Lack of workplace training ‘boosts UK inequality’
A trade union-based learning and skills organisation has called on employers to provide their entire workforce with learning and development opportunities in order to boost motivation and retention rates and cut sickness absence. Unionlearn, which is part of union umbrella organisation, the TUC, cited "shocking" statistics from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills‘ Employer […]
National Apprenticeship Week: Apprenticeships O2-style
With the economy still faltering, unemployment at 8.4% and the promise of more job cuts to come, people are naturally becoming more and more worried about their employability and job security. With over one million 16 to 24 year olds out of work, the situation is even more acute for young people as the pressure […]
The Learning Awards winners revealed
The learning and development industry turned out in force on Thursday 2 February in support of The Learning and Performance Institute’s annual Awards ceremony, The Learning Awards. Sharron Davies MBE, twice British Sportswoman of the Year, hosted the event, which took place at the five star Dorchester Hotel, London. The ceremony was filled with international figureheads […]
Waterstones ends unpaid work placements
A high street book store has pulled out of the coalition government’s Work Experience scheme after discovering that unemployed people were working at one of its outlets without pay. The Guardian said that, after it had highlighted the practice taking place at a branch of Waterstones, the retailer initiated a review of the situation. It […]
Blog: Breaking the taboo – How to tackle redundancy and redeployment
Redundancy and redeployment are taboo words which the HR industry is trying to avoid at the moment, but there are times when, unfortunately, we have to face these processes. Obviously this is not something which we take lightly, and alternatives should be considered in the first instance. But if you do have to take the […]
Fewer ex-offenders required to reveal spent convictions to employers
In a bid to boost employment rates among former offenders, the Justice Minister is proposing to dramatically cut the period in which they are obliged to tell potential employers about their criminal past. The changes, which would be included as amendments in his Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act, are the first to […]
Sustained high unemployment to ‘permanently damage UK economy’
The sustained high levels of unemployment expected over the next three years are likely to do permanent damage to UK industry and will cost the economy dearly into the long-term, a think tank has warned. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research predicted that unemployment would hit about 9% this year and, even […]
Steve Boorman, Royal Mail’s ex-chief medical adviser, on health and well-being
In these difficult economic times, businesses are becoming more aware of the huge impact that the well-being of their workforce can have on the bottom line. Staff absence alone now accounts for the loss of an estimated 175 million working days a year in the UK. But too many companies regard occupational health services as […]
Ask the Expert: Is it legal to have a dual reference policy?
The question How legal is it when providing references to only confirm dates, sickness and disciplinary information? Are there possible dangers in relation to indirect discrimination? For example, an employee of ours had 59 days of sickness/five episodes, but her performance is way beyond the average, while another staff member has taken three days […]
Move to darker suits reflects darker employee mood
It appears that, since the start of the recession, navy suits are no longer de rigueur but have instead been replaced in sartorial terms by charcoal as a reflection of employees’ darker mood. According to workwear specialists Alexandra, sales of navy blue suits have dropped from 47% of the total in 2005 to only 37% […]
Awards shortlist for best internship provider unveiled
IBM and BP are among those shortlisted in the ‘best large organisation’ category for the National Council for Work Experience‘s 2012 Awards, which are due to be held next month in London. The British Red Cross and Cancer Research UK are likewise among the ‘best charity’ nominations, but the winners of all 13 categories will […]
Blog: Social media for HR – fear, authenticity and learning together
Increasingly I’m being asked about how to implement and manage a more social way of communicating. Sometimes within organisations, sometimes with customers, and when really lucky – sometimes with all stakeholders. I recently gave a talk for the CIPD on Social Media for HR, covering subjects like fear, authenticity, support and learning together. I’ve […]
Workplace alcohol policies should be mandated, says charity
All UK publicly-listed companies should be obliged to assess and manage the risks posed by employees’ drinking behaviour and to introduce specific alcohol-related policies to deal with it, a charity has said. Alcohol Concern has written to Vince Cable, secretary of state for business, innovation and skills, requesting that a greater focus be given to […]
‘Overworked’ HR manager sues for £800,000 in compensation
An HR manager, who claims that her former employer overworked her to such an extent that she became ill, has sued the company for £800,000 in compensation. According to the Metro newspaper, Joanna MacLennan told the High Court that she worked “impossible hours”, which included 12-hour days, while undertaking recruitment activity for insurance firm, Hartford […]
London 2012: Planning for travel disruption
London is less than six months away from hosting the biggest sporting event in the world. During the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the country expects to play host to 90,000 athletes, media representatives and officials, along with hundreds of thousands of spectators who will attend venues across the capital from 27 July to 14 […]
Learning Technologies 2012: Thoughts of the future
There was a definite buzz at this year’s Learning Technologies 2012 exhibition and conference at Kensington Olympia on Wednesday and Thursday last week. Keynote speakers Edward de Bono, Ray Kurzweil and Jaron Lanier brought a philosophical bent to the proceedings as if they had been selected purposely to emphasise the post-technological age in which we […]
Blog: The link between culture, brand and PR
WASP males don’t tend to get too many invitations to be involved in the promotion of diversity management; which is a shame really. I’m a firm believer in the notion that the promotion of diversity should embrace the full range of stakeholders and should truly practice inclusiveness in the way stakeholders are engaged with the […]
Workers more ‘stressed and insecure’ than in Queen’s coronation year
In the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, it appears that, despite higher levels of personal prosperity, workers are more stressed and more insecure than they were 60 years ago. According to a special Work Audit report published by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development to explore how the world of work in the […]
Book Review: Assessment centres and global talent management by Nigel Povah and George Thornton
Although an important book, it was the most difficult I have ever had to read for review. It took the format of a collection of articles and papers by some 45 contributors, most of whom are psychologists and who drew from their wide experience of working in assessment centres across five continents. But this […]
Talent Spot: Community blogger, Derek Irvine
Derek Irvine, one of HRzone’s most prolific and respected bloggers, started his career as a marketing and brand man in his home town of Dublin. Currently vice president of strategy and consulting services at rewards and recognition software and services provider, Globoforce, he is still based in Ireland, but spends a good chunk of his […]