Points out the value of mentoring programs as a way to recruit and retain employees and increase their value to the company. Discusses why some mentoring programs fail: employees do not understand why they are participating or there is little time and support for the program. (JOW)

Seven key questions for implementing change are as follows: burden or challenge? worthwhile? will benefits appear quickly? limited to one function? impact on existing relationships? will it fit in existing organizational culture? and is the change certain to happen? (JOW)

Although there are important human resource basics, such as competitive pay and benefits and career growth opportunities, retention of information technology (IT) workers is less about money than it is about respectful treatment. Retention involves designing interesting jobs, giving recognition, providing regular feedback, and being flexible about…

Discusses empowerment--the idea of pushing decision-making authority down the management hierarchy to the workers. Looks at myths surrounding the concept and suggests steps that bring people closer to full empowerment by gradually introducing them to new tasks. (JOW)

The advent of a nationwide service economy is having profound effects on the relationship between workers and the workplace. Trainers and chief executive officers alike need to plan for the inevitable. (Author)

Discusses "career resiliency," a relationship in which the employer and the employee share responsibility for maintaining the individual's employability inside and outside the company. (Author/JOW)

In today's ever-expanding U.S. economy, unemployment levels are at 30-year lows and the job market continues to swell. Every industry is fighting a labor shortage and bemoaning the costs of employee turnover. Companies with extensive training and career development are most likely to retain employees. (JOW)

The balancing act between work and life away from work has gotten so complicated that few are able to pull it off. Employers are blurring the lines between the two by offering day care for aged parents or children and flexible scheduling that allows some to work at home. (JOW)

Managers look at online training as an activity that should be done "off time" whereas employees still think of it as something to be done during working hours. No valid study has shown that online delivery reduces learning time. A better understanding of learning needs must be considered before requiring online training. (JOW)

A systematic approach to the motivation of employees involves two-way communication, involvement, commitment, training, participation, and job enrichment. Demotivation is a pitfall which may occur when motivation is lacking. (BP)

Presents information on organizations with over 50 employees concerning such workplace issues as drug testing, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome testing, and policies on these issues and on smoking, sexual harassment, and affirmative action. Results are broken down by company size and by industry. (CH)

Areas of concern for human resource managers include a move toward management by anticipation, relating people to organizations, motivational effects of physical plant design and layout, more use of work teams, better strategies for managing managers and professionals, treating employees as assets, new systems of managing managers and…