UK - Employee relations

TUC New Year Message for 2006

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber's New Year Messages focuses on pensions as the major issue for 2006.

Job Interviews

Be Ready to Answer the Top 10 Job Interview Questions

The answers that you provide to the questions during the interview will demonstrate what the employer is most interested in: your confidence, skills, and knowledge of the job.

UK - Employment situation

Employment Statistics

More people moving into the job market, increasing both employment and unemployment levels.

Australia - Employment situation

Unemployment down by 0.1% to 5.1%

Seasonally adjusted, the number of people in employment rose by 28,000 to 10,030,400 in November.

UK - Scottish graduates

First destinations for Scottish graduates

Four out of 5 new graduates from Scottish universities and colleges are taking jobs in Scotland - and 90% of Scottish graduates are doing so.

Canada - Employment situation

Lowest unemployment in three decades

Statistics Canada reports that unemployment fell by 0.2% to 6.4% in October - the lowest rate in three decades.

USA - Employment situation

Unemployment rate remains at 5%.

Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 215,000 in November after two months of little job growth.

UK - Top Management Jobs

Top Executives Losing Out?

Watson Wyatt's 2005 Executive Reward Survey shows that, on average, FTSE 100 executives have seen falls in overall pay packages this year.


British Airways Cuts Management Jobs

British Airways has announced plans to re-structure the business and cut 35% (357) of its 1,715 management jobs by March 2008.

Stress

Stress is associated with a number of physical conditions including back-pain, susceptibility to viruses, chronic fatigue syndrome and autoimmune disease.

More at: Stress in the 21st Century

UK - employment situation

Employment Statistics

Employment is showing considerable growth and the level of unemployment is broadly flat at 4.7%.

Employee relations

New section in HR Topics about aspects of employee relations:

• Conflict, bargaining, involvement and well-being


• Employee relations as an activity


• Conflict


• Tribunals and arbitration systems


• The negotiating process


• Models of bargaining


• Employee involvement


• Employee involvement in practice


• Work-life balance


• Health and safety


• Stress

Overview of HRM

The final part of the HR Topics section has been re-built. New pages as follows:

• Overview of HRM


• The status and significance of HRM


• HRM and globalization


• HRM and 'best practice'


• Driving forces of HRM


• The impact of HRM


• What next?

UK - Pay

Gender Pay Gap Narrows

The median gender pay gap has fallen from 17.4% in 1998 to 13.2% in 2005. However, gaps between public and private sector workers and high and low earners are widening.

Australia - Employment situation

Unemployment up by 0.1% to 5.2%

Seasonally adjusted, the number of people in employment fell by 19,800 to 10,005,400 in October.

Canada - Employment situation

Lowest unemployment in three decades

Statistics Canada reports that unemployment fell by 0.1% to 6.6% in October - the lowest rate in three decades.

USA - Employment situation

Hurricanes had little effect on labor market conditions in October.

Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that payroll employment was little changed in October, and the rate of unemployment fell marginally to 5.0%.

Canada - Wellness

Alberta - Premier's Award for Healthy Workplaces

The Premier's Award for Healthy Workplaces is open to all employers in Alberta and recognizes Alberta employers with healthy workplace programs.

HR careers

The myths about HR careers

A new CIPD survey finds most HR professionals are happy with their career choice and would make the same choice if they started all over again.

Australia - Poverty and jobseeking

Jobseekers need better support

A new report from the Brotherhood of St Laurence, Melbourne Citymission and Hanover Welfare Services concludes that Australia's most disadvantaged job seekers are being given a raw deal under the Federal Government's Personal Support Programme (PSP).

UK - Age Discrimination

Age discrimination still rife

A survey of 2682 managers and HR professionals has shown that age discrimination is still commonplace.

UK - Unionising migrant workers

Better deals for Polish workers

A Polish union official joins the North West TUC to help Polish workers get a better deal at work.

UK - Health and safety

TUC responds to report on UK's poor health and safety record

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber welcomed a report from the the Crime and Society Foundation which concludes that unions are key to tackling the UK's poor health and safety record

Australia - Employment situation

Unemployment up by 0.1% to 5.1%

Seasonally adjusted, the number of people in employment fell by 42,300 to 10,022,800 in September.

UK - Employment situation

Employment Statistics

Employment rises by 103,000 over the previous quarter and unemployment also falls marginally.

Australia - Industrial relations

IR pincer movement to catch the poor?

The Brotherhood of St Laurence today warned that Australia's poorest households were at risk of being caught in a pincer movement between the Federal Government's Industrial Relations changes and its Welfare to Work strategy

Canada - Employment situation

31,000 more employed in the last quarter

Statistics Canada reports that unemployment fell by 0.1% to 6.7% in September - amongst the lowest in three decades.

USA - Employment situation

Hurricane Katrina adversely affected labor market conditions in September but effects not quantifiable yet.

Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that payroll employment was little changed in September, and the unemployment rate rose to 5.1%.

UK - Minimum wage

National minimum wage increases to £5.05

The national minimum wage rates rise today

UK - Employment tribunals

Businesses losing confidence in tribunal system, say CBI

A report from the CBI (the employers' organisation) shows that British businesses have major concerns about the complexity of the new employment tribunal procedures despite a fall in the number of tribunal cases since the reforms were introduced last October.

Australia - Pacific Internet HR manager

Pacific Internet Limited, has appointed Louisa Gregory as their new Human Resources Manager. Details at:


New Human Resources Manager for Pacific Internet

UK - Reports

Two recent government reports are described here:

Factors Affecting the Labour Market Participation of Older Workers: Qualitative Research

New Report Focuses on Local Labour Markets

EU legislation

TUC Condemns Shelving of Temp Directive

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber criticised the announcement from Brussels that the EU's better regulation initiative will lead to the scrapping or shelving of the draft temporary agency workers directive.

