Government executives in the US have a big challenge ahead of them when it comes to implementing pay for performance in public sector workplaces, but there are specific HR strategies that they can borrow from the private sector to turn reluctant employees into supporters of performance-based pay
Government executives in the US have a big challenge ahead of them when it comes to implementing pay for performance in public sector workplaces, but there are specific HR strategies that they can borrow from the private sector to turn reluctant employees into supporters of performance-based pay. Bill Trahant, national leader of Watson Wyatt’s US Government Consulting Services Practice, said the strategies fall into the four categories: total rewards and accountability; building and maintaining collegial workplaces; communication; and recruiting/retention. Trahant said pay for performance can return concrete gains to agencies if implemented correctly and given time to work.
Ageing workers get handle on occupational issues
A new project to identify and manage occupational issues that affect the retention of ageing workers in Australia was recently launched by Swinburne’s Business Work and Ageing Centre. The project will examine a leading international framework for managing ageing workforces. “Developed countries throughout the world are grappling with the problem of an ageing workforce,”said CEO of the Business Work and Ageing Research Centre, Professor Louise Rolland. “Keeping older people in work has become a key public policy objective in Australia. A focus on health and wellbeing may help to extend and improve the working life of many people. A key question is where this focus should be and what interventions will have the greatest impact.”
Butt kissers cause workplace insecurity
Butt kissers and those who play at workplace politics cause workplace insecurity and impact on the daily lives of employees, according to leadership development consultant Fabian Dattner. Knowing who is in and who is out in the office and focusing activity on the in group is counter productive and comes at the expense of others, said Dattner. “Being good and diligent is not enough. You have to communicate well, you need to network, be well informed and ensure that the boss knows who you are and what you are capable of. Employers need to engender a positive organisational climate and help create it,” she said.
Australia making up for lost time in career development
Not long ago, Australia was about 10 years behind the rest of the world in career development, according to an Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) review of career development policies in over 20 countries, but now has begun to forge ahead. An overview of where Australia is currently at in terms of career development, the increasing shortage of skilled staff and the values of generation Y will be addressed at the Australian Association of Career Counsellors (AACC) International Careers Conference to be held at Star City, Sydney from 18-21 April. The four-day conference will include 14 international and local keynote speakers and numerous workshops and panel discussions.
Australian managers ahead of the pack
Australian managers are rated as among the most strategic leaders in the world, and as a result, are more likely to enjoy business success, according to two separate research studies into leadership styles. Presented at a Directioneering senior HR networking event, the results of a survey of 76,949 managers from 14 countries found strategic leadership could be understood as consideration of how actions taken in one area will affect other areas of the organisation. Effective leaders need to think about what their business wants to achieve long-term and what leadership qualities are going to help them achieve goals, according to Catherine Bourke, director of Directioneering, a Sydney-based career management firm.
IAG boss gets gong at Human Capital Leadership Awards
Michael Hawker, CEO of IAG was recently awarded CEO of the Year and Leader of the Year at the 2006 Human Capital Leadership Awards. Organised by JML Australia, Hawker said the awards he won were recognition of the strength and capability of IAG’s workforce. Other winners in the Awards included Deloitte’s Alec Bashinsky (Human Resources Leader of the Year), GPT Group’s Nic Lyons (Entrepreneur of the Year), Starlight Children’s Foundation’s Jill Weekes (Director of the Year), iiNet’s Michael Malone (Young Leader of the Year) and Mallesons Stephen Jaques’ Nicola Wakefield Evans (Professional Services Leader of the Year).
