News: “Unemployable” Robin Hood airport tweeter finds a job
Paul Chambers, whose conviction for tweeting a joke threat to Robin Hood Airport was overturned by the High Court, has secured employment as a warehouseman after 22 months of unemployment. The former finance manager’s case became a free speech cause celebre, backed by celebrities and online supporters using the #IamSpartacus hashtag.
In a Nutshell: Five ways to ensure a positive relationship with the unions
Building positive union relationships requires respect, clear communication, and professionalism. Philippe Ferrie, an employee relations coordinator, shares five key strategies: listen carefully, follow through on commitments, focus on individual concerns, master your subject matter, and maintain authentic transparency to establish trust and productive partnerships.
TV Review: World’s maddest job interview
Channel 4’s ‘World’s Maddest Job Interview’ explores workplace mental health by having employers and psychologists assess 10 candidates, seven with mental health conditions. The programme reveals how difficult it is to identify mental illness from behavior alone, though it struggles to balance its serious subject matter with light-entertainment elements.
Blog: Lessons from Olympians – How to compete and cooperate at the same time
The Olympics demonstrate how to balance individual competition with team cooperation. Learn how healthy workplace competition, like Olympic gymnastics teams, can drive innovation and engagement while fostering collaboration toward shared organizational success.
The HRZone Interview: Dr Cary Cooper on well-being at work
Dr. Cary Cooper, organizational psychology expert at Lancaster University, discusses workplace well-being challenges including work-life blurring caused by technology, the critical need for managers with strong interpersonal skills, and how poor management drives employee turnover and disengagement.
News: Blacklisted construction workers lodge claim against Sir Robert McAlpine
Blacklisted construction workers have lodged a High Court claim against Sir Robert McAlpine, with 86 claimants seeking compensation for unlawful conspiracy. The legal action follows complaints to the CIPD against five HR professionals accused of using blacklists to deny employment to 3,200 trade union members in the construction industry.
Ask the Expert: What to do with someone whose role has mostly been offshored?
When work is offshored, employers can address underutilized roles through redundancy, offering the employee alternative part-time work as an alternative to dismissal. Converting an employee to contractor status for the same reduced work may create tax compliance issues with HMRC. Legal options include formal redundancy procedures with severance pay or offering documented part-time employment.
Blog: The crucial role of line managers in beating employee stress
Line managers play a crucial role in reducing workplace stress, which is now the leading cause of long-term sickness absence in the UK. Early intervention and support from HR enable managers to identify warning signs and implement solutions like flexible working and workload management.
News: FTSE 100 firms to be ranked on staff wellness and engagement
FTSE 100 companies will be ranked on staff wellness and engagement reporting through Business in the Community’s Workwell pilot project launching this autumn. Research shows firms with robust HR reporting processes outperform peers by 10%, highlighting the critical link between employee engagement and organisational performance.
Blog: The 10 most effective ways to lose your team’s respect
Learn the ten critical leadership mistakes that damage team morale and undermine your credibility as a manager. This guide reveals common poor leadership habits—from overreacting and taking undue credit to punishing publicly and breaking promises—that erode respect and motivation in your organization.
Blog: Lessons from Olympians – Boosting staff productivity
Learn how Olympian principles can boost UK staff productivity. By listening to employees, strengthening manager relationships, maintaining integrity, building meaningful company culture, and investing in training, businesses can match their workforce to competitors and drive economic growth.
How to administer pay cuts in times of austerity
Learn how governments and businesses are implementing pay cuts during austerity, from Spain’s royal family taking 7% reductions to NHS managers cutting wages 5%. Discover strategies for managing controversial cost-cutting measures while maintaining employee acceptance.
Analysis: Holiday pay for long-term sick ruling could prove “costly”
A Court of Appeal ruling that long-term sick employees are entitled to paid holiday could prove costly for employers while leaving key questions unresolved, legal experts warn. The landmark decision expands potential compensation claims but creates uncertainty around how long carry-over rights last and which holiday entitlements apply.
Christina’s Counsel: Managing attitude problems remotely
When managing remote employees, addressing attitude problems requires immediate action even without direct evidence. A manager must investigate complaints confidentially, support affected staff, enforce company policy consistently, and establish regular face-to-face check-ins to maintain team cohesion and accountability in satellite offices.
News: Employers to be paid £2,000 to hire young disabled people
The UK government will pay employers up to £2,275 to hire severely disabled young people through the Work Choice scheme, following plans to close two-thirds of Remploy factories. The three-year program offers financial incentives for employees working 16 or more hours weekly, with full payment after six months of employment to ensure job sustainability.
Blog: Four survival tips for when the company loses its CEO
When a company loses its CEO, strong organizational culture becomes critical for survival. Learn four strategies for leadership transition: build loyalty to the company rather than individuals, create core values based on employee principles, define behaviors that support those values, and hire and manage according to them.
Blog: Babies in the office – Will it work?
The BBC’s experiment with babies in office workspaces raises questions about feasibility. While the concept highlights challenges of childcare costs, subsidized on-site crèches and broader parental support programs may offer more practical solutions for retaining working parents.
Going for gold with former Olympians
Former Olympians and sporting legends are increasingly moving into business training and consultancy, sharing their expertise with corporate leaders. While athletes’ experiences with pressure, goal-setting, and resilience offer valuable lessons, experts say the key is translating sports insights directly into business context rather than simply telling inspiring stories.
News: Govt launches 3-step mental health plan to save employers £10bn
The government launched a three-step mental health initiative to help employers reduce workplace mental health costs, which exceed £1,000 per employee annually. The plan recommends joining the Time to Change campaign, appointing mental health advocates, and using occupational health support services to boost worker wellbeing and productivity.
News: Border Agency strike on eve of Games called off
A planned strike by Border Agency staff on the eve of the Olympics opening ceremony has been called off after the Home Office agreed to create 1,100 new jobs, according to union claims. The PCS union announced the decision following “major progress” in negotiations, though the immigration minister disputed the job creation figures cited.