Australia - Workplace relations

Deep divisions over workplace relations changes

Australia is deeply divided over changes to workplace relations legislation, according to the September 2005 Sensis® Consumer Report

UK - Skills

Government Presiding Over the 'Dumbing Down' of the UK Economy Says Union Chief

By failing to implement the best European working standards and importing the worst, the UK government is turning the UK into a third world economy says Derek Simpson, General Secretary, of Amicus.

UK - Skills

Passport Means Jobs for Cleaners

From today cleaners may need a skills passport to get work, according to industry voice, the British Cleaning Council (BCC).

UK - Flexibilty

Call centre worker receives £19,500 compensation after being denied flexible working

Communications giant Telewest has agreed to pay £19,500 in compensation after refusing to grant employee Deborah Clarke suitable flexible working arrangements to allow her to care for her baby.

UK - employee relations

Amicus Warns Companies to Comply With Information and Consultation Regulations

Amicus Assistant General Secretary, Tony Burke, warned today that companies that tried to get their employees to sign inferior information and consultation agreements would face a legal challenge from the union.

Australia - Flexibility

Teleworking in Australia

A recent report indicates that almost a third of Australians have experience of telework.

UK - Flexibility

Britain's Hidden Brain Drain

Britain's flexible and part-time working arrangements are failing to meet the needs of working women and men, leading to 5.6 million part-time workers – 4 out of 5 of Britain's 7 million part-time workers - working in jobs that do not use their potential, according to the results of a year-long investigation by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC). Over three and a half million of these actually used higher qualifications or skills or had more supervision/management of staff in previous jobs, and a further 2 million believe they could 'easily work at a higher level'.

Canada (Ontario) - Computer operator guidelines

Health and Safety Guidelines for Computer Operators

The Ontario Ministry of Labour, Occupational Health and Safety Division has prepared a Health and Safety guideline for computer operators.

UK unemployment

Employment Statistics

Employment rises by 83,000 over the previous quarter but unemployment also rises marginally.

UK - MG Rover

MG Rover Workers Struggle to Find Work

More than six months after the closure of MG Rover in Birmingham, 60% of the workforce are still out of work.

UK - Skills

MOT Milestone Sees First 1,000 Car Technicians Sign up to New National Skills Tests

The UK's first national voluntary assessment system for technicians, Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA), has seen 1,000 technicians register since launching in June.

Canada - Unemployment rate

28,000 more employed in August

Statistics Canada reports that unemployment remained at 6.8% in August - amongst the lowest in three decades.

UK - Pensions

Amicus say the Government's Pension Assistance Scheme Will Fail Those in Need

Amicus say that only 20% of the people who have lost all or part of their pension entitlement after the winding-up of their schemes will benefit from the government's Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) meant to help them.

Australia/New Zealand - Best employers

Australia and New Zealand's Best Employers

Hewitt Associates, the global HR services firm, has revealed its 2005 Hewitt Best Employers in Australia and New Zealand results. The study is jointly managed by Hewitt Associates, The Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) and AFR BOSS
magazine.

UK - Offshore workers

Amicus Push for Better Rights for Offshore Workers

Amicus, the union for oil workers, met with MPs and MEPs looking at the oil and gas industry yesterday to insist for better entitlements for people working offshore.

Australia - Employment

Unemployment stays at 5.0%

Seasonally adjusted, the number of people in employment rose by 32,600 to 10,067,500 in August.

UK - Voluntary sector funding

Voluntary Sector Funding Threatens Jobs and Vital Services

The voluntary sector funding regime is failing, threatening jobs and jeopardising service provision for some of the most vulnerable people in our society says Amicus.

USA - Employment situation

Employment Situation

Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nonfarm payroll employment increased by 169,000 in August, and the unemployment rate fell marginally to 4.9%

USA - Employee Assistance Programs

Long-term disability and employee assistance

Members can access an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering 'solutions-focused consultation' for a wide range of personal issues.

Canada - Saskatchewan minimum wage

Saskatchewan Minimum Wage Increases To $7.05

Saskatchewan's minimum wage will be increased by 40 cents an hour on Thursday, September 1 2005.

Canada - Managing Diversity

An index page for articles about Managing Diversity posted on HRM Guide Canada has been created at:

Canadian Managing Diversity Articles

Career Advancement

How to Reach Outside Yourself to Advance Your Career

As adults, we tend to forget the value of reaching out to others when we are in need of assistance.

UK - Disability Rights

Disability Rights Commission handles 500,000 enquiries in 5 years

Enquiries have surged since new disability legislation came into force in October 2004.

UK - Employment relations

An index page of selected articles from 2001-2005 has been posted at:

UK Employment Relations Articles

Victorian HR

Some articles from 1858-1859 which some people may find interesting/amusing. Count yourselves lucky that you are not Victorian domestic servants:

A Victorian Domestic Servant

The Victorian Employment Relationship

Mutual Obligations of Master and Servant

The Victorian Apprentice

The Victorian Character Reference

Victorian Appointments - including the Admiralty and Custom House

More Victorian Appointments - including the Inland Revenue, Post Office, Bank of England and East India House.

UK - Job Ads

Just 6% of job ads mention pensions

Employers are keeping quiet about their pension provision - or lack of provision - for new recruits, according to a TUC annual survey.

HR People

Nan Zieleniec Appointed Senior VP of HR at Developers Diversified Realty

Developers Diversified Realty, a Cleveland-based real estate investment trust (REIT), has appointed Nan Zieleniec as Senior Vice President of Human Resources.

USA - Real earnings

Real earnings
reference page has been updated for July 2005 figures.

UK - Applicant Tracking

Cost v. Time

A quarter of the UK's workforce now expect to find their next job online but the UK's recruiters are still behind the game when it comes to their ability to realise and leverage the benefits of online applications.

Canada (New Brunswick) - Physicians pay increased

New Brunswick agrees physicians pay plan

The new agreement covers the period from Oct. 1, 2004, to March 31, 2008.

UK - Psychology of Management

Psychology of Management

The CIPD has developed a Certificate in the Psychology of Management designed to help those involved in managing people to understand employee behaviour and offer alternative and practical ways of achieving change.

