Quick reads

HR TECH: NEEDS ASSESSMENT

HRNZ is offering its members a thorough evaluation of the current HR systems and processes within their organisation, based on HRNZ’s Capability Framework, The Path

HRNZ Tech Assist is an organised way of determining the gaps between where your organisation is and where you want to be. HRNZ’s Technology Transformation Lead will analyse whether your HR systems and technology are working efficiently and delivering the best results for your organisation. The analysis will help to create an informed action plan to ‘close the gap’ to achieve your desired status.

HRNZ Chief Executive Nick McKissack says that, by taking advantage of this offer, “members can talk knowledgeably with their IT team and IT vendors about their priority needs, knowing all the crucial elements have been considered.”

For more information, contact HRNZ’s Technology Transformation Lead, Jacinta Schultz, via TechAssist@hrnz.org.nz.

HRNZ INTRODUCES GROWTH HUB FOR HR TEAMS

Growth Hub for HR Teams is a new organisation portal designed with the needs of HRNZ Organisation Package members in mind.

This online platform provides a ‘one-stop shop’ for Organisation Package members to manage membership and review the career development progress of their team members.

Organisations nominate an administrator who can view all members who are part of the package, book tickets for active members to any given event, and view important information about each member, such as accreditation level, CPD points and upcoming event bookings.

To find out more about how your organisation can benefit from this Growth Hub platform, please email membership@hrnz.org.nz

‘PARENTHOOD PENALTY’ REVEALED

According to recent independent research by Kiwibank, over one in two Kiwis think the potential career impacts of parenthood create a lasting financial burden.

The findings, based on 1,238 nationally representative respondents, show that 70 per cent of Kiwis believe the financial and childcare pressures on parents are getting harder in the modern world, with 71 per cent thinking that the career impacts are worse for women. One-third of New Zealanders have self-selected out of a work role or chosen not to apply for a different role because they were a parent or were thinking about becoming one.

Emma Mclean, founder of Works for Everyone, stated that up to 60 per cent of a mother’s salary is penalised over 10 years if she has a child, and it never really recovers.

Miriama Kamo, who moderated a recent Kiwibank panel entitled ‘The Penalty Talk’, commented: “This is a conversation we need to have. We need a cultural shift in our mindset as well as action from all businesses to make a fundamental difference to everyday Kiwi families.”

Kiwibank has recently announced significant changes to its parental leave benefits, making it one of the most comprehensive in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Vanessa Sorenson, Managing Director of Microsoft NZ and Chief Partner Officer of Microsoft ANZ, added, “Family and work intrinsically intersect. Becoming a mother taught me more about empathy, which has influenced my leadership style. The soft skills learned from becoming a parent shouldn’t be penalised. Better policies around becoming a parent are an essential tactic to close the motherhood and parent penalty.”

TAKE A BREAK –READ AND LISTEN

Ready for a mini break from your desk? These three books and one podcast provide valuable guidance to help you in your HR role.

Don’t Worry About the Robots: How to survive and thrive in the new world of work by Dr Jo Cribb and David Glover

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping industries, and COVID-19 has transformed the way we work. The future can seem uncertain, but it doesn’t have to be daunting.

Co-authors Jo Cribb and David Glover have updated Don’t Worry About the Robots: How to survive and thrive in the new world of work, blending practical advice from industry leaders with step-by-step actions. They offer a roadmap to thriving in a rapidly changing job market with an emphasis on resilience, adaptability and lifelong learning.

Whether you’re at the start of your career, contemplating a shift, or facing disruption or redundancy, this book is a valuable companion to future-proof your career.

Dr Jo Cribb is the former Chief Executive of the Ministry for Women and was the Deputy Children’s Commissioner. She has a doctorate in public policy and lives in Wellington.

David Glover is the former CEO of Learning Media and David Forman. He is an Executive Director at Unitec and lives in Auckland.

HRNZ members can use a 5 per cent discount code (HRNZ) when purchasing the book online

Team Think by Bryan Whitefield

In this new book, Team Think, management expert Bryan Whitefield draws on over 25 years of experience and provides pointers to unlocking the collective mind to drive high performance. He unpacks how to move beyond “two brains are better than one” and on maximising team performance through enhanced team decision-making.

The book is accessibly written and filled with practical tips and tools.

Employee Experience by Design by Emma Bridger and Belinda Gannaway

Drawing on positive psychology and design principles, Employee Experience by Design is a practical guide for HR and OD professionals, business leaders and all those needing to create an employee experience that empowers people to perform at their best. This new edition sets out simple but effective steps any team or organisation can follow.

The book shows how to build a robust business case for the employee experience (EX) and align EX activity with organisational strategy. This new edition is full of tips, tools and examples from organisations, including ING, Expedia Group and Adeo.

It is ideal reading for anyone looking to develop a healthy, high-performing workplace where people can excel. The numerous sketch-based figures and explainers are particularly useful and applicable to all organisations.

PODCAST: Business is Boring – The Spinoff

Think business is boring? This podcast sets out to prove that it’s anything but. Simon Pound talks to everyone from accidental entrepreneurs to industry leaders about their business journeys and what propelled them to where they are today. They’re a fascinating listen, with many lessons to glean from their stories.

Simon interviews a range of people and, with over 350 episodes already out there, there’s a diverse collection of stories. Episodes vary in topic from creating more Māori entrepreneurship pathways to exploring the artificial intelligence opportunity for Aotearoa and setting up the right sustainability strategy. It’s also fantastic to know the podcast has an Aotearoa lens and recognises the uniqueness of our business world.