The heart of his home town lies in ruins, but despite the challenges ahead, Neville Aitchison is sure we will see it grow again. We’ll also see calculated risk-taking in action, something, he says, HR managers should be trained in.

Abilities Group on Auckland’s North Shore offers people with disabilities an opportunity to be part of the workforce. On the day Renée Lang visits, it’s a hive of activity. She talks to Peter Fraher about a unique working environment.

Are older workers feeling unappreciated or left on the scrap heap now that a new generation of workers is climbing the career ladder to become managers? And is this a recipe for disaster or the new face of the workplace? Sally Wenley investigates.

Most companies spend nothing on measuring the impact of workplace learning on job performance, says Helen McPhun. She outlines why it is important to measure the results of your training spend, and looks at the role of management and trainers in ensuring learning translates into on-the-job effectiveness.

Change management projects often focus on process and fail to understand the effect on staff. Lorna Murray and Jeannine Walsh explain how to help people move through change.

When Bell Tea Company joined forces with Burton Hollis, moving into new purpose-built premises was not the only change facing staff. Nigel Carter finds out how the freshly blended company approached the changes ahead.

Selling their premises, eliminating support staff, and getting on-the-road technicians to behave like owners proved a winning formula for refrigeration and airconditioning company Thermo Tech. John Laurent discovers that trusting staff pays dividends and has benefits for all.

Overseas organisations are increasingly turning to external HR experts to help them meet their people management needs. Clare Parkes explains how outsourcing your human resources can take your business to the next level.

Some people are drawn to learning and new challenges. Others, however, are not so motivated and may even be disengaged. Kaye Avery discusses finding their “hot buttons” to turn them into proactive learners.

Architectural firm Jasmax is serious about workplace sustainability—it’s part of the culture and identity of the organisation. But as sustainability manager Jerome Partington explains to Stephanie Brown, it’s also great fun.

The right salary survey can provide a valuable insight into your organisation’s job market. Susan Doughty explains how to get the best from your salary survey provider.

Along with changes affecting mediation services and labour inspection, from 1 April there will also be some changes to the employment Relations Authority. kate Williamson spoke with the chief of the Authority, james Wilson, to find out just how they will work.

When times are tight and budgets are slashed, training is often one of the first things to go—but it needn’t be so. Rachel Walker takes a look at how, with a little ingenuity, you can maximise the value of your training dollar.

The emphasis today is on hiring the right talent—the people who will have a real impact on your organisation’s future success, says Jane Kennelly. She outlines key recruitment trends for 2011 and beyond.

The Employment Relations Authority recently determined that a tutor’s workbooks, developed in her own time but used in her teaching, belonged to her, and were not the intellectual property of the employer. Paul Robertson explains.