Some 17 per cent of Australians of working age (2.1 million people) have a disability, according a report by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It found a quarter of those registered with a disability are permanently unable to work. In 23 per cent of cases the disability was caused by an accident, 36 per cent of which occurred at work. A further 15 per cent of disability cases were caused by “overwork”.
US election lay-offs will ease staff problems
HR professionals in Washington DC expect recruitment difficulties to ease soon as hundreds of former presidential campaign staff flood the labour market. The influx will boost the recently launched CapitolWorks.com, a recruitment web site for staff with experience gained in a political environment in areas ranging from public relations to research. Many staff, including those working for the winning candidate, will be left without a job after the election.
Executive pay rises faster in western Germany
The rate of increase of executive pay in Germany rose to 2.4 per cent last year, up on 1.7 per cent in 1998. At the same time, Germany’s association of managers (VDF) found managers in the west of Germany earn an average of £62,490, compared to £48,571 in the former East Germany. Working hours in the west of Germany average 53 hours a week, and 51 hours in east Germany. The survey also found that managers want paid overtime in addition to their salaries.
Big fall in workplace murders in the US
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The number of US employees murdered at work has fallen to its lowest figure in nearly a decade. Figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics found homicide was the second highest cause of death at work last year, but the third this year. Last year’s figures show that in 1999 murders fell by 10 per cent, to 645. This is 40 per cent lower than the all-time high of 1,080 in 1994. The 1999 figure is the lowest since the government began compiling nationwide statistics in 1992.
