China Staff articles from May 2005

China Staff archives from May 2005

A hopefully long engagement: today's companies are not only listening to employees, they're acting on employee insights to keep them motivated. Tess Lyons of China STAFF discovers that companies and HR divisions installing programmes to improve commitment issues can be successful, but as with romance--there is no action that can guarantee engagement.(Motivating your Emplooyes)
May 1, 2005... I't's a great era for talented workers in China. The economy is on an upswing and there are a plethora of opportunities for high-producing employees. Companies have recognised the desirability of employee attrition, and the result is instead of...

Preparing for a successful exit interview: exit interviews are often the forgotten factor within an organisation's employment cycle. However, the benefits to the organisation and, indeed, to staff if they are carried out effectively and followed up, can be enormous and help in the organisation becoming a high performing organisation.(Termination of Employment)
May 1, 2005... Exit interviews are exactly what their title implies--an interview with somebody exiting the organisation. This type of interview is a discussion between the employee who is leaving and, either, his or her manager or an HR officer. Who carries...

Betting big on 'internationalising' local employees: whether a result of the desire to empower employees or the need to cut costs, China's localisation of expats has had extensive, and surprising, results. Tess Lyons of China STAFF follows the benefits and ramifications of an exiting expat.(Transitions)
May 1, 2005... Ten years ago it seemed every multinational's Christmas party had at least two tables of 10 occupied by expats and their partners. Some expats were long-term fixtures to the company, like sacred cows, while most stayed for a maximum of five...

Making leadership development happen: a recent survey by Personnel Decisions International found that the focus on development was flagged significantly higher than any other talent issue, including the perennial favourite--attraction and retention. Paul Van Katwyk believes the criticality of developing talent is only going to grow.(Leadership Development)
May 1, 2005... A recently shared joke has two executives at dinner in China sharing their woes on the challenges in finding enough ready talent to fill critical leadership positions. Reflecting on the recent succession of the new Catholic pope, the one...

MNCs rely more on corporate HQ, finance units to manage global benefits: a Towers Perrin survey of 134 large multinational companies indicates that 51% have given more control over benefits to their corporate headquarters between 1999 and 2004, and 60% expect the trend to continue between 2004 and 2009.(Pay & Benefits)(multinational companies)(headquarters)
May 1, 2005... Rising costs and heightened financial uncertainties associated with pensions and other employee benefit programmes are leading multinational companies to give greater control of their benefit plans to corporate headquarters while stepping up...

A Chinese bank comes of age.(Special Interview: China Everbright Bank)(VChina Everbright Bank)
May 1, 2005... Not only was China Everbright Bank the first national joint-equity commercial bank to implement the balanced scorecard, it was also the first Chinese state-owned bank to receive equity investment from international financial institutions. In...

The best employers in China 2005.(Data Page)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... In April 2005, Hewitt Associates released the findings and winners of the 2005 Best Employers in Asia and China studies. 78 companies were involved in China, and 10 of these were chosen as Best Employers in China. 1 The Portman...

Hong Kongers ill-prepared for early retirement.(Hong Kong News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... A survey found that Hong Hong Kong people may lack the funds to realise and sustain early retirement at 58 and a life expectancy of 76, reported the South China Morning Post. The HSBC global survey showed that most Hongkongers had made no...

Graduates' pay inflates more than 20%.(Hong Kong News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... A shortage of talent in the recovering economy has caused graduate pay to rebound to 2002 salary levels of $10,000 and beyond. The South China Morning Post reported one Hong Kong University of Science and Technology business graduate...

Maximum work week proposal in progress.(Hong Kong News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Democrat legislator Andrew Cheng Kar-foo is preparing to submit a bill that would set the maximum working week at 44 hours, according to the South China Morning Post. Under the proposal, the regulated maximum working week would exclude...

Social security provisions widened.(China News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The coverage of China's major social security programmes, old-age, medical, maternity and industrial injury, has reached 165.5 million, 127 million, 44.9 million and 70 million people by March, according to statistics by the Ministry of Labour...

Shorter breaks, later start to boost efficiency.(China News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Guangdong party and government workers will start their work days half an hour later but will have to cut their lunch break under changes to working hours from 1 July 2005. The change means work begins at 8.30am, with a shortened lunch...

Glittering prospects in new profession.(China News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The birth of a new profession in China is near. The China Gold Association (CGA) announced recently in Shanghai that the vocation of gold investment analyst had passed examination of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and will become an...