One in five globally mobile individuals achieve the highest levels of vitality, according to the latest Vitality Study unveiled by Cigna Healthcare. Despite facing personal and professional hurdles, these individuals showcased adaptability and resilience, outperforming their domestic counterparts in health metrics. Titled Newcome Needs – How the Globally Mobile Work and Live, the study shed light on the experiences of those who live and work overseas. Specifically, globally mobile individuals boast an average vitality score of 71.7, surpassing their counterparts residing in their home market ..read more

The applications of Generative AI (Gen AI) and the knowledge to make use of its functions could increase the overall productivity of New Zealand’s employees, with much bigger salaries to match. That is the conclusion reached by Access Partnership, which recently released a report commissioned by AWS. Titled Accelerating AI Skills: Preparing the Workforce in New Zealand for Jobs of the Future, the report indicates that 90% of organisations and their employees will be expected to be using Gen AI tools within the next five years. The report saw more than 500 organisations and nearly 1,700 employe ..read more

Leadership success often hinges on more than strategy and competency. As economic and cultural pressures only seem to be increasing in 2024, HR leaders need support to balance their professional growth, a thriving workforce and business goals. When Gartner asked 175 heads of HR about their priorities for the upcoming year, the top response was leader and manager development. The CHROs also expressed a low level of confidence in the ability of their current rising managers to transition into vacant or newly created leadership roles. Only 23% said that individuals on their organisation’s leaders ..read more

Employees in Australia can choose to double the annual leave that is entitled to them: but at half pay. This is what a new plan supported by The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), plans to do, to grant employees more leave for caregiving and personal mental health days. Natasha Hawker, Managing Director of Employee Matters, has explained this decision as a solution for parents looking to counter the costliness of daycare and other activities and employees who may need help and more days to manage their mental health issues. Ho ..read more

Managing stress is vital for employee health and productivity. Chronic stress can lead to serious health issues and impact organisational performance. Hence, understanding the stress cycle and adopting effective strategies are key to promoting wellbeing among employees. In an article on The Conversation, Theresa Larkin, Associate Professor of Medical Sciences at the University of Wollongong; and Susan J. Thomas, Associate Professor in Mental Health and Behavioural Science at the University of Wollongong; explained that the stress cycle involves perceiving a threat, triggering a fight-or-flight ..read more

In a bid to ease financial burdens and enhance employee wellbeing, the private sector in the Philippines is being encouraged to adopt earned wage access (EWA) services, an approach that allows employees to access a portion of their earned wages before the standard payday. During a recent briefing, Paywatch Philippines emphasised the importance of expanding EWA availability across organisations to address widespread financial challenges faced by employees in the Philippines. According to Paywatch, seven out of 10 employees in the Philippines struggle with financial management, often exacerbated ..read more

More employees in Singapore will be able to apply or make their preference for flexible working arrangements (FWAs) known to their employers formally starting from December this year, when new tripartite guidelines would come into effect. The guidelines state that employers should communicate their decision within two months of a request for flexible work arrangements.  While employers have the right to reject any application, the rejection should be backed up by reasonable business grounds such as cost or productivity considerations, as set by the guidelines, which will also share what c ..read more

The HR landscape is undergoing a digital revolution, and HR Tech Festival Asia 2024 is poised to be the epicentre of this transformation. Happening at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore from April 24-25, this premier event will offer HR professionals and business leaders a unique opportunity to explore the latest advancements in HR technology and connect with the brightest minds shaping the future of work. The Expo Hall at HR Tech Festival Asia 2024 brings together a comprehensive range of HR solutions and products from leading global, regional, and local providers. T ..read more

The landscape of employment in Malaysia is undergoing a profound shift, as priorities among employees evolve beyond traditional career advancements. According to Randstad Malaysia’s Workmonitor Research, factors such as work-life balance, personal fulfilment, and upskilling opportunities now reign supreme in the minds of employees. One key finding of the research is the prevalent concern among respondents regarding career stagnation, with nearly half indicating a willingness to seek new opportunities if their current roles lack avenues of progression. This sentiment is particularly pronounced ..read more

Upskilling and reskilling are key discussion topics across multiple industries and sectors, especially with regards to helping job applicants become viable for employment. For those who are looking to explore different ideas, skills and opportunities, many employers are now providing opportunities for their employees to attend new courses, especially for those who are looking to make a career switch or are exploring their options for the future  One such employer is GoGoX, an Asian-based on-demand platform for transporting freight and goods, operates in 360 cities across Hong Kong, Mainl ..read more