When senior leaders at Woolworths were faced with a talent shortage in late 2004, they began to investigate why - in a company where women outnumbered men and 85 per cent of executive appointments were internal - just 16 per cent of its top 400 leaders were women.
After a survey found 50 per cent of respondents "hated" Telstra, the company looked internally to identify its strengths as an employer and develop its employment value proposition (EVP).
Graduate programs that separate recruitment from development are at risk of over promising and under delivering, says David Cvetkovski, national manager of strategy and delivery at Fusion Graduate Management Solutions.
A company that helps its workers to further their careers, not just within the organisation but also beyond it, has achieved "Best of the Best" status in Hewitt's 2009/10 employer accreditation program.
The economic downturn has forced employers "to do a lot more with a lot less" and a return to previous levels of spending is unlikely, says News Digital Media's executive director of emerging businesses, Michael Solomon.
Recruitment activity is picking up in the HR sector, but employers are maintaining a preference for contract rather than permanent hires, according to a Hays report.
Employers that opt to do their recruiting internally should still rely on agencies to fill high-volume and non-strategic roles, says US-based HR and recruitment expert, Kevin Wheeler.
When the budget for running staff surveys is tight, employers need to focus on where they can get reliable answers fastest, says Retention Partners director Lisa Halloran.
Employers that want to access top talent fast and develop leadership skills among existing employees should consider implementing an intern program, says Ernst & Young managing partner and people leader Lynn Kraus.
Romantic relationships in the workplace can create a legal "minefield", but policies that are too prescriptive can offend employees, send the wrong message and weaken a company's competitive edge, says HR commentator Kate Southam.
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.
