Business Environment

New Research Reveals Disconnect Between Employer Pay Transparency Practices and Job Seeker Expectations

New research from CareerBuilder, in partnership with Morning Consult, reveals a significant disconnect between employers and job seekers regarding pay transparency. As the job market evolves, job seekers now expect salary information to be included in job postings. Yet, many employers remain hesitant to share this crucial detail upfront. Based on a survey of 415 hiring decision-makers, the study found that 55% of employers do not reveal salaries until the interview phase. Only 8% of employers are sharing specific salary information at the outset, while 37% share a range. This year, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that 80% of U.S. workers are more likely to consider applying for a position if the salary is listed. "This lack of transparency is impacting employers' ability to attract and retain the best candidates," said Jeff Furman, CEO at CareerBuilder. "Considering shifting candidate expectations, the adoption of state-level pay transparency mandates and growing concern over equitable pay, now is the time for employers to lift the veil on salaries." Employers that embrace pay transparency experience several benefits, including increased job visibility and better candidate matches. Job postings that include salary information tend to perform better in search engine algorithms, and CareerBuilder posts featuring salaries perform 30% better than those without. "Given the competitive job market and evolving candidate expectations, the 'first one to say a number loses' strategy has become outdated," added Furman. "Including salary details not only aligns expectations but also reduces drop-offs during the interview process, helping employers save time and resources."

New Research from the International Coaching Federation Highlights Trends in Workplace Burnout

New research, released by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), indicates growing workplace demand for mental well-being support. With mental well health concerns including burnout rising worldwide, the new study indicates that as many as 85% of coaching professionals working with clients on such issues hear growing calls for support to improve mental well-being. The "2024 ICF Snapshot Survey: Coaching and Mental Well-Being" studied coaches from various regions, demographics, and specializations. The study explores the strategies coaches employ, the challenges they encounter, and their confidence levels in making a positive impact. Key findings from the survey include: Career challenges are on the rise. Respondents indicated that 78% of clients cited career-related challenges as the top reason they sought coaching. By comparison, 60% cite personal life issues, making it safe to infer that while work-life balance remains important, career considerations are growing in significance. Organizations are responding to well-being needs. As many as 64% of coaches employed within companies and organizations indicated their entities are investing more in employee well-being compared to five years ago. Investments to support employee well-being are paying off. More than half (53%) of coaches said companies are seeing positive returns from well-being initiatives. However, 72% of internal coaches reported that even more training is needed to support the demand for mental well-being effectively. Certain techniques stand out for mental well-being impact. Techniques like mindfulness, visualization, and meditation are common, but self-reflection and personalized approaches are often more effective for client mental well-being. Coaches want more opportunities to share with their colleagues about what's working and what isn't. The trends illuminated in the study put further focus on the growing demand for professionals qualified to deliver the requested support. "As more and more people in the workplace seek to prioritize their mental well-being, coaching is a high-demand and proven method to address challenges," said ICF CEO Magdalena Nowicka Mook. "For coaches eager to meet this need and mitigate the burnout epidemic, ICF's coaching community, accredited training and credentialing, and resources can equip them to embody the gold standard of the profession." Looking forward, mental well-being is an area of coaching that 72% of coach practitioners indicate a desire to expand their capacity to offer. At the same time, coaches are enhancing their awareness of circumstances that require a different type of intervention based on the seriousness of the client's need. For example, almost half (44%) of coaches referred clients to medical professionals or therapists over the last year.

SI group announces plans to close manufacturing site in singapore

SI Group, a leading global developer and manufacturer of performance additives, process solutions, pharmaceuticals and chemical intermediates, announced it plans to close its alkylphenol manufacturing facility located on Jurong Island in Singapore in the second half of 2025. SI Group will continue supplying alkylphenols from its market-leading global footprint with supply points in both Europe and the Americas. SI Group opened its alkylphenol manufacturing plant on Jurong Island in 2006 to provide alkylphenols to Asia Pacific consumers and for production of SI Group antioxidant products. Yet, due to the substantial changes in the antioxidant value chain in the region in recent years, paired with high costs in Singapore, the company will cease production there next year. "SI Group's manufacturing facility in Singapore has been a valuable asset for our past growth and global presence," said Joey Gullion, SVP & Chief Commercial Officer at SI Group. "However, the current supply-demand balances in Asia and the cost to manufacture in the region, make this a necessary move to ensure the long-term sustainability of our global business." As a global leader in performance additives, SI Group remains committed to being a value-added solutions provider to customers worldwide, including those in Asia Pacific. With alkylphenol manufacturing facilities in Europe and the Americas, SI Group will maintain its alkylphenol market leadership and uphold its customer and technical service support levels. "We've shifted our strategy in Asia Pacific to better serve our customers' needs. The region is important to our business, and we believe this new approach will help us balance the market dynamics with our cost position," said David Bradley, President & CEO of SI Group. "Our recent partnership with Dingjide, along with the difficult but essential decision to close our Singapore site, underscores our commitment to serving our customers—we are now better equipped and excited to support our customers' growth, both now and in the future." SI Group's Singapore manufacturing facility is expected to cease manufacturing operations in the second half of 2025. The company will provide support and assistance to all employees impacted by the plant closure.

