UK - TUC New Year Message

Full text of TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber's New Year message to trade union members.

TUC New Year Message

UK - Gloomy Outlook For Pay And Jobs

The CIPD's annual Barometer Report forecasts that 2009 is likely to be the worst year for jobs in two decades. The report predicts a total of 600,000 job losses in 2009 and highlights the poor pay expectations of British employees for the year ahead.

Gloomy Outlook For Pay And Jobs

NZ - New Labour Market Manager For Manawatu

"Hilary Humphrey has been appointed Regional Labour Market Project Leader to address workforce issues and skilled labour shortages faced by Manawatu organisations.

New Labour Market Manager For Manawatu

NZ -

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) said that the Government's 'ReStart' package is welcome but is no substitute for a real redundancy package.


Misgivings About Restart

USA - Fluent Leadership

As 21st century leaders, you know that building, guiding, and sustaining truly diverse communities is tremendously difficult work.

Fluency: Leading in the Midst of Change

UK - Bullying At Work

A recent survey conducted by TUC workplace safety reports found that bullying was a concern at work for one in five safety reps (20%) - up significantly since the 2006 survey (16%). In 2004, only 12% of safety reps had reported bullying as a concern at work.

Zero tolerance for bullies

Australia - Aged Care Nurses Quitting Due To Stress

A new University of Melbourne study has shown that nearly one third of registered aged care nurses are thinking about leaving their jobs in the next year because of stress.

Aged Care Nurses Quitting Due To Stress

Canada - Phased Retirement Programs

Nearly one third of employers feel that phased retirement programs are an important element of their HR strategies over the next five years.

Phased Retirement Programs Can Ease Skills Shortage

Canada - Widespread Job Anxiety In Quebec

More than 90% of the province's workers believe that the economic crisis will have a negative impact on employment in Quebec workers according to a recent CROP survey conducted for the Ordre des conseillers en resources humaines agrees (CRHA).

Widespread Job Anxiety In Quebec

Canada - Office Gifts

From plastic pizzas to cases of tuna, an amusing survey of marketing and advertising executives indicates a generous but 'innovative' attitude to gift-giving in the office during the festive season.

Santa In The Office

US/UK - Employees Addicted To Social Networking Sites

More than half of employees (55% in the U.S. and 52% in the U.K.) are using Internet social networks at work according to Internet security company 8e6 Technologies.

Employees Addicted To Social Networking Sites

USA - Kansas Career Development

Kansas Career Pipeline (KCP), a nonprofit organization, announced that more than 56,000 Kansans have already accessed the Kansas Career Pipeline Career Planning Center, powered by Kuder®, to begin planning for future career success.

Kansas ranks among the top states in the nation who are gaining collaborative support between government agencies and not-for-profit organizations to provide comprehensive career education and job planning resources to residents statewide.

Kansas Among Leaders in Nation for Career Development

UK - Redundancy: Guide For Employers

As the economy continues to spiral out of control and threats mount over a recession,
many local businesses are looking at cutbacks in a bid to cope under financial pressure.

Redundancy - A Guide For Employers

UK - Mediation & Conflict Resolution At Work

A recent report finds that UK businesses are being badly affected by poorly managed conflicts in the workplace. A timely new book may help.

Mediation & Conflict Resolution At Work

USA - Executive Perks

A recent report from Compdata Surveys shows that cell phones are the most popular executive perks in the United States.

Executive Perks

UK - Train Into Rail

Armed forces technicians are being helped to readjust to life on civvy street by the RTC Group plc, which owns ATA Rail, one of the UK's leading rail recruitment consultancies and Catalis Ltd, a leading rail training company.

Train Into Rail: Leading Recruiter Retrains Forces Personnel For The Rail Sector

UK - Chewing The Fat

The epic saga of an Aberdeen firefighter sacked over claims he was overweight has provided employment experts with much to consider.

Chewing The Fat

UK - Recruiting For Diversity

Recent research examined recruitment trends, career aspirations and barriers faced by members of under-represented groups in the workplace.

Recruiting For Diversity

UK - Stress Factors

Mental health problems in childhood have a detrimental impact on subsequent working life with increased levels of depression and anxiety.

Stress Factors

Canada - Manufacturing Labour Crisis

A Conference Board study has identified an impending labour crisis in Canada's manufacturing sector.

Labour Crisis In Manufacturing Sector

Canada - Too Much Work?

We all seem to be working longer hours but does that mean we are working hard? The 'Hardest Working Canadians Study' conducted for Workopolis has identified the top three factors that determine hard work.

Are We Working Too Hard?

