News Briefs (Nov. 5, 2001)

Ford reneges on computers
Oakville, Ont. — Ford Canada has cancelled its much touted plan to give “free” computers and Internet access to all its workers worldwide for a nominal fee. The plan was announced in early 2000 and since then Canada’s 17,000 Ford employees have been waiting. It turns out the deal was too good to be true. Citing the economic downturn, Ford Canada announced the program won’t go ahead. U.S. employees did receive their computers. For editorial comment visit our online archives at www.hrreporter.com, select “search” and enter Article No. 1456.

CEO and coach
Toronto — Without a strong CEO that understands team dynamics, organizations run the risk of having senior leadership team members become short sighted and self-serving, hurting other members of the senior team and the organization itself, according to a new study by Hay Group and researchers from Harvard University. Senior leadership teams have a critical role to play in giving an organization a sense of engagement and purpose, and in implementing strategy but almost two-thirds of all executive-level teams fail, and often the CEO’s inability to understand team dynamics is too blame. The study suggests effective top teams can advance the CEO’s strategy and agenda more quickly, make the organization more nimble and responsive to market changes, and lead to higher perceived valuations from institutional investors.

Stress levels on the rise
Ottawa — Absenteeism continues to increase, while job satisfaction and job commitment drop as a result of work-life conflict, according to a recent survey of 6,500 Canadians. The survey, funded by Health Canada compares findings to a similar survey conducted between 1990-1992. Where 62 per cent of respondents in 1991 said there were highly satisfied with their jobs, just 45 per cent said they feel that way today. Similarly 66 per cent said they were highly committed to their jobs in 1991 but only one-half of all respondents feel that way today. The average employee is now working 45 hours a week in paid employment up from 42 in 1991. High stress on the job is twice as likely as it was 10 years ago and there are more trips to the doctor and more cases of depression.

Couldn’t use drive through
Albuquerque, N.M. — An Albuquerque police officer and a civilian pilot face charges after swooping down to a donut store for a midnight snack in a police helicopter. After landing in a vacant lot beside the Krispy Kreme doughnut store, they ran in, picked up a dozen donuts and left. It costs the department $80 an hour, including fuel and maintenance, to run the helicopter.

Business, gov’t unprepared for worker shortage
Toronto — Another call on the government and employers to get serious about an impending “chronic shortage” of workers, this time from think-tank the C.D. Howe Institute. Declining birth rates and an aging population could spell negative growth in employment, but managers and policymakers have been slow to recognize that, states the report. While much has been written about the aging workforce, the C.D. Howe report also points out the share of females in the workforce will also grow. “Employers have to plan for a different workforce — one that is smaller, older, and more female,” said William Robson, of the Institute. The government has begun to respond, with changes to laws governing private pensions, for example, but more must be done.

Uncle Sam needs help finding you
Plano, Tex. — The U.S. army is modernizing its recruiting system to broaden its reach and enhance its ability to sign up recruits from any location in the country. It recently signed a $132-million contract with EDS to enhance the army’s Web-enabled recruiting system. Among other things, the systems consulting firm will help the army move to a paperless recruitment system that uses electronic signatures to facilitate processing.

Improving airport security
San Francisco — A recent study reveals a connection between pay and performance among airport security workers. The study, conducted by University of California, Berkeley, revealed that by paying airport security workers more, security improved. In the program, wages for baggage screeners increased from $7 per hour or less to $10 per hour and employees performance surpassed standards set by the Federal Aviation Administration, and turnover dropped from 110 per cent to 25 per cent.

To read the full story, login below.

Not a subscriber?

Start your subscription today!