Australia - Balancing Work and Family

ACTU - Balancing Work and Family

The ACTU says that the Howard Government’s own research report shows its individual
contracts (AWAs) are hostile to work and family balance

Canada - Job Strain and Retirement

Link Between Job Strain and Retirement

Job strain, caused by a combination of a heavy workload, time constraints, conflicting demands and lack of control, may be an overlooked factor in an employee’s decision to retire.

Canada (Quebec) - Employment law updates

New Anti-Smoking Bill Targets Workplaces and Public Spaces

(Quebec) On June 17, 2005, Bill 112 received Royal Assent and will come into force on May 31, 2006 with exceptions. Employers should start developing an agenda for effective compliance with the new requirements.

UK - Flexibility

Give us a 6.00am start

Many British workers would welcome the introduction of a 6am start, if they could go home earlier in exchange

USA - Absenteeism

Playing Hooky

An absenteeism survey conducted for Hudson showed that nearly a third (30%) of US workers admitted to taking a 'sick' day when they were not ill.

Decision Making

You can view any decision making as solving a problem - in fact any kind of thinking task could be called problem solving.

More at: Decisions and Problem-Solving

Job Satisfaction

Women are more satisfied with their jobs

Recent research in Australia and New Zeakand by Human Synergistics, a specialist NZ leadership and culture company, shows that men tend to be more dissatisfied at work.

HR Glossary

Definitions of 60+ human resource terms are available at:

HR Glossary A

HR Glossary B

HR Glossary C

HR Glossary D

UK HRD Articles

An index page has been created for UK human resource development articles published on HRM Guide between 2003 and 2005 at:
UK Human Resource Development Articles

US Recruitment articles

An index page of articles published on HRM Guide USA 2003-2005 has been posted at US Recruitment Articles

UK Recruitment Articles

An index page for articles on recruitment published on hrmguide.co.uk has been posted at: UK Recruitment Articles

Applicant tracking

USA 90% vs. UK 10%

Only around 10 per cent of HR professionals in the UK within large organisations use applicant tracking systems, as opposed to approximately 90 per cent in the US.

Canada - Job market

An index page has been created for articles about the Canadian job market published on HRM Guide between 2001 and 2005.

See: Canadian Job Market Articles

5 Hot Resume Tips

5 Hot Resume Tips

The purpose of a resume is not to land you a job, but rather to get you in the door for an interview.

Australia - Retail Careers

Retail careers are rarely intentional

Retail is rarely a first choice of career, with most people who work in retail having 'fallen into it'.

UK - Age discrimination

Age discrimination proposals

The UK Government has published draft measures to give over 65s the same rights to unfair dismissal and redundancy payments as their younger counterparts under new measures to outlaw age discrimination in the workplace.

Career Networking

Build Your Rolodex of Networking Contacts

How important is networking in your job search? Take a look at the astonishing numbers surrounding how job hunters ultimately become gainfully employed.

Australia - Recruitment Ads

Newspaper Ads Down, Web Ads Down in June

Major Metropolitan newspaper job advertisements were down 1.9% in June and internet job advertisements fell by 2.5% according to an ANZ report.

Canada (Alberta) - Employment of minors

Restrictions on the Employment of Minors

(Alberta) Additional guidelines regarding hiring of employees between the ages of 12 to 14 in the Food and Restaurant industry

USA - Fashion at Work

Fashion at Work

Two-thirds of women say designer brand names are not important at work, according to a Fashion at Work survey. But that doesn't stop women from buying them.

Australia - HR events

HRIS & Employee Self Service Performance Measurement Course
September 29th & 30th, Sydney, Australia

AND

November 23rd & 24th, Melbourne, Australia

More information at: HR Conferences and Events

UK - Managing Diversity

Armed Forces sexual harassment to be addressed

Secretary of State for Defence John Reid has signed an agreement with the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) to address sexual harassment in Britain's Armed Forces.

UK - Higher education

Academics and students abuse non-teaching staff, say UNISON

Support staff in Higher Education are treated with very little respect for the services they provide to academics and students according to a UNISON survey.

Australia - Industrial relations

Unions launch advertising campaign

The ACTU and Australian unions have launched an $8 million advertising campaign attacking the Howard Government's industrial relations changes.

USA - Health care

Employees negative about health care options

Fear and anxiety drive purchasing decisions, according to a Towers Perrin study.

Women and leadership

Trafficking in Trust: The Art and Science of Human Knowledge Networks

"I've come to realize that the only way to inspire change, stir activity, or get anything done at all is to explore the hidden world of social networks-"grey arkets" of rights, riddles, and rituals", says Karen Stephenson. This is a three part article exploring the issues of women, leadership and social networks.

Canada (Ontario) - Employment law updates

Three new Ontario employment law articles:

Amendments to Labour Relations Act Receives Royal Assent

Bill 144 was passed on the last day of the Parliamentary session, and was the focus of harsh criticism from the labour movement.


Legislation to Ban Mandatory Retirement Introduced

When enacted, the legislation will reverse workplace policies and collective agreements that allow businesses and unions to discriminate against older employees and force them to leave their jobs when they turn 65.

Province Wide Smoking Ban Adopted

The new legislation establishes a province-wide smoking ban in all enclosed public places in Ontario, including workplaces.

HR People

Sara Lacombe appointed senior HR VP at FTI Consulting

She will lead FTI's human resources department, partnering with senior management to identify and recruit the best professional talent, address organizational opportunities and augment FTI's professional development program.

Communication

Communication gulf between HR and Marketing

58% of marketers do not feel that HR understands what the Marketing department does on a daily basis.

UK - Check your applications

Check your applications
A quarter of British employers withdrew one or more job offers in the last year because of lies or misrepresentations on applications, according to the CIPD's annual Recruitment and Retention Survey.

UK - flexibility

TUC attacks long hours culture
The TUC's submission to the UK Government's consultation on flexible working says that the country's long hours culture is damaging employees's personal lives and reinforcing the gender pay gap.