Canada - Manitoba Extends Workers Compensation Coverage

The number of industries covered by the Manitoba Workers Compensation Board will be increased from January 1, 2009.


Manitoba Extends Workers Compensation Coverage

Global - Recruitment and Employer Branding

Recruiting practices need to be consistent with branding strategies or organizations risk missing out on top talent and potential revenue, according to a global study by Alexander Mann Solutions - and social media amplify the consequences.

Recruiting Practices and Employer Branding

USA - Older Workers Feel Shut Out

A study by Age Lessons, a Chicago-based intergenerational consulting firm, has identified workplace '3 Rs' that are keeping older workers up at night:

* fear of redundancy - layoffs or firings
* relevance - keeping skills current, and
* resentment from younger colleagues

Older Workers Feel Shut Out

USA - Phased Retirement Programs

A survey by global HR consulting and outsourcing company Hewitt Associates has shown that an increasing number of U.S. employers are considering implementing phased retirement programs to address an impending talent shortage as a quarter of the workforce nears retirement age.

Phased Retirement Programs

UK - Trade Union Membership in Wales

The Department for Business has released figures showing trade union membership in Wales grew by nearly 6,000 members (1.5%) in 2007. This is greater than any other UK nation and reflects similar growth in the previous year.

Welsh Trade Union Membership Grows

USA - Job Search TV

A new cable TV channel launched in the Chicago area during July aims to reinvent job searching. Job Search Television Network (JSTN) is claimed to take want ads and on-line job boards to a new level by featuring the ‘company-behind-the-job’, offering more insight about companies and their available job openings. JSTN is also preparing expansion and plans to become a national network on Comcast.

Job Search TV

USA - Job Search Tips

7.7 million Americans were unemployed at the end of 2007, according to the Department of Labor. Out of these 7.7 million people, and with a questionable economic forecast, how are you going to make yourself stand out and get the job? With a few tips, you may find yourself with more options that you think.

Searching For Jobs When Times Are Hard, How To Make Yourself Stand Out

UK - Inappropriate Footwear

The TUC has produced 'Working feet and footwear', a new guide for footwear at work. The authors found that several large city institutions and upmarket retailers include slip-on shoes or high heels in their dress codes for female staff dealing with the public. These types of footwear can be uncomfortable and lead to long-term foot problems - especially when staff have to stand for prolonged periods.

TUC Attacks Inappropriate Footwear Codes

USA - Networking

Advance your career with a little help from your friends

A popular misconception is that networking is just about getting a job. In reality, it's much more than that. Networking is about establishing relationships that provide you with valuable feedback and allow you to make educated decisions. You do it every day without even realizing it. Let's look at an example. Suppose within days of your move to a new town, your car breaks down. How would you handle this situation? Would you open the yellow pages and take your car to the first mechanic you see or would you ask your colleagues for a recommendation? The second option is an example of networking. Think about why many successful businesses don't need to advertise. They obtain new clients by word of mouth - otherwise known as networking!

4 Steps to Cringe-Free Networking

More Careers Books

USA - Distance Learning

Researchers from the University of Missouri studied the demographics and personality types of adult distance learners and concluded that this increasingly popular option may not be suitable for everyone.


Only 30 Per Cent Of Distance Learners Complete Their Courses

USA - Anger In The Workplace

Recent research finds differences in attitudes to men and women who lose their temper in the workplace. While such outbursts tend to be accepted or even rewarded in men, women are judged less competent as a result.

Anger In The Workplace

Australia - Flexible Working

A survey of full-time employees across 29 industry sectors by Brisbane-based HR and Change Management consultants Astor Levin found that almost a half (49%) would favour flexible working arrangements.

Half Full-Timers Would Like Flexible Working

UK - Flex Planner

Flex Planner, a new web based product from a Yorkshire based software development house, was launched on 1 July 2008. Flex Planner is a web based time recording and flexi time system for use by computer based staff. It is being launched within a variety of organisations from both the public and private sector, including local
and county councils, universities and other government organisations.

New Web Based Flex Time System - Flexible Working Has Never been More Timely!

UK - Interim Human Resources Management - Reasons to be flexible

Growing numbers of employees want to work more flexibly in order to achieve a better balance between their jobs and the rest of their lives. But while growing numbers of organisations are trying to accommodate their employees' requests, they are doing it not out of altruism but for good business reasons. Benefits range from increased motivation, productivity and retention, to better customer service and considerable reductions in both costs and CO2.

Interim Human Resources Management - Reasons to be flexible

USA - Surveying Employee Opinions

A recent survey by Opinion Research Corporation found that many US businesses are missing out on vital feedback and ideas from their own workforces.

