Blog: A key engagement question: Would you recommend a friend to work here?
One of the most important questions when it comes to employee engagement is, “Would you recommend a friend to work here?” One of my Gen Y mentee’s called me last week. The problem was I was in Boston on business and she knew that. So when she called I knew there was a problem. […]
The value of employee pension education
Auto-enrolment begins next October, with the aim of increasing the retirement income of a large proportion of the 14 million UK employees who do not currently save in a workplace pension scheme. An estimated nine million people will join the Government-sponsored National Employment Savings Trust, but millions more could opt straight out of the system […]
Autumn Statement 2011: Live expert reaction
Chancellor George Osborne will unveil his 2011 Autumn Statement in the House of Commons at 12.30pm on Wednesday, 29 November. Our sister site BusinessZone.co.uk will be providing live and interactive coverage, including instant reaction from experts. Join in below. The experts:Doug Richard, founder, School for Startups and former Dragons’ Den judgeCharlie Mullins, founder, Pimlico PlumbersPaul Webb, […]
Legal Insight: Limiting the cost of a national walk-out
The country is bracing itself for the biggest walk-out since the 1926 General Strike. This Wednesday, up to three million public sector workers are expected to take industrial action against changes to their pension scheme. A wide variety of institutions will be directly affected, including schools and colleges, courts and public offices, hospitals, airports […]
Local government mobile working projects set to triple
The number of large-scale mobile working projects being implemented by local authorities is set to triple over the next three years. While some 17% of such initiatives involved more than 100 users this year, the figure was expected to jump to 56% by 2014. Four out of five of the 160 local authorities and housing associations questioned in a survey of […]
Clegg to fund youth wage subsidy by taxing rich
A new £1bn wage subsidiary scheme for employers hiring jobless youths is likely to be funded by taxing "people with the broadest shoulders", Nick Clegg said today. The Deputy Prime Minister announced that, from April next year, the £1 billion Youth Contract scheme will provide a subsidy worth £2,275 to any business owner taking on an […]
Blog: A two-minute guide to employer branding
So, you’re an employer. You have a Staff Handbook and have made sure that you are complying with basic employment law. You think that you’re an OK employer, and provide an OK place to work. But is OK enough? Why not be a great employer? If you’ve got the basics in place, don’t stop there […]
Christian worker sues after alleged bullying by Muslim colleagues
A Christian airport worker is suing her former employers for unfair dismissal after speaking out against what she claimed was a campaign of “race hate” by Muslim colleagues. According to the Telegraph, Nohad Halawi, who worked at Terminal three in Heathrow Airport, attested that she and other Christian colleagues were subjected to bullying and intimidation […]
Update: Auto-enrolment delayed for small businesses
Small businesses are to be given an extra year before they have to start enrolling their employees into workplace pension schemes. The move will apply to firms employing less than 50 staff and is being portrayed as a boost for business. More than 44% of the entire UK workforce – the equivalent of about four […]
Are we ready for an older workforce?
Up until the middle of the last century, when a worker retired, the expectation was that they would not live for long afterwards. Sadly, this situation is still true in a minority of cases, although most have much longer to enjoy their retirement than in the past. In 2011, people born in 1946 will […]
Ask the Expert: Do internal applicants have any comeback if someone external gets the job?
The question I have recently had a situation at work where an opportunity for promotion arose internally. Three internal candidates applied, but before their interviews took place, rumours began to circulate about the existence of an external candidate. All three candidates were interviewed and subsequently rejected and the external candidate was offered the job. […]
Autumn Statement Preview: What to expect
The Chancellor, George Osborne, will get up at the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday 29 at 12.30pm, facing calls for dramatic interventions and tax changes to kickstart the flagging UK economy. Alongside the Chancellor’s statement, the Office for Budget Responsibility will publish its latest Economic and Fiscal Outlook. The Bank of England cut its 2011 […]
Blog: Top tips for presenting with panache
Many of us are called upon to present in the modern workplace, whether it’s a formal presentation to hundreds, a business briefing to your department or simply at a small meeting around a table. Presenting and presentations can take many forms. Being a good presenter in front of your staff builds your status and garners […]
HR headaches ahead as 6 million plan to delay retirement
One in five people in their 50s plan to work for at least 10 years longer than the current state retirement age, creating yet more planning headaches for hard-pressed HR departments. A survey of 1,500 over 50s undertaken by insurance and pensions company LV= revealed that 6.1 million or 28% of the entire age group […]
News Analysis: Cleggs’ ‘Youth Contract’ meets lukewarm reception
The Coalition Government’s £1 billion scheme to offer employers wage subsidies to hire young people has met with a lukewarm reception. From next April, the aim of the so-called ‘Youth Contract’ is to create up to 400,000 work and training placements for 18-to-24 year olds by paying employers wage incentives equivalent to half of the […]
Creating a sunny workplace ‘climate’
It is widely accepted that effective leaders are critical to organisational success. But in times of economic uncertainty, when confidence is low and even short-term predictions are impossible, a good leader comes into their own. Right now, all across Europe, organisations are depending on their managers to ensure that they continue to perform in the […]
Legal Insight: The Swedish derogation unmasked
It has been estimated that implementing the Agency Workers Regulations 2010, which came into force on 1 October 2011, will cost UK business a total of £1.8 billion. The Regulations entitle the UK’s 1.4 temporary workers to the same pay and benefits as permanent staff after 12 weeks in the same job with a given […]
Extra holiday or training offer acceptable alternative to pay rise, says study
For those employers that cannot afford to give workers a pay rise this year, an extra day’s holiday or a bit of further training might be a possible alternative. According to an online poll among 2,002 adults undertaken by ICM Research on behalf of the People 1st Training Company, which operates in the hospitality, […]
HMRC looks for more PAYE Real Time Information guinea pigs
HM Revenue & Customs is asking for more employers to join its PAYE Real Time Information (RTI) pilot scheme. The government agency has already recruited 300 volunteers to test drive the system before its initial launch in April and is inviting a further 1,300 to join in July next year, followed by an additional 250,000 volunteers from November […]
Blog: What state is HR in?
Last year, employers faced a sustained increase in workplace unrest as austerity measures, longer working hours, stress and a genuine skills gap took their toll on the UK workforce. A survey among 550 HR professionals, who looked after a combined workforce of over two million, undertaken by law firm Speechly Bircham and the Management Learning […]