BioDuro-Sundia Appoints Dr. Armin Spura as New Chief Executive Officer

BioDuro-Sundia, a leading Contract Research, Development, and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO), is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Armin Spura as its new Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Spura brings over two decades of experience in the life sciences and biotechnology sectors, with a proven track record of driving growth and innovation across global markets. Dr. Spura joins BioDuro-Sundia from Crown Bioscience, where he served as the CEO for nearly five years, guiding the company through significant growth and strategic development. Throughout his career, Dr. Spura has held senior leadership positions at several well-known organizations such as Thermo Fisher Scientific, WuXi NEXTCODE, CareDx and Ion Torrent. He also holds various advisory roles, serving as the chair of the board of directors for SeromYx Systems and as a life science investment advisor at K2X Technology and Life Science. Early in his career, Dr. Spura helped to grow two start-up companies: Ingenuity Systems (acquired by Qiagen) and ForteBio (now part of Danaher). Dr. Spura studied biochemistry in Germany and received his Ph.D. in molecular biology from Brown University in the US. "I am honored to join BioDuro-Sundia and lead this talented team as we embark on the next phase of growth," said Dr. Spura. "With our unique, fully integrated CRDMO platform — encompassing chemistry, biology, DMPK, drug substance, and drug product from discovery through to commercial manufacturing — I am confident we could empower more partners to bring better treatments to patients around the world faster." Gary Chu, Chairman of the Executive Operation Committee of the company, added, "Dr. Spura's extensive global experience and visionary leadership is instrumental in driving BioDuro-Sundia's accelerated growth. We are excited and confident that under his leadership, we will continue to innovate and deliver integrated solutions that meet growing needs from our clients worldwide and the broader healthcare community."

Kristen Mulholland Named Chief Human Resources Officer for Johnson & Johnson’s

Johnson & Johnson announced that Dr. Peter M. Fasolo will retire from his position as Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer at the end of this year, following 16 years of leadership and service to the Company. Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Fasolo has worked with the organization’s Board of Directors and partnered with three company CEOs to shape and grow the Company’s human capital strategy. He will be succeeded in this role by Kristen Mulholland, a strong Credo-based leader who has had an exceptional career with depth and breadth across the Company’s Innovative Medicine and MedTech sectors, managed business unit HR for the Company’s global corporate functions, and has led Corporate HR Services including Performance and Development and most recently Global Total Rewards. Ms. Mulholland will also be appointed as a member of Johnson & Johnson’s Executive Committee, effective October 1, 2024. Dr. Fasolo and Ms. Mulholland will work together during a transition period until Dr. Fasolo’s retirement at the end of this year. “Peter has led J&J’s talent strategy for the past 16 years including remarkable leadership through the global pandemic and the separation of our consumer health business,” said Joaquin Duato, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Johnson & Johnson. “Throughout his career, Peter has always led with two principles in the forefront of every decision and recommendation – Our Credo values and a deep responsibility to our employees. He leaves a legacy of strong leaders, deep bench strength and an inclusive, caring and patient-focused culture.” Dr. Fasolo first joined Johnson & Johnson in 2004 as Worldwide Vice President, Human Resources in the MedTech segment. He also served as the Company’s Chief Talent Officer with responsibility for executive assessment and development. Dr. Fasolo became J&J’s CHRO and a member of the Executive Committee in 2010 and has transformed the HR function’s talent and leadership strategy. During his tenure, he strengthened the Company’s global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion outcomes and expanded employee benefits and policies by increasing paid time off for leaves such as military, parental, bereavement, volunteerism and mental well-being, and promoted a healthy workforce. In recognition of his contributions to the Human Resources profession and commitment to the well-being of our employees, Dr. Fasolo was named a National Academy Human Resources Fellow in 2017 and Human Resource Executive’s HR Executive of the Year in 2022. Kristen Mulholland has been with Johnson & Johnson since 2005. Ms. Mulholland has held HR leadership positions in the Company’s corporate services, global functions and the MedTech and Innovative Medicines sectors across commercial and R&D and helped establish the Company’s Innovation Centers. In her most recent role as Head of Human Resources, Global Total Rewards & Enterprise HR Functions at Johnson & Johnson, Ms. Mulholland worked closely with the Board of Directors supporting the Compensation & Benefits Committee and played a key role in the separation of the consumer business to form Kenvue. “I’m pleased to appoint Kristen to this important role where she will apply her deep business acumen, talent expertise and Credo-based approach to advance J&J’s culture and operating model,” said Mr. Duato. “I’m confident her breadth of experience and strong leadership will ensure Johnson & Johnson’s human capital strategy is poised to deliver the innovative future-ready talent and culture needed to advance healthcare solutions for patients worldwide.”