Surveying Employee Opinions

UK - Businesses Failing to Control Internet Use

Employees in small and medium sized businesses in Europe average almost two hours a day on the Internet, with half an hour on non-work-related sites.

Businesses Failing to Control Internet Use

UK - Women's Low Pay At Root Of Child Poverty

Research from the TUC, the End Child Poverty coalition and the Fawcett Society has concluded that UK women's low pay is not just a cause of poverty, but also has major consequences on their children's living standards.

Women's Low Pay At Root Of Child Poverty

Netherlands - Jacob Fleming produces cutting-edge Management Development Conference

Jacob Fleming, leading B2B meeting organisers will host their latest conference 'The Future of Management Development', to take place on the 25th & 26th September 2008 in Amsterdam. This event has been designed to respond to the need of the HR Industry to successfully apply the next generation of leaders.

Jacob Fleming produces cutting-edge Management Development Conference

Canada - New Brunswick Wage Gap

New Brunswick's Provincial Government is claiming significant progress in reducing the wage gap between men and women despite a 'slight' increase from 12% in 2006 to 12.6% in 2007.

New Brunswick Wage Gap

UK - Migrants Have No Effect On Unemployment

A study concludes that migration from Eastern Europe has not had any statistically significant impact on claimant unemployment, the young, the unskilled, wages.

Migrants Have No Effect On Unemployment

UK - Youmanage wins contract with On-Communications

Youmanage, the creator of the innovative online HR toolkit, has added Sheffield-based fixed wireless access specialists On-Communications to its fast-expanding list of clients.

Youmanage wins contract with On-Communications

USA - CPEhr Announces HR Network Alliance with the California Chamber of Commerce

CPEhr, a leading California human resources outsourcing firm, announced today that they have been selected by the California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) to join their exclusive HRConsultant Network, a partnership to provide CalChamber clients with high-quality, hands-on, strategic HR services.

CPEhr Announces HR Network Alliance with the California Chamber of Commerce

UK - Recruitment Difficulties

British businesses still find it difficult to fill job vacancies despite the slowdown in economic growth. According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s (CIPD) annual Recruitment, Retention and Turnover Survey no fewer than 86% of organizations are experiencing recruitment difficulties with the majority placing the blame on a national skills deficit.

Recruitment difficulties to continue

Australia/NZ - Psychological Profiling Valued

Recruitment specialist TMS Asia-Pacific recently reminded employers in the tourism and hospitality and tourism sectors of the valuable role psychometric profiles can have in recruitment.


Psychometric Profiling Valued

UK - CIPD 2009 Moves To Manchester

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

CIPD to move Annual Conference and Exhibition to Manchester from 2009

USA - Recession is No Obstacle for New Company and Product Launch

During a period when companies are cutting jobs by the thousands may not seem like the best time to launch a new human resources product suite, but FlexPaths, LLC, a provider of Web-based workplace flexibility solutions, has never been more optimistic. After all, IBM, Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft started their technology companies during recessions. Bad economic times may scare companies and freeze budgets, but companies still need to hold on to their best people and get the work done. That’s why this women-owned dot-com isn’t letting a possible recession deter their entrée into the marketplace.

Recession is No Obstacle for New Company and Product Launch

HR And That Elusive Strategic Role

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

HR And That Elusive Strategic Role

USA - Bad Language Can Get You Fired

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

Bad Language Can Get You Fired

USA - Pre-employment Screening Becomes More Complex

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

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

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

Pre-employment Screening Becomes More Complex

UK - Depression In The Workplace

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

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


Depression In The Workplace

UK - Recruitment and Retention

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

Spotlight On Recruitment And Retention

UK - Staff Training - 'Every Little Helps'

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

Staff Training - 'Every Little Helps'

Gut Feelings - Intuitive Decisions

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

Gut Feelings

UK - Fire Service Diversity

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

Fire Service Diversity

UK - New Film Industry Training Board

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

Film Industry Training Board (FITB)

USA - Sick Day Entitlement Survey

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

Sick Day Entitlement Survey

Canada - B.C. Improves Foreign Credential Recognition Programs

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

B.C. Improves Foreign Credential Recognition Programs

UK - Jackie Orme New CIPD CEO

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

CIPD

USA - Aging Workforces

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

Aging Workforces

USA - Time Management Produces Results

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

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

Time Management Produces Results

Australia - Ban on new AWAs

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


Ban On New Australian Workplace Agreements

Australia - Mature Age Workers Key To Skills Shortage

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

Mature Age Workers Key To Skills Shortage

NZ - Males Dominate Top Jobs

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

Males Dominate Top Jobs

Canada - BC Government Policies 'Impact Women'

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

B.C. Government Policies Have Negative Effect On Women

UK - Stress And Coronary Heart Disease

How work stress can lead to coronary heart disease.

