UK - Laughing Gurus

Amended April 29 2006 - The use of humour is one key to the success of management gurus. Researchers Dr Tim Clark and Dr David Greatbatch, authors of Management Speak: Why We Listen to What Management Gurus Tell Us, analysed the techniques used by world-famous gurus such as Tom Peters, Rosabeth Moss Kanter and Gary Hamel. They found that successful gurus employ skilful communication techniques, ecijmrcspecially humour, to promote their sometimes uncomfortable messages.

Laughing gurus

USA - Job Boom

In sector after sector, from health care to advertising to retail to accounting - the pent-up demand for workers that has been slowly building for the last four years is now boiling over. Currently there are approximately 2.6 million people leaving their jobs each month - the same level as in the pre 9/11 economy - while job openings have increased by almost half a million positions since last summer, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Business 2.0's May issue cover story, entitled "The Next Job Boom," the magazine reports how an unusual convergence of economic factors has made this moment the best time to look for a job since the most dizzying days of the dotcom boom, and waves of workers are delivering their take-this-job-and-shove-it speeches and bailing out for more rewarding, less spirit-crushing work.

Business 2.0: The Next Job Boom; Everyone is out Looking

USA - SHRM Conference

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) will hold its 58th Annual Conference and Exposition, June 25-28, 2006, in Washington, D.C. The conference, to be held at the Washington Convention Center, will attract more than 10,000 human resource professionals from around the world and will include more than 150 concurrent sessions on crucial human resource issues. In addition, The HRM Marketplace Exposition(R) will feature human resource information, products and services from more than 800 companies.

SHRM Conference Expanding HR Professionals Workplace Knowledge

Canada - Dr. Leaetta Hough Joins Talent Technology Corporation Advisory Board

Talent Technology Corporation (TTC), providers of award-winning recruitment, quality of hire, and other human capital software solutions, today announced the addition of Leaetta Hough, Ph.D. to its Advisory Board. Dr. Hough will assume her position immediately, as she concludes her one-year term as President of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP), the more than six-thousand member international professional association which focuses on applying psychological research and practice in the workplace.

Dr. Leaetta Hough Joins Talent Technology Corporation Advisory Board

UK - Union Recognition

Today's annual TUC Trade Union Trends 'Focus on Recognition' survey shows that the number of agreements signed with employers has fallen despite a trebling of the number of trade union campaigns for recognition deals.

Union Recognition Deals Tougher to Secure

Canada - Coaching Excellence

The International Coach Federation - GTA Chapter announced the winners of the 2006 Prism Award. This award celebrates organizations that have created excellence and enhanced business performance through their commitment to coaching as a leadership strategy.

Business Excellence Through Coaching: PRISM Award Winners

USA - Adequate Pensions

The vast majority of CPAs serving as corporate CEOs, CFOs, Controllers and in other executive positions believe American companies can't continue providing pensions that adequately cover their employees' retirement years, according to the results of a new survey by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

Executive Suite Says U.S. Companies Can't Continue Offering Adequate Pensions, AICPA Survey Reveals

USA - Nissan Relocation

Nissan North America, Inc., released updated information related to the pending relocation of its headquarters operations from California to Nasville, Tenn.

Nissan Releases Relocation Update

USA - Outsourcing Megadeals

As companies attempt to implement more multisourcing agreements, the number of megadeals awarded to a single service provider has declined, according to Gartner, Inc. Megadeals are characterized as being worth more than $1 billion. In 2005, 11 outsourcing megadeals were awarded, a decline from 12 in 2004 and 16 in 2003.

Gartner Says Fewer Outsourcing Megadeals Were Signed in 2005, but Market Will Continue to Grow

USA - Groups Perform Better Than The Best Individuals At Solving Complex Problems

Groups of three, four, or five perform better on complex problem solving than the best of an equivalent number of individuals, says a new study appearing in the April issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, published by the American Psychological Association (APA). This finding may transfer to scientific research teams and classroom problem solving and offer new ways for students to study and improve academic performance, according to the study authors.

Groups Perform Better Than The Best Individuals At Solving Complex Problems

Macao, China - Ambitious recruitment program in multiple Asian languages

Venetian Macau has picked First Advantage Hiring Management Systems (HMS) to automate its recruiting process for the Sands Macao, a one-million-square-foot casino and entertainment complex. First Advantage will also handle its integrated resort The Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel, under construction at the Cotai Strip, in Macao, China.

