It's easy to laugh at the excruciating behaviour of David Brent in classic sitcom The Office , but real-life workplace wrangles are rarely so amusing. We've all worked alongside people who annoy us - Mr 'I'm sick but too important...

Research suggests most Kiwis don't think the recession has been as bad as experts and the media predicted

While the number of people on benefits is rising, there are some positive signs that government efforts to blunt the pain are working, says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.The latest statistics show 59,151 people on...

A survey of 700 Auckland businesses shows a strong surge in confidence and hiring intentions.The online survey by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce for the three months to September found 58 per cent believe business conditions...

Bad news isn't wine - it doesn't improve with ageThere's a scene in The Godfather in which mob lawyer Tom Hagen tries to persuade movie mogul Jack Woltz to put Don Corleone's godson in an upcoming film. Woltz screams that he will...

Employers have snapped up more than 1000 places under the Government's new Job Ops subsidy scheme for young people, filling a quarter of the 4000 places allowed in the scheme by the end of next year.The $5000 subsidies to employ...

Manufacturing sales volumes rose in the June quarter, but the value of sales fell as a result of lower prices.

Up to 200,000 employees - one in 10 - are victims of workplace bullying, new research suggests.The two-year research project undertaken by academics at three universities surveyed 1600 employees from 20 organisations in the hospitality,...

Workers are feeling much more secure about their jobs and confidence about the labour market is improving according to a bank survey.

New Zealand had its highest annual net migration gain in nearly five years during the 12 months to August, figures published by Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) today show.

Employers are finally starting to hire again - especially in Auckland - after a dramatic collapse in the job market late last year. The Herald and the country's two biggest online job websites, Seek and Trade Me, all report increases...

Tradesmen are throwing out their health and safety folders with glee thanks to two builders with a clever idea.

For the first time in over a year economic growth prospects have been revised upwards, the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research says.In its latest Consensus Forecasts Survey, the institute says the growth prospects are consistent...

In Steve Biddulph's book Raising Boys , he says if you routinely work 55 to 60-hour weeks including travel time, you are not cutting it as a dad. Next time you consider a promotion, think about what it will involve, he says. Try...

The New Zealand economy expanded by a tiny amount in the June quarter, enabling a cautious declaration of an end to the five-quarter-long recession.

An executive who called her boss a "f***wit" in an email to friends and clients was wrongly suspended, the Employment Relations Authority has found.Auckland project manager Chia Cheng was told to "go home and think about your...

Business confidence in New Zealand has jumped again in the latest National Bank Business Outlook survey, but the picture is mixed in sectors of the economy.

The picture is slightly brighter for job seekers, who should see a moderately improved labour market in the final quarter of 2009, a survey says today. A greater percentage of employers are telling researchers they will hold on...

Migrant workers have a harder time overseas than in New Zealand, says the Immigration Service. In some countries, the recession has led to temporary workers being asked to leave and promise never to return, or a "drastic" slashing...

Many employers are aware of the value of encouraging the physical health of their employees. But often mental health is ignored and this can affect productivity and have far-reaching repercussions.Flee Coker-Grey, contract and...

There are more job losses on the cards, despite the economy improving.

The service sector is showing signs it is on the road to recovery, with the sector having now expanded for two months in a row

Employers are being urged to prepare for a possible return to a labour shortage as the number of job advertisements starts to rise.

Ever wondered if effective and involved leaders really have an impact on employee engagement in the workplace? Research into leadership competency and ownership of post-survey performance-improvement initiatives would definitely indicate...

Legislation allowing workers to take meal and breast-feeding breaks may be changed because it would cause the cancellation of nine domestic flights, Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson says. Previously, there were no statutory requirements...

Most employers appear to find aspects of the Holidays Act unworkable and are not complying with all of it, a survey found.

The biggest threat to the economic recovery would be a strong outflow of people to Australia as that country resurges, NZIER economist Shamubeel Eaqub says. Speaking in Auckland today at a briefing on the institute’s latest Quarterly Predictions, he says the annualised net migration gain of around 15-16,000 could easily disappear if arrivals plummeted and more people went across the Tasman.

Rising unemployment has not solved the country's skills shortage and is now putting pressure on recruitment firms who have to manage an avalanche of applications from people who are not skilled to do the jobs they are applying for. Jackie...

Workplace stress, resentment, discontent and communication breakdowns between staff and managers is on the up as employers come down on staff to get more for less. These are among the findings of a survey carried out by recruitment...

Don't we all wish we had that silver bullet at times? A single, breakthrough initiative that becomes the catalyst for a more trusting, more motivated and more engaged workforce? Reality is, of course, that building a great workplace...

The NZIER warns the country is on the cusp of a fragile recovery but the foundations are weak