Older Canadians forgoing retirement, working through golden years, census shows

Posted by & filed under Communication, Compensation & Benefits, Diversity, Entrepreneurship, Ethics, Human Resource Management, Individual Behavior, Industrial Relations, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Operations Management, Organizational Change, Organizational Structure & Design, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Teams.

Description: The latest census data show more and more Canadians are choosing to eschew the traditional retirement age, whether for their health, their finances or just for the fun of it Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Nov 29, 2017 Link: http://business.financialpost.com/personal-finance/retirement/older-canadians-forgoing-retirement-working-through-golden-years-census-2 Questions for discussion: Summarize the highlights in this report. What should HR managers do with this… Read more »

Shouting ‘pay your taxes,’ activists occupy Apple retail stores across France

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Description: A group of global activists stormed and occupied several Apple Inc. Stores in France on Saturday in a move aimed at pressuring the company to pay up on a €13 billion ($15.5 billion) tax bill to the European Union. Source: MarketWatch.com Date: Dec 02, 2017 Link: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/shouting-pay-your-taxes-activists-occupy-apple-retail-stores-across-france-2017-12-02 Questions for discussion: What is the basis… Read more »

Grieving Mother’s Firing Sparks Backlash Against Chinese Education Startup

Posted by & filed under Communication, Compensation & Benefits, Control, Ethics, Global Management, Human Resource Management, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Operations Management, Organizational Change, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Teams, Technology.

Description: VIPKid is the latest gig-economy company to be ensnared in the contractor-versus-employee debate. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Nov 21, 2017 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-21/grieving-mother-s-firing-sparks-backlash-against-chinese-education-startup Questions for discussion: What are the managerial issues that distinguish between a contractor versus an employee relationship with a firm? Should companies publicize how they treat contractors and employees differently?

Your Favorite Radio Hits May Go Silent

Posted by & filed under Compensation & Benefits, Conflict, Control, Decision Making, Entrepreneurship, Global Management, Innovation/Creativity, Management, Operations Management, Planning, Strategy, Technology.

Description: Songwriters threaten to withhold their music if stations don’t give them a bigger share of revenue. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Nov 22, 2017 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-22/your-favorite-radio-hits-may-go-silent Questions for discussion: Explain how the music industry pays royalties to artists. Do you think the artists can reasonably demand more from distributors? Is this a zero-sum game?

How Sears could stir ‘a lot of instability’ in holiday season

Posted by & filed under Chapter 7 - Defining and Commencing Collective Bargaining, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Compensation & Benefits, Human Resource Management, Management.

Description: Sears Canada is poised to be an agent of chaos for the retail industry this holiday shopping season, as the the prospect of deep discounts looms large over competing big box stores. While the company’s planned liquidation is sure to reverberate through the industry heading into year’s end, a pair of retail experts say… Read more »

Why Startup Founders Should Be Required to Sign a ‘No Go, Bro’ Clause

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Description: The recent resignation of Social Finance CEO Mike Cagney, in the wake of allegations that he sexually harassed female employees, fostered a frat house culture, and misrepresented the firm’s finances to investors, raises the question of what boards and investors can do to check misconduct by startup executives. Source: Fortune.com Date: Sep 21, 2017… Read more »

Before Wisconsin, Foxconn Vowed Big Spending in Brazil. Few Jobs Have Come.

Posted by & filed under Compensation & Benefits, Decision Making, Ethics, Global Management, Human Resource Management, Management, Negotiation, Operations Management, Planning, Strategy, Technology.

Description: Before the Taiwanese manufacturing giant Foxconn pledged to spend $10 billion and create 13,000 jobs in Wisconsin, the company made a similar promise in Brazil. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Sep 20, 2017 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/20/business/foxconn-trump-wisconsin.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fbusiness&action=click&contentCollection=business&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront Questions for discussion: What does the report have to say about strategic management thinking from different parts of the world? Is there… Read more »

Sharp differences over labor surface at NAFTA talks in Mexico

Posted by & filed under Chapter 12 - Changes to the Union or the Employer, Compensation & Benefits, Decision Making, Global Management, Industrial Relations, Social Responsibility.

Description: MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Tensions over sharp differences in pay between Mexican workers and their Canadian and U.S. counterparts surfaced on Sunday as negotiators discussed labor market rules in talks to overhaul the North American Free Trade Agreement. Source: Reuters.ca Date: Sep 03, 2017 Link: https://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCAKCN1BF00H-OCABS Questions for discussion: Summarize the advantages Mexican auto workers enjoy… Read more »

200 Gap and Banana Republic stores closing

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Description: It’s going to be a little harder to find a Gap or Banana Republic store — but expect to see more Old Navy and Athleta locations pop up. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Sep 06, 2017 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2017/09/06/news/companies/gap-banana-republic-stores-closing/index.html Questions for discussion: How is Gap’s management changing operations? What sort of future do you… Read more »

Why 25% of the working women in America are struggling financially

Posted by & filed under Compensation & Benefits, Conflict, Control, Decision Making, Entrepreneurship, Ethics, Global Management, Leadership, Management, Organizational Structure & Design, Social Responsibility.

Description: They work in jobs that are growing fast, pay less than $15 an hour and are female-dominated Source: MarketWatch.com – video report Date: Dec 04, 2016 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-25-of-the-working-women-in-america-are-struggling-financially-2016-11-30?siteid=nwtwk Questions for Discussions: What are the managerial and social issues presented in this article? How should businesses, governments, societies and individuals be expected to deal with… Read more »