HeadHunt - In the news - 26 Aug

More days off for Dad?                                                                                                       

Singapore - Working fathers in Singapore may soon be allowed to extend their time spent with their newborn child.

According the Minister of Community Development, Youth and Sport, Vivian Balakrishnan,  the Singapore government will consider allowing the fourth month of paid maternity leave to be converted to parental leave.

Currently, fathers are given 12 days of child-related leave. This comprises of six days of paid childcare leave and six days of unpaid infant care leave. Employers can also provide paternity leave on a voluntary basis.

“We will also need to study the implications of such a change on employers, the employability of workers, and the needs of mothers,” Balakrishnan said.

Go past the retirement age

Singapore - The government has called for companies to hire mature workers beyond 2012's legislated retirement age of 65.

Speaking in Parliament recently, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Lim Boon Heng said that for this to happen, mindsets  on  reemployment of mature workers would have to be changed.

He urged mature workers to be flexible in their attitudes and be willing to take on modified jobs or go for skills upgrading or re-training if necessary.

Employees want a share of business profits

Singapore - An overwhelming three quarters of employees in Singapore say having a share in their employers’ profits would spur them into being more productive at work.

A recent survey conducted by recruitment provider Kelly Services among Singaporeans found that many workers also preferred to have their salaries pegged to the individual, group or company performance targets.

Among the 2,700 employee surveyed, many indicated that they valued health insurance, training, health benefits and flexible working hours as important elements in their jobs.

Afternoon slump common in executives

US - Feeling tired and unproductive after lunch? You’re not alone.

Thirty-seven percent of managers say they are the least productive during the hours of  4 p.m. to 6 p.m, found a recent survey conducted by staffing services firm Accountemps. After interviews with more than 1,000 senior managers, it found that 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. was cited to be the least unproductive time for 28 percent of respondents.

Here are some tips to avoid the afternoon slump:

Plan ahead. Don't push challenging projects off until the end of the day, when your energy may wane. Use your less-energetic periods to catch up on more routine tasks, such as responding to e-mails.

Move about. If you feel your energy beginning to dip, stretch or take a short walk to recharge.

Eat well. Remember to make time for lunch and nutritious snacks throughout your workday and avoid high-carb foods.

Track goals. Keep a to-do list to remain focused, and ensure it's visible on your desk so you can check items off as they're completed.

Switch gears. If you're struggling to focus, take a quick break and research something new. Changing tasks can help increase your productivity late in the day.