Ambitious recruitment program in multiple Asian languages

UK - Teacher with sight loss receives £196,000 damages

Gaynor Meikle, a secondary school teacher who faced discrimination at work from Nottinghamshire County Council because of her sight loss, has received £196,000 in compensation.

Teacher with sight loss receives £196,000 damages

Australia - Employers Still Not Making Full Use Of Older Talent

Fewer than than one in two Australian employers are making the effort to attract and retain 'mature age' employees despite the skills shortage and rapidly ageing workforce, according to a recent Hudson Report survey.

Employers Still Not Making Full Use Of Older Talent

UK - Students Choose Courses With An Eye To The Future

A recent study by the University of the West of England (UWE) shows that students are increasingly becoming 'job market savvy' and picking more university subjects with specific employment prospects.

Students Choose Courses With An Eye To The Future

USA - Living Longer, Working Longer

People in developed countries are living longer and many are working well past traditional retirement age. Some are even returning to work after "retiring" and/or opting for "portfolios" of paid and volunteer positions.

Living Longer, Working Longer

USA - Good Grades Not Enough

A Purdue University associate professor says that seniors majoring in hospitality and tourism management are reaping the benefits of industry experience and being active in the community.

Good Grades Not Enough

USA - Time Management

In today's choice-challenged environment, the absence of time management skills can leave you feeling overwhelmed in your everyday life.

End Procrastination: Throw Away Your To Do List and Learn Good Time Management Techniques

UK - Outsourcing Saves 15%

Claims of 60% savings through outsourcing are massively exaggerated according to a study by TPI, a leading sourcing advisory firm. TPI's study examined outsourcing contracts awarded between 2003 and 2005 and found that savings net of severance pay, professional fees and governance costs averaged 15%. The savings ranged between 39% at the top end and 10% at the bottom. 15% was also the average level of savings anticipated when contracts were first let.

Outsourcing Saves 15%

USA - The Fourth Best Job In America

The Fourth Best Job In America

That's 'human resources manager' - in case you're wondering - according to the Money magazine and Salary.com list of 50 Best Jobs in America.

USA - 2005 CEO Compensation Survey

A new study that shows CEO compensation varied significantly by firm performance in 2005 among technology industry firms. The study illustrates that CEOs of high performing firms received a median cash compensation increase of 21.3% (including base salary and bonus), while delivering a 35.9% median shareholder return. In contrast, CEOs of low performing firms received a median pay decrease of 14.7% (including base salary and bonus), delivering a -21.7% median shareholder return. Overall in the industry, CEO cash compensation was up 3.7% to $1.723M.

2005 CEO Compensation Varies Significantly by Firm Performance

UK - Award-winning Personality Test

The Facet5 Five Factor personality test, developed by Norman Buckley and published by ConsultingTools, has been put through its paces at the British Psychological Society’s Psychological Testing Centre, passing with flying colours. The rigorous testing took 18 months to complete.

Facet5 Personality Test Recognised by BPS

UK - Sir Alan Sugar’s Management Style Not Sweet Enough for Fifty Lessons

Fifty Lessons, the digital media company that captures the business lessons of world class leaders, takes a stand against the boardroom style of BBC 2’s Apprentice boss and Amstrad founder Sir Alan Sugar.

You're Fired! Apprentice Boardroom Does Not Represent Britain's Enlightened Leaders

Asian Businesses Prefer Locals To Expats

A new report from the Conference Board finds that major Asia-Pacific companies are searching more intensively for executives living in the region, rather than relying on expatriate executives brought in from other parts of the world.

Asian Businesses Prefer Locals To Expats

Canada - Smart Retention Strategies

A recent survey finds that today's businesses are taking active steps to persuade valued employees to stay - and they don't involve a ball and chain.

Smart Retention Strategies for IT

UK - Ealing Council 'Two Ticks' For Disability Employment

Ealing Council has won the right to continue using the ‘two ticks’ disability symbol following an annual review by Jobcentre Plus. The symbol recognises employers who are committed to the employment, retention, training and career development of disabled employees.

