How New Zealanders are coping with the recession!

From CNN - How New Zealanders are coping with the recession. This is going to you make you laugh - and may make you want to buy a beanbag. Just click on the link below:

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-268293

And great news - www.wehaventlaidanyoneoff.com is Radio New Zealand's website of the week.

Latest media for the site...

Recent media for the site!

We’re big fans of New Zealander Justin Brown around the office. The spunky author once lost a rugby bet. The wager? He had to fly to England, and sing and play his guitar door-to-door busking for money until he had enough to travel home (He wrote about the adventure in his book UK on a G-String.) In any case, Justin was recently laid off after 10 years at his job in radio. But instead of moping about it, he’s decided to create a this great new site. And because we (mental_floss) haven’t laid anyone off, Justin generously added us to his list! If you’re a healthy corporation eager to brag about your impressive job retention stats, be sure to check out the site.

What recession?

Apparently we are now in a 'normal recession.'

According to the IMF, the world economy is stabilising. The report said advanced economies as a group are still projected not to show a sustained pickup in activity until the second half of 2010.

Oh, and don’t expect increases in unemployment to abate within a year either.

The report also recommends that 'work should begin on exit strategies from financial, monetary and fiscal support policies in order to minimise market uncertainty, and that these strategies should be consistent across countries to avoid opportunities for financial and regulatory arbitrage. 'Medium-term policies should help establish a lasting framework of sound financial regulation, sustainable fiscal balances, and price stability.'

2010? Okay, hold off on the world trip and new spa pool, but at least - let's hope your job is safe for now...

Destroying Lives at the stroke of pen

I read an article today from the Gulf Daily News.

As we know, many companies need to make layoffs to survive, but many bosses are using this recession as an excuse. Here are some highlights:

'Any employer who looks to make staff redundant should first look at the disastrous consequences for individuals, for anyone rendered unemployed during a recession of this magnitude may well be on the scrap heap for the rest of their lives.

I would ask anyone sitting in their office striking names off the payroll to ask themselves first how they would feel going home to their family to say that there was no more money coming in.

Many, many people have very limited savings and the sudden loss of that monthly pay packet may literally mean an empty larder within days of being made redundant.

Redundancy is not a small thing, it is a catastrophe from which some people never recover.

So, Mr Manager, if you are sitting at your desk looking at names on a list, put a face to them, think of their families and ask your heart if what you are doing is right, or even really necessary.

http://tinyurl.com/mdewxt

Belated Christmas Card...

More Good Guys - M2 Magazine!

http://www.m2magazine.co.nz

M2 has a bunch of magazines covering Men's Health, Men's Lifestyle, and now, M2 for Women. I caught up with them and asked how they're coping in the recession!

Tell us about your business.

We publish M2, M2woman, M2TECH & M2AUTO magazines

What is your attitude towards the recession?

It's tough, but helps you focus on what matters.

Do you have a recession plan?

Continue to more & more value for our valued customers.

How do you keep staff happy/uplifted?

Treat them as you wish to be treated.

What's the biggest challenge you feel your company faces, and how do you inspire your employees to meet it head on?

Keep focused on what matters - as the late great Sir Peter Blake always said, "Will it make the boat go faster?"

Who is your ideal target customer?

25-49 year old men & women.

How do we find out more about your business?

Simply visit: M2magazine.co.nz or M2woman.co.nz

Proof - Layoffs are a toxic solution

Here are some great quotes about layoffs and why they're not always the answer:

Downsizing or doing layoffs is a toxic solution. Used sparingly and with planning downsizing can be an organizational lifesaver, but when layoffs are used repeatedly without a thoughtful strategy, downsizing can destroy an organization's effectiveness.

How you treat people really matters - to the people who leave and the people who remain.

One outcome of downsizing must be to preserve the organization's intellectual capital.
How downsized employees are treated directly affects the morale and retention of valued, high-performing employees who are not downsized.

More from the article can be found here:

http://humanresources.about.com/od/layoffsdownsizing/a/downsizing.htm