Eighty-four per cent of executives believe their organisations are unable to take advantage of the full potential of their workforces, according to a study of more than 300 major European and US companies
Eighty-four per cent of executives believe their organisations are unable to take advantage of the full potential of their workforces, according to a study of more than 300 major European and US companies. Conducted on behalf of Convergys by Saratoga/PricewaterhouseCoopers and in conjunction with the University of Michigan, the study found that half acknowledged they didn’t have enough information about the workforce to remain competitive in their industry, partly through a lack of tools and technology. Further, 65 per cent of executives said they face an increased demand for an agile workforce to remain competitive in today’s global market. Despite this awareness, companies have trouble retaining key talent, don’t have systems in place to identify skilled employees and aren’t providing more training and development for their most strategic employees.
Macquarie University offers 26 weeks parental leave
Macquarie University staff will receive 26 weeks parental leave and a 19 per cent pay rise under a new Enterprise Agreement. The deal also included a $750 sign-on bonus that was paid before Christmas. The deal puts Macquarie University on par with the conditions for general staff at Sydney University and UTS, and was reached after 18 months of negotiations. The agreement, which expires on 30 June 2006, also increased casual loading to 23 per cent and allows casual staff who can demonstrate regular and systematic work for over 12 months to convert to permanent work. The agreement is yet to be certified.
Centrelink staff struggle with new rostering system
Centrelink staff are protesting over a new rostering system after it bungled rosters for many staff. Around 4,000 Centrelink call centre staff recently met to oppose the new computerised roster system, Total View, which replaced the previous system, Auto AP. The new system is designed to provide staff with a four week roster after they lodge roster requests and expected workloads. However, some employees have been rostered to work public holidays, weekends and have been given two hour lunch breaks, according to union officials. They said the new rosters were unworkable for many staff, who were calling on management to immediately dismantle Total View and meet unions to discuss its flaws.
Jailed for rattling the boss’ cage
A Polish woman has been sentenced to jail after terrorising her husband’s employer by making ghostly sounds at his castle-like estate. Austrian television reported that the 42-year-old woman, who harboured a grudge against the employer, allegedly spent weeks making mysterious ghost and footstep noises in his hallways and slamming doors late at night. The spooked employer feared he was haunted and begged police to investigate. The police responded by installing surveillance cameras at the employer’s estate in the alpine province of South Tyrol to solve the mystery. The woman was caught red-handed, convicted on nuisance charges and sentenced to four months’ imprisonment.
Unhappy workers are unhealthy too
The extent to which employees are engaged at work has a dramatic impact on their physical health and psychological well-being, a Gallup study of 1,000 US workers has found. Overall, 43 per cent of employees felt their work lives affected their physical health positively while 29 per cent responded negatively. However, 62 per cent of engaged employees (who worked with passion and felt a connection to their organisation) felt their work lives positively affected their physical health, but this fell to 39 per cent of employees who were not engaged (those who put time, but not energy or passion into their work) and 22 per cent of actively disengaged workers (unhappy workers who undermine the accomplishments of engaged workers).
Seminars on Victorian common rule awards
Industrial Relations Victoria is conducting free information sessions to assist HR professionals with the introduction of the new common rule awards. From 1 January 2005, the awards cover industries such as catering, cleaning, clerical and administrative, clothing trades, commercial sales, hospitality, manufacturing chemists, market research, pastoral, poultry, security, storage, transport and wine. Under the new awards, approximately 350,000 Victorian employees are provided with basic safety net conditions, such as penalty rates, redundancy pay and leave loading, which are already provided under the federal award system. The new awards allow employers to offset any additional payments now made against the new award entitlements, but this only applies to arrangements in place prior to the award coming into effect and for 12 months from that date. For more information contact WageLine on 1300 363 264 or visit www.irv.vic.gov.au.
