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More and more devices are becoming part of the ‘smart home’ concept. No longer limited to TVs or tablets, they now also include laundry machines, vacuum cleaners and even refrigerators. New ways to communicate with household appliances connected to the Internet are currently being brought to us by voice assistants. Now all that it takes to turn on the TV or switch between channels is a single voice command. A group of secondary-school students from Poland have decided to try and merge the ‘smart home’ concept with voice controllability. ‘DAREK’, the project they’re working on, is addressed to disabled users to help them move around the house. Using voice control, not only will they be able to open the door or roll the blinds down but even stock up the fridge.

The number of vacancies is growing, having reached nearly 120,000 jobs by late 2017. Employees from the East are no longer able to make up for this shortage. That’s why more and more businesses are recruiting employees from such Asian countries as Nepal, India or Bangladesh. But experts suggest we need changes in employment procedures for foreign nationals, e.g. harmonised requirements across government agencies, streamlined visa-application procedures, and the shortened processing of work permits.

Only 14% of companies have their employer branding strategy defined. But in order to attract employees, and millennials in particular, one needs to get to know their needs and provide them with opportunities for fulfilment and a sense of making a difference in the company. The young generation want their bosses to be like partners and coaches, who will lead and direct them. Employers need long-term strategies and comprehensive approaches to their personnel. Without it, they will be hard-pressed to achieve success, experts claim.

Since 2018, Poland has a new Act on the promotion of employment and labour market institutions. It is expected to facilitate the employment of foreigners from outside the EU and EEA, as well as to help control people arriving to Poland. Employers propose the introduction of the Immigration Act to recruit workforce not only from Ukraine, but also from Arab countries. Without it, the demand for new personnel might be difficult to satisfy. Some companies have already had to give up contracts as they are not able to complete them because of labour shortages.

Poles are among the most aggressive drivers in the world. Violating the right of way, horn overuse and dazzling other drivers with headlights are their major misdemeanours. Poles are often guided by emotions while driving, although their behaviour has improved significantly over the last decade.