Archived News for Human Resource Professionals - November, 2012
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have enjoyed an increase in overall confidence, offsetting previous downturns this year, according to the new Sensis Business Index survey.
Government passes Fair Work amendment
The Federal Government has passed the Fair Work Amendment Bill 2012 through Parliament, enacting a number of key recommendations from the independent Fair Work Act Review.
Inaugural local government workforce census starts
The Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government’s (ACELG) inaugural census on the Australian locaol government workforce is set to begin on Friday 30Novemeber.
Diversity means performance finds Deloitte
Diversity in organisations equates to a substantial boost in productivity, according to a new report released by Deloitte.
Government passes transfer of business Bill
The Federal Government has passed the Fair Work Amendment (Transfer of Business) Bill 2012, which extends the benefits of transfer of business provisions to certain public sector employees.
Committee hands down workplace bullying report
The House of Representatives Standing committee on Education and Employment has handed down its long awaited report on workplace bullying.
Government convenes ICT workforce forum
The Federal Government has convened leading industry, public sector and education representatives to share innovative approaches to developing, attracting and retaining ICT skills in the national workforce.
Government passes worker protection legislation
The Federal Government has passed legislation through Parliament which it says will deliver the strongest protections for worker’ entitlements in the country’s history.
Top jobs still a boys club finds report
Australian corporations risk cutting off access to half of the nation’s skill pool, with leadership positions still almost exclusively occupied by men, according to a new report prepared by the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA).
Workplace equality law passes Senate
The Australian Human Rights Commission has welcomed the passing of the Federal Government’s Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Amendment Bill through the Senate.
ACELG launches pilot census
The Australian Centre for Excellence in Local Government (ACELG) has announced it is co-ordinating a pilot census with eight councils this week on the state of the local government workforce.
SACS pay rise rolls out
The Federal Government has announced that its share of the $2.8 billion in pay increases for the nation’s social and community sector workers (SACS) have begun to roll out throughout Australia.
Australia on the precipice of skills shortfall
Australia is facing a significant shortfall in the number of available crucial business professionals over the coming 12 months, according the latest Clarius Skills Index released earlier this week.
Government launches workplace tool to help victims of domestic abuse
The Federal Government has launched a new toolkit aimed at improving the way unions, employers and business groups can support employees experiencing domestic or family violence and help them remain at work.
Migrants and locals vying for jobs finds Monash
The Federal Government’s immigration policy is increasingly out of sync with the needs of the country, with Australians and immigrants vying for local jobs, according to new research released by the Monash University.
Expert casts doubts over testing effectiveness
A leading drug testing expert has cast doubts over the effectiveness and reasoning behind drug testing in the workplace, saying that there is little evidence to suggest it changes behaviour of employees and may in fact drive them to use synthetic drugs or ‘harder’ substances that leave the system earlier than others.
Government releases anti-discrimination exposure draft
The Federal Government has released an exposure draft Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012, which aims to consolidate five existing Commonwealth anti-discrimination acts into a single law.
Pregnancy discrimination on the rise
The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) has expressed its concern over recent data that shows that pregnant women in the workplace are experiencing more perceived discrimination than last reported six years ago.
Government launches mature age worker pilot program
The Federal Government has launched a new pilot program aimed at incentivising businesses to hire mature age Australians.
Grandparents step up as mums go back to work
27 per cent of mothers who return to work after the birth of their child relied on grandparents as the main care for their child, according to a new report released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Hays report shows startling paradox
The employment world has entered a bizarre paradox of skills shortages and unemployment, according to global recruitment specialist Hays.