Infographic: The 2012 HR applications landscape
The human capital management applications market has seen some turbulent upheavals in recent months with takeovers of the likes of SuccessFactors and Taleo. With that in mind, this is an interesting infographic from research firm Forrester, which has just carried out a 69-criteria evaluation of human resource management system vendors. Source: The Forrester Wave : […]
Social media ‘shoulder surfing’ during interviews could lead to lawsuits
UK employers should be wary of adopting a legally risky US trend that is seeing bosses ask interviewees for social media passwords in order to scrutinise their personal profiles. Although not illegal in the US, the practice is already causing so much concern that two senators have asked the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the […]
Blog: Are you wasting 35% of your payroll costs on disengaged staff?
Recognise This! – Lack of employee engagement costs you 35% of your payroll, or up to $17.5 Million annually in a 1,000 person organisation. Like organisation culture, employee engagement is a frequent topic of mine. Indeed, creating a culture of recognition is a foundational element to creating an environment in which employees choose to engage. […]
Talent Spot, Andrew Mayo, professor of HCM at Middlesex University
Andrew Mayo does not consider himself an academic – despite his title as professor of human capital management at Middlesex University. Instead for him, HR has to have a business focus. So rather than simply explore abstract theory, his teaching is very much geared towards explaining to masters students the real-life applications of HR, […]
Employers and unions spat over extent of public-private sector pay gap
Employers and unions were at odds today over official government figures showing that public sector workers are paid on average 8% more than their private sector colleagues. The spat came about after the Office of National Statistics published its latest snapshot details of UK Plc’s employment profile. Apart from telling us that the number […]
2,100 Game-rs lose their jobs following closure of half UK stores
Game is to close nearly half of it 609 UK stores today, leaving 2,104 people without a job in the biggest collapse since Woolworths four years ago. Mike Jervis and Stuart Maddison from PricewaterhouseCoopers were appointed joint administrators of the gaming retailer, after failing to reach a rescue deal or negotiate a ‘pre-pack’ over the […]
How to avoid penalties as income tax deadlines loom
It is that time of year again when businesses have to start preparing their Employer Annual Returns which are due to HM Revenue & Customs by 19 May. This task can never be looked upon lightly as failure to adhere to the rules could result in hefty penalties. Of course, there is a lot […]
Talking Point: Do you really know how to get the best out of your older workers?
Of all the things that we aspire to during our career, being an ‘older worker’ probably isn’t one of them. Yet, as we age, this identity is thrust upon us and, with it, a range of stereotypes based on other people’s perceptions. As a 56-year old manager recently pointed out: “Suddenly all that people […]
Blog: Are you an inspirational leader?
Inspiration is the best way to engage people! Or does it make you squirm? You may be an HR Professional, leader or manager relying on HR to help move your business forward. When discussing strategy with people of different roles at many levels, I have often been met with a perplexed look when I have […]
Blog: Three tips for changing company culture
Recognise This! – Proactive culture change and management is strategy. Company culture is much in the news these days, a development I am very excited to see as it shows more and more buy-in to the importance of culture as something that can be created and, yes, proactively managed. A round-up of articles that […]
CIPD to boost enforcement for HR code of conduct
The CIPD is attempting to boost the professionalism of the HR industry by strengthening its code of conduct and boosting its complaints and disciplinary procedures to ensure more effective enforcement. The revised code of professional conduct, which is due to come into force for all Institute members on 1 July, was drawn up by a […]
Olympian Insight: Steve Backley and Roger Black on what HR can learn from sport
Ahead of former Olympic medal winner (javelin throwing) Steve Backley’s keynote speech at learning and development conference TrainingZone Live on 15 May, we caught up with him and his business partner, fellow Olympian (400 meters sprint) Roger Black, to talk training, leadership and the upcoming Games. 1. What are the main leadership lessons that businesses can […]
Employers must plan now for proposed tanker driver strike, warns lawyer
Employers should start planning now for a proposed strike by fuel tanker drivers that would inevitably cause “large-scale disruption”, a lawyer has advised. More than 2,000 drivers at seven distribution depots across the UK took part in a ballot yesterday over taking industrial action for the first time in more than 10 years. According […]
UK to be 450,000 technicians short by 2020
An 18-month review has revealed that the UK will be 450,000 skilled technicians short by 2020 unless action is taken to remedy the situation immediately. Technicians, who are skilled to a professional level, will be needed to fill roles in engineering, science, medicine and other technical occupations, but there are currently only 1,500 people who […]
Blog: The racing line for employee engagement
A couple of weeks ago in the lead up to the new F1 season, I heard an interview with ex-driver David Coulthard who is now a commentator on television. In it he used a phrase that I thought was interesting. He talked about ‘The Racing Line’. His comments set me thinking and so I […]
HRDs unconvinced by social recruitment – study
The majority of HR directors are failing to use social media for recruitment purposes, with a huge 70% unsure of whether it is effective or not. A survey of 200 UK HRDs conducted by recruitment consultancy, Robert Half, revealed that a mere three out of 10 were using social networking sites to either source or […]
Public sector jobs cull to lead to “tectonic shift” in UK labour market
More than one in seven public sector jobs will be lost as a result of coalition government budget cuts, leading to "a tectonic shift" in the nature of the UK labour market, according to the CIPD. The organisation cited the Office for Budget Responsibility‘s latest employment projections, which indicate that the public sector workforce is […]
Blog: How to grow your brain in 30 days
A lot can happen in thirty days. Buildings can be constructed, Governments can fall, love can blossom and without doubt new habits can be formed. My previous two blogs on this subject (here and here) have outlined fascinating evidence that scientists have uncovered over the last 10 years – yes our brains continue to grow […]
Legal Insight: Staff health and wellbeing – Your duty of care
Employees who have problems — whether work-related or personal — are, for obvious reasons, unlikely to perform as well as they would if the problem did not exist. But the impact on their work can take numerous forms ranging from reduced concentration and effort to sickness absence. If endemic, the situation may even lead […]
Employers can sack older workers to cut costs, rules Appeal Court
Legal opinion is mixed as to whether a landmark court case will open the floodgates for employers to dismiss staff based on their age in order to escape large pension pay-outs – without being subject to discrimination claims. The Court of Appeal ruled yesterday that Cumbria Primary Care Trust was within its rights to make […]