Management gurus often talk about having "critical" and "difficult" conversations with staff, but conflict resolution expert Catherine Gillespie says that every workplace conversation has consequences, and should be considered critical.
It's time for HR people to stand up, take responsibility, take some risks, and do some experiments, according to Vineet Nayar, CEO of HCL Technologies and leader of more than 72,000 IT professionals in 29 countries.
Top-level HR staff who want to serve as "trusted advisors" in the event of a merger or acquisition should learn about the process long before the rumours of a potential transaction start to circulate, says Mercer Australia and New Zealand M&A business leader Michael Hill.
In a ruling that addresses some important issues on procedural fairness, Fair Work Australia has upheld a worker's dismissal for inappropriate conduct despite her employer's failure to provide her with all the information on which its decision was based.
Under-performers, bottom quartile performance, staff that cost you money, employees that risk your reputation – those people in your team who just aren’t making the grade. They keep us awake at night; they take up our leadership time with counselling, observations, reviews and numerous one on one discussions.
Soon, all across many companies in many countries, HR Directors will be completing the dreaded annual budget process. On such critical occasions, the experienced HR Director, as they look across the boardroom table, meeting the CEO and the CFO, typically will be mentally prepared for the sacrificial budget cuts that are customary.
Too many employers put their "heads in the sand" when in doubt about the clarity of their contracting arrangements, but it's far better to "crystallise their liability", says employment lawyer Brad Swebeck.
Nearly one in five HR professionals received a pay rise of more than 10 per cent in 2010, and 83 per cent expect a pay rise this year, but the number of roles available for job seekers has "by no means" returned to pre-GFC levels, warns Hudson's 2011 HR salary guide.
Is it illegal to Google a candidate? Does doing so increase the likelihood of a discrimination claim? Who owns LinkedIn connections? Employment lawyer Nick Noonan answers these questions and more.
