News: British workers “among the worst idlers in the world”, claim Tory MPs
Conservative MPs claim British workers are among the world’s worst idlers, attributing the UK’s poor productivity to a culture that rewards laziness and discourages risk-taking. The authors argue attitudes toward work in Britain compare unfavorably with Singapore, South Korea, and Hong Kong, though trade union leaders counter that lack of jobs, not work ethic, is the real problem.
News: Govt evaluates creation of German-style “mini jobs”
The UK Treasury is considering German-style “mini jobs” that allow workers to earn up to £314 monthly tax-free, but German experts warn the scheme has worsened employment by creating low-wage work and making it harder for the long-term unemployed to secure full-time positions.
Book Review: Human resources or human capital? Managing people as assets
Andrew Mayo’s “Human Resources or Human Capital?” provides a practical guide to managing human capital as an organizational asset. The book helps HR professionals and managers measure and create value through people, covering strategy, engagement, and performance. Its user-friendly format with summaries and action points makes it suitable for both reference and complete reading.
Blog: Learning to manage sickness absence more creatively
NHS workers took an average of 15 days of sickness absence last year. Rather than simply recording staff as absent, employers can redeploy workers with minor ailments to training or administrative tasks, improving business efficiency while supporting employee development.
Legal Insight: How do you control social media usage in a BYOD world?
Employers face new challenges managing social media use in BYOD environments, where personal devices blur work and personal boundaries. Clear policies are essential to prevent discriminatory content, reputational damage, and potential legal liability from employee social media activity.
News: FTSE CEO pay rises ‘cool off’, but wage inequality continues to heat up
FTSE 100 CEO pay growth has slowed to 8.5% compared to previous years, but wage inequality continues to widen. While executive compensation faces increased scrutiny from shareholders, earnings for middle and lower-income workers have stagnated, with top earners capturing an ever-larger share of total wages.
Case Study: Welcome Break revamps workforce management to make big savings
Welcome Break Group is implementing SAP SuccessFactors to overhaul its workforce management across 4,300 employees, aiming to generate six-figure annual savings and improve talent alignment, training, and cross-brand mobility.
Blog: Workers crave recognition but don’t get enough – survey
A UK workforce survey reveals that 90% of employees say recognition motivates better performance, yet 37% feel underrecognized. Workers strongly value frequent acknowledgment over executive bonuses, with 87% believing bonus budgets could better fund employee recognition programs.
Living Leader Learnings: How do I get my team to take me seriously?
When promoted from peer to manager, you may inadvertently create respect issues by lacking confidence or trying too hard to stay relatable. Address this by acknowledging the awkward transition with your team, demonstrating confidence in your leadership abilities, and establishing clear expectations for how your new working relationship should function.
Ask the Expert: What do we do about a new hire who hasn’t told us about her disability?
When a new hire discloses a disability after accepting a job offer, employers must balance legal obligations under the Equality Act with health and safety requirements. An Occupational Health Assessment can help determine if reasonable adjustments allow the employee to safely perform the role, while unfavorable treatment or withdrawing the offer could result in discrimination claims.
News: Holiday season stress levels rocket for colleagues stuck at work
A UK survey reveals 85% of companies fail to hire temporary staff during the holiday season, leaving remaining employees to handle increased workloads without adequate support, raising stress and burnout concerns.
News: Strikes to become “increasingly routine” over year ahead
Strike action is becoming “increasingly routine” across both public and private sectors, with labor disputes expected to rise significantly in coming years, according to legal experts. Employers must develop robust contingency plans as unions call more frequent ballots over pay, pensions, and redundancies amid ongoing austerity pressures.
Blog: Me and my Blackberry are on holiday….
HR professionals struggle to implement meaningful changes due to constant email demands and mobile connectivity that blur work-life boundaries. The post advocates for intentional “technology breaks”—whether full holidays or brief pauses—to create thinking space for strategic HR improvements rather than reactive problem-solving.
Ernst & Young uses strengths-based assessment for graduate recruitment
Ernst & Young shifted to strengths-based recruitment to identify high performers by assessing candidates’ natural talents and authentic abilities rather than rehearsed competency responses. In 18 months, the approach reduced unsuitable first-stage candidates by 15% while increasing qualified acceptances by 12%.
In a Nutshell: Five ways to run a successful apprenticeship programme
Learn five essential strategies for running a successful apprenticeship programme, from investing time in trainees and building strong training provider relationships to managing expectations, boosting confidence, and protecting study time.
News: Pearson unveils business-based higher education college
Pearson has become the first FTSE 100 company to directly offer degrees in the UK, launching a business-focused higher education college in partnership with major employers including BT, Cisco, and Atos. The BSc (Hons) degree, validated by Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, combines classroom learning with guaranteed internships, professional mentoring, and flexible study options starting at £6,500 annually.
News: End of “Olympics effect” could see unemployment leap by year end
UK unemployment fell to 8% in June due to temporary Olympic jobs, but economists warn joblessness could jump 0.3% by year-end as the Games conclude and 100,000 temporary workers face redundancy in a weak labor market.
News: HR pros ‘most likely to share a secret’
HR professionals are most likely to share personal secrets with coworkers compared to other professions, according to a survey of 2,000 office staff. The study found that 37.6% of HR practitioners had divulged private information to colleagues, spending about 29 minutes daily on non-work chatter with family being the favorite topic.
Blog: Why the performance appraisal system is in trouble
Performance appraisal systems face widespread failure due to manager biases, inadequate feedback practices, and misaligned incentive structures that damage workplace relationships and undermine goal achievement. Key issues include recency bias, emotional outbursts during reviews, system failures, and reward structures that encourage unhealthy competition rather than collaboration.
Talent Spot: Prithvi Shergill, global head of HR at HCL Technologies
Prithvi Shergill, global head of HR at HCL Technologies, built his career across multiple countries, working in the US, Philippines, Singapore, and India. He joined HCL after admiring the company’s employee-focused approach and has spent roughly half his career abroad, believing HR professionals must model the resilience and adaptability they expect from their teams.
