Assess Systems Australia

Gender, sexisim and pay

Ricki Sharpe — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 09:40:01 +0000

When it comes to sex roles in society, what you think may affect what you earn. A new study has found that men who believe in traditional roles for women earn more money than men who don't, and women with more egalitarian views don't make much more than women with a more traditional outlook.

The lie is in the e-mail

Ricki Sharpe — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 09:13:51 +0000

Workers are significantly more likely to lie in e-mail messages than in traditional pen-and-paper communications, according to two new studies. More surprising is that people actually feel justified when lying using e-mail, the studies show.

The moving office

Ricki Sharpe — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:48:02 +0000

Couch potatoes beware! If you think that you can exchange one couch at home for one at work, think again! The wellness police have a surprise for you. Coming soon to an office near you: treadmills that double as workstations. Walking meetings. Conference rooms outfitted with exercise bikes instead of oval tables and chairs.

Bias in performance appraisals

Ricki Sharpe — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 09:50:54 +0000

Like many others, you probably suspect that your performance appraisal is just a measure of your popularity with the boss. However, did you also know that the outcome of your appraisal depends on the outcome of your boss's appraisal.

Multitasking by appointment

Ricki Sharpe — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:52:25 +0000

Previous research has indicated how dangerous and inefficient multitasking can be. However, a new brain imaging study led by a neuroscientist at the University of New Hampshire finds that there are optimal times when we are better suited to multitask.

Does wage rank affect your well-being?

Ricki Sharpe — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:39:09 +0000

Do you think you are being paid enough? Your answer to that question depends not just on how much you get, but how your pay compares with that of your colleagues. According to a new study, employees do not care solely about their absolute level of pay, but how their pay ranks with those around them.

Wandering minds and costly mistakes

Ricki Sharpe — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:13:15 +0000

No one likes making mistakes on the job, but it’s easy to lose focus when you’re stuck doing the same thing over and over. What if you could predict — and prevent — such errors?

Good leadership means healthier workers

Ricki Sharpe — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:25:32 +0000

A review of studies by Finnish researchers suggests good leadership has positive effects for employee health and well-being.

Personality and intelligence at work

Ricki Sharpe — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:28:47 +0000

Personality and Intelligence at Work by Adrian Furnham examines the increasingly controversial role of individual differences in predicting and determining behaviour at work. It combines approaches from organisational psychology and personality theory to critically examine the physical, psychological and psycho-analytic aspects of individual differences, and how they impact on the world of work.

Team synergy equals creativity

Ricki Sharpe — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:00:23 +0000

With more employees working in teams, it is critical to find ways to enable teams to be more creative in their work. A new article in Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal explores how imagination, insight, and creative ideas develop, evolve, and spread from one team member to another, ultimately increasing the team’s ability to think creatively about a range of problems.