Managers looking to implement alternative working arrangements in a bid to avoid sacking staff throughout the GFC are at risk of exposing themselves to litigation if they fail to adequately consult, a workplace lawyer warns.
Australian HR departments are struggling to meet the challenges created by recession-driven cost-cutting with fewer resources and less control over decision-making, a new study confirms.
More than half of employees in the Australian finance profession have had to take on extra tasks after staff cuts, but employers are failing to put in place countering work/life balance initiatives, a survey has found.
Employers forced to make redundancies after the Fair Work Act comes into force in July must prove they have proactively pursued all redeployment alternatives before letting workers go - and an internal job board won't cut the mustard, says a workplace relations lawyer.
Redeploying workers instead of cutting headcount during tough economic times can save your business millions of dollars in employment costs, according to Human Capital Management Solutions CEO, Trevor Vas.
Employers can quickly nip difficult and negative employee behaviour in the bud - while maintaining workplace harmony - by being "hard on the behaviour, but soft on the person", says New Zealand workplace consultant and psychologist, Dr Steven Saunders.
Employers across Australia are trimming their salary budgets, but with more precision than has been seen in previous downturns, a Mercer study has found.
In a social media world where "anyone can publish", managing the redundancy process to avoid online reputation damage is crucial, says HR technology consultant Michael Specht.
As talent-sourcing gets easier, employers should consider breathing new life into their organisations by "top grading" their workforce and shedding poor performers, says Taleo senior vice president Al Campa.
Panicky managers that put bottom-line efficiencies before people during the economic downturn run the risk of obliterating company morale and losing their best talent, says Robert Half Asia-Pacific's managing director, David Jones.
All employers should consider putting in place a workplace s-xual harassment prevention plan, even though such plans are only expressly prescribed in one jurisdiction, according to a risk management expert.
Recent events have shone a spotlight on whistleblowing, placing employers firmly on notice that their response to a protected disclosure could be subject to intense scrutiny. Watch this webcast to understand the role HR plays in this challenging space.
