USA - Telecommuting

Telecommuters experience a better work/life balance than office-based employees even when working significantly longer hours.

Telecommuting Better Than Office Working

Global - Violence at Work

A recent survey by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) identified a 30 per cent increase in the number of trade unionists murdered in the preceding 12 months with 101 dying in 2009.

Violence At Work

USA - Engaging The Disengaged

A survey by the Corporate Executive Board (CEB), a leading research and advisory services company, found that high-potential employees are increasingly disengaged and seeking new career opportunities. Some 25 per cent plan to leave their current
employers in the next year compared to 10 per cent in 2006. About one in five (21 per cent) identify themselves as 'highly disengaged' a three-fold increase since 2007.

High-Potential Employees Are Increasingly Disengaged

USA - 5 Important Performance Management Tasks

Performance management should be much more than a process for documenting and delivering feedback, coaching and ratings. When expanded beyond these basics, it becomes a powerful tool for helping your employees develop and achieve their full potential, and for driving employee engagement. Here are 5 additional performance management tasks that should be a standard part of your performance management
process:

5 Important Performance Management Tasks That Often Are Forgotten

UK - Language Skills In Demand

Language skills definitely improve chances of employment according to a survey by specialist language recruiter, Euro London Appointments.

Language Skills In Demand

USA - Common Workplace Annoyances

The most common causes of annoyance in the workplace are co-workers with poor time management skills (cited by 43 per cent of respondents) and the prevalence of gossip (36 per cent).

Common Workplace Annoyances

Self-Esteem

Self-esteem increases throughout adult life, peaking at around retirement age but declining thereafter. Health and income are significant factors in the maintenance of self-esteem.

Self-Esteem

USA - Pressures On Small Business Owners

A mere 21 per cent of small business owners employing the fewest staff (between two and 10) are earning more than they hoped for when starting their companies - despite working an average of 58 hours per week.

Pressures On Small Business Owners

UK - Unemployment Will Peak At 3 Million

CIPD forecasts unemployment will peak at close to 3 million by 2012 as a result of the coalition government's deficit reduction measures.

Gloomy Prognosis For Employment

Canada - Situational Interviews

The qualifications of visible minorities recruited under an employment equity program are less likely to be questioned if situational interviews are used.

Support For Situational Interviews

USA - Loyalty and Employee Retention

U.S. organizations risk losing employees who feel under-valued and de-motivated as the economy recovers according to an on-line survey conducted by Kelton Research on behalf of learning and talent management solutions provider Cornerstone OnDemand.

Loyalty and Employee Retention

UK - Unions Supporting Economic Recovery

UK unions are supporting economic recovery by helping to reduce stress and lack of motivation in the workplace according to a recent report from the TUC.

Unions Supporting Economic Recovery

USA - CEO Reputation and Appearance

There is a strong association between appearance and success in business organizations according to a study by Duke University.

CEO Reputation And Appearance

USA - Personality Assessments Fail

he trend in recent years has been to utilize personality assessments in the hiring process for predicting on-the-job success. In 2007, a prominent panel of personnel psychologists (Morgeson et al., 2007) collaborated to discuss the utility of personality tests in the selection process. The clear theme: Validities of personality measures are so low that using them for selection should be questioned. The research shows that broad-based personality tests such as the Big Five Personality Traits & Emotional Intelligence account for less than 6% of variance in job-related performances. Despite the claims from the hundreds of vendors selling personality tests, little has changed in the last 40 years, the science still shows that their predictive value is minimal when used to predict job performance success in today's job market.


Why Personality Assessments Don't Predict Sales Success

USA - Unemployment And Health

Loss of employment can have significant long-term health consequences.

Unemployment And Health

Australia - Violence Against Nurses

Research from Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Western Australia published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing found that three-quarters of nurses working in both the private and public sectors had experienced violence at work, but only one in six incidents were officially reported.

Violence Against Nurses At Work

Australia - Consequences Of Interrupted Tasks

Frequent interruptions experienced by hospital doctors result in less time and poorer care given to patients and increase the potential for clinical error.

Consequences Of Interrupted Tasks

USA/India - Whistle-Blowers

Connecting with employees' emotions and personal value systems could encourage whistle-blowing in relation to to a range of work-related crimes and misconduct.

Whistle-blowers And Personal Values

USA - Workplace Health

Work-related Stress, Shift Work And Coronary Heart Disease - Updated Article.

Health Effects Of Work-Related Stress And Shift Work

UK - Probation Officers Want To Help Not Punish

Attitudes and motivations expressed by new recruits to the probation service were inconsistent with the UK government's current emphasis on probation as 'punishment in the community' and protection of the public rather than rehabilitation for the individual offender.