BRIAN COX WARNS THE WORLD ABOUT WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH THREAT IN PSA FOR ASICS

Ahead of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, ASICS has enlisted actor Brian Cox to deliver a warning to the world to get away from their desks and move for their mental health in a powerful Public Service Announcement (PSA). ASICS' global State of Mind study, involving 26,000 participants, revealed a strong connection between sedentary behaviour and mental wellbeing with State of Mind scores declining the longer individuals remain inactive1. Further research into desk-based working found that after just two hours of continuous desk work State of Mind scores begin to drop and stress levels rise2. After four hours of uninterrupted desk time, workers' stress levels increased significantly by 18%. However, a new Desk Break experiment3 shows that just 15 minutes of movement can help to reverse the effects. The Desk Break experiment, overseen by Dr Brendon Stubbs from King's College London, found that when office workers added just 15 minutes of movement into their working day, their mental state improved by 22.5% with participants' overall State of Mind scores increasing from 62/100 to 76/100. The experiment showed that taking a daily Desk Break for just one week lowered stress levels by 14.7%, boosted productivity by 33.2% and improved focus by 28.6%. Participants reported feeling 33.3% more relaxed and 28.6% more calm and resilient. 79.2% of participants said they would be more loyal to their employers if offered regular movement breaks. In the PSA, Brian Cox plays the role of the world's scariest boss to highlight the silent threat to our mental health—the desk we work at every day. The PSA calls on office workers to put their mental health first by taking a Desk Break, a short movement break, during the working day. Watch the ASICS Desk Break PSA here. Emmy award winning actor Brian Cox said: "I've played some pretty intimidating characters in my time but who would have thought a desk could be scarier? It's great to see ASICS try and do something about this and encourage people to support their mental health through exercise. As I say in the film, run, jump, roller skate. I don't care. Just move for your mind." Across the world, ASICS is encouraging its office-based employees to move for their mental health by taking regular movement breaks. On World Mental Health Day, 10 October 2024, ASICS is inviting office workers to join the #DeskBreak movement and feel the mental benefits. Office workers who are able to take a 15-minute Desk Break* are encouraged to share an image of their empty desk, with images shared raising funds for mental health charities around the world. Dr Brendon Stubbs, a leading researcher in exercise and mental health from King's College London, said: "We have shown previously that just 15 minutes of exercise in leisure time can result in a meaningful improvement in people's State of Mind scores. But what surprised us with the Desk Break experiment was how powerful the 15 minute movement breaks were in improving wellbeing and reducing stress. It even changed people's perceptions of their workplace for the better." Tomoko Koda, Managing Executive Officer for ASICS comments: "At ASICS, we champion the power of movement, not just on the body, but also on the mind. It's why we're called ASICS – an acronym for the Latin 'Anima Sana in Corpore Sano' or 'Sound Mind in a Sound Body'. Our global study revealed that the hours spent at your desk for hours on end are having a real and scary impact on our minds. That's why we wanted to deliver a powerful message from the world's scariest boss to inspire people to move their minds. "We hope to encourage office workers around the world to move and feel the mental benefits. We look forward to seeing the empty desk images on World Mental Health Day."

