Teachers can take time out to study
Teachers in New Zealand have access to $39 million in sabbaticals, study awards and study leave positions each year. The Ministry of Education gives out the awards to more than 900 teachers annually...
Engineers are usually in high demand but with the Government's infrastructure spend up, even more people will be needed for this wide-ranging and interesting career...
For many workers, the wait is over. They've hung on to their jobs through the recession and restructurings despite wanting to jump ship long ago. Now the economy is on the mend they're itching to go. But it's still a tough labour market and as managing director of Hays New Zealand Jason Walker explains, only candidates who really impress will come out on top...
Demand builds as major projects come online
The demand for qualified civil engineers is set to take off as the Government's new infrastructure plan is implemented, says Tim Davin, director of policy for the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ)...
Water management increasingly important
If you're good at maths and would like a job that gets you out of the office, a career as a river engineer might be for you. River engineers are in high demand as the need for water management becomes increasingly important in New Zealand and around the world....
Kiwis not lazy, but aspiration a problem
New Zealand's low productivity rating made headlines last month with the country's relaxed Kiwi attitude taking some of the blame...
Delivering bad news to employees is never easy. But it's even harder when those staff members have become your friends over the years, says Dr Dave George, director of the organisational psychology practice Cerno...
Community work a winner for all
Allowing staff to do community volunteer work on company time can be a win/win situation - but only if proper practices are followed, says Susan Peterson, chairwoman of the Corporate Responsibility Council for ANZ National...
Finding work is a full-time job
As New Zealand's unemployment rate continues to rise, people are taking extra steps to connect with a potential employer or even just find some temporary work...
Get smart and upskill yourself
Employees might be a bit more hesitant to change jobs given the global recession, but one thing many workers can do to make the most of their current position is to earn New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) qualifications on the job...
Smart setup lets everyone know where they stand
With fewer job openings, employers are being swamped with applications when they decide to post a job, says QJumpers' sales and marketing manager, Simon Oldham...
The factors that make a good workplace generally don't change much from year to year. But this year, Leighton Abbot, senior consultant with JRA and project manager for the Best Places to Work Survey, noticed some differences in employee priorities...
Community work a winner for all
Allowing staff to do community volunteer work on company time can be a win/win situation - but only if proper practices are followed, says Susan Peterson, chairwoman of the Corporate Responsibility Council for ANZ National...
The colours in your workplace are affecting you in ways you might never have stopped to realise, says chartered colour therapist and author, Thelma van der Werff...
Get going when the going gets difficult
It's easy to be distracted and become despondent with all the recent bad economic news, but Pete Clark, a Sydney-based business coach with leadership consultancy RogenSi, says now is the time to focus...
Mixing work and pleasure - all for the greater good
With global markets going down the gurgler, it's a good time for managers to step back and reassess their organisation's future. Whether it's a restructuring, a new product launch or a strategic forecasting, corporate getaways are big business - and New Zealand is a highly sought-after destination...
Many organisations are putting a freeze on hiring new staff and are being very careful on how they're spending money on the employees they already have, says Stephen Powell, Auckland general manager for Momentum...
Maximise talent, be ready for upswing
Some businesses have already made staff redundant while others are looking at how they can control their payroll expenses in this economy. But with a skill shortage still at a critical level, Stephanie Christopher, Australasian director of SHL, is urging caution to companies looking to make cuts...
Netting the best jobs without going public
There are a seemingly endless number of websites that invite you to post your CV online. But Doug Meadows, VP of VisualCV.com, says its service takes things a bit further while giving job candidates total control...
Baiting the modern-day parent trap
A New Zealand website is utilising parents of expat Kiwis to help lure skilled workers back home, says Dean Curtis, NZ manager for TrackMeBack.com...
You should always be prepared for the possibility that you'll be made redundant. After all, it's not your employer's responsibility to guarantee you long-term employment. But in an economic downturn, when the possibility of redundancy is greater, there are some key things you should be doing, says Dianne Bromhead, managing director of Management Consulting Group...
Top employees work well with others
Someone can have all the technical expertise in the world for a job but it's the people who have the ability to work well as a team that will be the most successful. These "soft skills" involve attitude, interpersonal skills, business etiquette and social graces, among other things. Business psychologist and author of Get Your Groove Back, Jasbindar Singh says these traits are as relevant now as ever...
For the sake of colleagues, stay home if you're sick
At work, everybody has a responsibility to get the job done. But we also have a responsibility not to get a co-worker sick. Going to work sick could even violate the Health and Safety in Employment Act, says Dr Greg Simmons, medical officer of health for the Auckland Regional Public Health Service...