Probation Officers Want To Help Not Punish

UK - Small Businesses Create Most Jobs

Recent research from the Globalisation and Economic Policy Centre (GEP) at the University of Nottingham found that small businesses employing less than 100 workers account for 65 per cent of new British jobs created in an average year.

Small Businesses Create Most Jobs

USA - Driver pre-screening

Motor carriers now have a faster and easier way to assess the driving and safety histories of prospective drivers. The U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) yesterday announced the launch of the new federal motor carrier Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP), now available at http://www.psp.fmcsa.dot.gov. The Pre-Employment Screening Program provides real-time data to help motor carriers review the crash and serious safety violation histories of prospective employees as part of the hiring process.

NIC Technologies Launches Online Pre-Employment Screening Program for Motor Carriers and Drivers at www.psp.fmcsa.dot.gov

USA - Commitment And Counterfactual Reflection

Developing greater workforce commitment can be as simple as asking employees to reflect on their organization's history.


Commitment And Counterfactual Reflecion

Asia - Rewards and Benefits

A recent survey of Asian reward professionals by Thomsons Online Benefits shows expectation of a return to the 'war for talent' amongst employers in the region.

New 'War For Talent' In Asia

USA - Absenteeism

U.S. employees use a variety of strategies such as calling in sick or using vacation time to survive the 'Holiday Hiatus' between public holidays early in the year and Memorial Day on 31st May.

Playing Hooky: Absenteeism And The 'Holiday Hiatus'

USA - Women Discouraged From Science/I.T. Careers

A significant number of women and under-represented minority chemists and chemical engineers have been discouraged from pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM).

Women Discouraged From Science/I.T. Careers

USA - Gender Inequality

Women researchers in the life sciences still receive lower levels of compensation than their male equivalents, including those at higher academic and professional levels.

Gender Inequality In Academic Researchers' Compensation

USA - Disabled Immigrants More Likely To Be Working

Immigrants with disabilities are more likely to be employed than a comparable group born in the USA.

Disabled Immigrants More Likely To Be Working

Australia - Workers' Comp Harmonisation

"Workers' comp harmonisation as it has been discussed won't improve health or return to work outcomes," says Occupational Physician, Chair of Resworks and Editor of Return to Work Matters Dr Mary Wyatt.

Expert fears health will be the loser in the race towards workers' comp harmonisation - Return to Work Matters.

USA - How Career Dreams Die

What is required to convince people that their career aspirations are unrealistic?
Researchers found that informing participants they did not have high enough qualifications or appropriate skills was insufficient. The negative consequences of failure also had to be made explicit.

How Career Dreams Die

Israel - Control Freaks Burn Out Faster

Research from Tel Aviv and Haifa Universities found that 'control freaks' - apparently high-performing multi-tasking individuals - tend to burn out faster than their peers. Using all their internal resources at once and concentrating intently on the immediate task they are less able to respond to unexpected challenges.

Control Freaks Burn Out Faster

UK - Race, Education and Job Prospects

Members of Britain's ethnic minority communities, whether born abroad or in the UK, tend to be better educated than their white British-born peers but are less likely to be employed.

Better Education But Worse Job Prospects For Minorities

EU - European Skills in Demand

According to CEDEFOP (The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training) most of the projected 8.5 new jobs created in Europe over the next ten years will be in knowledge- and skill-intensive occupations, including high level management and technical jobs.

European Skills in Demand

UK - National Minimum Wage Increases

The adult minimum wage rate will increase from £5.80 to £5.93 an hour on October 1 2010.

National Minimum Wage Increases

EU - Recruiting Older Workers

A study by Allianz shows that in 2010 people between 60 and 65 will outnumber those between 15 and 20 in the European Union. 28.8 million EU residents are aged 60-65 compared with 28.6 million between the ages of 15 and 20.

This year, for the first time ever, the ongoing demographic change will affect the job market as there will be 200,000 more people approaching or entering retirement than the number of school-leavers.

Recruiting Older Employees

UK - Learning and Skills

Almost five million people participated in a Learning and Skills Council funded Further Education course in 2008/09 according to figures released by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

Learning and Skills Council Funded Courses

USA - Women Put Off Computing Careers

The work environment may be a key factor deterring women from careers in computer science.

Women Put Off Computing Careers By Geeky Environments

USA - How Career Dreams Die

What is required to convince people that their career aspirations are unrealistic? Researchers found that informing participants they did not have high enough qualifications or appropriate skills was insufficient. The negative consequences of failure also had to be made explicit.

