News: Age and motherhood are top two barriers to female career progression
A survey of UK working women reveals that age and motherhood are the top two barriers to career progression, alongside lack of role models and experience. The research shows multiple interconnected obstacles prevent women from advancing, with employers losing talented female talent from their pipelines before they reach leadership positions.
News: UK workplace relationships hit new lows
A UK survey of 1,607 employees reveals widespread workplace dissatisfaction, with 42% witnessing power abuse, 25% experiencing poor treatment for being different, and 10% taking sick leave to avoid bullying. Only 6% genuinely enjoy socializing with colleagues, indicating deteriorating workplace relationships and culture.
Legal Insight: How to prepare for pensions auto-enrolment
Employers must prepare for workplace pension auto-enrolment starting October 2012, with larger companies first and smaller firms given until April 2017. Key steps include selecting a pension scheme, calculating qualifying earnings, reviewing payroll systems, and maintaining compliance records to meet the legal requirement.
Ask the Expert: What is the right terminology for family-friendly policies?
Learn whether there’s a legal reason to use “you” or “the employee” in family-friendly policies. Employment law experts explain that terminology is primarily a stylistic choice, though consistency and clarity matter for avoiding confusion about employment status and contractual obligations.
Blog: Humanising human resources
HR departments should prioritize discovering talent and potential in every employee rather than focusing solely on numbers. By aligning individual strengths with organizational goals, companies create meaningful workplaces where people are motivated to make a difference, ultimately driving better performance and business success.
The HRZone Interview: Best Companies’ Wayne Clarke on engagement
Wayne Clarke of Best Companies discusses eight critical factors for employee engagement, including leadership quality, management effectiveness, colleague relationships, and personal growth opportunities. He explains how recession has forced many organizations into survival mode, but those thriving must prioritize clear communication and authenticity to rebuild employee confidence and engagement.
In a Nutshell: Five tips for creating a positive company culture
Creating a positive company culture starts with understanding employee values, communicating clearly with staff, and ensuring workers understand organizational goals. Additional key steps include reworking policies to support change and delivering on company promises to build trust and retain talent.
News: Charity whistleblower wins “textbook” unfair dismissal claim
A finance director at a Welsh charity won an unfair dismissal claim after raising concerns about financial mismanagement and bullying. The tribunal judge called the dismissal a “textbook example of how not to dismiss somebody” and awarded the claimant £4,010 compensation. A subsequent audit found significant failures at the now-defunct organization, including misused funds for gym memberships and sports tickets.
News: Collaborative Justice Institute unveiled
The Collaborative Justice Institute, a new not-for-profit organization, aims to promote alternative conflict resolution methods like mediation and collaborative dialogue over traditional adversarial justice. The institute seeks to unite practitioners, policymakers, and scholars to explore techniques such as coaching and transformational leadership for resolving disputes.
News: Ex-Apple exec sues over alleged ‘job for life’ promise
Former Apple executive Wayne Goodrich is suing the company for emotional distress, claiming Steve Jobs promised him lifelong employment during a 2010 meeting. Goodrich, who worked for Apple, Pixar, and NeXt for over 21 years and helped launch the iPhone and iPad, was dismissed in December for “business reasons” and is seeking compensation for lost wages, benefits, and emotional damages.
Blog: Settlement agreements explained
Settlement agreements are legally binding agreements between employers and employees that allow workplace disputes to be settled outside court. These agreements replace the existing “compromise agreement” system and require independent legal advice, with negotiations protected from future tribunal proceedings.
Blog: AT&T – Taking talent management to the next level
AT&T’s Olympic campaign demonstrates how media and communications companies must evolve their talent management strategies to compete in today’s fast-paced, real-time marketing environment. HR departments play a critical role in building and managing the agile, skilled teams essential for success as technology transforms industry needs.
Talent Spot: Karl Jolly, director of people at the Welcome Break Group
Karl Jolly is director of people at Welcome Break Group, responsible for the experience of 80 million annual visitors to its motorway service stations and hotels. He built his career in hospitality starting as a dishwasher at TGI Friday’s in 1986, progressing through roles at Pret A Manger, Greenalls, and All Bar One before joining Welcome Break.
News: North Tyneside ditches shared services plans to save jobs
North Tyneside Council has abandoned shared services plans in favor of outsourcing to two private companies, aiming to save £47 million while protecting 360 jobs. Balfour Beatty and Capita Symonds were selected as preferred bidders to manage various council services over a ten-year period.
News: Few employers exploit youth digital skills worth £6.7bn
UK youth possess an estimated £6.7 billion in underutilized digital skills, yet fewer than 25% of employers plan to hire young people despite needing digital expertise. A survey reveals most organizations expect significant digital revenue but lack confidence in workforce capabilities and show little commitment to youth training or employment.
News: Tesco faces £200k fine for illegal working by foreign students
Tesco faces a potential £200,000 fine after immigration officials discovered 20 foreign students working illegally at its Croydon warehouse, exceeding their visa hour restrictions by up to three-and-a-half times. The supermarket chain is cooperating with authorities and has implemented stricter employment verification procedures.
Blog: Communication is the essence of good leadership
Effective communication is essential to strong leadership. Leaders who ignore team input, play favorites, or fail to acknowledge contributions create disengagement, turnover, and damage organizational culture. Poor communicators cannot truly lead.
Blog: Four arguments for why staff engagement is impossible
Staff engagement cannot be forced through programs or surveys. You cannot change or directly engage employees; instead, organizations must create environments of trust, appreciation, and purpose where employees choose to engage and develop voluntarily.
How to tackle your first 100 days as HR director – Part 2
Succeed in your first 100 days as HR director by identifying clear strategic priorities. Break this into three steps: envision a two-year tenure, agree on 12-month business priorities with stakeholders, and write a detailed 100-day plan to maintain focus and achieve measurable outcomes.
How to get ahead in HR
HR professionals can advance their careers by developing strong business partnership skills, building relationships with senior leaders, and demonstrating strategic value to the organization. Key competencies include leadership, communication, self-motivation, and the ability to work under pressure while serving as a trusted advisor to management.
