Blog: Employee engagement taskforce – Impressions from the one-year-on conference
One year on from its 2011 relaunch, the Employee Engagement Taskforce held a conference to review progress and gather evidence before launching a national programme. The author shares his impressions from the event, discussing successes, gaps, and his skepticism about treating engagement as a “programme” rather than a workplace environment.
Flexible benefits revealed: CIPP report
A CIPP survey found that over 70% of employers offer salary sacrifice schemes, with pension contributions and childcare vouchers being the most popular options. Despite economic constraints, flexible benefits remain important to workers, with 85% rating them as very important or important.
TV Review: The Apprentice Week 6 – Lead rather than manage
In week six of The Apprentice, the remaining candidates travel to Edinburgh to create gourmet food in mobile restaurants. Project managers Adam and Jenna lead Phoenix and Sterling teams through sourcing ingredients and securing prime locations, but poor decisions about clientele and food costs threaten their success.
Case Study: Baker & McKenzie attempts to optimise leaders’ performance with 360 degree feedback
Baker & McKenzie implemented a structured 360 degree feedback program among its London corporate partners to enhance leadership effectiveness and team engagement. The pilot project, run with specialist provider Track Surveys, gathered feedback from associates and staff on partners’ technical, leadership and individual capabilities to guide future performance and development.
Legal Insight: Health matters part 2 – Dealing with ‘problem absences’
Managing persistent short-term absence requires clear sickness policies, accurate record-keeping, and identifying patterns across your business. Understanding the causes—such as stress, poor management, or workplace issues—enables you to address problems proactively rather than reactively.
Blog: Are your rewards schemes being misused financially?
Lack of oversight in employee rewards programs can expose organizations to significant financial risk, including mismanagement, theft, and improper accounting. Without centralized governance and tracking across all locations, companies face potential audit issues and tax compliance problems.
In a Nutshell: Six steps to becoming a goal-driven organisation
Transform your business performance by establishing clear, aligned goals for every employee and manager. This six-step framework covers everything from defining role-specific objectives tied to strategy to using performance data for hiring and promotion decisions, with regular reviews throughout the year to adapt as business conditions change.
News: Employers can force retirement in ‘public interest’, rules Supreme Court
The UK Supreme Court ruled that employers can force retirement if they demonstrate a legitimate public interest reason, such as creating opportunities for younger workers or managing succession planning. However, the court left ambiguous what specific retirement age is acceptable, requiring employers to justify their chosen age on a case-by-case basis with solid evidence.
News: Employers cling to ineffective training methods – study
A new survey reveals most employers doubt the effectiveness of formal training courses yet continue relying on them. Despite only 16% believing classroom instruction is most effective, just 17% plan to reduce their dependence on these traditional methods over the next two years.
Blog: Making your employee benefits count – and not just the financial ones
Beyond salary, non-financial employee benefits like health programs, flexible working, childcare support, and clear career development opportunities are key to becoming an employer of choice. Communicating these perks effectively ensures employees appreciate them and boosts loyalty and retention.
Blog: Using employee segmentation as a tool to cut staff turnover
Employee segmentation reveals hidden turnover patterns that overall retention metrics mask. By analyzing turnover by department, manager, location, and talent level, organizations can identify specific problem areas and implement targeted solutions to improve retention.
Talent Spot: Donna Miller, European HR director at Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Donna Miller, European HR director at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, views her role primarily as sales—selling people into jobs and company initiatives. After studying marketing and working in retail and personnel recruitment, she joined Enterprise and transitioned into HR, learning on the job and developing a management philosophy that encourages employees to take risks and learn from mistakes.
News: Charities and spooks replace financial services on employer wishlist
Financial services firms have dropped out of the top ten graduate employers for the first time, replaced by charities and intelligence agencies. According to The Guardian’s UK 300 poll of 25,000 students, Google topped the list, while organisations like Amnesty International, Oxfam, MI6 and MI5 all surged in popularity, reflecting graduates’ preference for employers with positive social impact.
HMRC’s Real Time Information: What you need to know
HMRC’s Real Time Information (RTI) requires all employers to submit payroll data to tax authorities when employees are paid, rather than filing annual summaries. Mandatory from October 2013, RTI eliminates year-end P14 and P35 submissions and requires electronic reporting via payroll software or HMRC’s free Basic PAYE Tools for small businesses.
News: Saatchi & Saatchi X offers internships for grads with best ‘elevator pitch’
Saatchi & Saatchi X is offering paid internships to graduates who can pitch their advertising skills in 30 seconds at its “X Lift Pitch” event on April 27 in London. Winners advance through interviews and a boot camp challenge before securing six-week internships, with potential for permanent roles.
CEO Insight: Sinead Hasson on Hasson Associates’ CSR programme
Hasson Associates launched a corporate social responsibility program with Dress for Success to boost employee engagement and motivation. The initiative has consultants volunteer interview coaching and career support to unemployed women, fostering staff pride and improving workplace morale.
Blog: Why you should dump ’employee of the month’
Employee of the Month programs create harmful competition and resentment rather than fostering genuine workplace appreciation. Research shows these traditional recognition programs actually decrease morale and productivity by creating “losers” among staff. Instead, organizations should recognize all employees who demonstrate core values and contribute to strategic objectives.
Talking Point: Taming management beasts
Most managers aren’t intentionally difficult—they’re under pressure to deliver results. This program explores the unconscious habits leaders develop when stressed, from micromanaging to sarcasm, helping them recognize and manage these patterns before they damage team relationships.
Olympus whistleblower demands answers at shareholder meeting
Former Olympus president Michael Woodford demanded answers at a shareholder meeting over his dismissal after he questioned high advisory fees. Woodford, who exposed a $1.7 billion accounting scandal, called the meeting a “mockery” and warned the company’s refusal to explain his sacking could lead to the meeting being invalidated in court.
CSC axes 1,100 jobs, 640 go offshore
CSC is cutting 1,100 jobs total, with 640 positions being moved offshore to India. The announcement came days after workers protested compulsory redundancies, with unions opposing the cuts and pushing for voluntary departures instead.