Comedy career more than a laugh
Getting up on stage and making a crowd laugh is something everyone has thought about doing. But comics who do it as a full-time career are a breed apart. Canadian comedians Kevin Gillese and Arlen Konopaki, who have been performing improv for three years, are in New Zealand for the International Comedy Festival...
Agency enlists recruiters from far and wide
Julie Mills is trying to create a formal industry accreditation for recruiters working in employment services. She is the CEO of the Recruitment and Consulting Services Association (RCSA), an industry body focused on recognising qualified recruiters in New Zealand, Australia and now India...
When you're looking to change jobs, there are a lot of financial implications to consider other than just what your new salary will be. A new benefits package can mean changes to your health plan, gym membership, profit sharing, superannuation, childcare, car or company-sponsored training...
Fixed-term employee agreements should be handled carefully to avoid being in breach of the Employment Relations Act, says Peter Kiely, employment lawyer. "The law says that after a period of time, a fixed-term agreement will actually become permanent."...
Difficult shift from peer to boss
You're the boss. Your workmates have been your peers and colleagues for years but now that's changed. You have just received a promotion and now you're the team leader and supervisor...
It pays to leave attitude behind
Younger job candidates would be well advised to check their attitude at the door when entering a job interview, says Kim Smith, division director of finance & accounting recruitment firm Robert Half...
Underperforming employees are so costly and the employment laws so ill-conceived that many business owners are simply paying poor performers off just to make them go away, says Tony Skelton, managing director and CEO of ACE Training...
An increase in the pay packets of public servants is enabling government departments to pinch key staff away from private businesses and exacerbating an already critical skill shortage, says Alasdair Thompson, chief executive of the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA)...
The trend for today's modern patios is to use large pavers in a simple clean design, says renowned landscape designer and Ellerslie Flower Show judge, Jenny Pullar...
Working for more than a pay cheque
With many businesses struggling to pay top dollar to woo job candidates, it is even harder for not-for-profit organisations to survive the skills shortage, says Deirdre O'Sullivan, the national director of the Parkinsons New Zealand...
When employers and employees enter an employment agreement they are committing to a lot more than just what is written in the job contract. There is also the psychological contract, says psychologist Sara Chatwin...
It's not a holiday for everyone
As many people enjoy their summer break at the beach, they should spare a thought for those for whom the holiday season is just another day at work. Senior fire-fighter John Geboers says it doesn't bother him to work the holidays. In fact, he prefers it...
Jason Smithyman has just completed his International Computer Driving Licence. That's a considerable achievement for anyone, but in Jason's case it is even more impressive. "Well, I was born with no arms," he says. "That's really all I know. I don't know why I was, I have no idea why. It's just sort of something that happened I guess." For Jason, his feet are his hands...
The ever-changing working week
As the holidays approach, a lot of people are feeling the strain of having worked for a long time without a break. For many workers, the concept of the standard 40-hour work week might seem like a dream. But David Lowe, advisory services manager for the Employers and Manufacturers Association, says it's more about being flexible than counting the hours worked...
Infrastructure choices are many and varied
There is a very real possibility that New Zealand will not have enough workers to build roads and other vital infrastructure in the future, says John Wills, CEO of InfraTrain. "The numbers coming out of school are starting to drop and we've still got a high proportion of workers in the sector emigrating to Australia," Wills says...
A tangled web at the workplace
As the weather heats up, things are starting to heat up in many offices as well, but psychologists warn that an office romance might not be such a good idea. "When the relationship comes to an end, things can get quite ugly. Perhaps one party has called it off, leaving the other party wounded and/or angry...
Casual culture is coming of age
The trend towards a more casual workforce with fewer full-time employees is set to increase in the future, says the general manager of Hudson NZ. Roman Rogers says it's an absolute win/win for employers and workers...
The turnover at Coca-Cola Amatil NZ is at its lowest level in four years and Kate Daly says its internal training programme is a big reason why...
Well why didn't you just say so?
In an information economy such as ours, communication is everything says John Bishop, professional speaker and speaking coach - and there are three things employees demand from their managers when it comes to communications...
Job opportunities going up in smoke
Employers may be within their legal rights to refuse outright to hire smokers, says David Lowe, advisory services manager for the Employers and Manufacturers Association...
Use your brand to get the right people
Labour market conditions in New Zealand are set to get worse and not better over the next five years, workforce trends expert Peter Sheahan says...