Novotech Earns Great Place to Work® Certification in the United States

Novotech, a global full-service clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO), is proud to announce that it has been certified as a Great Place to Work® in the United States. This award reflects Novotech’s commitment to fostering a flexible, inclusive, and innovative work environment where employees feel supported and empowered to contribute to the future of medical research. The certification is based on direct feedback from employees and highlights the supportive and collaborative culture Novotech has built in its U.S. offices. It underscores the company’s dedication to ensuring that its team members thrive, both professionally and personally. What makes Novotech a Great Place to Work? A welcoming and inclusive work culture where diversity is celebrated. Opportunities for career growth, development, and learning. A strong emphasis on flexibility and work-life balance. A solutions-focused approached to teamwork to ensure high quality outcomes for our clients. Recognition and appreciation of individual and team contributions to the company’s success. "Our employees are the heart of Novotech, and their satisfaction is our top priority," said Angela Edwardson, Chief People Officer of Novotech. "This certification is a testament to the environment we’ve worked hard to create, one where innovation thrives, and our people feel valued and supported." The certification, while focusing on Novotech’s U.S. operations, mirrors the company’s global commitment to creating a positive workplace culture across all its locations. Novotech is now planning to expand this certification process to additional regions, reinforcing its dedication to making Novotech a great workplace for all employees worldwide. "We’re grateful to our U.S. team for their participation in this certification process, and to all Novotech employees for their hard work and dedication," continued Edwardson. "We look forward to celebrating many more achievements together as we continue to grow and innovate globally."

Aurora CEO Miguel Martin takes on additional role as Executive Chairman of Board of Directors

Aurora Cannabis Inc, a leading Canada-based global medical cannabis company, today announced the appointments of CEO Miguel Martin to the additional role of Executive Chairman and outgoing Chairman Ron Funk as Lead Independent Director. Both appointments follow unanimous votes by Aurora's Board and are effective immediately. Mr. Martin has served as Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company since September 2020 and will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer. During this time, Mr. Martin has driven significant change within the organization, including the financial recovery of the Company and successful business transformation, all while leading with focus and integrity, and in the best interests of Aurora's shareholders. As a result, Aurora has been able to weather much of the challenges that most in the cannabis industry have and continue to face. Having worked closely with and under the mentorship of Mr. Funk, who served as Chairman of the Board of Directors (the "Board") since 2021, the two are aptly positioned to continue to effectively cultivate strong and unified Board leadership and governance as the Company enters its next stage of meaningful global growth. The Board believes that combining the CEO and Chairman roles will promote strong and consistent leadership, directional clarity, and effective and efficient decision making – all of which better position Aurora to execute on its vision for global leadership. "I am excited to take on this expanded role and equally thrilled that we will have the ongoing benefit of Ron's extensive business experience, deep institutional knowledge and meticulous Board leadership and governance expertise as Lead Independent Director," stated Miguel Martin, Executive Chairman and CEO of Aurora Cannabis. "It has been a pleasure both serving as Aurora's Chairman of the Board, and working so closely with Miguel since he was appointed as CEO. I have no doubt that he will continue to effectively lead and drive success in this expanded role for the benefit of our shareholders, and I look forward to our ongoing collaboration in my role as Lead Independent Director," commented Ron Funk, Independent Director for Aurora Cannabis. "Aurora's Board and leadership team has evolved greatly over the past few years, enabled by thoughtful and strategic succession planning and all with a focus on what is right for the Company and our shareholders. The future for Aurora is bright, and I am honoured to remain part of the Company's journey." In his expanded role as Executive Chairman, Mr. Martin will lead in setting the Board agenda, drawing on his insight and understanding of Aurora's business and operations to identify strategic opportunities and risk mitigation approaches for the Board's consideration. As Lead Independent Director, Mr. Funk will continue to be focused on ensuring that the Board functions effectively and independently of management of the Company and on continuing to provide independent leadership to the Board. The Company is also pleased to announce changes to its Board committee compositions. Michael Singer, who previously acted as Executive Chairman and Interim CEO, is again considered independent within the meaning of National Instrument 52-110 – Audit Committees, as over three years have elapsed since he resigned from the Executive Chairman position in May 2021. As a result, Mr. Singer has been appointed to the Audit Committee and the Human Resource and Compensation Committee ("HRCC"), bringing invaluable expertise to both committees. Both Mr. Singer and Audit Committee chair, Chitwant Kohli, are considered "audit committee financial experts" under the rules of the SEC. Rajesh Uttamchandani has been appointed to the HRCC and the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee, bringing his experience in human capital, strategy, governance and innovation which will undoubtedly complement the existing strength of those committees.

