Global HR 

Germany Expands Family Care Leave Rules
Under Germany’s new Family Care Leave Act, employees may, among other things, work reduced hours for a period of up to 24 months to care for a family member, without fear of dismissal.

Social Media Policies Slowly Catch On Worldwide
Be nice. Don’t pick fights. Own up to your mistakes. Treat others with respect and, above all, watch what you say. Sounds like advice your mom might give you—but it’s the crux of most social networking policies at companies around the globe.

Social Networking Use Soars in Workplaces Around the World
Employee use of social networking platforms soared at companies worldwide in 2011, with active use of games and applications tripling since 2010 as workers logged in for business and personal reasons, a recent report says.

Analysis: Future Challenges for U.S. Firms Sending Staff to U.K.
Transferring staff to the U.K. is likely to become more challenging for multinational employers—not only because of the possibility of further restrictions on the number of visas being issued, but because all sponsors are likely to be subject to compliance checks from the U.K. Border Agency (UKBA) within the next 12 months, which could take place without warning.

HR Concerns in Pakistan Ring with Familiarity
Hassan Tayyeb Tirmizi is one of the founding members of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Forum in Pakistan. SHRM Online talked to him about the challenges HR professionals face in Pakistan, the economy, and what the new 56-member forum hopes to achieve for novices and seasoned HR professionals.

Hidden in Plain Sight
Educated, ambitious women in emerging markets are filling talent gaps.

Poll: Demand for Senior Executives Rises
Despite difficult economic conditions, increased demand for senior executives is still expected in most major markets around the globe in 2012 but with less optimism than at the start of 2011, according to a poll released in January 2012, by the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC).

Brazil's Slave Labor Blacklist Grows
Brazil’s economy is booming and on track for another year of above-average growth in 2012. Job seekers from across the nation are flocking to jobs in certain industries, but the national prosperity has not managed to eliminate a social ill that has long plagued the region: slave labor.

‘Family Unity Waiver’ Change Aids Immigrant Families

Background Checks Come to India

U.K. Changes Tax Treatment of Salary Sacrifice Plans

British Columbia Court Issues Character of Employment Ruling

Canadian Job Market Ekes Out Tiny Gain (Canadian HR Reporter)