The impact of polices on government social media usage: Issues, challenges, and recommendations

an article by John Carlo Bertot , Paul T. Jaeger and Derek Hansen (College of Information Studies, University of Maryland, USA) published in Government Information Quarterly Volume 29 Issue 1 (January 2012)

Abstract

Government agencies are increasingly using social media to connect with those they serve. These connections have the potential to extend government services, solicit new ideas, and improve decision-making and problem-solving.

However, interacting via social media introduces new challenges related to privacy, security, data management, accessibility, social inclusion, governance, and other information policy issues. The rapid adoption of social media by the population and government agencies has outpaced the regulatory framework related to information, although the guiding principles behind many regulations are still relevant.

This paper examines the existing regulatory framework and the ways in which it applies to social media use by the U.S. federal government, highlighting opportunities and challenges agencies face in implementing them, as well as possible approaches for addressing these challenges.

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Sick on the Job? Myths and Realities about Mental Health and Work

A new report (January 2012) from OECD

Summary

The costs of mental ill-health for the individuals concerned, employers and society at large are enormous. Mental illness is responsible for a very significant loss of potential labour supply, high rates of unemployment, and a high incidence of sickness absence and reduced productivity at work. In particular, mental illness causes too many young people to leave the labour market, or never really enter it, through early moves onto disability benefit.

Today, between one-third and one-half of all new disability benefit claims are for reasons of mental ill-health, and among young adults that proportion goes up to over 70%. Indeed, mental ill-health is becoming a key issue for the well-functioning of OECD’s labour markets and social policies and requires a stronger focus on policies addressing mental health and work issues. Despite the very high costs to the individuals and the economy, there is only little awareness about the connection between mental health and work, and the drivers behind the labour market outcomes and the level of inactivity of people with mental ill-health. Understanding these drivers is critical for the development of more effective policies.

This report aims to identify the knowledge gaps and begin to narrow them by reviewing evidence on the main challenges and barriers to better integrating people with mental illness in the world of work.

Further details are available from the OECD bookshop

E-book (PDF Format) Price: £31
Print (pbk) £45

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The world’s oldest profession: indexing?

an article by Nancy K Humphreys published in The Indexer Volume 29 Number 4 (December 2011)

Abstract

A closer look at the 3,000-year-old I Ching, or Book of changes, from China, yields some surprising conclusions about the origins of indexing. This ancient book of hexagrams contains the world’s oldest table of contents and index.

If you can get hold of the print copy, or if your institution provides online access, then do read this. It’s absolutely fascinating.

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The Journal of Economic Perspectives is a labour of love

In order to bring you an article from this journal I have to:

1. Request item from British Library catalogue for reading at the British Library.
2. Actually receive the volume and issue number I have asked for (this does not always happen).
3. Glance at first page or two of each article (no abstracts) to check for relevance/interest to readers.
4. Search for the article title online (personally I find Google best for this simple task).
5. Pick up URL for article

Here you now have Genes, Eyeglasses, and Social Policy by Charles F Manski published in Journal of Economic Perspectives Volume 25 Number 4 (Fall 2011)

And I hope the effort was worth it!

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Job attitudes, behaviours and well-being among different types of temporary workers in Europe and Israel

an article by Francisco J. Gracia, José Ramos, José María Peiró and Amparo Cabeller (University of Valencia) and Beatriz Sora (Open University of Catalonia) published in International Labour Review Volume 150 Issue 3-4 (December 2011)

Abstract

Applying an innovative typology based on preference for temporary employment and perceived employability, the authors empirically examine four types of temporary workers (and a group of permanent workers for comparison).

In a sample of 1,300 employees from six countries, they find significant differences between the four types on a broad set of variables – including demographic and job characteristics, attitude and insecurity – but not in life satisfaction and well-being.

They conclude with an argument against the equation of temporary employment with low-skilled workers unable to find a permanent job, stressing the valuable implications of more sensitive research for policy-making on flexicurity.

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How to Build an Orphanage, and Why

an article by Prof. Dr. Katharina de la Durantaye published in JIPITEC (Journal of Intellectual Property, Information Technology and E-Commerce Law) Volume 2 Issue 2 (2011)

Abstract

Currently, lawmakers on both sides of the Atlantic are struggling with the problem of orphan works. In the impact assessment of its proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain permitted uses of orphan works, the Eurpean Commission mentions six possible ways of dealing with the problem. Three of the six (a statutory exception to copyright; extended collective licensing; an orphan-specific license granted by collecting societies) have each had their heyday during the past few years. This article examines how and why these changes in popularity occurred. In addition, it explains why a limitation on remedies would be the most adequate solution for the problem in Europe.

Full text (PDF 9pp)

License
Any party may pass on this Work by electronic means and make it available for download under the terms and conditions of the Digital Peer Publishing License. The text of the license may be accessed and retrieved via Internet at http://www.dipp.nrw.de/lizenzen/dppl/dppl/DPPL_v2_en_06-2004.html

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New Law Cooking up a Storm for Websites

a short article from NFP Techno which seems to have taken me rather longer to get to you than I would like.

As the May 2012 deadline for the new EU law restricting cookies from websites gets closer, NFPs and businesses across the UK are hoping for a workable technical solution to the proposed legislation.

Read full story...

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