Editorial
Gardening leave
I love long weekends, especially when, as with Auckland’s recent anniversary holiday, the weather gods shine and we’re treated to endless sunshine and blue skies. It was perfect gardening weather and, had I not been on deadline, I’d have been sorely tempted to take an extra day to complete my latest landscaping project.
As it happens, I could have stayed home—a day in the garden would have been far more productive than the two I’ve just spent in the office. Twenty-odd shiny, happy people turned up to work on Tuesday ready to cram a week’s work into four days (the only down-side of long weekends) only to find our computer network had decided it, too, needed a holiday.
It’s now day two and the boffins at head office are still trying to rectify the problem. Most of my colleagues—having tidied their desks, filed everything they can lay their hands on, and bemoaned our dependence on computers—have given up and gone home.
It’s only when something goes wrong that we’re faced with the reality of just how reliant we are—at least in this business—on the ubiquitous box and screen on our desks. Without access to email, the internet and the company network, work grinds to a halt.
Such is life in the 21st century. And if the trend-spotters and ‘futurologists’ are right, life is set to become increasingly tangled in the world wide web, at least. The issue of the moment—and one the futurologists predict will give rise to new trends—is social networking. A recent British survey found office workers in the UK spend company time worth £130 million (NZ$346m) each day browsing online. Not surprisingly, many businesses are cracking down on staff access ing social networking sites at work.
Unless, of course, you’re in HR, in which case sites like Facebook and Second Life are proving to be useful tools for vetting prospective job candidates and even keeping tabs on employees.
And that, according to the futurologists, will give rise to further trends. Researchers at technology advice firm Gartner predict internet users and major companies will have avatars, or digital replicas of themselves, for online work and play. And others predict the rise of ‘identity managers’ whose job it will be to “garden the internet profiles of business people and keep them on the straight and narrow”.
Now if I was up with the play, I could have sent my avatar to the office this week while I stayed home and gardened—the old-fashioned way.
Lyndsey Swan
Feature articles
Growing people
Putting people first is one of the core principles of New Zealand mega-company The Warehouse. Miriam Bell talks to Jane Davis about the company’s employee development strategy.
Recruitment in 2008
With a new year stretching ahead, Employment Today asked a panel of HR and business leaders what they expect to happen on the recruitment front in 2008, and what must be done to address the challenges facing employers.
Targeting development
Making the step from assessment centre to development centre as part of your organisation’s talent management programme is not such a giant leap, says Mike Hughes. He explains how.
Putting your best foot forward
Australian business strategist and consultant Brett Michington is an expert in employer branding so, when he visited New Zealand recently, Miriam Bell caught up with him to pick his brains for some branding tips for Employment Today readers.
Banking on change
Is culture change only for smaller businesses or can large organisation’s also undergo a successful transformation? Robyn Sherson talks to Pip Ball about the culture turnaround at Bank of New Zealand.
A life-saving transformation
A two-year ‘safety journey’ has led to both cultural transformation and a dramatic reduction in injuries at Transpower, establishing the organisation as a national leader in health and safety. Alice Taylor reports.
Equity issues—does your branding match reality?
Gender equity is a key issue in maintaining a happy workforce. Margaret Hanson explains how a new resource makes it easy for employers to assess the transparency and fairness of their employment processes.
Test your knowledge
HR professionals need to understand many pieces of employment legislation, and keep up to date on how the courts are interpreting them. Angela Atkins has put together a quiz to test whether you are an employment law whizz!
Departments
Aitchison’s HR: Crystal ball gazing
What does the year 2008 hold for employment issues? Neville Aitchison engages in a spot of crystal ball gazing and finds the more things change the more they stay the same.
Leadership: Women leaders in a 21st century workplace
Despite figures showing few women are being promoted to the top jobs in New Zealand, there’s no shortage of optimism about the future of women in the workforce, reports Kate McDavitt.
Strategic HR: Breaking the mould
Have you turned away good people simply because they didn’t fit the role you had vacant? It’s time to throw away that job description and employ some good people, says Marc Fisk.
Wellness at work: Of mice and men
A new study analysing the behaviour of over 50,000 computer users suggests people consistently over-estimate the amount of time they spend on the computer each day.
Workplace dilemmas: Retaining top talent
Pay may not be the only reason you’re losing staff to competitors. It only becomes an issue when there are other factors which are not being satisfied, says Karen Boyte. She outlines some effective strategies for retaining top talent.
Learning & development: New tricks
As our employees grow older, many will find they will have to learn new skills. Steve Punter considers motivation, and the implications of teaching old dogs new tricks.
Case in point: Holiday time
Transferring a traditional public holiday is not allowed, even if there is mutual agreement from both parties, says Charlotte Hatlauf-Coles. She outlines a recent Supreme Court decision.
Recruitment: Going global for staff
Kiwi employers are increasingly having to compete in a global marketplace for skilled staff. Bruce Porteous looks at the challenges facing New Zealand and explores the role of skilled migrant workers in our workplaces.
Public sector: Stepping up to the mark
What can a board of trustees do when a teacher shares confidential information with other staff? Paul Robertson explains.
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