Japan - Public workers' rights denied

The ITUC released a new report on core labour standards in Japan.

New ITUC report: Public workers' rights denied in Japan

UK - Enough Employment Legislation

Effective enforcement of employment legislation is less important than encouraging employers to see the organizational benefits of promoting a just workplace.

'Provocation Paper' Argues Against More Employment Legislation

USA - New Hampshire’s Aging Workforce

New England’s aging workforce could stall economic development and job growth in the future, according to a report prepared by Northeastern University’s Center for Labor Market Studies. The report was released today as part of The New England Council’s Older Worker Initiative. The numbers are significant in New Hampshire, which the report indicates has a larger and more rapidly growing share of the older population.

The New England Council Releases Studies on New Hampshire’s Aging Workforce

UK - EOC Advocates More Flexibility

A recent report from the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has found that half the working population would like more flexibility at work.

EOC Advocates More Flexibility

Canada - New centre on Prince Edward Island

Ceridian Canada, a leading human resources services company, will establish a centre of excellence on Prince Edward Island to meet its growing customer requirements for talent acquisition, payroll and other human resources services.

Human Resources Firm Ceridian Canada to Establish Centre of Excellence on Prince Edward Island

USA - ADA Does Not Protect Employees With Psychiatric Disabilities

A new study findsthat sixteen years after enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), people with psychiatric disabilities have less favourable outcomes in claims of employment discrimination than those with physical disabilities.

ADA Does Not Protect Employees With Psychiatric Disabilities

New Zealand - Strikes

Forty-nine work stoppages ended in the September 2006 year, Statistics New Zealand said today. This compares with 52 stoppages for the September 2005 year. Stoppages in the September 2006 year also involved fewer employees (12,508) than in the previous September year, but had a larger economic impact.


Fewer Work Stoppages but Greater Impact

New Zealand - Annual Leave

With 1 April fast approaching, it's time for employers to start their final planning to prepare for the move to four weeks' annual holiday, says Minister of Labour Ruth Dyson.

4 weeks annual leave fast approaching

UK - Work-life Balance and the Public Sector

Public sector employers may 'talk the talk' on work-life balance, but in practice have limited commitment to changing standard working patterns.

Work-life Balance and the Public Sector

UK - Poor Leadership Affecting Business Performance

A new survey indicates that UK bosses' lack of leadership skills in setting objectives, motivating employees and dealing with poor performers is having an adverse effect on business performance.

Poor Leadership Affecting Business Performance

USA - The Carrot Principle

In 'The Carrot Principle - How the Best Managers Use Recognition to Engage Their People, Retain Talent, and Accelerate Performance' management consultants Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton explain how organizations and managers can use praise and recognition to motivate their workforces.

The Carrot Principle

USA - Performance Management - Key Practices

Survey indicates that there is significant scope for improvement in the performance management systems of many companies.

Performance Management - Key Practices

Canada - Directors' Average Pay Nearly CDN$120,000

Survey finds average Canadian director compensation was CDN$118 026 in 2006 - an increase of 15 per cent. Equity accounted for 87 per cent of that growth.

Directors' Average Pay Nearly CDN$120,000

Boardroom Pay and the Risk Myth

FTSE 100 CEOs have little more risk of being fired or made redundant than the average employee. However, they tend to live longer and have the advantage of large pensions and sizeable pay offs.


Boardroom Pay and the Risk Myth

USA - Utility Salaries Standing Still

The Compensation Data 2006 survey of more than 5300 employers reveals that salaries within utilities have largely stood still over the last three years.

Utility Salaries Standing Still

Canada - Public and Private Pensions

New research by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) shows a widening gap between the public and private sector in terms of retirement trends and pension plans.

Pensions: Widening Gap Between Public and Private

Fast-Food Management

Jerry Newman, a college professor who has taught business courses for nearly 30 years, went undercover as a bottom-rung worker for the biggest names in fast food, including McDonald's and Burger King. Newman found that fast-food chains were the perfect petri dishes for covert research: High-pressure, high-volume businesses with high-employee turnover. The pecking order was also crystal clear, from fry cook all the way up to store manager.

Fast-Food Management

Canada - Growing Poverty Casts Shadow

A recent report by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) shows that a growing number of Canadians are trapped in jobs that don't earn enough to cover the cost of rent and food. More Canadians are employed and some are paid a little more than last year, but the number working for poverty wages has also increased.

Growing Poverty Casts Shadow

Hong Kong Lacking Fundamental Employee Rights

A recent report by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) is critical of Hong Kong's continuing failure to ensure fundamental employment rights. It highlights lack of legal recognition for trade unions, absence of collective bargaining, and insufficient protection against various forms of discrimination.

Hong Kong Lacking Fundamental Employee Rights

UK - The Changing Pattern of Benefits

Watson Wyatt's Benefit Provider Research Report 2006 looks at changing patterns of benefits offered by 142 UK employers.

The Changing Pattern of Benefits

UK - Age and City Law Firms

Recent research considers the impact on senior and managing partners in leading UK law firms of the Age Discrimination Act which came into force on October 1, 2006.

Age and City Law Firms

USA - HR Ripe For Outsourcing

A recent survey has found that organizations are ripe for HR outsourcing as they increasingly seek standardization as part of a re-emphasis on strategic business initiatives.

HR Ripe for Outsourcing

New Zealand - Job Hunting

Every January there is a huge surge in the number of people searching for a new job as employees come back to work after Christmas looking for a fresh start for the New Year.

New Year The Most Popular Time To Look For A New Job

UK - Unemployment remains at 5.5%

The unemployment rate remains at 5.5% - up over the previous year but flat over the quarter. 29.03 million people were in work in the period September to November according to the labour force survey (LFS). This remains one of the highest figures on record, up by 14,000 in the last quarter and 274,000 over the last year.

Employment Statistics

UK - Vurv Acquires People Business Network

Addition of Industry's Leading Offboarding, Business Analytics and Workforce Planning Software Creates Deepest and Broadest Talent Management Suite

Vurv Acquires People Business Network

UK - Trainers Conflict With Senior Management

A recent survey survey of in-house training professionals by The Ken Blanchard Companies finds that senior managers are undermining the training programmes they have asked for.

Trainers Conflict With Senior Management

USA - Managers Prefer Long Weekends Over Vacations

A recent survey found that workers below management grade are more likely to make full use of their holiday entitlement compared to executive and middle-level employees, who tend to take long weekend vacations. While employees value time away many feel obliged to work and stay in touch with their organizations on their days off.

Managers Prefer Long Weekends Over Vacations

USA - Wonderlic Announces Release of Revised Wonderlic Personnel Test (WPT-R)

Update incorporates the latest advances in test development and scoring, accurately measuring intelligence and predicting success on the job.

Wonderlic Announces Release of Revised Wonderlic Personnel Test (WPT-R)

Australia - Unemployment remains at 4.6%

Seasonally adjusted, the number of people in employment also rose by 44,600 to 10,337,300 in December.

Unemployment at 4.6%

Canada - 50 Best Employers

The 2007 survey by Hewitt Associates of the 50 Best Employers in Canada found that the Best Employers have lower turnover, receive more applications and experience better business results.

50 Best Employers in Canada

USA - Unemployment at 4.5%

Payroll employment rose by 167,000 in December, and the
unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.5 percent

US Unemployment at 4.5%

Canada - Unemployment

Statistics Canada reports that the unemployment rate fell by 0.2% to 6.1% in December, accompanied by an increase of 62,000 in the number of people employed. This is a return to the 30-year historic low and reflects the 2.1% increase in employment during 2006.


Unemployment Falls By 0.2% to 6.1%