the winners of the 2007/08 HRINZ HR Awards at a black tie gala dinner and award presentation in Wellington last week.

HRINZ HR Awards

NZ - More Jobs For Older Employees

Workers aged 65 years and above were the employment group with the highest increase in both filled jobs and average mean quarterly earnings in the five years up to December 2006, according to Statistics New Zealand.

More Jobs For Older Employees

Pacific - Solomon Islands Women Taking the Lead

A recent visit by international gender experts from Australia's international development agency, AusAID, noted that women working within the Solomon Islands Prison Service were very active in promoting policies so that men and women are treated equally.

Solomon Islands Women Taking the Lead

UK - Employment Law Updates

February 11 2008 Enews

* Holiday pay and sick leave
* Recurrence of a disability
* Retirement of partner was not age discrimination
* Recruiting Foreign Nationals and the Points Based System FREE SEMINAR

February 19 2008 Enews

* Agency worker was not an employee
* Expired warning can be taken into account
* Disability discrimination by association

UK - Unpaid Overtime

People working in the media sector such as journalists, public relations officers, photographers and broadcasters are giving away an average of £5,884 a year in unpaid overtime, according to a TUC analysis of official statistics.


Media Professionals Donate £6K In Unpaid Overtime

Australia - Industrial Relations Bills

The Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Bill 2008 was introduced into the Australian Federal Parliament on February 13 by Julia Gillard, the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.


Industrial Relations Bills

Asia - Tourism Jobs In Demand

Recruitment and executive search specialist TMS Asia-Pacific is predicting another lean year ahead for Asia ’s hospitality and tourism sector employers. (News Release)


Job-heavy tourism environment to intensify demands on tight talent pool in 2008

South Africa - HRsmart has record year

HRsmart, a leading provider of integrated talent management technology solutions, announces impressive growth at its South African subsidiary, HRsmart Africa. Executives in Africa attribute the growth to HRsmart’s ability to tailor the solution to market needs, the application’s reliability, local premium support and their integrated approach to Talent Management, a growing need within the South African market. (News Release)

HRsmart South Africa Exceeds Debut Year Growth Expectations

USA - IHRIM Webinar

Failing to comply with labor-related legislation these days can cost companies millions of dollars in penalties and fines. Examples abound of companies named in class-action lawsuits related to violations of federal or state wage and employment laws. (News Release)

Learn How to Employ Enterprise Workforce Management Solutions to Eliminate Compliance Risk

NZ - Unemployment Rate

(News Release) In seasonally adjusted terms, the unemployment rate was at its lowest level in the December 2007 quarter since the survey began in March 1986, Statistics New Zealand said today. The survey also recorded the highest number of people in employment and in the labour force, as well as the highest labour force participation rate.

Unemployment Rate Drops To 3.4 Percent

International Cultural Differences

Understanding and accepting cultural differences is essential if you want to work around the world and experience working life in different countries. For a business it is also important to be aware of how new and existing staff work together and therefore utilize the global talent pool that is available. Pauline Redpath, Director of international recruitment consultancy, Source People, explains how best to overcome the issues businesses and individuals can face when working in different cultures. (News Release)

Cultural challenges in a global workplace

Canada - B.C. Project Aims To Offset Employee Shortages

Launch of a two-year pilot project aimed at foreign workers, intended to offset serious employee shortages in tourism/hospitality and trucking.

B.C. Project Aims To Offset Employee Shortages

Revised Bestseller Book Selections

New book selections are available at:

Computing Books

Entrepreneurship

Management Books