How Career Dreams Die

Australia - Strategic Leadership Award

VALIDITY COACHING today announces the prestigious STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AWARD was given to Chris Tandridge, Chief Executive Officer of VALIDITY Coaching at the WORLD HRD CONGRESS 2010 in Mumbai, India.

Validity Coaching CEO Chris Tandridge Wins World HRD Congress 2010 - Strategic Leadership Award

UK - British Army Careers

Many people don't realise the diverse range of careers you can have in the British Army - there are over 140 trade groups and many different job types to choose from. From clerks to nurses, mechanics to IT experts, the Army offers recruits a career with continuous training and development, where you can learn vocational skills and earn a competitive salary. As well as this, there are also unrivalled travel and sporting opportunities plus a great sense of teamwork and camaraderie.

The British Army Needs You!

UK - NI IT Career Information

With ICT being one of the most successful business sectors in Northern Ireland, new sources of information will help people with computing ambitions find out more about career paths.

Ambition in IT? New NI Career Information System

Australia _ Employer Confidence Surges

Confidence among Australian employers has increased to the highest level since September 2008 according to a recent Hudson Report: Employment Expectations Survey.

For three consecutive quarters, Australian employers have indicated greater hiring intentions with a net 29.1% of employers stating that they intended to increase permanent staff levels over the January-March 2010 period.

Australian Employer Confidence At New High

NZ- New Zealanders Expect More Job Opportunities

The current jobs outlook is better than at any time over the last two years, but job security remains fragile as the New Zealand economy begins to come out of recession, according to Westpac Bank.

New Zealanders Expect More Job Opportunities

NZ - More International Workers Needed

International workers are still good for business and the economy, according to a recent survey.


More International Workers Needed

UK - Freeze Youth Minimum Wage

The National Minimum Wage for younger workers should be frozen in absolute terms in 2010 to ensure welcome government efforts to combat soaring youth unemployment are not fatally undermined just as the economy is beginning to recover, according to the
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

CIPD launches ‘manifesto' for a recovery that lasts, with call for National Minimum Wage freeze for younger workers to strengthen efforts to tackle youth unemployment

Australia - Recruitment Picture Brightening

People may believe that the global financial crisis (GFC) has made job-hunting more difficult but a recent survey from Mercer suggests that the recruitment picture is better than it seems.

Australian Recruitment Picture Brightening

USA - Towers Watson

Towers Watson & Co. announced today the completion of the merger of Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt.

Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt Complete Merger to Form Towers Watson

UK - Engaging Managers

Research by the Institute for Employment Studies indicates that engaging managers are made, not born - they learn from their own and other people's mistakes and modify their behaviour accordingly.

Characteristics Of Engaging Managers

UK - Dealing With An Ageing Workforce

A recent report shows that just a half of employing organisations have a formal pro-age recruitment policy. It also shows that many employers are nervous of discussing age issues with workers approaching retirement. But many organizations are willing to make adjustments to the workplace in order to help retain employees when the issue is raised informally.

Dealing With An Ageing Workforce

USA - Gender Stereotyping

Management stereotypes are likely to evolve as more women assume leadership roles in the workforce.

Gender Stereotyping

1.7 Million Australians Looked For Work Last Year

Just over 1,700,000 people (10% of Australians aged 15 years or more) were unemployed and looking for work at some time in the twelve months up to February 2009, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

1.7 Million Australians Looked For Work Last Year

NZ - Hiring Expectations Up Again

The latest report from Hudson, a worldwide staffing company, shows a further improvement from last quarter with a shift towards increasing headcount of 6 percentage points to 21.9%.

NZ Hiring Expectations Up Again

USA - Working Longer

The latest 'Unretirement^SM Index' published by the US arm of Sun Life International reveals that 65% of American employees expect to delay their retirement by at least a year - 11% more than at the end of 2008. Moreover, 27% of US workers believe that they will have to work at least an extra 5 years past the traditional retirement age of 67 because of the economic climate.

Living Longer, Working Longer

USA - E-Learning

A new report from Ambient Insight shows that the market for Self-paced E-Learning in the US will reach $16.7 billion in 2009.

E-Learning Is Gaining Ground

USA - Mergers and Acquisitions

A recent survey analyzed selected U.S. strategic mergers during the credit crisis.

Mergers And Acquisitions

UK - Recruiters Discriminate According To Name

Research reported last week by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) shows that race discrimination is still present in UK recruitment.

Recruiters Discriminate According To Name

Canada - Saskatchewan Minimum Wage

The Saskatchewan Minimum Wage Board is currently reviewing the province's minimum wage and is inviting views from members of the public. The board is mandated to review Saskatchewan's minimum wage every two years under Section 15 of The Labour Standards Act.

