TrendWatchers

The number of people around the world with diabetes is growing at an alarming rate, a problem that may reach epidemic proportions over the coming two decades. For businesses, the good news is that employer-based programs can make a significant difference in reducing both the human suffering and...

The destination is clear – HR needs to become an efficient and effective strategic partner – but the various roads that lead there each have their own appeal and their own set of hazards.One approach to reaching this destination is to increase the use of outsourcing. This “super...

In an unexpected and alarming trend for U.S. employers and government policymakers, disability rates for adults in their prime working years have risen sharply in the past two decades, a 2004 RAND Corp. study shows. The number of people 30-49 years old who cannot care for themselves or do other...

A good résumé just won’t cut it these days. Employers want more than just skilled and experienced applicants. They want the candidate with just the right fit, which often means the one with the right personality. So it’s little wonder that, as Fast Company reports,...

The successful companies of tomorrow must invest in innovation today. At least, that seems to be a premise of two lists recently developed by major business magazines.In October, BusinessWeek produced an anniversary issue presenting its “Investing for the Future Index,” a list of...

In recent years, arguably the most influential model of the human resource function is the grid created by renowned HR thinker Dave Ulrich. In each corner of the grid, Ulrich places the four primary roles of HR professionals: administrative expert, employee relations expert, change agent and...

Growing spirituality in the workplace is “a trend that is about to become a megatrend,” futurist and author Patricia Aburdene has declared. And there’s nothing simple about this trend, which could have a large impact on employee relations and performance.Defining spirituality is...

Is the pipeline that produces scientists and engineers in the U.S. cracked and leaking? Yes, say some experts. They argue that the flow of foreign-born graduate students – who earn such a large share of doctoral degrees in hard sciences – is slowing down. Therefore, more needs to be...

What will the world of work look like in the year 2013? That was the topic of discussion on October 19th and 20th at the University of Tampa, where the HR Futures Forum held its first meeting since merging with the Human Resource Institute.The forum, founded in 1981 and long known as the HR Futures...

Maybe telecommuting isn’t the wave of the future after all. Various experts have predicted that the number of teleworkers will double by the end of the decade, but the proportion of U.S. firms offering telecommuting has remained fairly flat recently. Of course, it’s far too early to say...