News: Govt offers employers £150m skills development pot
The UK government is offering employers £150 million to fund their own training schemes through the second round of the Employer Ownership Pilot. The scheme has already distributed nearly £70 million to major companies and aims to address skills gaps while encouraging innovation in apprenticeships and specialist training programs.
Blog: The HR lessons to be learned from the BBC crisis
The BBC director-general’s resignation after 54 days highlights critical HR lessons: the importance of succession planning, the value of hiring external candidates to challenge group think, and the complexity of senior-level recruitment decisions.
Blog: Why a JJB Sports’ director lost his unfair dismissal claim
A Manchester employment tribunal’s decision rejecting an unfair dismissal claim by a former JJB Sports director has been upheld on appeal. Jonathan Ashby claimed he was made redundant without warning or consultation following a company reorganisation, but the tribunal found that JJB’s failure to consult did not constitute unfair dismissal.
How to work effectively with the CEO
HR directors can position themselves as strategic advisors to CEOs by providing people-focused solutions tied to clear business outcomes. By proactively addressing workforce implications of company challenges and opportunities, HR leaders can demonstrate tangible value and influence executive decision-making.
How important is industry background when taking on a new HR hire?
Industry background can be advantageous when hiring HR professionals since they understand sector-specific demands and can settle into roles faster. However, HR skills are fundamentally transferable across industries, and success depends more on organizational culture and leadership buy-in than on prior sector experience.
News: Greencore workers win temporary pay cut claim
Over 400 Greencore workers in Hull are expected to receive up to £1.2 million after the company refused to restore their original pay rates and holiday benefits following a temporary suspension agreed to during difficult trading conditions.
News: British workers on verge of ‘burn-out’
British workers are approaching burnout, with studies showing over one-third experience excessive workplace pressure and 47% feel stress levels are unmanageable. Following job cuts and increased workloads, employees report working longer hours with little support from leadership for health and wellbeing.
Blog: Employed or self-employed? How to get it right legally
Employment status classification requires careful legal analysis beyond written contracts. The UK Supreme Court’s Autoclenz ruling established that tribunals examine actual working practices and the parties’ genuine relationship to determine whether someone is truly self-employed or an employee, considering conduct, testimony, and contractual terms together.
Book Review: The high engagement work culture – Balancing me and we
This book review examines how organizations can balance individual and collective interests to create high-engagement work cultures. Drawing on research into the 2008 financial crash, the authors argue that companies like Whole Foods Market and BMW demonstrate how prioritizing stakeholder wellbeing drives better performance and organizational sustainability.
Legal Insight: The implications of sacking a BNP member
A former bus driver dismissed for his election as a BNP councillor won a European Court of Human Rights case against the UK, establishing that employment protections must extend beyond race discrimination to cover political expression and association rights.
News: Christian demoted for gay marriage opposition wins breach of contract case
A Christian man won a breach of contract case against his employer after being demoted for posting opposition to gay church marriages on Facebook. Adrian Smith was given a final written warning and a 40% salary cut by Trafford Housing Trust, but a High Court judge ruled the demotion unlawful and violated his freedom of religious expression.
News: Sainsbury’s to pay £10,000 for wrongfully dismissing coffee drinker
Sainsbury’s must pay £10,000 to an 11-year baker wrongfully dismissed for leaving his post for two minutes to get money for coffee. The worker claimed he had permission from his manager, while the company alleged gross misconduct, though it allowed smokers to take breaks.
Living Leader Learnings: How can I stay true to myself at work?
Discover how to maintain authenticity at work without sacrificing success. Learn how identifying your core values helps resolve the conflict between your professional and personal self, enabling genuine client relationships and career fulfillment.
Blog: Why do we nearly always misread what motivates others?
Research consistently shows that people misjudge what motivates others at work. While managers often assume employees are driven by compensation and job security, employees actually prioritize meaningful work, recognition, and feeling valued. Money compensates fairly but doesn’t drive engagement beyond a baseline level.
Lembit Opik: How to navigate office politics
Office politics is inevitable in any organization where people interact, and rather than denying its existence, leaders should manage it positively to improve workplace effectiveness. By recognizing politics as how power operates daily, organizations can foster openness and use human dynamics constructively instead of suppressing them.
News: Employers unaware of fitness-to-drive responsibilities
A survey reveals that 57% of employers mistakenly believe employees alone are responsible for fitness to drive. Under UK law, employers share a duty of care to ensure workers driving for business purposes meet eyesight requirements, but many lack awareness of these obligations.
News: Fit note system fails to cut sickness absence rates
HR professionals report that the fit note system has failed to reduce sickness absence rates, with nearly two-thirds saying it hasn’t helped cut absences. GPs are underutilizing the system’s features, rarely using the “may-be-fit-for-work” option and providing insufficient guidance to support employee return-to-work decisions.
Ask the Expert: What holiday pay are staff entitled to if off sick?
Recent legal rulings require employers to allow holiday pay to accrue during long-term sick leave and permit employees to reschedule holiday if they fall ill during booked time off. These requirements apply to statutory entitlements, though employers paying above statutory rates may face questions about how the rulings affect contractual sick pay provisions.
Blog: Work-life balance is a bottom line issue
Work-life balance isn’t just good for employees—it’s a business priority. When managers address individual needs with flexibility and empathy, like asking “what do you need to make this work?” instead of enforcing rigid policies, both people and organizations benefit.
In a Nutshell: Five ways to get the most out of your team
Learn five practical strategies for getting the most out of your team, from appreciating daily positives and recognizing staff contributions to supporting independent problem-solving and taking personal responsibility for your leadership choices.
