The big ones that did not happen
It was the year that wasn't: 2008 was shaped as much by the things that didn't happen as by the things that did.

Lessons after the market mayhem
The falling market has been an expensive teacher with a valuable message.

Spending our way to safety
The Treasury has estimated that Australians will spend seven dollars out of every 10 paid out in its $10.4 billion economic package.

Executive bonuses broke economy
With the economy close to actually starting to shrink, the former governor of the Reserve Bank has pinned the blame for the financial turmoil on executives who took excessive risks to secure multi-million dollar bonuses.

Workplace agreements: Increased penalties loom for employers
Courts will be given new and greatly expanded powers to stop and penalise employers that break work agreements covering a range of areas including redundancies, annual leave, rostering and child care.

Treasury hints at taxation changes
Treasury secretary Ken Henry has hinted there might be a radical shake-up of the tax system that would cut away complexity.

New battery-powered credit supercard
A small Australian tech firm is set stop up to $1 billion a year in credit card fraud with its new battery-powered supercard.

Companies set to axe jobs
Jitters in the world economy are starting to rattle Australia's jobs market, as a survey shows businesses expect to pay higher wages and lay off workers in the next year.

Fastest growing businesses revealed
Despite growing concerns over economic growth, Australia's entrepreneurs are still extremely confident about their futures, according to an annual list of Australia's 100 fastest growing small to medium enterprises.

Melbourne Cup amongst losers in economic squeeze
The big spenders are on a budget - pulling out of racing marquees and hotel bookings and cutting back on fine dining. But the little people will eventually pay the price.

Think tribal, act flexible
Future employment structures will affect how we interact and where we live.

Real returns from virtual worlds
The craze in online virtual worlds among children and teenagers has started a stampede of companies attempting to cash in on the boom.

CEOs see economic slump
The sentiment among Australia's business leaders is clear.

The truth about turnover
Bad managers and the high expectations of generation Y are being blamed for staff turnover.

Career paths shift with global warming
The global climate crisis will reshape organisations.

Don't fret over the bonus
Perks, like the performance bonus, are threatened with the market drop

Moving up the ladder
Age is no longer a prerequisite for senior management

Make the most of the squeeze
The credit crunch has decreased demand for some positions and boosted it for others.

Mid-life talent crisis
Why do some promising managers fail to succeed in leadership roles?

Is it time for a pay rise?
Australian wages have unexpectedly accelerated.

Mind the gap
Baby boomers, generation X and generation Y require different management strategies.

What goes around
A national skills shortage has created varied opportunities in different parts of the country.

Life choices
Cutting your working hours to chase a better lifestyle can have its downside.

Eight signs your workplace is ill
Emotional outbursts and rambling meetings are among the symptoms.

Slouching towards power
The baby boomers are retiring and the generation that has always had a resigned air is starting to take over.

We'd like to work less - even with a pay cut
A new study reveals too many Australians are overworked.

Australians with the greenback blues
Working in the US may not carry the attraction it used to for Australians.

Neuroleadership for beginners
Understanding how the brain works can transform business management.

'Stupid curve' sidelines women's careers
Talented women are being wasted in and lost from the workforce.

Look before you leap
In this climate, consider a career move carefully.

Flexible working rights
Employees will be guaranteed a right to request flexible working arrangements.

Who owns an idea?
Legal cases relating to trade secrets and intellectual property are on the rise.

Salary packaging changes
Labor's first budget has trimmed fringe benefits.

Salaries rising faster at small companies
Companies surveyed by the Australian Institute of Management report that salary growth is picking up this year.

A long way to go
Women are still trailing men in remuneration and appointments to top jobs.

Biggest threat to business may be on inside
The most valuable and sensitive asset in organisations is often intellectual property.

Expats head home to cash in on boom
As signs grow of an economic slowdown in Britain, Australians are returning home in search of work.

Pockets fill as slowdown looms
Workers are getting hefty pay rises, but Australia's economy is at a turning point.

How to sell services more profitably
In every industry, products are becoming commoditized faster than ever.

Creating energy at work
CEOS need to encourage the crackle of imagination among staff.

Corporate baristas on the rise
Bosses are waking up and smelling the coffee.

Time to get out of the inbox trap
Executives are taking courses to escape the tyranny of the inbox.

Doors open to combat skills shortage
The skilled migration program will jump by 30% next year.

Skills training vital to win the race
CEOs believe the current skills shortage is restricting their ability to innovate.

Encouraging excercise pays off
Businesses are taking steps towards a healthier workforce by incorporating exercise.

Corporate social responsibility
Today's employees expect more from their employers than a weekly pay packet.

Shooting the messenger
Australians are still unlikely to blow the whistle on wrongdoings within an organisation.

How to improve financial performance
Many companies are leaving money on the table.

Aussies abroad not ready to come home
The world stage outweighs the pull of our advantages in lifestyle.

Survey puts figure on skills shortage
Australia's skill shortage is hampering capacity for innovation in industry.

Bosses' power to check email
Companies will be able to intercept emails under new laws.

Mum's the word for dads
There is now a push to pay dads paternity leave.

How to net the top talent
Recruiters are using the internet to lure the right people.

Family juggle too hard
Working women are delaying childbirth or opting out of parenthood to maintain balance.

Jobless uptick likely to continue
Higher interest rates are expected to dampen the spectacular gains of the jobs market.

No way to measure exec pay
There is no formal mechanism to measure if an executive's pay is too high.

Young workers finding the world is their oyster
Employer surveys are showing they must do more to keep an increasingly mobile workforce.

Where philosophy meets business
Melbourne Business School has hired a philosopher-in-residence.

Buoyant market allows employees to shop around
Employees are switching jobs more often as they take advantage of a buoyant market.

Don't turn your back on your board
Company directors, rather than governments or executive officers, are responsible for preventing business collapse.

Training managers, it's horses for courses
A novel program helps managers improve their communication skills with some equine help.

Facebook up to it
Businesses have only recently begun to utilise collaborative and interactive online applications.

The talent pipeline
Finding and attracting passive candidates is high on leadership agendas.

Why email is so old fashioned
Mobile texting is now outstripping the use of email among the young.

Hooked on technology
Has our love for electronic gadgets turned into a fully fledged addiction?

It's all down to experience
Employers are increasingly seeking out older workers.

Watch out for the Greenwash
Beware the world of the planet-friendly sales pitch.

Recruitment 2.0
Welcome to the brave new world of job hunting.

Good leaders look the part
How can you tell successful chief executives from the not-so-successful? That's easy - from their appearance.

Work ethics
Today's employees expect a lot more from their employers than a weekly pay packet.

What workers want
A shortage of talent means employees can make more demands of employers.

Good for you
The best companies value their employees and realise that looking after them results in better outcomes and higher productivity.

Not all work, no play
Australians worked less hours in 2007 than they did 20 years ago.

The way we live
A picture of a nation is uncovered among the annual collection of surveys and statistics.

Directors: an endangered species
There's a talent shortage in the public company boardroom.

Inequities, but there's climate change
Women are in an ideal position to push for higher pay and top-level positions.

Take your pick of perks
Employees are making more demands for benefits and employers are accommodating them.

Healthy outlook for job seekers
The bulk of new employment is expected to come from four industries.

Fatal attraction for bosses
Love between executives can make everyone nervous.

Green offices that slash absenteeism
Staff productivity is higher in a revolutionary Melbourne block.