When a Victorian utility company announced it had discovered an $80 million budget shortfall, staff knew they were in for a bumpy ride. What they didn't expect was to become more committed to the organisation during the cost-cutting exercise.
Flexible work arrangements might be on the rise in most industries, but in some the traditions of long work hours and hard-nosed ambition still get in the way. Here is how one HR team made it work in a conservative culture.
Faced with a shrinking talent pool, Konica Minolta has gone back to basics and launched its own trainee program, targeting people of all ages without tertiary qualifications.
If you think a development program that focuses on building leaders as individuals will boost the diversity of your upper ranks, think again. Different demographics often require tailored programs, one company has found.
Turnover at this organisation spiked up after it redefined leadership requirements, and asked those who didn't meet them to leave, but the positive impact on those who stayed has more than compensated for the turbulence, says its HR director.
An Australian business has saved $1 million in recruitment costs and now fills 80 per cent of its vacancies through internal promotion, after refining both its hiring and development processes.
An openness to left-field, and even "antiquated" ideas - such as a careers noticeboard - has helped an employer almost double the number of internal applications it receives.
An organisation that offers new employees a $500 cash incentive for leaving the company within three months is reporting a higher level of engagement overall as a result.
A health initiative that won over workers with the slogan, "How to lose weight and drink beer", and brought management on board with stats that created "a sense of urgency", has helped a blue-collar workforce to reduce its absenteeism, presenteeism, and injury rates.
A fundraising trek with a leadership development focus has helped senior employees at Goodman Group become more strategic and inclusive, while raising money for charity, according to participant Samantha Evans.
