COVER STORY
Reach New Heights 
HR business partners collaborate with business leaders to drive strategies.
By Adrienne Fox
FEATURES
BENEFITS
People with HIV and AIDS: Living and Working Longer
Several multinationals have created worldwide initiatives to assist employees carrying the virus.
By Joan Mooney
PROFILE
The Right Career Forecast
Sylvia Taylor’s unwavering vision for her career path has led her to the top of the HR profession.
Interview by Bill Leonard
DIVERSITY
The Global Battle for Female Talent
Multinational employers struggle to train and retain talented women in emerging markets.
By Kathy Gurchiek
EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
Opening Doors
Accommodations allow employees with disabilities to focus on doing their jobs.
By Dori Meinert
BUSINESS LEADERSHIP
Accelerating Change at GM
As the third HR chief since the bankruptcy, will Cynthia Brinkley prevail?
By Robert J. Grossman
FIRST-PERSON ACCOUNT
How to Build a Workforce, One Person at a Time
An in-house driving school graduates truckers with solid safety and performance records.
By Bruce H. Moss
BENEFITS
Financial Education – Stress = Improved Productivity
Help out employees when they show signs of financial distress—and earn a demonstrated return on investment.
By Joanne Sammer
Q&A
Undeserved Promotions
Favoritism is widespread when deciding who gets promoted.
Interview by Kathryn Tyler
AGENDA: GLOBAL HR
‘Minimum’ vs. ‘Fair’ vs. ‘Living’ Wages
Human rights activists seek justification of wage rates from HR professionals.
By Eric Krell
AGENDA: BENEFITS
On Guard
Partner with vendors to protect your health care plan from fraud.
By Joanne Sammer
ADVICE AND ANALYSIS
Solutions
After-hours supervision, pain pill policies, electronic signatures
By John Sweeney, SPHR, GPHR, Regan Gross, SPHR-CA, and Erin Patton, SPHR
HR TECHNOLOGY
Talent Management Merger Mania
A wave of HR software mergers is creating uncertainty for customers, but experts have advice for keeping your technology on track.
By Bill Roberts
LEGAL TRENDS
Widening Web of Social Media
Social media may involve only short messages here and there, but its workplace ramifications have spread far and wide.
By Jonathan Segal
MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Blowing the Whistle on Whistle-Blowers
Character assassinations wrapped in ‘whistle-blower’ disguises are dangerous to the company.
By Paul Falcone
NEWS YOU CAN USE
HR NEWS
Engagement erosion; wage and hour enforcement; workplace flexibility; more.
EXECUTIVE BRIEFING
Corporate ethics programs at risk; external hires cost more.
COURT REPORT
Back pay for retaliation may be based on loss of job opportunity; ERISA permits union’s indemnification of employer’s pension liability; more.
WHAT’S NEW
Compensation and benefits; compliance; health and safety; more.
PERSPECTIVES
FROM READERS
Readers’ letters.
FROM THE CEO
HR Competencies Model Poised to Launch
By Henry G. Jackson
FUTURE FOCUS
The Rise of the Difficult Employee?
HR professionals are dealing with the effects of increased workplace stress.
By Jennifer Schramm
BOOKS IN BRIEF
Summaries of Power Questions, Building a Magnetic Culture, The ACE Advantage and Social Business by Design.