HRM Books

The human resource management book selection has been revised to include some newly published HR books. See:

Human Resource Management Books (International site)

Human Resource Management Books (UK site)

UK - Learning survey

Learning survey

A quarter of British office workers blame their 'David Brent' style bosses for holding back their development, according to recent research conducted for the online learning specialist, SkillSoft.

eHR and Web-based HR Systems

This article has been modified.

"What an exciting time to be in HR!" says Patricia A. K. Fletcher in her introduction to Chapter 1 of The Brave New World of eHR: Human Resources in the Digital Age (Pfeiffer/Wiley, 2005). HR has moved from an administrative, support function to the heart of strategic management. And the use of technology is the key to that transformation.

Learn more at:

eHR and Web-based HR Systems

UK - Rewards

A new index page for UK articles about rewards, pay, benefits and compensation has been created at:

Rewards

A more academic section is being opened up over the next few days at:

Reward Management

HR Topics (UK site)

New index pages have been created at the following locations:

Introduction to HRM

HRM and the business environment

The employment market

Organizational Human Resource Management

Culture and commitment

Strategic Human Resource Management

Resources: plans and strategies

Recruitment and selection

Managing diversity

Performance management

Developing people

Employee relations

HRM Guide UK

The main index page for the UK site at:
www.hrmguide.co.uk
has been simplified by moving articles for Quarter 4 (Oct-Dec) 2004 to a new page at:
Q4 Human Resource Articles.

Learning and rewards

Learning pays

Education and experience have increasing value in the knowledge-based economy. What is a degree worth?

Enlightened power

What marks Enlightened Power? It is a focus on the willingness and ability to shift to new contexts in a fast-changing world. . . its recognition of paradoxes and polarities that must be reckoned with. . .its assessment of the ways inclusive organizations and their leaders are redefining the workplace. . . and its emphasis on linking productive work outcomes with positive and sustainable change to benefit all stakeholders.

More at The Community Practicing "Enlightened Power"

HR People

Patricia Newman appointed HR Director at Bigfoot Interactive

Bigfoot Interactive, an e-mail marketing provider has appointed Patricia Newman as human resources director.

Dan Ginsberg Named Senior VP of Human Resources at Rock of Ages

Senior HR job with a focus on expansion.

Canada-Saskatchewan Immigration Agreement

New Canada-Saskatchewan Immigration Agreement
Canada and Saskatchewan have signed a new immigration agreement, replacing the original Canada-Saskatchewan Agreement of March 16, 1998.

USA - Staffing companies

98 Staffing Companies Top $100 million a Year
Last year saw a 12% increase in the number of public and private U.S. staffing companies with revenues of $100 million or more.

Australia - Workplace relations poll

Workplace relations poll
The ACTU has released a national survey showing that public opinion is against the Federal Government’s plans for radical changes to workplace relations.

UK - Older workers

Companies' Attitudes to Older Workers Must Change, say Hewitt

Hewitt is calling for a radical re-think by companies to their approaches to reward, organisation and development.

Canada (Saskatchewan) - Trade Union Act

Saskatchewan - Proposed Amendments to the Trade Union Act Passed
Employees and employers now have a mechanism to ensure first collective greements are settled in a timely fashion.

Canada (Saskatchewan) - Whistleblower protection

Saskatchewan - Improved Whistleblower Protection Passed
Employees who report wrongdoing now have even stronger protection following amendments to the Labour Standards Act introduced by the Saskatchewan government on November 19, 2004.

UK - Trade union recognitions

Union recognitions stabilise
179 union recognition agreements were achieved in 2004, according to a TUC report.
This compares with 166 recognition deals in the previous year, suggesting that the five year old legal right to recognition is settling in.

HR Outsourcing

HR Outsourcing
Outsourcing basic human resource services can be the key to achieving a more influential and strategic role for the HR function. But the decision has to be taken carefully.

USA - Commitment

A new index page of articles related to the topic of Commitment at Work has been posted at:
www.hrmguide.com/commitment/

HR Technology

Two new articles:

Kenexa bStrategic Designed for Informed HR Business Decisions
Kenexa bStrategic goes beyond simple reporting, allowing users to access data from third party sources including: recruiting systems, performance management systems, financial systems and human resource management systems.

Control Module Adds Wireless Functionality and Four-Inch Graphic Display to its Genus Terminals
The company claims that with a four-inch graphic screen, employee self-service is extremely user-friendly and provides employees with access to their personnel information, including results of their shifts, vacation schedules, work orders, 401K status and company medical benefits forms.

USA - Top perks

Forget the company car - laptops are the best perk
A survey of 994 outplaced employees and managers found that far more of today's job hunters want to receive a laptop than a company car from their next employer.

Canada (Ontario) - Absenteeism case

Attendance Management Human Rights Versus Lean Operations - Lessons Learned from Keays v. Honda Canada Inc.
Attendance management is a perennial problem for human resource managers. The problem is compounded when the employee purports to have a medical condition that is poorly understood, hard to prove (or disprove) and is intermittently absent. Honda Canada Inc. made some terrible mistakes in the case of one of its employees, Kevin Keays. A trial judge awarded the employee two years notice and $500,000 in punitive damages.

This is a fascinating article with implications for anyone interested in the management of absenteeism - not just for people in Canada. Might make a useful seminar case.

Is Your Resume On Target?

Is Your Resume On Target?
The most qualified candidate is not always the one to get an interview - the one with the strongest resume is.

Canada (Ontario) - Disability severance

Ontario Court of Appeal Overturns ESA Severance Exclusion for Disabled
On May 4, 2005, in a precedent-setting decision, the Ontario Court of Appeal overturned a provision in the Employment Standards Act that allows employers to deny severance packages to disabled workers who can no longer continue in their jobs
because of an illness or injury that "frustrates" the employment contract.

Canada (Nova Scotia) - Safety

New Safety Programs for Employers
Nova Scotia has one of the highest workplace injury rates in Canada.

