Following the successful Sydney breakfast briefing on how HR can contribute to the bottom line through learning and technology, Human Resources magazine will be holding an additional two briefings in Brisbane and Melbourne
Following the successful Sydney breakfast briefing on how HR can contribute to the bottom line through learning and technology, Human Resources magazine will be holding an additional two briefings in Brisbane and Melbourne. Sponsored by Microsoft and Click2learn, the breakfast briefings reveal how Microsoft HR’s strategic plans contribute to the success of one of the world’s largest organisations, how technology helps Microsoft’s HR department to streamline efficiencies and build business benefits, and how e-Learning is solving real-life business and HR issues. For further information see page 11.
Striking ambos ordered back to work: VIC
Victorian paramedics were recently ordered by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission to end bans on metropolitan ambulance services, after the industrial action was found to jeopardise community safety. Senior Deputy President Les Kaufman said the paramedics’ work bans threatened the “life, safety or health” of at least part of the community, and refused to allow protected action for a further six months. However the Ambulance Employees Association said it wouldn’t lift bans immediately and that unprotected action was a possibility.
HR boosts power of manufacturers
Focusing on human capital is beneficial for the performance of manufacturing facilities, according to a recently released white paper from the US Manufacturing Performance Institute and Development Dimensions International (DDI). It found that manufacturing facilities with leading edge human resources initiatives outperform their peers in several ways, including labour turnover, gross profit margin and cost reduction. While infrastructure and technology investments and quality process improvements are vital investments for manufacturing facilities, hiring effectiveness, leadership development and training are key for the success of a facility, said senior vice president of DDI Rich Wellins.
HR jobs fall, but blue collar prospects brighter
After strong growth all of this year, job ads in the HR and recruitment sector fell 5.95 per cent in July, according to the Olivier Internet Job Index. However there was a 23.12 per cent increase in trades and services job ads, with demand strongest in the plumbing, security, printing and building trades. Hospitality was also strong, up 11.96 per cent over the month, while advertising and media continued to perform strongly with an 11.14 per cent increase. With job ads at a three-year record high and unemployment at a record low, the index found employers are likely to have difficulty finding, retaining and adequately rewarding top talent.
Australian training awards return to Victoria
The Australian Training Awards, organised by the Australian National Training Authority, will be held at Melbourne’s Crown Casino on Thursday 18 November 2004. The Awards honour the nation’s top apprentices and trainees, their training providers and employers and acknowledge their contribution to vocational education and training and skills development in the Australian workforce. Presented in two categories, student awards and organisational awards, they cover areas such as apprentice of the year, leading-edge program, employer of the year and providers of the year. For more information visit www.anta.gov.au/vetawards.asp