Danger of the desk

USA/Canada - Finding Talent & Immigration Laws

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

Finding Talent Increasingly Difficult

USA - Impressive Titles Are More Than Cheap Rewards

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

Impressive Titles Are More Than Cheap Rewards

USA - Few Organizations Define Diversity

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

Few Organizations Define Diversity

USA - Teleworking Feds Survey

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

Teleworking Feds Could Save $5 billion In Commuting Costs

Canada - Employees' Aspirations

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

Canadian Employees' Aspirations

UK - IiP May Contribute 'Little If Anything'

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

IiP May Contribute 'Little If Anything'

USA - 'Surface Diversity'

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

Companies Opt For Surface Diversity

NZ - HRINZ HR Awards

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

HRINZ HR Awards

NZ - More Jobs For Older Employees

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

More Jobs For Older Employees

Pacific - Solomon Islands Women Taking the Lead

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

Solomon Islands Women Taking the Lead

UK - Unpaid Overtime

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


Media Professionals Donate £6K In Unpaid Overtime

Australia - Industrial Relations Bills

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


Industrial Relations Bills

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

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

B.C. Project Aims To Offset Employee Shortages

Revised Bestseller Book Selections

New book selections are available at:

Computing Books

Entrepreneurship

Management Books

International HR Articles

A new index page has been created listing articles with a focus on international human resource management. See:

International HR Articles

Canada - B.C. Signs Worker Agreement With Philippines To Address Skills Shortage

The British Columbia provincial goverment has signed a memorandum of understanding
with the Philippine government aimed at reducing the shortage of skilled workers in B.C.

B.C. Signs Worker Agreement With Philippines To Address Skills Shortage

UK - CIPD launches People Management Award 2008

The search is on for innovative solutions and outstanding achievement in the field of people management and development, as the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and People Management Magazine invite organisations to enter the 2008 People Management Award.

CIPD launches People Management Award 2008

UK - Apprentices Pay

The Government should increase the minimum pay rate for apprentices to improve the quality of training and tackle apprenticeship dropout rates, says a new TUC report out today (Saturday).

TUC calls for pay increase to tackle apprenticeship 'quality divide'

USA - Appearance-based discrimination

A survey of people in a range of industries across the US found that 85 per cent of respondents believe that tattoos and body piercings reduce the chance of getting employment.

Appearance-based discrimination

HR Changes Can Increase Stress

Research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council as part of its Future of work programme has found that teamworking and other contemporary employment practices can put as much strain on a woman's family relationships as working an extra 120 hours a year.

HR Changes Can Increase Stress

Canada - Top CEO Pay

Canadian employees may be surprised to know that the 100 best paid CEOs in Canada pocketed the national average wage of $38,998 by 10:33 am January 2nd.

Santa Claus All Year For Top CEOs

USA - Tech Recruitment Trends For 2008

Polachi, a major provider of Access Executive Search services, has published its top trend predictions for executive recruiting for this year.

Tech Recruitment Trends For 2008

USA - Human Capital Institute National Summit

The Human Capital Institute (HCI), a professional association and educator advancing the science of strategic talent management, announced today that it will hold its third annual National Human Capital Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona, Monday, March 10, through Wednesday, March 12, with a Benefit Golf Tournament on Sunday, March 9.

Human Capital Institute to Hold Third Annual National Summit March 9-12

UK - Gloomy Prognosis For 2008

The CIPD's outlook for UK employment pronounces 2008 to be the 'worst year for jobs in a decade'. CIPD forecasts a reduction in public sector jobs.

Gloomy Prognosis For 2008

USA - Most Senior Employees Never Stop Working

A recent poll of executives and professionals by MRINetwork, a major international search and recruitment organization found that the majority rarely stop working. Typically, they worked evenings, weekends, and during their commute. Many believed that their employers were responsible for creating the situations that lead to overwork.

Most Senior Employees Never Stop Working

UK - 2008 May Be A Rocky Year, Says TUC

Full text of TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber's New Year message to trade union members:

2008 May Be A Rocky Year, Says TUC

USA - Talent Scouting

The Human Capital Institute (HCI), a global professional association and educator in talent management strategies, and PeopleFilter Technology, a provider of leading-edge
recruiting technology solutions, announced today that the two organizations will jointly launch the "Talent Scouting" education and research track.

Human Capital Institute and PeopleFilter to Launch 'Talent Scouting' Initiatives