Canada (Quebec) - Pension Plans

Upcoming Changes to Pension Plans
On May 5, 2005, the Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity for Quebec tabled proposed legislation, Bill 102, An Act Respecting the Funding of Certain Pension Plans, to temporarily relax certain rules relating to the funding of defined benefit pension plans and defined benefit contribution plans.

What is strategy?

The page on What is strategy? has been revised.

USA - HR People

LivHOME Appoints Maureen Kehan Vice President of Human Resources
Maureen Keehan's appointment supports the continuing growth of a leading at-home assisted-living services company.

Australia - Disability

Work a major source of self-esteem for people with disabilities

Welcoming Federal Government’s intention to encourage people with disabilities to join the workforce, the Australian Psychological Society warned that long-term support is needed to ensure this change does not become a repeat of deinstitutionalisation.

HR People - John Gordon appointed Corporate VP of Human Resources at Millipore

John Gordon appointed Corporate VP of Human Resources at Millipore
John Gordon will lead a global HR organization supporting a workforce of 4,400 employees in 31 countries.

Canada - Unemployment statistics

Unemployment rate down to 6.8% in April
Statistics Canada reports that unemployment edged down by 0.1% to 6.8%. This is the lowest unemployment rate since December 2000.

How to Ask for the Job

How to Ask for the Job
Most candidates are intimidated to ask for the job because they are afraid of a "no" response. But there are a few ways you can broach the subject without actually saying, "Can I please have the job?"

Canada - Wage Earner Protection Program

Wage Earner Protection Program
This program is intended to help protect workers by providing a guaranteed payment of wages owed up to $3000 should their employer declare bankruptcy.

Australia (New South Wales) - Employee surveillance

New South Wales - Legislation on employee surveillance
The Workplace Surveillance Bill was introduced in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly on Wednesday. It will make it an offence for employers to engage in covert surveillance of emails and website access or the use of tracking devices without a court order.

Survey Finds Writing is Key to Workplace Success

Survey Finds Writing is Key to Workplace Success
A recent survey of America's top businesses reveals that being able to write well is essential for success, especially in industries that will have the greatest growth in the future.

'Whole Person' Hiring Assessments

'Whole Person' Hiring Assessments
Brainbench roll out assessment tools designed to predict employee success more accurately by measuring the specific mix of personality, skills, abilities and past employment behavior for over 150 jobs.

Canada - Employee Rights During Bankruptcies

Employee Rights During Bankruptcies
There are roughly 10,000 bankruptcies per year, many of which leave behind employees who are owed back wages, benefits and pension contributions.

Webhire Workforce Intelligence

Webhire Workforce Intelligence
'Webhire Workforce Intelligence enables corporate executives, hiring managers, recruiters and other talent stakeholders to fine-tune hiring practices and talent management programs by analyzing critical talent management metrics and trends against internal and external benchmarks.'

Canada - Alberta minimum wage

Alberta - Minimum Wage Set to Increase September 1

Alberta’s minimum wage will increase from $5.90 to $7.00 an hour on September 1, 2005.

UK - Corporate killing legislation

Appeal for Corporate Killing Legislation
The Amicus trade union is using Workers Memorial Day to urge the introduction of new workplace corporate manslaughter legislation early in the new Parliament.

Australia - Employers in fantasy land

Employers in fantasy land
80% of Australian businesses believe they are seen as great employers offering positive and rewarding workplace environments. But 63% of job seekers say that employers are ‘not delivering’ on expectations.

UK - Top managers' pay

UK top managers (almost) the best paid in Europe
UK senior managers are beaten only by the Swiss when it comes to the highest pay levels in Europe, according to a Watson Wyatt on compensation trends in 17 Western European countries.

Planning for a job loss

Planning For A Job Loss Could Prevent One Says Life Coach
The first part of your plan is to achieve better success in your current job to increase the likelihood of staying employed.

References

Excellent References Can Be the Clincher
References can be the decisive factor on whether you are offered a position.

Canada - employment law articles

Four new articles posted:


Disciplinary Probation - Disciplinary probation is a process for addressing employee misconduct.


Amendments Proposed to Workers' Compensation Act - On March 9, 2005, the Alberta government tabled Bill 15, the Workers' Compensation Amendment Act.


Pension Legislation Provides More Protection and Transparency for Members -
Introduced in the Legislature March 23rd, Bill 35, the Employment Pension Plans Amendment Act, will give private sector pension plan members better access to information such as the financial status of their pension plans to ensure improved transparency and accountability.


Criminal Code Charges under Bill C-45 Withdrawn - On March 3, 2005, in Newmarket, Ontario, Criminal Code charges were withdrawn against the construction supervisor who became the first person in the country charged under the Criminal Code’s new Health and Safety criminal liability of organizations and individuals who direct work, Bill C-45.

USA - Equal Pay

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on Equal Pay Day.

Pelosi - equal pay as a family issue

Job searching

When Well-written Resumes Don't Work
Telltale signs that your job search may be in jeopardy and the quick fixes you can incorporate to increase the chances your job search will be successful.

Job market for MBA graduates

Dramatic Improvement in MBA Job Market
The job market for MBA graduates has been sluggish for several years but a recent GMAC survey finds that opportunities for MBAs are increasing rapidly and are set for a dramatic improvement during 2005.

Australia - national minimum wage

ACTU attacks Federal Government plan to scrap annual minimum wage case

"This would be a backward step for working Australians. It would threaten the living standards of working families who are already struggling to keep their heads above water."

Australia - Employee expectations

Employee Expectations

Organisations are ill-prepared for Generation Y employees

Canada (Saskatchewan) Pension Benefits Regulations Amendments

Saskatchewan - Pension Benefits Regulations Amendments
The new provisions will enable employers and unions to develop a flexible pension plan.

Canada - Overtime in Alberta

In Alberta, under the Employment Standards Code, overtime is treated on a daily and/or weekly status. More at:
Alberta - Treatment of Overtime

USA - Appearance-based discrimination

Appearance-based discrimination
The US is divided over the regulation of appearance at work - including weight, hairstyles, clothing and body piercing - according to a recent national survey.