BioCentriq Appoints Syed T. Husain as Chief Executive Officer

BioCentriq, a leading cell therapy contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), announces that it has appointed Syed T. Husain as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and as a member of the Board of Directors. BioCentriq has selected Syed for his extensive expertise in CDMO development and manufacturing services, with a deep understanding of the cell and gene therapy supply and value chains. His experience spans the entire drug development and commercialization lifecycle, including over 20 years of strategic management, leading companies through rapid growth, go-to-market innovation, and industry disruption. BioCentriq now has a CEO with a proven track record in creating global business development strategies, enhancing market and brand presence, building high-performing teams, implementing operational improvements, increasing financial returns, and providing strategic leadership to drive patient focus and profitable revenue growth. "The cell and gene therapy (CGT) sector has reached a new stage, where a range of late-stage therapies are reaching commercialization, and a considerable number of next-generation therapies are entering and progressing through early-stage clinical development. In turn, the cell and gene therapy sector is meeting strong pressures on investment required for high costs of development and product manufacturing, in turn increasing pressure on the pricing for commercialized therapies. To match this new stage of the CGT sector, BioCentriq is also starting the next phase of its own growth, with its LEAP™ program providing a badly needed solution to the market, and its concentration on early to mid-phase therapeutic development," said James Park, Chairman of the Board at BioCentriq. He has expressed his confidence, noting, "Syed's extensive experience in CDMO business expansion will be pivotal in ensuring BioCentriq's leadership in manufacturing innovation and in spearheading the clinical to commercial manufacturing of cutting-edge cell therapies." Syed's expertise will guide BioCentriq through its next phase of growth, ensuring the company is well-positioned to support pharma and biotech customers as they advance to pivotal and commercial manufacturing, while continuing to meet their development and clinical supply needs. He will rely on his most recent experience as Chief Commercial Officer at Resilience. During this time, Syed developed an industry-leading commercial organization, serving established (Biologics, Vaccines) and emerging modalities (Cell & Gene Therapy, Nucleic Acids). He established a multi-billion-dollar backlog and opportunity pipeline, securing transformative deals with top pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Syed also fostered a customer-centered culture that deeply resonated with customers and supported long-term, patient-focused growth. Prior to his time with Resilience, he has served in CDMO leadership roles at Emergent BioSolutions, Alcami Corporation, and Lonza. "BioCentriq has quickly developed a unique offering to the U.S. and global CGT manufacturing space, backed by strong partnerships that significantly cut development and technology transfer timelines. We offer the CGT market the flexibility of a mid-sized, entrepreneurial CDMO with a proven track record, which will be crucial in scaling the next generation of therapies to reach broader patient populations," said Syed T. Husain, CEO, BioCentriq. "As BioCentriq moves into its next phase of growth, we're committed to strengthening our capabilities even further. Our goal is to drive the approval of new CGT modalities by offering a complete end-to-end solution—from clinical to commercial manufacturing—ensuring that life-changing therapies reach the patients who need them most."

ShiftMed Integrates Allied Health Professionals Into Its Leading Workforce Platform

ShiftMed, a leader in On Demand workforce technology, has announced the expansion of its platform to include the fulfillment of allied health positions nationwide. This strategic addition represents a substantial broadening of ShiftMed's workforce solutions, addressing the pressing need for specialized roles across all market areas. Allied health professionals, including pharmaceutical technicians, medical technicians, surgical technicians, patient care technicians, and physical therapists, are essential to providing comprehensive patient care and supporting healthcare operations across specialized areas. ShiftMed enables healthcare facilities to optimize workforce levels in real-time, significantly enhancing workforce management capabilities. The platform's advanced technology helps facilities quickly fill open positions and handle unexpected patient volume surges while maintaining consistent care standards. By aligning staffing with patient care needs, staff availability, and skill requirements, ShiftMed ensures that the right professionals are in the right place at the right time. The expansion is driven by a surge in demand for allied health professionals. Over the past decade, the need for health systems to improve access to care has led to a nearly 50% increase in ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), according to the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). In response to this critical need, ShiftMed's enhanced service is designed to provide timely, effective, and comprehensive staffing solutions, with an average cost typically 20% lower than other contingent labor sources. This includes free conversions of a local workforce, offering a more cost-effective option compared to industry averages. "Expanding our platform to include allied health positions is a major advancement for ShiftMed," said Jacob Laufer, Chief Operating Officer at ShiftMed. "This enhancement is a response to the overwhelming demand from our partners and leverages ShiftMed's assets, including over one million certified nursing assistants with years of acute experience. This initiative supports upskilling and career growth opportunities, such as transitioning CNAs to Patient Care Technicians or Sterile Processing Technicians. By using technology to address critical needs and enhance the allied workforce, we are significantly increasing our partners' available workforce and ensuring comprehensive support across the full spectrum of healthcare roles."