Australian companies are increasingly recognising the benefits of sustainability reporting, according to recent research
Australian companies are increasingly recognising the benefits of sustainability reporting, according to recent research. The State of Sustainability Reporting in Australia 2005 report, researched by KPMG and the Centre for Australian Ethical Research (CAER), showed a 20 per cent rise in respondents who consider sustainability reporting as a tool for benchmarking company performance. With two parliamentary inquiries into corporate social responsibility underway, Rob Hogarth, partner, sustainability services at KPMG, said there was speculation amongst executives that community expectations will turn into legal obligations.
Women go pear shaped in the game of office politics
Women and office politics appear to mix like oil and water according to Fabian Dattner and Jim Grant, of Dattner Grant, a leadership development firm. The key issue is the mixing of power and politics, they said. It was apparent that women in senior positions are more likely to engage in destructive politics if their positions are threatened, said Dattner. Grant added: “Women are confused by the game playing. They think that blokes are holding on relentlessly to the corridors of powers and that they need to decamp. It’s not a good outcome for any of us …Anxiety about power, sexual politics and political intelligence is still fuelling confusion between the sexes.”
Skills shortages forcing out SMEs in talent war
Skills shortages are placing increased pressure on SMEs’ ability to compete with larger corporations in recruiting staff, according to TCBS Human Capital Solutions. SMEs, hindered by time constraints and their lack of recruitment experience, are facing an increasingly uphill battle in the talent war. “In addition to not being able to devote enough time and energy to recruiting new staff, SMEs are struggling to compete with the extras larger organisations offer,” said Owen Salmon, TCBS Human Capital Solutions director. “SMEs can’t offer new recruits unlimited access to gym facilities and corporate sporting competitions, but they can offer a more intimate working environment and greater opportunity for increased responsibilities early on.”
