HUMAN Resources Week begins on Monday August 19. The Australian Human Resource Institute will host its WA State Conference during the week, starting with a networking dinner on Friday August 23.
The conference will include seminars by AlintaGas chief executive Bob Browning, Wesfarmers Ltd group HR manager Chris Ryan, and the Department of Treasury and Finance director of corporate services Alan Jackson.
Regional seminars
THE Department of Consumer and Employment Protection is offering free regional seminars covering the new labour relations laws. Employment Protection Minister John Kobelke said employers could contact a DOCEP officer to discuss the new employment conditions.
The following regional seminars will take place in the next few weeks.
p Albany: Thursday August 15, 6pm-8pm at the Esplanade Hotel.
p Kalgoorlie: Friday August 23, 10am to noon at Lotteries House.
p Geraldton: Wednesday August 28, 6pm to 7.30pm at Geraldton Entertainment Centre.
Afraid to talk?
PUBLIC speaking is daunting for most people; in fact research shows that most people find it a more terrifying thought than death.
If that sounds familiar, a course being offered through the UWA Extension program could be a solution. Speech specialist Allen Sinclair will teach participants to harness the fear of public speaking and make it work for them.
Other topics to be covered include speech organisation, body language, word usage, and vocal variety.
The course is on offer every Wednesday from September 4 to October 9 and costs $137.
Bigger is better
A RECENT survey has suggested that where an employee sits in the office affects job performance.
The survey by TMP Worldwide found that more than 70 per cent of 6,000 people surveyed felt that where one sits can substantially help job performance and can form the basis to judge the worth of their colleagues.
The survey found that, even with new open-plan designs, employees saw hard-walled private offices as status symbols and window and corner positions as great spots to sit.
A TMP spokesman said the survey found that 63 per cent of males and 55 per cent of females said other employees judged their colleagues’ worth by office size.