Ealing Council retains ‘two ticks’ for its disability employment practices

USA - Recruiting Services for Smaller Companies

With Retiring Baby Boomers Set to Leave a Huge Void in the Workplace, and Unemployment at Record Lows, the Hunt for Top Talent Grows More Challenging

Hyrian Launches Recruiting Services for Mid-Market, Brings Fortune 500-Level Service to Smaller Companies

UK - CIPD Comments on Employment

Today's figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing higher unemployment on both measures used by government, fewer job vacancies, and static underlying earnings growth confirm that the UK labour market cooled further at the start of 2006. There was however a welcome increase in the number of people in paid work, but this was due almost entirely to more temporary jobs and self-employment, which suggests that employers remain cautious about hiring, says the CIPD's Chief Economist John Philpott.

Sharp rise in temporary jobs and self-employment as labour market continues to cool

Canada - New HRPAO CEO

The Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario (HRPAO) is pleased to announce the appointment of William (Bill) Greenhalgh as the Association's Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Greenhalgh brings a rich business background to Canada's leading association for human resource professionals. He has created and implemented business-altering strategies and consistently achieved record growth profit and revenue across varied industries including electronics, entertainment, publishing and business services.

Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario Announces New CEO - Bill Greenhalgh

Europe - Female Recruitment

Today, as part of its staff policy of equal opportunities for women and men, the Commission will adopt its female recruitment targets for 2006.

Equal opportunities policy: recruiting more women to positions of responsibility

New Zealand - Female Participation

2005 figures released by the Tertiary Education Commission show that 45,000 women took part in formal learning through an Industry Training Organisations in 2005. This compares with 37,000 in 2004, and comes within a context of a record 161,676 participants in industry training.

Female Participation Soars in Industry Training

UK - Employment Statistics

Unemployment rate rises marginally to 5.1% but the number of people in work is the highest figure on record.

Employment Statistics

UK - HR Career Management

Changes to the structure and responsibilities of the HR function in many large organisations have created issues regarding career paths and staff development, according to a new report from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Paradoxically, the creation of higher level, more strategic and demonstrably value adding roles in the function has increased the challenges in developing staff to fill them.

HR career management: Practising what we preach?

USA - Chronic Pain at Work

Chronic pain, which is any physical discomfort lasting for at least six months, affects up to 50 million Americans, most of whom work full time. Common forms of chronic pain include headaches, backaches, arthritis, respiratory conditions, and ailments caused by sports injuries or other traumas, such as car accidents.

Chronic pain hurts both workers and employers, says FSU professor

UK - Emotional Intelligence

hy-phen Workforce Management Solutions, an industry-leading recruitment solutions provider, has been using Emotional Intelligence to predict the potential of graduates for one of its leading clients.

Emotional Intelligence Used to Recruit IT, Business and Financial Graduates in 2006

USA - Diversity Decision Making

New research from Tufts University indicates that diverse groups perform better than homogenous groups when it comes to decision making and that this is due largely to dramatic differences in the way whites behave in diverse groups--changes that occur even before group members begin to interact.

Diversity improves group decision making in unexpected ways, according to Tufts University research

Canada - Unemployment Situation

Statistics Canada reports that the unemployment rate fell by 0.1% to 6.3% in March, the lowest level in 32 years.


Unemployment down 0.1% to 6.3%

USA - California Pregnancy Leave

Only one in three working women who qualify for pregnancy leave in California take advantage of the employee benefit, according to a new study by researchers at University of California, Berkeley. Those who do cite medical necessity, physical discomfort and stress or fatigue as the reason for taking time off from work before their baby is born.

Few women take pregnancy leave in California, study finds

USA - Supervisors and Employees

Even model employees can become negative and unproductive if their bosses are rude or mean-spirited, according to a new University of Florida study.

Gossiping, pilfering, backstabbing and long lunch breaks become the norm not just for workplace malcontents but even for exemplary employees who feel put down by their supervisors, said Timothy Judge, a UF management professor who led the research.

UF study: Even good employees act up if supervisors mistreat them

New Zealand - Cheating Employers

Some unscrupulous business owners are trying to cheat employees out of their minimum wage rise by taking away other allowances, the Green Party says.

Cheating employers should be ashamed

USA - Pension Rules

Corporate America wants to send a clear message to Congress: Toughen pension rules while leveling the playing field. That is a key finding from a Grant Thornton LLP survey of senior finance executives at public and private U.S. companies of all sizes.