Saskatchewan Minimum Wage Increases

UK - CIPD Attacks Sick Pay Ruling

The CIPD have attacked last week's European Court sick pay ruling for being 'divorced from real world' and possibly forcing employers to implement less generous Statutory Sick Pay schemes.

CIPD Attacks Sick Pay Ruling

Canada - Time To Recruit Talent

Now is the time to consider upgrading talent and making acquisitions according to a new report from RBC. Businesses can benefit from job market conditions to upgrade their talent and, for smaller companies, recruit new employees who may be the key succession planning.

Time To Recruit Talent

UK - Swine Flu

UK businesses should prepare for staff absence rates of up to 50% for periods of between two and four weeks this autumn and winter in their contingency planning arrangements for the expected second wave of swine flu.

This is the top-line advice in joint guidance published today by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and the Business Continuity Institute (BCI) as schools return from the summer – a factor which some health experts believe could help trigger the expected second wave of swine flu.

CIPD Issues Swine Flu Wake-up As Employers Relax Their Guard

USA - Leadership Development Programs

Organizations that offer an HR Leadership Development Program (HRLDP) do so to feed the succession pipeline and/or to make HR more strategic, but few actually offer such a program, according to a recent study by the Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp).

Only a Third of Companies Offer Formal HR Leadership Development Programs

UK - Managing References

Unemployment is at its highest for over a decade and still rising fast. One unexpected impact of this trend has been to increase the administrative burden on Human Resource (HR) departments, whose staff are required to provide references for the rising number of former employees who are seeking jobs.

Employers Find An Innovative Way To Escape The Growing Expense Of Providing References

Australia - Apprenticeships

The CEO of Skill360 Australia has claimed that not only is the country's Vocational Education and Training sector one of the world's best, it prepares Australian apprentices for jobs anywhere in the world.


Australian Apprentices Prepared For Jobs Worldwide

USA - Learning In Tough Economic Times

A new report from the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) shows continued commitment to learning in the current tough economy with learning budgets holding up well compared to previous recessions.

Learning In Tough Economic Times

USA - Employee Engagement

Kansas State University research has found support for the view that employees who are engaged in their work, including higher levels of vigor, dedication and absorption in daily activities, also have better moods and are more satisfied at home.

Employee Engagement

UK - Agency Workers Directive

CIPD calls for more clarity around 'equal treatment' in the Agency Workers Directive and argues for the need for clear and simple administrative processes to keep implementation costs down.

Agency Workers Directive

USA - Wellness Programs

With obesity rates making headlines across the US, 22% of organizations offer weight management programs.

Employers Can Help Reduce Obesity

UK - Hot Workers

With a heatwave warning in place this week for parts of the UK, and temperatures predicted to soar as high as 32oC, the TUC is today (Wednesday) calling on employers to relax office dress codes and cool down their overheating offices and their wilting employees.

Employers urged to cool down their offices and their staff

UK - Sun Safety

Many of the 2,000 people who die every year as a result of skin cancer will have suffered harmful exposure to the sun whilst at work, says the TUC as it urges employers to do more to protect their staff who have to work outside.

Employers urged to do more to protect staff from the sun

Australia - Telstra To Negotiate With Unions

Following the departure of belligerent Telstra chief executive Sol Trujillo, the new CEO, David Thodey, apparently signalled a more concilatory approach to employee relations in an email sent to members of Telstra staff.


Telstra To Negotiate With Unions

UK - Value of unions to UK business

A joint statement setting out the positive contribution that modern union reps can make to the workplace has been launched by the Department for Business, the TUC and the CBI.

The value of unions to UK business

Australia - Return to Work

Injured employees and the community are carrying the majority of the costs of work-related injury and disease in Australia, says the report released last month by the Australian Safety & Compensation Council. This report puts the costs of work-related injury and disease at $A57.5 billion, or 5.9% of the country’s gross domestic product, with the burden on workers at 49% and the community at 33%.

Latest figures spur need for Return to Work Code of Ethics - Return to Work Matters

Time For Mergers And Acquisitions?

The economic meltdown has introduced new factors to consider when we contemplate corporate restructuring - particularly when mergers or acquisitions are involved.

Recessions are not entirely negative. They also offer opportunities to acquire new assets at relatively low prices for companies with the resources (financial and managerial) to take advantage of the circumstances.

Mergers and Acquisitions

USA - Optimism Required

Global warming. Water shortages. Terrorism. Failing health care system. Wars around the globe. Gas prices. Severe economic downturn. Look at the headlines and it's enough to make you stay in bed.