Attracting talented workers to New Zealand has been touted as one measure to fill the skill shortage but luring candidates with more money is not the way to go about it, says Richard Manthel, managing director of Robert Walters Recruitment...
Kiwi leaders get less respect than their overseas counterparts
Effective leadership in New Zealand is quite hard to find and part of the reason is New Zealand itself, says Brad Jackson, the Fletcher Building Education Trust professor of leadership...
Any employment recruiters you work with will most likely have a pivotal impact on the future of your career, so choosing the right one is critical. With around 500 consultants in the Auckland area alone, it would be easy to overlook the firm which just might be holding your dream job...
At the end of a long week, it can be good to sit back with work colleagues and have a drink but Dr Rachel Morrison, lecturer in organisational behaviour at AUT, warns Friday drinks should be handled carefully...
Most privately owned businesses don't have the fundamentals in place to have an actively engaged workforce, says Simon Mundell, director of The Results Group...
There was once a belief that employees would respond to cash rewards like Pavlov's dog to the sound of his bell. But the key to retaining and motivating workers is now less formulaic than that, says Tom McMullen, co-author of The Manager's Guide to Rewards...
Knowing yourself is key to success
If you're looking to take your career to the next level and break through your own glass ceiling, psychotherapist Alan Froggatt says you need to look back before looking forward...
Any employment recruiters you work with will most likely have a pivotal impact on the future of your career, so choosing the right one is critical. With around 500 consultants in the Auckland area alone, it would be easy to overlook the firm which just might be holding your dream job...
There are few careers with the level of responsibility and accountability of a doctor. The stress, long hours and demanding environment mean few people have what it takes. General surgeon, Graeme Washer, says that despite some hefty salaries, doctors don't choose their career for the money...
Kaizen is Japanese for "continuous improvement" and seeks to eliminate "activities that add cost but do not add value". It's one of the principles Craig Lewis, author of Lead to Succeed, uses to coach business people and elite athletes...
When you apply for a job these days, you're likely to be asked to do a lot more than just complete an application form...
If you're heading to the UK for an OE and wanting to secure employment before you leave - don't bother...
University not the only option
Some students are being pushed so hard to go to university that they don't realise a lot of other options are available to them, says Stewart Thompson, business and industry pathway manager at Howick College...
Writing is something most people have to do in some way, shape or form in their daily jobs, even if it's just sending the odd email...
A fundamental attitude change is vital in order to slow New Zealand's relentless tumble toward the bottom of the OECD's economic rankings, says Jamie Ford, manager of the Foresight Institute...
When you're speaking in front of an audience, it's not your style, your presentation or even a gimmick that's important - it's your content, says Tony Burns, principle consultant for Effective Speaking...
If you ever thought you really botched a job interview, you probably haven't really done as bad as you think...
If you fancy a career as a government agent, travelling to exotic countries on secret missions and being immune to criminal prosecution, then a job with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is probably as close as you're going to get...
Fishing for a better work life
If you're not thoroughly enjoying your time at work or your customers don't rave about their experience with you, maybe you need to spend time at a certain Seattle fish market...
If you're feeling bored or uninspired and are experiencing ongoing dissatisfaction with your job, then you're probably in a rut and will need to do something about it, says business coach Jasbindar Singh...
Before you start thumbing through the employment pages looking for your next job opportunity, you should know what it is you're looking for, says Dr Norm Amundson, professor at the University of British Columbia...
Health suffers in shift workers
Anyone who does shift work knows it can be brutal and even if you think you're getting used to it, researchers say you're not...
Avoid that poisoned chalice in the workplace
If you always seem to wind up working with the client from hell on boring, thankless projects, you have to ask yourself if it's probably not your own fault...
You might think that you're entitled to a certain amount of privacy at work, but this isn't always the case...
The hidden dangers of nepotism at work
When company management starts hiring its own family members it can sometimes be a risky business, says Roman Rogers, South Island general manager for Hudson...
Since only a small fraction of job opportunities will ever be advertised, it pays to network, says John Shattock, Auckland-based PR and marketing consultant...
One of the most important things to make any business plan succeed is to keep it simple, says Martin West, CEO of corporate trainers Afterburners...
Professional people who want to build their brand within their industry should consider an online portfolio or some type of professional website, says Tom O'Neil, managing director of cv.co.nz...
Business Emergencies [PDF 680KB]
Protecting your business from the unexpected absences of your key personnel may not be something you think about everyday. But when it happens, you don't want to find yourself on the back foot...
