It has been a jam-packed year for HR – from sweeping legislative changes to ongoing debate about performance reviews and navigating the challenges of working alongside social media, 2012 hasn’t seen a dull moment.
It has been a jam-packed year for HR – from sweeping legislative changes to ongoing debate about performance reviews and navigating the challenges of working alongside social media, 2012 hasn’t seen a dull moment.
HC has been at the forefront of breaking news in HR management, and a look back over the past 12 months reveals what an exciting year it has been for HR professionals.
In the first quarter of the year, debate around the idea of scrapping performance reviews got the forum buzzing. “I can't see how scrapping a performance review is a positive thing! Performance reviews give staff the opportunity to negotiate rewards based on their performance,” one reader commented. Nevertheless, numerous readers applauded a commenter who said few businesses seem to get benefit from out-dated performance reviews. “They don't seem to impact the bottom line, motivate staff, create better relationships, develop capability, skill up staff, or assist with implementing strategy – all the things they were designed to do. If the activity you are pursuing doesn't do what it is intended to do then drop it!” So will the performance review live to see another year? Only time will tell.
HC’s story in June, The reason female execs leave is not glass ceiling, was also a catalyst for debate. Many readers agreed that female talent principally leave organisations due to toxic work environments, bullying, and poor management – not the ‘glass ceiling’ as often thought. And wherever there’s gender politics, there’s discussion of the pay gap and quotas for women on boards.
Related Stories:
Is your organisation perpetuating the wage gap?
Equal pay day highlights gender pay gap still alive and kicking
Obese female candidates shown the door
Ever the hot topic, the use social media in the workplace dominated headlines in 2012. We’ve borne witness to messy legal fallouts from employees behaving badly, but also employers ruling the web waves with an iron fist. One way or another social media is certainly here to stay.
Related Stories:
Social media: HR’s role in monitoring the reputational risks
Spotlight on social media policy Part I
Facebook firings part II: check your social media policies before it’s too late
Other top news stories in 2012 which ran hot:
Landmark Barclay decision finally settled by the High Court
Obese female candidates shown the door
Myths about workplace bullying addressed
Rescinding a resignation: Where do you stand
Should HR avoid making friends at work?
In 2013 HC looks forward to bringing you the latest news in HR and discussion around the issues that matter to the HR professionals of Australia.
From all the team, we look forward to another year of breaking news.
