A 20-year-old woman has filed sexual assault charges against South Africa’s Western Cape African National Congress (ANC) chairman Marius Fransman (pictured) after she was appointed his personal assistant. The victim says she met Fransman and was offered a job before going for an interview on 2 January. She was given the position and accompanied the […]

The office is a great place to find support for a new diet or exercise regime, but sometimes the weight loss talk goes beyond a joke. Some experts even equate competitive dieting with harassment. Here are a few tips for handling the accusing glances if you’re not as strict as your colleagues. Diane Shipley from […]

British workers spend an average of £5,000 a year just getting to work and buying work-related items, even before they get through the front door of the office. That’s the finding of nationwide health and safety law consultancy Protecting.co.uk, which says that expenses for female employees tend to be higher than men simply because they […]

You’ve found the right meeting venue in the right place at the right cost. Paul Rowney, Director at Forum Events, gets down to some often-overlooked details. Some of these may seem unimportant, but if you don’t cover them, they could ruin your event. The meeting room:• How close is the venue entrance to your registration […]

The term ‘work-life balance’ sounds like a pipe dream to some. Work has become such an important aspect of our lives in modern culture that some experts believe ‘work-life integration’ is a more realistic expectation. Author Jacob Morgan, a contributor for Forbes who produces The Future in 5 series of videos, recently sat down with […]

As the marketplace for quality talent remains competitive, employers are assessing their strategies for attracting and retaining top-performing employees. According to Mercer’s 2015 Career Frameworks in Talent Management Survey, more than three-quarters (76%) of organisations worldwide report their career framework delivered a positive return on their investment. Among the survey’s other findings:• Half of organisations […]

In the era of digital transformation the HR function of most businesses is still way off putting technology at its heart, according to research undertaken on more than 200 HR professionals and 2,000 employees. The survey, commissioned by Access Group and carried out by Arlington Research, found that manual processes are still predominantly being used […]

UK office workers are the most likely in Europe to look for a new job if they request a payrise but are turned down, according to new research by specialist recruitment firm Robert Half. The research found that more than half (54%) of UK employees plan to ask for a salary increase this year. While […]

Millennials and employers clash at work because of different expectations, and that’s leading to some of them getting fired.
 Three factors drive the firings, according to Inc. Millennials expect too much from employers. They want extensive training and mentoring that goes beyond the financial interest of the business. They also carry an “anti-work attitude” that […]

Busy PAs know all too well that the temptation to check emails and messages one last time before bed is sometimes overwhelming. While it’s nice to know you won’t miss anything important, research shows that just knowing you might get an email after office hours is enough to stress you out. A recent study led […]

Leading PA training practitioner Adam Fidler has today joined the judging panel of Pitman Training’s SuperAchievers Awards to hunt out PA of the Year 2016. Adam, who has worked as a board-level PA for blue-chip organisations including Boots PLC and Bank of America, sits alongside mum blogger and author Kirsty Smith, as well as last […]

The hot topic in discussions of work-life balance all point to flexible working as a solution to stress. But some experts now believe the practice can make employees ill by keeping them stressed longer. Professor Gail Kinman of the University of Bedfordshire says working remotely or part-time shuts employees off from social networks and career […]

OAG, the global leader in air travel intelligence, is today announcing the results of the OAG Punctuality League 2015, the industry’s most comprehensive annual ranking of on-time performance (OTP) for the world’s airlines and airports. For the first time, this year’s league table incorporates enhanced depth and coverage from OAG’s newly consolidated flight status and […]

The winter months turn some people into hermits. Cold weather can make it difficult to get out and exercise; it’s more tempting to go home and hibernate after work. But marketing blogger Lindsay Kolowich has put together 10 tips to sneak in a workout during office hours. 1 Make your commute a workoutWhile it’s hard […]

Do you reach for a cup of coffee first thing in the morning? Have a coffee pod machine? Researchers have found up to 67 different types of bacteria lurking in those machines in offices and homes. But don’t panic; the researchers from the University of Valencia says the bacteria was found in drip trays below […]

Aside from a lucky few who have extended the festive period by using some of their 2016 holiday entitlement, most of us have been slammed back into reality following Christmas. You’ve had IT reset your passwords because you’ve forgotten them and you’re already pining for the weekend. Writing for The Guardian, Hannah Jane Parkinson has […]

PA Life is pleased to announce the exciting news that our Features Writer, Molly Dyson has been promoted to Deputy Editor. Since joining Forum Events, Molly has gone from strength to strength, firmly positioning herself as one of the key commentators in the industry thanks to her broad knowledge base, solid writing skills and positive […]

Despite gains in gender equality in the workplace, sexist comments haven’t disappeared.   Have you ever referred to a group of adult women at work as “girls?” Have you reflexively asked only women to take notes at meetings? Despite major advances in gender equality in the workplace, old pieces of sexism linger. 1. “You probably […]