This week, Annie Hayes reports on glass ceilings, police uniform issues in Norfolk, recruitment troubles, and the CIPD annual conference in Harrogate.
That pesky ‘glass-ceiling’ has strengthened, much to the annoyance of the chief executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission who said it was more like “reinforced concrete”. And Katherine Rake, director of the Fawcett Society that campaigns for women’s rights was none too happy about the findings of the EHRC’s annual Sex and Power report either.
***
Women police officers serving for Norfolk Constabulary may also have a thing or two to say about those ‘unjust hurdles’. Seemingly their path to career nirvana is a little more black and white after bosses put a blanket ban on the use of ‘extreme’ nail colours whilst in the course of active duty. Designer stubble and jewellery ‘through the nose, eyebrows, lips (or) tongue’ are also a no-no and amongst the raft of ‘smartening’ up measures reported by the BBC. And it’s no good flashing your tattoo either, for long-sleeved shirts are ready to be handed out at the nearest whiff of a skull and crossbone adornment; and as for mobile phones forget it, at least not in public and keep your hands out of your pockets too.
***
Norfolk police may be forgiven for thinking they were back at school. September of course marks the reluctant march back to the school gates and a new survey of schools and employers suggests that schools are focusing too much on academia. As reported by TrainingZONE, young people are not being adequately prepared for work according to findings by b-live – a careers site for young people. It found that only 42% of schools saw the employability of students as the most important part of the careers curriculum.
***
With students offering little to excite employers it’s unsurprising that hiring is at rock bottom. According to Manpower’s latest Employment Outlook Survey, recruitment is at its weakest in 10 years with more businesses reducing staff numbers than increasing employees in the run up to Christmas. The ‘wait and see approach’ adopted by 82% of ‘sitting on the fence’ employers is slowing activity. It’s the same story from Monster’s Employment Index which fell seven points in August. With doom, gloom and wet weather to contend with, YouGov has found that one in four UK workers are considering a move abroad to escape the economic squeeze and perhaps the ban on ‘extreme nail colours’. Can I come too?
***
In good news – well there has to be ‘some’ – HR professionals have their annual CIPD conference knees-up to look forward to. Held in the former spa-town, Harrogate is the place to be from 16-18 September 2008. It promises to be a veritable delight of innovation and ground-breaking ideas with a particular eye on the looming recession with tips on how to survive in turbulent times. Of course there will be the usual array of delightful freebies from honey pots to flower-shaped highlighter pens and enough sugary-treats to keep Willie Wonka in business. Keep your eye out for HRZone.co.uk’s very own Annie Hayes, who will be ‘loitering’, ahem, ‘reporting’ on the daily ins and outs, the bizarre and the wonderful, all to be found at this year’s conference.
***
