As economic conditions worsen, employers that cut back on supervision and communication face a growing risk of employee fraud, warns workplace relations lawyer Chris Molnar.
Employers that refrain from indiscriminately slashing staff numbers and adhere to the 10 "DOs and DON'Ts" of the redundancy process will be "poised to enjoy a competitive advantage" as the economy rebounds, according to the authors of a white paper from the Human Capital Institute and Taleo.
HR must make the shift from transactional to transformational - driving change within a business instead of just aligning with it - if it wants "a seat at the table", says the head of global HR consulting at Kelly Services.
Employers looking to implement workplace drug and alcohol testing must ensure that the process is completely transparent to avoid possible litigation - especially when it comes to sacking workers who test positive to prohibited substances, says Harmers Workplace Lawyers partner, Jamie Robinson.
"Corporate psychopaths" create workplace conflict and cause top talent to flee, but there are ways to recognise and remove them before it's too late, says organisational psychologist Jason Blaik.
One of the most common mistakes businesses make - particularly in a downturn - is to distribute remuneration evenly across their workforce, according to researcher Erik Berggren.
Nearly two-thirds of Australian employers are forecasting redundancies and plan to cut, on average, 5.5 per cent of their workforce, according to new research.
Retrenched employees in Australia receive lower severance pay than workers in 20 other countries, but a higher level of transitional assistance, according to a new study.
Employers are ramping up their alumni programs in a bid to maintain good relationships and maximise prospects for re-hiring staff that might lose their jobs during the downturn.
"Smart" employers are looking to mature-age workers to fill contract positions during the economic slowdown, to reap the benefits of their experience in challenging times, according to SageCo director, Alison Monroe.
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.