Canada - Manitoba Minimum Wage

Manitoba - Minimum Wage Increase Announced
Manitoba’s current minimum wage of $7.00 an hour will increase by 25 cents to $7.25 an hour on April 1, 2005.

Human Resource Development Books

The international version of HRD Books has been updated.

Australia - Learning and Development

An index page of Australian Learning and Development articles has been created at Learning and Development in Australia

Employment Relations Books

The UK version of Employee Relations Books has been updated.

Human Resource Development Books

The UK version of HRD Books has been updated.

Canada - Employment Law Updates

Four new articles today.

* Several provinces including Alberta and Ontario have developed a
national identity theft kit that can be used by businesses to protect customer data
and comply with federal and provincial privacy legislation. Article at:

Identity Theft Kit for Businesses

* The federal and Quebec government have signed an agreement that will as of January 1, 2006, allow Quebec to have its own parental leave insurance (EI) program. Article at:
Parental Leave Agreement Signed

* On February 18, 2005, the Labour Standards Division of the Nova Scotia Environment and Labour Department tabled their report Averaging Review which includes three recommendations on the flexibility of managing overtime hours in the province for consideration. Article at:

Overtime Averaging Report Review

* Based on the recommendations of the Minister of Industry, the Canadian Governor in Council is proposing to declare the Ontario Personal Health Information Protection Act, (PHIPA) substantially similar to the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). Article at:

Health Information Privacy Legislation of Ontario Exemption Order

USA - Minority-Owned Businesses

Minority-owned businesses expand, contract, and survive at different rates from non-minority owned business, according to a study from the Office of Advocacy of the U.S.
Small Business Administration.

Details at: Minority-Owned and Non-Minority Businesses have Different Characteristics

USA - Women redefining power

Women are redefining power
The conventional belief is that women are often ambivalent about power, but a recent survey finds that the vast majority of businesswomen like power and actively pursue it.

Job Satisfaction

Showing up for the Paycheck?
A recent report by The Conference Board shows that job satisfaction is declining among workers of all ages and across all income brackets.

UK - Public Sector Employment

CIPD gives qualified approval to new job statistics. See:
Public Sector Employment

Who's Reading Your Resume?

It seems that everyone is an expert when it comes to resume writing.

More at: Who's Reading Your Resume?

Canada - Keeping Your Staff

A recent survey found that only a half of businesses seemed to be concerned about employee retention. More at:
Planning Ahead: Keeping Your Staff

UK Workers Have Little Trust in Bosses

The attitudes of British employees towards senior managers are significantly more negative than those of their counterparts in the USA, with fewer than a third expressing trust and confidence in their leaders, according to a Watson Wyatt study.

Full article at:
UK Workers Have Little Trust in Bosses

Canada - Dealing with Fragrance Sensitivity in Workplaces

Fragrance sensitivity and other chemicals can become a workplace concern when it leads to absences or a decline in worker productivity. For many employees, being exposed to perfumes and chemicals in the workplace can pose a serious health risk.

More at:
Dealing with Fragrance Sensitivity in Workplaces

Candidates Who Perform Last Finish First

Participants appearing towards the end of juried competitions seem to do better than those performing at the beginning - and this finding has implications for recruitment and selection. Details at:
Candidates Who Perform Last Finish First

Updated page - Interviews

The index page for Interviews at JobSkills.info has been updated with new text and links to articles on the subject of interviews and interviewing.

See: Interviews

Canada (Ontario) - Health and Safety Inspectors will also be Able to Issue Tickets

As of January 15, 2005, the Ontario Ministry of Labour has included the new ticketing tool (on-the-spot offence notices) as part of their enforcement strategy to reduce workplace injuries by 20 percent over four years.

More at:
Health and Safety Inspectors will also be Able to Issue Tickets (Ontario)

Australia - Workplace Relations

What did the Minister actually say? Full text of Kevin Andrews' speech at:


Where do we want workplace relations to be in five years time?

UK - National Minimum Wage to increase

The national minimum wage will rise to £5.05 in October 2005, Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt announced today.

Full details at:
National minimum wage increases

Updated pages - Managing Diversity

Links and content have been updated for pages 1-6 of the Managing Diversity section at:

HRMGuide.net - Managing Diversity

and

HRMGuide.co.uk - Managing Diversity

Canada (Ontario) - Bill 118, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

Discrimination against persons with disabilities is a widely acknowledged
reality in Canada.

Details at:
Bill 118, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

Australia - ACTU submits claim for $26.60 increase in national minimum wage

ACTU submits claim for $26.60 increase in national minimum wage. Unions feel this may be the last ever national wage case of its type.

More at:
ACTU submits claim for $26.60 increase in national minimum wage

Canada (Ontario) Health & Safety Mandatory Posting Required by WSIB and Ministry of Labour

Every workplace is required to have and post a recent copy of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (with the most recent major amendments), and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Poster "In Case of Injury at Work".

More at:
(Ontario) Health & Safety Mandatory Posting Required by WSIB and Ministry of Labour

Upgrade Your Resume

Sometimes a little goes a long way. With a few minor adjustments, your resume can be improved to the point where it ends up in the callback pile as opposed to the trash bin. Full article at: Upgrade Your Resume

Australia - 339 New Work for the Dole Projects

Minister for Workforce Participation, Peter Dutton has announced 339 new Work for the Dole projects across Australia offering 3967 places.

Details at:
339 New Work for the Dole Projects

USA - Wal-Mart Fined for Child Labor Violations

The U.S. Department of Labor has fined Wal-Mart $135,540 in civil money penalties for violating the youth employment provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for allowing teenage workers to operate hazardous equipment.

More at
Wal-Mart Fined for Child Labor Violations

Australia - Hidden unemployment

Hidden Unemployment - Today's official unemployment figures continue to hide the real number of people who want to work in Australia, according to the Brotherhood of St Laurence.

