October 2007 Edition
Every month, in collaboration with the Institute of
Workplace Studies (IWS), CAHRS identifies the 'Top
10' news items from the IWS News Service covering
key workplace issues that would be of interest to
CAHRS sponsors. Now CAHRS and the HR
Division have agreed to distribute this information as
another benefit of HR Division membership.
These news items are carefully selected, covering
areas such as emerging workplace trends,
compensation, executive training and development,
technology enabled HR services, important policy
announcements impacting people practices,
employment related macro economic data and top
line general economic data, significant court
decisions relating to employment law and any other
issue of potential significance to human resource
managers.
The content is sourced from U.S. Government and
international agencies, public and private bodies,
consultancies and knowledge services firms, industry
associations, unions and select academic institutions.
Because the links below are sometimes to
copyrighted materials, you may be asked to sign in to
a proprietary website (for example Business Week
online) after following the link. However, once you
have signed up for these free services, you will be
able to find the complete article. Our goal is
to
provide you with information about up-to-date issues
in HR.
The CAHRS Top Ten
1.
2007 Best Employers for Workers
Over 50 [September 25, 2007], by the AARP
Summary: A number of major multi-national
corporations are demonstrating that enlightened
policies toward 50+ employees make good business
sense, based on the 2007 AARP Best Employers for
Workers Over 50.
2. Major Health Benefit Trends in Open
Enrollment Season [September 24, 2007], by
Watson Wyatt
Summary: Major trends that benefits experts
at Watson Wyatt have identified for this year's season:
Incentives/penalties for healthy/unhealthy behaviors,
Full coverage for preventive care benefits, Health
coaches/onsite health centers, More choice to meet
individual needs, More communication/more tools,
More health savings accounts/fewer plan options and
Scrutiny of spousal/dependent coverage
3. Reward Programs Out of
Date [September 5, 2007], by Towers Perrin
Summary: Reward and performance
management programs are not keeping pace with the
demands facing businesses today. Despite
enormous shifts in the business landscape over the
last decade - driven by; increased competition, cost
pressures, globalization, aging populations,
technology advances, and skill and labor shortages -
most companies have made minimal changes, at
best, in the design and delivery of their base pay,
incentive and performance management programs.
As a result, current programs do not appear to be
meeting talent and people management needs
effectively, especially in an environment increasingly
focused on attracting and retaining people at all levels
in an organization.
4. CHINA & INDIA (Updated Development Outlook)
, [September 17, 2007] by the European Working
Conditions Observatory (EWCO)
Link to China report and India report
Summary: Developing Asian economies will
register solid economic growth in 2007, driven by fast
growth in the People's Republic of China (PRC) and
India. The PRC and India, which together account for
55.3% of the total gross domestic product (GDP) in
developing Asia, recorded their fastest growth in 13
years in the first half of 2007 and 18 years in fiscal
year 2006, respectively.
5. Occupational Pay Comparisons among Metropolitan
Areas [September 26, 2007], by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics
(pdf file)
Summary: Using data from the National
Compensation Survey, pay relatives-a means of
assessing pay differences-are available for each of
the 9 major occupational groups within 78
metropolitan areas, as well as averaged across all
occupations for each area. In addition, similar area-to-
area comparisons have been calculated for all 78
areas and will soon be available on the BLS website
at
http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ocs/payrel.htm
6. European "Blue Card"
[September 26, 2007], by the European Parliament
Summary: Forecasts show that by 2050 two
workers in Europe will have to support one retired
person, compared with four workers now. Could
immigration be the answer? One suggestion is
a "European blue card system" - like the US green
card - for skilled third country workers.
7. Maternity Leave in the United States - Paid
Parental Leave is still Not Standard, even among the
Best U.S. Employers [September 5, 2007 2007],
by Institute for Women's Policy Research
(Links:
www.iwpr.org/pdf/parentalleaverelease.pdf and
www.iwpr.org/pdf/parentalleaveA131.pdf)
Summary: A new fact sheet released by the
Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR) reports
that nearly one-quarter of the best employers for
working mothers provide four or fewer weeks of paid
maternity leave, and half provide six weeks or less.
Nearly half of the best companies fail to provide any
paid leave for paternity or adoption. While more than
one-quarter of the best companies provide nine or
more weeks of paid maternity leave, many of the
winners' paid parental leave policies fall far short of
families' needs. IWPR's analysis is based on data
provided by Working Mother Media, publisher of
Working Mother, regarding the 2006 list of Working
Mother 100 Best Companies.
8.
Charting the U.S. Labor Market in 2006
[September 28, 2007], by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics
(full text)
Summary: Charting the U.S. Labor Market in
2006, includes graphs and text describing the U.S.
labor market in 2006. Highlights include information
about educational attainment, race and Hispanic
ethnicity, women, and families.
9.
The Expected Impact of Automatic Escalation of 401(k)
Contributions on Retirement Income [September
12, 2007], by the Employee Benefit Research Institute
Summary: A key provision of the 2006
retirement legislation is likely to result in a significant
increase in 401(k) accumulations, especially for low-
income workers. This study provides the first estimate
of the expected impact of the provision.
10. Doing Business in 2008 (178
Economies - Comparing Regulations)
[September 26, 2007], by the World Bank
Summary: Doing Business 2008 ranks 178
economies on the ease of doing business. The
rankings are based on 10 indicators of business
regulation that track the time and cost to meet
government requirements in business start-up,
operation, trade, taxation, and closure. The rankings
do not reflect such areas as macroeconomic policy,
quality of infrastructure, currency volatility, investor
perceptions, or crime rates.
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