If you're having concerns about where your career is headed then you need to address the issues with your boss before you start looking for a change...
Holiday time does not have to be a dead time for pursuing the next step in your career...
The days when an employer could drag a flock of employees up and down the country as the operations saw fit are over, says Roman Rogers of recruitment firm Hudson...
You're working longer hours, the goals are harder to reach, you're dealing with stress from home and sometimes you think you're just about to snap...
At work, safety comes first. Or that's what we hope. In reality, safety is more on a sliding scale with productivity, says workplace expert Professor Rhona Flin from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland...
The field is wide open if you want to develop a career as a top garden designer, says award-winning landscape artist Xanthe White...
A career as a lifeguard might not follow for everyone who joins a Surf Life Saving Club but that shouldn't stop people from getting involved, says Andy Kent, lifesaving development officer at Surf Life Saving Northern Region..
Learning a new job, improving confidence or increasing sales can be made easier by paying attention to a particular way in which our brains operate, says David Rock, CEO of Results Coaching Systems and author of Quiet Leadership...
If there is someone at work you find impossible to get along with and dread the sight of them coming into the office then you may be dealing with a case of "co-worker hell"...
As more and more older people remain in the workforce, many younger people are finding themselves in the position of having to manage someone much older than they are...
Changing jobs every one or two years was once highly frowned upon, but not anymore. "We certainly see a lot of people moving frequently," says Steve Kennedy, sales and operations director for Kelly Services New Zealand. "We see a lot of people coming through in certain categories who have a lot of employers on their CV."...
Money is not the best way to motivate workers. But having a financial incentive scheme tied to employee performance is a good way to align people with the strategic plan, says John McGill, director of remuneration and performance specialists Strategic Pay...
Big OE returnees living in a dream-world
The OE was once a sure-fire way to fast-track your way to success, but these days there are some things to be careful of if you want to make the most of it. Simon Swallow, general manager of Global Career Link, says it is important not to become too specialised...
Controlling rumours in the workplace can be a tough fight and perhaps no company has been plagued by them more than TVNZ. Megan Richards, public affairs manager at TVNZ, says the best way to stop rumours is to give staff timely and accurate information...
Managers who are liked by their staff are much more likely to create productive working environments...
Employers fail the induction basics
Starting a new job at a company that hasn't even bothered to set you up with a desk, phone or a logon to the computer system, let alone an email account, can really leave a bad taste in your mouth...
For young people trying to find their first full-time job, the process can seem daunting. But James Brooke, principal at recruitment firm Gaulter Russell, says the important thing is to find an employer that understands the potential of fresh talent...
Certificate of Captive Wild Animals
Working with wild animals for a living may sound like an almost unrealistic career goal but for a growing number of people, it is a reality. Peter Fraser, Unitec lecturer in captive wild animals, says the industry is growing and the opportunities are increasing...
Starting a new job can be the beginning of a great new life or a short stroll into a street called trouble. Forming an accurate and realistic picture of what a job is going to be like before you start makes all the difference, says Bill Rehm, CEO of Kase Consulting Group...
People haven't saved enough cash to see them through in the event of a possible redundancy, says Jeff Matthews, senior advisor at the financial planning company Spicers. "I don't know anybody who saves on the eventuality that they may be made redundant. They'll just use their credit card or overdraft facility or home equity to muddle through."...
Diffusing a hostile situation at the hotel check-in counter may not seem like much fun for most people, but it's something Hilton assistant manager Ben Schumacher thrives on. Demand to speak to the manager at the Auckland viaduct Hilton and he's the person you're likely to meet...
Making a good impression on your first day in a new job is easy if you follow a few simple guidelines, says Colin Mathieson, managing director of Alpha Personnel Recruitment. He says making a first impression starts before the first day...
The almighty CV, once the primary introduction document for job hunting is often now becoming a clerical formality, says Carol Lee Andersen, director of Vision Recruit and Tourism Recruit. "You need your CV for HR purposes and for something to file away."...
Identifying areas where staff members can improve is vital to lifting performance, but Vince Arbuckle, human resources manager for the New Zealand Fire Service, uses a tool which goes well beyond the one-on-one performance review. Three years ago the Fire Service began using a 360-degree feedback programme whereby people are reviewed by their subordinates, peers and supervisors...
