Why 72% of employees don’t trust performance management – and how to fix it
Trust in performance management is at crisis point – with 72% of workers questioning their organisation’s processes. How can you rebuild confidence and unlock genuine performance? Gaelle Devins, Chief Customer Officer at Breitling, shares her research-backed approach to shifting from tick-box KPIs to people-centred metrics that actually drive results.
What’s the latest on the Employment Rights Bill?
Following the House of Lords’ Employment Rights Bill review, HR adviser Kate Palmer discusses the Bill’s latest amendments and what updates might mean for UK businesses.
Dangerous HR liaisons: Threats, knives and throuples
There’s a common misconception that HR’s role is limited to hiring and firing, but there is so much more to it than that. And many of the situations that an HR professional finds themselves dealing with are things that you’d never consider, even in your wildest dreams.
Executive bonuses: Rewarding failure or failing to reward?
As scrutiny intensifies on executive bonuses in public service firms, Simon Cook of Innecto Reward Consulting unpacks the thorny debate. Using Thames Water as a case in point, he explores whether tighter regulation is the answer or if a more balanced approach to reward could protect both public trust and business competitiveness.
HR is at the helm of the smarter work revolution
The phrase ‘working smarter’ is more than just a catchy slogan in today’s fast-moving workplace – it’s a critical survival strategy. For HR leaders, this necessitates harnessing digital tools to eliminate persistent productivity blockers and design a more agile, empowered workforce.
HR lessons from Dermalogica’s unfair dismissal dilemma
When a tribunal found Dermalogica guilty of unfair dismissal, disability discrimination and breaching part-time workers’ rights, the legal implications were clear. In this expert analysis, employment lawyer Sandeep Leighs, Partner at Shakespeare Martineau, breaks down what went wrong – and what you must do to avoid making the same costly mistakes.
New risk assessment form for sexual harassment
Check that your organisation is maintaining compliance and taking reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of workers. Review this 10-point checklist and make use of the risk assessment form.
The quiet crisis: SME workers are turning to second jobs amid high cost of living
LinkedIn poll data suggests a growing number of SME employees are taking on second jobs to cope with the rising cost of living. Business coach and owner, Peter Boolkah, explores the implications of this trend in terms of productivity, morale, and company culture, highlighting the need for proactive leadership.
Apprentice dismissed after colleague ‘poked finger-sized holes’ in his sandwiches
A culture of ‘banter’ among apprentices at Scania truck depot quickly spiralled into a dismissal and employment tribunal. HR adviser Kate Palmer shares the cautionary tale of the tampered sandwich…
£1 million wake-up call over University of Edinburgh’s grievance failures
After a decade-long dispute, the University of Edinburgh has had to pay out over £1 million to an engineering professor for claims of unfair dismissal. Legal expert Rhys Wyborn examines where the university went wrong, and how businesses must use this as a cautionary tale to review their own grievance procedures.
Progress or PR spin? Gender pay gap 2025 shows it’s still a man’s world, just with better reporting
The results of this year’s gender pay gap report are out, but do the results point to progress or PR spin? HRZone columnist Deborah Hartung believes reporting is a tick-box exercise for most and urges HR to go beyond the bare minimum.
Silent layoffs and how they bite back
The silent layoff is an emerging trend among employers seeking to protect employee morale and brand reputation. But is this secretive redundancy tactic without repercussions? Claire Taylor-Evans of Boyes Turner shares the potential risks of silent layoffs, alongside alternative routes.
What HR needs to know from the Spring Statement
Paul Robbins, Croner-i’s Associate Director of Tax discusses the Spring Statement and the key tax changes that HR professionals need to be aware of.
EU Pay Transparency Directive: Brexit bonus or missed opportunity?
The EU Pay Transparency Directive will not directly impact UK organisations that don’t have EU-based operations. Is this a Brexit bonus or a wasted moment? Justine Woolf of Innecto Rewards Consultancy weighs up the pros and cons.
Government crackdown on illegal workers: Right to work checks
HR adviser Kate Palmer discusses employers’ legal obligation to conduct ‘right to work’ checks and the potential consequences of hiring illegal workers.
Neonatal care leave: What employers need to know right now
With the introduction of neonatal care leave fast approaching, Rhys Wyborn, employment partner at law firm, Shakespeare Martineau, outlines how employers should prepare.
Labour WhatsApp scandal: Can employers take action over inappropriate private messages?
In the wake of the Labour WhatsApp scandal, Kate Palmer discusses whether employers have the right to monitor employee’s private messages and what steps to take if inappropriate private messages come to light.
Mastering pay gap reporting: From compliance to meaningful action
It’s time to take your pay gap reporting beyond mere compliance. By unlocking deeper insights, you can uncover the ‘why’ behind pay gaps and work to address the root cause of the problem.
UK productivity is at a crossroads
UK economic inactivity has been making headline news since the pandemic. This life-changing outbreak in 2020 is often pinpointed as a key turning point at which our nation’s productivity problem came sharply into focus, alongside the nation’s declining health.
Stop the drop: Proven tips to boost productivity at work
With boosting productivity a key priority for business and government, here are three tips for getting the most out of your people in the workplace.