PARIS/HAMBURG -- Airbus is mobilizing staff from outside Germany to assist with a tricky production ramp-up of A321 passenger jets at its plant in Hamburg, industry sources said.

We have a flexitime work schedule allowing our employees to attend to their various personal activities, like bringing kids to school or pursuing graduate studies, and applies even to navigating daily commuting hassles. We receive above-average pay and perks for our industry and this makes the workforce doubly satisfied. Personally, I like this flexible schedule except for the fact that our department boss keeps loading me with many special projects that upset my day-to-day plans. It appears that I am not alone in this. Many of my colleagues are complaining of the same thing. Clearly, flexitime has become a sham to cover for our pressure-cooker work environment. How do we manage our situation? -- Overly Stressed.

A MAJOR union said the 15 Senators who supported the security of tenure bill displayed “great political leadership” in voting to pass the measure on second and third reading Wednesday despite pressure from government economic managers, foreign business chambers and employers.

THE information and communications technology (ICT) industry’s employers need to develop the potential of workers amid severe personnel shortages challenging the industry worldwide, stakeholders said.

MINNEAPOLIS -- At 2.3 percent, Minneapolis’ jobless rate seems impossibly low, even with national unemployment at a 50-year trough.

GENERAL ELECTRIC CO, once seen as the epitome of corporate greatness, is trying to end infighting between its divisions, tighten up management and fix quality problems in its products, Chief Executive Officer Larry Culp said on Wednesday.

I was promoted from within as a new manager replacing a resigned manager. On top of my list now is how to appraise the work performance of my three workers assigned to me. They should have been appraised two months ago, but for some reason, it didn’t happen. Now, they’re waiting on the possible merit increase that comes with the review. But, how in heaven’s name can I do justice to the process when I’m new to the job? Our human resources manager was even careless enough to say that I should “do the best I can do under the circumstances.” He exclaims there’s no way he can request the resigned manager to go back and do the performance appraisal since he has been cleared of any accountability. Please give me your advice. -- At Random.

ONLINE JOB recruitment site Monster.com said that half of Filipino professionals cite as a reason for searching for new jobs the struggle in juggling their careers with their obligations as parents.

ABOITIZ Construction, Inc. (ACI) expects to generate about 4,000 jobs this year as it pursues more big-ticket logistics and infrastructure projects.

THE DEPARTMENT of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said it has developed a new marketing platform for entrepreneurs from the informal sector seeking to promote their goods.

SHANGHAI -- For over six years Qi Yaqian was a proud member of China’s so-called 996 tech tribe, working nights and weekends at Nuomi, a group deals website.

I received a job offer from another company that is pirating me from my current company, where I’m a regular employee. My prospective boss agreed to give me a lucrative pay and perk package for the post of a human resource officer. However, the job on a one-year project employment basis with the possibility of renewal and on to my eventual regular status. What do you think? Please advise before I accept the offer. -- Ludicrous Delight.