Take some responsibility for your career path
Most people are not doing any vital basic planning to make sure they have a viable career path for the future, says Carol Dallimore, general manager of OCG Consulting. "Most of us just drift along," she says. "We do it with our insurances. We do it with our finances and we probably do it with our career planning just as much. We drift along hoping we'll never really have to do anything about it."...
The Y generation has an attitude
When a keen young upstart is hired at the office it can be a bit disconcerting for some established staff, but Eugene Ng, director of H2R says it can also be a win-win for both parties. Sometimes young workers who might start with the company on Monday will think that they can make team leader by Friday without so much as even taking off their iPod...
Companies which want to recruit the top graduates will need to be on the front foot and do the hard yards, says Steve Evans, principal consultant at Core Recruitment. He says there are some great ways to capture the top students including offering them studying opportunities and projects which could lead into secondments...
The board of directors is the very pinnacle of power in most large organisations, but belonging to this exclusive elite requires more than a simple bloodlust for fame and fortune. Dr Nicki Crauford is the CEO of the Institute of Directors (IOD) and says directors need to be team players, have an eye toward long-term planning and be persuasive...
New Zealand's top managers have developed effective ways to handle their workloads and deal with their stress levels. They have also put into place some key ways to meet the expectations of shareholders, employees and their own families while keeping the corporate ship sailing smoothly along...
Some people have such severe personality flaws that they are unfit to be managers and end up causing tremendous damage when they are put into positions of authority. Dr Iain McCormick, managing director of the Executive Coaching Centre, says there are several different types of bad managers or 'derailers', the worst of which is the office psychopath...
As staff settle back in to work after the holidays, employers are finding that some of their best staff are having to take time off on stress leave, says stress consultant, Dr John McEwan. Dr Stress, as he's known, says employers need to take heed if their workers are starting to burn out...
When an employee decides to leave your company you'd better be asking them for more than their swipe card before they head out the door. Jane Kennelly, managing director of Frog Recruitment, says it is more crucial than ever before to debrief them on why they are leaving in order to learn how to retain good staff...
Employers need to wake up to the realities of today's labour market and stop being so picky about who they hire, say recruitment specialists. Colleen Getley, managing director of Getleys, says the problem is particularly bad when it comes to hiring immigrants...
Teamwork essential to office success
To solve work-place problems, staff members should rotate responsibilities among themselves, says organisational psychologist Dr Dave George. He says that having people switch jobs with a colleague for a time will give them a greater appreciation of how the team operates...
It's time to start back to work and for some people looking to change careers; the New Year is the perfect opportunity to scope things out. There's really no reason to not like or even love what you do for a living if you listen to the experts. Anne Fulton is the director of career analysts and has coached many people into enjoyable careers which are more aligned with their personal interests and values...
Psychometric tests have become hot items with HR managers, but for companies looking to gain any benefit from these tools, there is a lot to consider. Tests include verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning exercises as well as personality questionnaires...
Job hunters get to pick and choose
Your organisation's branding is more than just your logo and outward image - it is your company's identity, which is reflected as much through the culture of your workforce as through the products or services you offer. Geoff Smith, founder and CEO of True HR Integrates, says that having a good established employment brand is the modern way to attract talent to your organisation...
Fifty-five-year-old Peter Davis has been working as a merchant sailor since he was 15 and has taken New Zealand beef, butter and lamb to the Middle East, Europe, Caribbean and America. But those trips to far away places are a distant memory for a man who has dedicated his life to the maritime industry - today he moves cement from Whangarei to Wellington...
Bring it all together as software architect
If you're looking to take your IT career to the next level without additional schooling or training, Ron Jacobs, Microsoft's product manager for patterns and practices, may have the answer. The position is software architect and Jacobs says many IT professionals may already be doing this kind of work but aren't being recognised or paid for it...
Working for an organisation temporarily before you graduate from university can be an excellent way of determining if you're embarking on the right career path. Ross Buckley, partner at KPMG, says student internships are becoming more common...
A lack of sleep can be devastating to your career. The symptoms mimic depression and can bring your productivity to a grinding halt. "There is a mistake in the belief that you get more out of life by cutting back on sleep. What you really do is compromise the quality of your wake time," says Professor Philippa Gander, director of Massey University's Sleep/Wake Research Centre...
Employers fail the induction basics
Starting a new job at a company that hasn't even bothered to set you up with a desk, phone or a logon to the computer system, let alone an email account, can really leave a bad taste in your mouth. Inducting new employees into a company needs to be done correctly or new recruits will soon have a negative impression of the organisation, says John Nevill, principal with finance and supply chain recruiter Numero...
