Fun on the waves
Creating a supportive, fun environment for staff really pays off, says More FM’s Larry Summerville. He fills Miriam Bell in on the philosophy that’s proved an award-winner for the station.

Business wisdom
Is it all hype and hoopla or are there benefits to be gained from doing an MBA? With a range of programmes available these days, Miriam Bell takes a look at what’s on offer in New Zealand, how courses differentiate themselves, and what value they provide for students and employers alike.

Great expectations
Career development and on-going learning are key issues in the battle for staff, yet expectations are not being met, says Kate Billing. She urges employers and employees to talk about what they can expect and what they can deliver.

Communication skills: essential but elusive
Strong communication skills are often top of the pops when it comes to recruiting, but are they really the essential requirement that the surveys suggest? And just what do we mean by good communication skills? Ted Zorn explores the issue.

Lessons in literacy
Poor literacy is a very real problem in our workplaces but many businesses have yet to acknowledge its impact on effective work practices. Lyndsey Swan explores the issue and finds out why we should invest in workplace training programmes.

The learning workplace
Building a learning culture at work is the key to improving productivity, says Don Farr. He explains the purpose of the Learning Representatives scheme launched recently by the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions to encourage life-long learning in the workplace.

RECRUITMENT: How much is too much?
Many school leavers head straight to university. John Gill believes that while there is much to be said for a tertiary education, the question they should ask is: ‘Do I really need this much education right now?’

By the book
Good change management and communication with staff were the keys to success when the Auckland region’s public libraries implemented a new library management system recently. Vanessa McQuinlan explores the challenges involved and explains how they were met.

EEO Trust winners give work a life
Entries in this year’s EEO Trust Work & Life Awards indicate that New Zealand employers are ready and able to tackle the skills shortage by supporting people in their lives outside work. Philippa Reed, who was one of the judges of the awards, describes how work-life balance works for some of the winners.

LEADERSHIP: Sharing the lead
Leadership is not a solo effort, says Winston Pond. Making the most of opportunities means drawing fully on the talents of all team members.

Australia’s changing workplace
Debate is raging across the Tasman over the merits of the Howard Government’s proposed industrial relations reforms. Ken Brotherson and Aaron Dearden outline the key changes of what have been labelled as the most fundamental reforms in Australian industrial relations history.

Fair assessments
There is no news in good news, says Dr Robert Hogan. He tells Miriam Bell that assessing every possible aspect of someone’s personality—the bright side and the dark side—is important.

LEGAL SOLUTIONS: Tricky questions
Cutting a person’s hours or dealing with someone who regularly takes Monday off requires sensitive handling. Jennifer Mills and Gemma Anderson outline the best approaches to these difficult situations.

HEALTH & SAFETY: When grief goes to work
People grieving a loss in their lives do not leave their grief at home when they set off for work, says Bice Awan. She explores the impact grief has in the workplace, its financial cost and discusses how organisations can help staff dealing with loss.

Valuing pay equity
Australian equal employment opportunities expert Mary-Jane Gleeson shares her experiences addressing gender-based pay inequities with Miriam Bell. The ground-breaking project she managed has led to people making better work-value cases.

CASE IN POINT: The best intentions
Samantha Turner and Stephanie Seymour consider a recent case involving second generation contracting out of vulnerable employees and ask ‘Is it a restructuring?’

PUBLIC SECTOR: The good employer
In the case of an assault against a pupil, the obligations of the Board of Trustees are twofold—ensuring the safety of the pupil and, as a good employer, looking after the teacher, says Paul Robertson.

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