When Cover Letters Get Personal

It's perfectly acceptable to add pizzazz to cover letters in an effort to engage the reader in your story. Taking a business approach while adding a personal touch to the cover letter will certainly make you stand out from other candidates. But many are skeptical about adding a personal story to the cover letter because rumor has it that cover letters should be completely business-oriented. That isn't true. There are occasions when it is appropriate to deviate from what others expect to read, and of course, there are times when you should remain with the "tried and true" method.

More at: When Cover Letters Get Personal

Psychology of Expertise

James Shanteau, psychology professor at Kansas State University, is an expert on the topic of 'experts'. He has been studying expertise since the the 1970's - particularly the decision making of experts.

"I'm more interested in the superior performance. There is much to be learned so that we can all be more effective and do our jobs better," Shanteau said. "By extracting this information, we can teach others so they can be more successful in pursuing professional careers."

Shanteau's definition of an expert is 'a professional who sets the standards for the job; someone who establishes a clear path for others to follow'.

Shanteau described a number of components required of an expert decision maker:

Rest of the article at: The Psychology of Expertise

BT and Accenture Sign 10-Year HR Outsourcing Contract

BT and Accenture have signed a 10-year, £306 million (US$575 million)business process outsourcing (BPO) and transformation contract for human resource (HR) administration services.

Full details at: BT and Accenture Sign 10-Year HR Outsourcing Contract

5 Tips for a Safe Online Job-Search

Conducting a job search using the Internet has definitely transformed how jobseekers contact hiring companies. With the Internet's convenience, a breeding ground for scam artists continues to grow each year as well.

Full article at:
5 Tips for a Safe Online Job-Search

UK - Skills shortages and pay

Skills Shortages Push Up Wages
Pay increased generally in 2004 but the survey indicates a growing gap
between bottom and top end rates.

Canada (Ontario) - Province Wide Smoking Ban

On December 15, 2004, the Ontario government tabled Bill 164, An Act to rename and amend the Tobacco Control Act, 1994, which will repeal the Smoking in the Workplace Act and make complementary amendments to other Acts. This new legislation introduces a province wide smoking ban in all enclosed public places including workplaces in Ontario. This Bill will reduce an individual’s exposure to the harm caused by second hand smoke (which is sometimes called environmental tobacco smoke or ETS) and will eliminate the need for municipal non-smoking by-laws. The proposed legislation, if enacted, will come into force by May 31, 2006.

Full details at
Province Wide Smoking Ban for 2005

What test should I use today? Pros and cons for recruiting managers

Managers involved in recruiting have more possibilities for assessment available now than ever before. These include psychometrics, assessment centres and competency based interviews. Many have their own favourite procedures, whilst being strongly disinclined to use others. With information from publishers, consultants and one's own HR department the choice can be bewildering and may not always be made systematically, with all matters considered. This article discusses some of the issues involved in making such choices.

Full article by Robert Edenborough of KPMG at What test should I use today? Pros and cons for recruiting managers

Australia - Howard Government Skills Crisis Continues

An Australian Labor Party statement criticises the Howard Government's handling of the skills crisis.

More at Howard Government Skills Crisis Continues

USA - Best Companies for Executive Development

General Electric has been ranked as the best company for developing executive talent in a survey by Executive Development Associates.

Full article at: Best Companies for Executive Development

HR Metrics

Using HR metrics

A report by The Conference Board suggests that while few (12%) surveyed organizations make significant use of HR measures to meet strategic targets, 84% of 104 HR executives interviewed in the survey say that they will increase their use of people metrics over the next three years.

The value of lectures

The lecture is probably the most common and yet the most heavily criticised of all learning methods (Bligh, 1998). Learners often favour this method because it is almost entirely passive and demands little from them except the appearance of being awake. Trainers (and budget holders) appreciate that information can be thrown at large numbers of people comparatively cheaply. It is also a wonderful opportunity for those with a streak of extraversion to take the stage and expound on their favourite ideas without the intellectual challenge of debate. But is it an effective method of learning? The didactic nature of the lecture has attracted criticism. For example, in a university context, Barnett (2000: 159) describes the lecture as a:

'... refuge for the faint-hearted ... it keeps channels of communication closed, freezes hierarchy between lecturer and students and removes any responsibility on the student to respond ... the students remain as voyeurs; the lecture remains a comfort zone ... the student watches a performance and is not obliged to engage with it'

Nevertheless, the lecture can be a useful medium through which to convey broad ideas about a particular subject. But the lack of interaction means that misunderstanding may result and clarity on certain issues may not be sought. Success is dependent on a number of factors such as:

Full article at: The Value of Lectures

One Adult in Eleven is an Entrepreneur

73 million people across the globe are either nascent entrepreneurs, or own or manage a young business, according to the sixth annual Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. Directed by London Business School and Babson College and released today, the report is the largest annual measure of entrepreneurial activity worldwide, spanning 34 countries and a total labour force of 784 million people.

More at: One Adult in Eleven is an Entrepreneur

The miracle of learning

Learning is the foundation of human success, as a species and as individuals. We learn from our mothers and our mistakes and our ability to learn allows us to deal with both the familiar and the unexpected. We learn from the moment we are born and continue learning until our very last lesson - death. Without learning we would not be human beings. When we cease to learn, we are humans no more.

More at: The miracle of learning

Canada - Savings are possible without job losses, says CUPE leader

CUPE Ontario President Sid Ryan told the standing committee on finance and economic affairs today that it is time for the McGuinty government to take a fresh approach to meeting its budget challenges by looking at options that do not require cutting services, selling assets or privatizing.

More at:
Savings are possible without job losses, says CUPE leader

Canada - Regulations Changes

With the implementation of federal and provincial privacy legislation such as the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), regulatory clarification is required to ensure the ongoing functions of two verification programs administered by the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) within the Employment Insurance (EI) program: the Automated Earnings Reporting System (AERS) and the Report on Hirings (ROH) Program.

Details at:
Regulations Changes for Verification Programs Administered by the Employment Insurance (EI) Program

UK - Recruitment difficulties to continue

The CIPD's quarterly survey of HR trends and indicators shows that employers believe that recruitment difficulties will continue into the first quarter of 2005, but pay restraint will also continue.