Strategies for managers to earn a little respect
For managers stepping into a new role, respect may be a little difficult to garner. But psychologist John Groom says earning respect is more about people skills than professional ability. "It really boils down to something that's really simple. At the end of the day we have no problems respecting and working with people that we like. It's about genuinely liking people and being liked."...
Go extra mile to get first job
Even in today's job market, there is more to finding your first job than spamming out a bunch of CVs and hoping for the best. David Trought, director of the University of Auckland Careers Centre, says students need to plan well ahead. "There is a fair amount of competition still, even though the labour market is tight. The companies won't just take someone who's not up to the mark. It's still pretty tough."...
Some people never have to look through the newspaper for jobs. For these high level executives, the jobs come to them. A discrete call from a head-hunter and an opportunity presents itself. Steven Graham is the General Manager - New Zealand North for Synergy and says it's good to get the call...
Things aren't going well at work. You're productivity is down. The boss wants a chat. Are you about to get the sack? Perry Skilton, managing director of employment mediation firm ER Solutions, has seen it all before. "I've had examples of some employers terminating employees' employment by text message," he says...
Overcoming the risks of online job hunting
Applying for jobs online is a handy way of sending in your application, but Victoria University of Wellington career advisor, Millie Douglas, says there are some things to watch out for. "One thing that occurs fairly frequently is that people don't allow sufficient time. Students are busy people and often tend to leave applications to the last day or two before the close off date. That often isn't a good idea for online application forms."...
Advanced Certificate in Aviation
The dream of being able to fly a helicopter becomes a reality for many people but not without a lot of work and a financial commitment. Anyone who wants to fly should go on a trial flight which is available for around $125...
How to avoid interview rejection
If you're being continually rejected for jobs, you might want to try adjusting your attitude as well as your CV, says Lynn Humphrey, partner at Blue Chip Coaching. "There is a real risk in the idea of being constantly rejected that you adopt a victim mentality," she says...
The key to minimising conflict in the workplace and maximising productivity is to not become defensive, says Jim Tamm, former California judge and author of Radical Collaboration. "The absolute single most important thing that an individual can do to be more effective when they're trying to either build relationships or resolve conflict is to stay non-defensive," he says...
A lot of managers can keep an organisation chugging along, but some people have discovered a way to become a super manager. A Harvard Business School professor, Renato Tagiuri Ph.D., says that after decades of social sciences research, what makes a super manager is not personality but behaviour...
New Zealand workers are not only in high demand at home, but are also highly sought after abroad. And given the tight labour market, Kiwis who want to work abroad are not worried about finding work when they return home. This could not be more true than in the accounting industry, as the universal language of numbers transcends borders and allows accountants a huge amount of freedom...
Keeping employees motivated with good incentives can be a challenge. But over the past decade there has been a change in the way most organisations go about doing that. Performance-based or incentive-based pay is common in sport where no win, no reward, is normal practice - if you don't perform then you miss out on bonuses and even a renewal of contract...
Jobseekers may be thrilled to hear the news that the government is looking at raising the minimum wage, but it might not be such a windfall for less experienced workers and those heading for their first job. David Lowe, manager of advisory services for the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) says his members report that if the minimum wage goes too high, it could backfire on workers...
Employers think outside the square for candidates
Managers talk a lot about getting fresh blood and new ideas into their organisation but, if you're expecting it from the people you traditionally hire, then you're probably looking in the wrong place. SuperBank CEO James Munro says it is important to hire candidates a little bit outside the square to liven things up and to challenge your organisation...
A global survey of board members has revealed many are not happy with their roles in their organisations. Research and policy director at the Institute of Directors in New Zealand, Richard Baker, says the trend is likely to be true here, too...
In the tight job market where employees are pulled between work, family and other concerns, flexible work arrangements are becoming more popular. And it's not just the employees who benefit. Brent Miller, human capital consultant with Watson Wyatt, says flexitime is key to happier workers...
How much someone is getting paid is often a tightly guarded secret. But workers naturally get curious and eventually they start whispering at the water cooler. And those whispers could drop a bombshell. Salary disparities among team members are not uncommon given the way workers are quickly changing jobs in the tight labour market...
The rise in the quality and affordability of home theatre systems is one of the reasons given for the decline of box office attendance. If you can watch what you want in the privacy of your own home, then there's not much point braving the crowds only to find yourself sitting behind someone with a Marge Simpson hairdo. In selecting your own private screen, there are a few options...