Active communication
Investing in communication and training has helped outdoor education provider, Outward Bound, to move from factionalised division to award-winning integration. Miriam Bell asks CEO Trevor Taylor just how the organisation managed it.

Lifting performance
Why should employees commit their energy and enthusiasm to our organisations, asks Dr Marie Wilson. If businesses want ‘above and beyond the call of duty’ performance from staff, they need to invest in effective management, HR planning and career and skills development, she argues.

The great workplace productivity challenge
If New Zealand is to transform to a high wage, high skill, quality economy, we need to ensure the process is not a top-down one but a genuine engagement based on worker participation, says Ross Wilson.

Engineering prosperity
Our workforce has to up-skill and innovate in order to boost productivity and reclaim its competitive edge in the world economy, says Andrew Cleland, chief executive of IPENZ. He talks to Miriam Oppenheim about the need for the Government to refocus in order to make it happen, and says time is not on our side.

Good things come in flexible packages
Flexible and innovative benefits packaging has the potential to differentiate an organisation in the crowded labour market and act as a beacon for talented candidates. Martin Turner examines the latest trends in salary and benefits packaging.

Employees need the write stuff
Raising adult literacy levels for the benefit of business and wider society is clearly a cooperative project, say Margie Comrie and Niki Culligan. They outline a community-based project that explores the individual, social, attitudinal, financial, and policy factors that underlie adult literacy issues, and explain why tackling literacy is a make-or-break issue.

WORKPLACE DILEMMAS: Making the right choice
Selecting the wrong candidate is a costly problem for organisations. Karen Boyte looks at the part that psychometric testing and good interviewing skills play in ensuring you get the best person on board.

Remuneration—what’s fair?
Many organisations are moving away from ‘across the board’ salary increases to pay for performance. But who decides what is fair? Tanya Giles checks out views on the issue and looks at how the different approaches work.

STRATEGIC HR: Building capability
Is building organisational capability about adding resources or capacity to an organisation, or is the real challenge identifying the levers to unlock and access the capability that’s already there, asks Maria Coates.

The emotional intelligence of teams
Over the last decade, as more and more organisations move away from the traditional hierarchal structures, we’re relying to a greater extent on our teams to deliver organisational outcomes. Donna Andronicos explores the role of the emotionally intelligent team in today’s workplace environment.

CASE IN POINT: Bully boss sacked
A recent case concerning a dismissal for bullying is momentous for several reasons, say Susan Hornsby-Geluk and Bridget Fleming. They say the case is a timely reminder that bullies can and should be dealt with.

RECRUITMENT: Time to act is now
It is in the interest of employers to address the growing talent shortage by acting now, says Varina Nissen. She looks at ways to conquer the talent shortage and find the employees you need.

Industrial relations—updating the issues
A wealth of industrial relations information was presented at the annual BrightStar IR conference. Miriam bell went along to report on the current issues for those who could not make it.

HEALTH & SAFETY: Domestic violence is a workplace issue
The consequences of domestic violence don’t stay within the home. Stephanie Edmond looks at DV Free, a programme enabling employers to help staff who are victims.

Businesses slow to plan for flu pandemic
There is a striking gap between employer concern and pandemic preparedness, according to recent research from Mercer Human Resource Consulting.

PUBLIC SECTOR: Appraising the issue
Staff appraisals can be a testing time for all concerned. When issues of incompatibility arise, using an external appraiser may be the way to avoid conflict, says Paul Robertson.

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