News: Female Network Rail staff to fight for equal pay
Female Network Rail staff are launching an equal pay claim after research revealed women earn an average of £4,500 less annually than male colleagues. Thirty-four female middle managers are seeking back-pay of £25,000 each, with the union believing up to 1,000 more women may be affected by pay discrimination.
Blog: How to promote workplace safety
Promote workplace safety by staying current with regulations, engaging employees through varied education and creative activities, enforcing accountability with on-the-floor coaching, and maintaining consistent follow-up. A strong safety culture requires understanding employee psychology and rewarding good habits.
Blog: CVs – To fib or not to fib….
Lying on your CV breaches the trust essential to any employment relationship, regardless of how minor the fib. Discover why honesty matters and get tips for creating a compelling CV without resorting to falsehoods.
CEO Insight: Briggs Equipment’s Richard Close on how to work effectively with unions
Richard Close, CEO of Briggs Equipment, explains how employers can work effectively with trade unions as partners rather than adversaries. Rather than viewing unions as obstacles, businesses can benefit from their role in employee engagement, providing a single point of contact for negotiations, and offering valuable industry expertise and objective perspective during workplace discussions.
State of the nation: The HR recruitment market
The HR recruitment market in 2012 shows increased demand for interim hires across commerce and professional services sectors, while financial services faces a lean period. Senior HR roles are most active in the £80k-£130k range, with employers prioritizing top talent despite prolonged hiring timelines.
A typical HRD: Part 1 – Financial services
Senior HR directors in financial services typically begin their careers in blue-chip companies like Ford or Nestlé before transitioning to banking roles around the 10-12 year mark. Often holding MBAs alongside CIPD qualifications, they progress through senior HR business partner positions with expanding geographical remits and frequently complete international assignments in major banking hubs to develop global expertise.
News: Calls for ‘competency card’ after employer convicted of manslaughter
Health and safety experts are calling for mandatory competency cards for agricultural workers after a pig farm was convicted of manslaughter. The conviction follows the 2010 death of a worker killed by a falling metal bin at a farm in County Armagh, highlighting the need for stricter safety measures in high-risk sectors.
Blog: Workforce career development survey – Initial findings
Early results from a workforce career development survey reveal significant gaps between employer and employee perspectives. While 43% of employers report annual or less frequent career conversations, only 22% say discussions happen more than quarterly—far lower than the 7% of employees reporting frequent conversations. Employee satisfaction with career development lags considerably, with just 24% satisfied compared to 39% of employers.
Blog: What makes a star performer?
Star performers are typically twice to five times more productive than average employees. Research shows that qualifications matter less than personal attributes like analytical ability, work ethic, and emotional resilience, which are the key predictors of executive success.
News: Employers ‘must collaborate to stem falling adult learner numbers’
Adult participation in learning has fallen to just under one in five, according to a survey by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education. The organization is calling on employers, policymakers, and providers to collaborate to reverse the declining trend and address inequalities in learning access across different demographic groups.
Green Office Week: How to promote workplace change
Green Office Week encourages workplace sustainability through simple, practical changes that employees can actually implement. HR professionals see better results when focusing on achievable actions that give staff a genuine voice in environmental decision-making rather than complex top-down policies.
Why local government’s approach to temporary labour may be in trouble
Local government has reduced temporary labour spending by 15% annually across major authorities, but faces challenges from the Agency Worker Regulations, which have driven average hourly pay rates up 8.9%. To sustain workforce planning, councils must balance cost control with attracting young people through apprenticeships and succession management strategies.
News: Petrol tanker strike averted as drivers accept deal
A national petrol tanker strike has been avoided after drivers narrowly voted to accept a deal addressing pay and conditions disputes. The vote, which saw 51% of Unite union members back the agreement, prevents potential fuel shortages like those experienced during panic-buying in March.
News: ‘Cameron to decimate Whitehall’ claim
Prime Minister David Cameron’s strategy director Steve Hilton has proposed drastically cutting Whitehall staff, suggesting the civil service could operate with 90% fewer employees. The proposal includes testing a 70% staff reduction in one government department and implementing stricter performance management to remove underperforming civil servants.
Blog: How to get the most out of restructuring, redundancy and redeployment
Maximize organizational restructuring and redundancy outcomes by placing talent strategy at the center of change management. Moving employees like chess pieces without considering their strengths and performance flow often backfires; instead, explore roles where staff can add genuine value and maintain productivity.
Blog: Nine attitudes to help you become an emotionally intelligent leader
Emotionally intelligent leaders achieve better results by developing key people skills. This article explores nine attitudes that help leaders manage their own emotions and effectively respond to their team’s emotional needs, a learnable skill that transforms workplace culture and engagement.
Ask the Expert: Is recorded third party evidence admissable for use at a tribunal?
Employment tribunals have discretion to admit or exclude recorded third-party evidence. Covertly recorded conversations may be challenged on privacy grounds under the Human Rights Act, though exclusion isn’t guaranteed. If your involvement was on behalf of the employer, you could be compelled to testify as a witness.
Five principles to ensure successful conflict resolution
Effective conflict resolution requires five core principles: listening actively, remaining non-judgmental, helping parties understand opposing perspectives, and facilitating constructive dialogue. Organizations lose an estimated £40 billion annually to unresolved workplace conflicts, making skilled dispute management essential for HR leaders and mediators.
News: Government brands public sector pensions strike as “futile”
Hundreds of thousands of public sector workers struck over pension reforms, with the government branding the action “futile.” The 24-hour walkout affected NHS workers, civil servants, prison officers and police, though authorities dispute participation numbers.
News: UK’s top 10 dream jobs revealed
A UK survey reveals the top 10 dream jobs most people want, with pilot, charity worker, and writer topping the list. However, 46% can’t afford to switch careers due to financial constraints, while 42% lack necessary skills.