Senior Finance Executives Want Stronger Pension Rules Than Congress

UK - Black and Asian Women

Black and Asian women are more likely to be out of work, have more problems finding a suitable job, and when they do, often have to settle for work for which they are over-qualified, according to a report published today (Friday) by the TUC.

Black and Asian women face 'double whammy' of discrimination at work

USA - Employment Situation

Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 211,000, following a gain of 225,000 in February. The unemployment rate dropped marginally unchanged in March to 4.7 percent."


Unemployment returns to 4.7%.

USA - Great Support Staff

Behind nearly every great leader is an equally great support staff, which is why many managers take time to recognize their assistants during Administrative Professionals Week (April 23-29, 2006). In a recent research study published by OfficeTeam in collaboration with the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), 87 percent of managers said they believe they do an excellent job of recognizing their administrative staff's contributions -- 76 percent of administrative professionals polled agreed. Both groups also were in sync when weighing in on topics such as work/life balance and the increasing complexity of the administrative role.

Making It Click: Study Reveals Strong Ties Between Support Staff and Their Managers

USA - Diversity Business Case

Global Lead Management Consulting, an international advisory firm specializing in workplace diversity, launched today The Phoenix Principles: Leveraging Inclusion to Transform Your Organization, a new book aimed at helping business leaders transform themselves and their organizations to produce a greater return on investment through innovative inclusion practices.

Global Lead's New Book Outlines Business Case for Diversity

UK - Mistrust of Pensions Saving

More than two thirds (68%) of Britons are no longer relying on their pension to finance their future, a new report reveals today.

Mistrust of Pensions Continues to Deepen

New Zealand - Health &Safety Penalties

It has always been difficult for employers to defend health and safety prosecutions brought by the Department of Labour, and now the penalties charged upon conviction are increasing markedly.

That's according to Grant Nicholson, Senior Associate at Kensington Swan and leader of the firm's Health and Safety practice.

Health and Safety penalties 'increasing markedly'

New Zealand - Accountants Work-Life Balance

The 2006 Hudson Remuneration Survey has revealed that New Zealand Chartered Accountants are not as money-oriented as the stereotype suggests.

Money Comes Distant Third On Accountants Wish-List

Australia - Unemployment falls to 5%

Seasonally adjusted, the number of people in employment also rose by 27,000 to 10,085,300 in March.


Unemployment falls to 5.0%

Canada - Shareholder Scrutiny

A growing movement to force corporations to disclose exactly how much they pay their executives is a knee jerk reaction to high profile corporate scandals a finance expert says.

Shareholder scrutiny drives disclosure of executive pay packages, McMaster expert says

Australia - Nurses, Midwives Study

University of Queensland (UQ) researchers are undertaking the largest and only longitudinal study of nurses and midwives ever attempted in the world. Despite being the largest single health professional group in Australia, Dr Turner said very little detailed research had been done on workforce trends over time within the nursing and midwifery professions and there are no previous longitudinal studies.

Nurses and midwives come under microscope in unique e-cohort study

Worldwide Talent Management Market

Yankee Group today announced that the worldwide talent management market is experiencing exponential growth and will reach more than $4.0 billion in revenue by 2009. In 2005, many leading vendors experienced growth rates of 50% to 100%, with some vendors adding more than 100 new clients. This growing market reflects how the enterprise market is changing. As the need for developing competitive human capital increases, the market will remain strong. New service delivery models, including on-demand software delivery and the continued adoption of HR outsourcing, are also key contributors to market success.

Yankee Group Forecasts Worldwide Talent Management Market Will Surpass $2.3 Billion in 2006

USA - Employment Eligibility Verification

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) today released the results of their survey of thousands of their members that finds 76 percent saying that using an electronic employment eligibility verification system would be a "minimal burden" or "not a burden." The most important provision of the House-passed immigration and border security legislation (H.R. 4437) addresses the job magnet that lures immigrants to the U.S. illegally. The House bill makes mandatory a system currently voluntary that allows employers to verify whether an employee is legally eligible to work. Critics of this provision have asserted that this system would hit small businesses the hardest.