Article at: Recruitment difficulties to continue

Canada - Quebec Legislation Against Psychological Harassment

On June 1, 2004, Quebec became the first North American jurisdiction to include protection against psychological harassment of employees in its Act respecting Labour Standards.

Psychological harassment is defined as:

"Any vexatious behaviour in the form of repeated and hostile or unwanted conduct, verbal comments, actions or gestures, that affect an employee's dignity or psychological integrity and that results in a harmful work environment for the employee. A single serious incidence of such behaviour that has a lasting harmful effect on an employee may also constitute psychological harassment."

More at:
Quebec Legislation Against Psychological Harassment has Nation-Wide Implications

UK - T&G claims first religious discrimination victory

A Leeds tribunal has ruled in favour of T&G member Mohammed Sajwal Khan, who was sacked after he took extended leave to make a once-in-a-lifetime religious pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca.

Mr. Khan had worked for NIC Hygiene as a bus cleaner for more than seven years when he decided to make the pilgrimage, and applied to use all his annual leave allowance. When he did not get a response his union, the T&G, advised him to submit a written request. As Mr. Khan still did not receive a response, his manager said he could assume the leave had been granted. However on his return to the UK from the six-week trip, Mr. Khan was suspended without pay and later sacked.


More at: T&G claims first religious discrimination victory

HRD in small and medium-sized enterprises

Westhead and Storey (1997) consider that training provision varies considerably in small businesses with size being a significant factor. The British small business sector has a long-standing reputation for poor training levels but Westhead and Storey found considerable variations between the smallest (micro-enterprises) and larger SMEs. Smaller firms conducted their training internally with a focus on informal skills learning. Larger SMEs tended to obtain more external, formal training with a goal of obtaining recognised qualifications.

More at: HRD in small and medium-sized enterprises

New Zealand - Employment Confidence

The Westpac McDermott Miller Employment Confidence Index (a quarterly sample of 1500 representative New Zealand Households) indicates increased Employment Confidence.

With an index rating of over 100 indicating positive feelings, and an index rating of under 100 indicating a negative mood, the actual index for the 4th Quarter of 2004 increased from 130.6 (Q3) to 133.8. The Employment Confidence Index is based on the following questions:

1. Whether people feel that jobs are plentiful or hard to get right now.
2. What job opportunities will be like in a year's time
3. Whether they are earning more or less now compared to a year ago
4. What their earnings will be like in a year's time
5. How secure they feel in their present job

Questions 1 and 3 also provide data for the Current Employment Conditions Index and questions 2, 4 and 5 form the basis for an Employment Expectations Index. There was a sharp increase in the former as employees rated current employment conditions as favourable. 66% said jobs were plentiful in the December quarter compared with 59% in June, while people claiming jobs were hard to get fell to 13% (16% in June). Similarly, 40.2% said they earned more this year than last, compared with 35.5% in June.

However, the Employment Expectations Index is not quite so favourable as fewer (41%, compared to 44.8% in September) expect their incomes to improve in the coming year.

On HRM Guide at: New Zealand - Employment Confidence

Australia - Qantas overseas

Following a number of media articles about relocation of Qantas jobs overseas, the company confirmed that it was reviewing opportunities to source some jobs, products and services overseas. The Chief Executive Officer of Qantas, Mr Geoff Dixon, said that Qantas had made no secret of its need to compete effectively and that moving to more overseas-based services was always under consideration.

More at: Qantas overseas

USA - Wal-Mart Hits Back

Wal-Mart has launched a nationwide campaign to 'set the record straight'.

Full article at Wal-Mart Hits Back

Ireland - New Employment Law Service

John Dunne, Chief Executive of the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland (CCI) believes that the top management worry for Irish owner managers is keeping up with employment legislation and ensuring they are fully compliant.

Speaking at the launch of CCI’s new Chamber HR service, Dunne said:

"Feedback from our members strongly indicates that businesses, especially SMEs, struggle to understand and keep abreast of changes in employment legislation. Yet they are responsible for compliance and implementation. Poor HR practice is not a defence in court."

The Chamber HR service will offer, for the first time in Ireland:

- employers interpretation of the law
- expert advice on human resources management, and
- indemnification against the legal and award costs associated with pursuing a claim in the Labour Relations Commission or Employment Appeals Tribunal.

More at New Employment Law Service for Ireland

Work/life: Concern for Family Issues May Boost Performance

Employee support programs are vulnerable to elimination in times of economic downturn due to bottom-line-only decisions according to Susan Lambert, Associate Professor in the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago.

In a new book, Work and Life Integration: Organizational, Cultural and Individual Perspectives, co-edited by Susan Lambert and Ellen Ernst Kossek, Lambert argues that the business case for providing workers with supports for their personal lives is currently outdated and needs to be changed. "The field's quest to make a business case may have come at a cost," Lambert said. "Many early, formal employee supports largely operate as employer supports. They were designed to help workers keep their personal responsibilities from interfering with their job involvement and performance. The more time you spend with your children, the less time you're likely to have for your work."

More at: Concern for Family Issues May Boost Performance

Your Resume Should Have Character

Linda Matias' latest article on JobSkills.info, Your Resume Should Have Character discusses: 'The notion that employers are only interested in where you have been and where you are heading is pure nonsense. Experienced hiring managers take into account both your experience and your character. After all, in the end, they are hiring a human being, not a robot. Still, many believe that personal attributes just take up space and make the resume "fluffy."

'After reading countless job descriptions that make it a point to mention personal characteristics and speaking directly with hiring managers on this specific topic, I've come to realize that it's not the inclusion of personal attributes that make resumes superficial. It's how the characteristics are presented that is the cause of concern. In this article, I will focus on the top three characteristics employers seek (good communication skills, honesty, and a strong work ethic) and discuss how you can seamlessly integrate them into your resume. Now let's get started. '

More at: Your Resume Should Have Character