Today's Economy DEMANDS A Critical Skill: Optimism

USA - Contractor Screening

The Hard Evidence for Contractor Screening and Employment Background Check Searches

Do You Really Know Your Contractors?

UK - Teams At Work

How good team work can increase positivity, performance and productivity.

Three Heads Are Better Than One

Australia - Communicating Change

Whenever we begin to design an employee communication strategy that is focussed on change the most important thing to consider is that the strategies implemented must engage employees, not simply inform. In other words will the employee communication strategy you are implementing cause a change in attitude and therefore behaviour or is it simply information?


Employee Communication: 6 Steps to Communicate Change

UK - Employee Supported Volunteering

In the economic downturn, advertising budgets are being cut, marketing departments pruned, but organisations still need to be raising their profile, attracting new customers, and differentiating themselves from their competitors. CSR in the form of Employee Supported Volunteering (ESV) can help.

The Bottom Line Benefits of Employee Supported Volunteering

USA - IHRM Awards

The International Association for Human Resource Information Management (IHRIM) named Jonathan Hunt as its 2009 Excellence Award winner. The IHRIM Excellence Award is presented to IHRIM members who have made significant contributions to the advancement of IHRIM's mission and goals. It recognizes them for their exemplary association volunteer service and for their leadership of a project that has positively impacted the association.

Award Recognizes IHRIM Members for Outstanding Leadership and Volunteer Service

Australia - International Study Highlights Pay Equity Gap

ACTU President Sharan Burrow says that Australian women are risking loss of pay, skills and access to decent work because of the Global Financial Crisis. Sharan Burrow says that employers should do more to protect jobs and Government should fund a paid maternity leave scheme.

International Study Highlights Pay Equity Gap

Australia - Tips For Preventing Stress

What's the best way to deal with stress in the workplace? Prevent it from ever occurring!

Ten Tips For Preventing Stress In Your Workplace

UK - Corporate Manslaughter

Directors should be aware that any prosecutions under the new health and safety legislation could find the courts examining the entire safety culture of a business, and not just the systems and management processes in place. That was the stark warning from leading health and safety law specialist and barrister with Henderson Chambers, Oliver Campbell and GMB National Health and Safety officer Dan Shears at the British Safety Council’s recent Director’s Duties Conference in London.

Company Culture Will Be At The Centre Of Court Probe Into First Corporate Manslaughter
Prosecution, Say Top Lawyer And Leading Union Officer

NZ - HRINZ Awards

The Human Resources Institute of New Zealand (HRINZ) has announced the winners of the 2008/09 HRINZ HR Awards.

HRINZ HR Awards

USA - Free Webcasts

Cytiva, developers of talent management solutions, SonicRecruit, SonicPerform and SonicOnboard, announced today the launch of a series of free webcasts designed to help today's practitioners deal with current topics in recruiting and performance management.

Back By Popular Demand: Cytiva Announces Free Talent Management Webcast Series for 2009

Canada - Workplace Happiness

A report from Strategic Connections Inc. highlights the negative impact on employee morale and engagement associated with the current economic downturn and suggests strategies to help organizations retain the integrity of their workforce in preparation for improved conditions.

Workplace Happiness

USA - Motivating Top Talent

Two recent reports offer guidance on motivating and developing talented employees in the current global economic downturn.

Motivating Top Talent

World - Reacting To The Global Crisis

A survey by Booz & Company of 828 senior managers from 65 countries explored corporate responses to the global economic crisis and the impact on social responsibility agendas. Respondents came from a variety of major industries.

Reacting To The Global Crisis

Canada - More Women Fill Top Business Jobs

More women fill top executive jobs in Canada's largest publicly-traded businesses than ever before - but this still amounts to a mere 7.2%, according to a report from executive search firm Rosenzweig & Company.

More Women Fill Canada's Top Business Jobs

USA - Top Five Mistakes Leaders Make

Eileen McDargh offers alternative action to the top five mistakes leaders made during difficult times.

Top Five Mistakes Leaders Make in These Troubled Times

Ireland - Absence Management

The Health Service Executive aims to eliminate double-digit absenteeism over the next year.

Absence Management In Ireland

UK - Employer Branding

A reputable brand can act like a magnet, drawing top talent to an organisation (updated).


Most Senior Managers Claim To 'Live The Brand'

UK - 'Go Lean' for the New Year

Consultants and professional services firms are reliant on their people. They are the core of their business, which is why many firms are keen to keep hold of their skilled staff. For many other businesses redundancies are an obvious way to cut costs, but for project based companies it has to be the last resort.

'Go Lean' for the New Year

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