76 Percent of Small Business Owners Believe Employment Eligibility Verification System to Have Minimal or No Burden on Them

USA - Pay For Performance Report

Many HR professionals cite a disconnect between tracking employee performance and compensation, and visibility into employee data. A new Aberdeen research report 'The Pay-for-Performance Benchmark Report', finds that technology-enabled Pay for Performance programs integrate both performance tracking and compensation management, providing overall visibility in employee value and contributing to corporate success.

Strategic Job Alignment and Performance Data Automation are Keys to Successful Pay for Performance

UK - CIPD Pensions Response

A 3% employer contribution towards pensions under a National Pension Savings Scheme (NPSS) would not lead to a cancellation or levelling down of existing pension arrangements, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
(CIPD).

CIPD research shows that Turner proposals would not lead to a cancellation or levelling down of pension arrangements

UK - Red Tape Deters Recruitment

Between them, small businesses in the UK are spending half a billion (500,000,000) hours each year meeting the demands of government regulations and paperwork, according to the latest NatWest/SERTeam Quarterly Survey of Small Business in Britain. Over a half of small businesses say that the burden of red tape has affected their employment levels.

Red Tape Deters Recruitment

UK - CIPD 2007 Events

The two largest events organised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) are both set to undergo changes in 2007, it was announced today.

HRD and Harrogate 2007: CIPD announces significant changes

The 21st Century Chief Human Resource Officer

A new report from Deloitte Consulting states that the modern CHRO is required increasingly to act as both strategist and steward. CHROs are 'leaders who not only manage the HR function and operations team, but also collaborate directly with the CEO and board of directors on a range of critical business issues.'

The 21st Century Chief Human Resource Officer

Mergers and Acquisitions

Contrasting strongly with findings from the past 20 years, the current round of merger and acquisition (M&A) deals tend to be financially successful and generate more shareholder value, according to a new study.

New Views on Mergers and Acquisitions

USA - HR Technology Survey

HR self-service offers many advantages in terms of cost and efficiency but many human resource executives are still concentrating on routine transactions and are not reaping the benefits of available technology.

HR Executives Still Not Making the Most of HR Technology

Canada - HR Toolkit Welcomed

IPMA-Canada is supporting the release of Human Resource Recruitment and Best Talent Retention Tool Kit for the Public Sector, a report published by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. IPMA-Canada considers that this report will interest all HR professionals, especially those providing service in the public sector with responsibility for the management of human resources.

IPMA-Canada welcomes HR toolkit report

New Zealand - Few Women at the Top

Women are making only glacial progress in board appointments to top New Zealand companies, according to a new report, The New Zealand Census of Women's Participation 2006, released by the Human Rights Commission and the Centre for Women and Leadership at Massey University.

The report shows that women have only 46 of the 645 directorships in the top 100 companies. Just two companies have gender parity on their boards. New Zealand is lagging well behind similar countries such as Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA for gender balance at board level.

'Glacial progress' for women at the top

Australia - Same-Sex Discrimination Inquiry

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has announced a National Inquiry into discrimination against same-gender couples when they attempt to access financial and employment-related entitlements.

National Enquiry on Entitlements for Same-Gender Relationships

UK - Young Workers & Pensions

Most employees between 18 - 24 are not contributing to a pension and face a poor retirement if they do not start saving soon, according to the TUC.


Young Workers Need to Start Saving

China, India and the USA will drive growth

A new research report from the Economist Intelligence Unit predicts that more than half the growth in the world's GDP over the next 15 years will come from China (27%), the US (16%) and India (12%).


China, India and the USA will drive GDP Growth

USA - Recruitment Webinar

Responding to increased demands on HR practitioners to evaluate their recruitment operations, processes and strategies, BrassRing is sponsoring an interactive elearning series through the Human Capital Institute (HCI) entitled "Optimizing Recruitment Operations." Composed of four educational webinars, this track will examine a range of workforce acquisition strategies and tools, for sourcing, recruiting, and hiring, which, when combined in a talent lifecycle approach to talent acquisition and optimization, can establish the Human Resource Department as a strategic contributor to organizational success.

BrassRing Announces 2006 Human Capital Institute eLearning Webinar Track 'Optimizing Recruitment Operations'

UK - Apprentices' Pay

Apprentices under the age of 19 currently do not have to be paid the minimum wage. The TUC is urging the government to agree that this policy be reviewed, as the Low Pay Commission has recommended.

Apprentices need fair pay and proper protections says TUC