It’s important to find the human moment in every transaction, no matter how tempting it is to hide behind technology, says Neville Aitchison. That’s worth remembering as we march into the future with our host of digital communicators.

Thorough pre-employment screening will, among other things, reduce risk, increase certainty and minimise your chances of being murdered, although using it to keep the unsexy out is illegal, says Terry Williams.

Staff at Whanganui-based Pacific Helmets are taking on the world, making safety helmets for workers in a range of risky occupations around the globe. Helen Frances talks to their boss Grant Bennett about working lean and smart, and getting staff to share their ideas for improvement.

Margaret Agnew looks at the impact of the enormous change that’s gone on in the Earthquake Commission in recent years and how it’s shaped EQC’s organisational development.

Making the wrong decision can have drastic consequences. Dr Titus De Silva examines the decision-making process and points out the traps you’ll need to avoid if you want to make the best decisions.

Organisations are increasingly looking abroad to find key talent, but with the growth of global hiring comes a greater need for thorough employee screening. Dean Ward discusses the importance of having policies and procedures in place to reduce the risk of being defrauded by an employee.

Building the capacity to innovate across an organisation is the job of HR, yet too few HR managers fully understand the challenge, says Ed Bernacki. It’s time to focus on creating a culture that supports new thinking, he says.

Businesses are increasingly moving their CSR focus from a top-down approach to one all staff have a stake in. Alaina Luxmoore encourages employers and employees alike to take a fresh look at how social responsibility is managed.

Amanda Sterling takes a look back at New Zealand’s trade union history, and at their role in today’s world where a job for life is a thing of the past and power has shifted from the collective to the individual. Are unions still relevant, she asks.

Many experts say younger workers, with their 140-character communication style, lack the soft skills necessary to get on (and get on with others) in today’s workplace, says Simon Woolley. He outlines 10 ways to help young workers develop better people skills.

There’s a perception that organisational reviews are confidential processes. But change management practices that encourage early engagement with employees are proving to have significanly better outcomes, says Anna Sage. It’s time for HR to expand its repertoire.

When a school principal undertook a review of management units and reallocated some of them, two staff brought personal grievances alleging they were disadvantaged by the changes. The principal’s actions, although well-intentioned, caused the college liability. Paul Robertson warns it is important to take advice before making important employment decisions.