Blog: Workplace pension changes in the pipeline….
New UK pension laws require employers to automatically enrol eligible employees into a qualifying pension scheme and contribute at least 3% of earnings. Staging dates between October 2012 and 2016 depend on company size, with the Pensions Regulator providing six months’ notice beforehand.
Communication key to morale in face of ongoing pay restraint, advises CIPD
As pay freezes become widespread, employers must improve communication with staff about compensation decisions to maintain morale and engagement, according to a CIPD survey of over 3,000 workers showing satisfaction levels are declining sharply.
Survey: The impact of flexible employee benefits
A new survey from the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals examines how employers are using flexible benefits like salary sacrifice schemes and childcare vouchers, and their impact on employee remuneration amid recent regulatory changes.
Credit union membership opened up for staff and employers
Credit union legislation now allows employers and geographically-dispersed workers to join single schemes for the first time, enabling credit unions to compete more effectively with banks and offer affordable financial services.
Talent Spot: Helene Speight, head of HR at Endava
Helene Speight, group head of talent management at Endava, gained business insights from her General Electric career and unexpected appearance on The Apprentice. She discovered her passion for HR during an MBA at Henley Business School, realizing that people management was central to her professional success.
SME manufacturing initiative to create 23,000 jobs, claims Government
The UK Government’s revamped Manufacturing Advisory Service aims to create 23,000 jobs and safeguard 50,000 more in small and medium-sized manufacturers. The nationally operated initiative, now administered by Grant Thornton and partners, will provide tailored business advice to boost competitiveness and generate £1.5 billion in economic growth.
HMRC probes premier league footballers over perks
HMRC’s High Net Worth Unit is investigating Premier League footballers over undeclared perks including travel, company cars, and health insurance. The tax authority is checking benefits provided by clubs against players’ individual tax returns to identify unpaid tax liabilities.
Trends 2012: Technology ‘consumerisation’ in the workplace
Workplace technology is shifting from top-down corporate systems to employee-driven choices through consumerization. Driven by mobility, social networking, and cloud computing, workers increasingly select their own tools and applications rather than relying solely on company-mandated systems.
Public sector disillusion widespread, warns recruiter
Public sector workers are increasingly disillusioned, with over half willing to leave pensions behind for private sector jobs, according to a recruitment survey. The findings highlight widespread concerns about workplace stress, job security, and career progression in the public sector.
Blog: Can HR devise rules that stimulate not stifle innovation?
HR can create workplace rules that encourage innovation rather than stifle it by consulting staff, establishing balanced guidelines with respectful language, and avoiding blanket restrictions that signal distrust. When employees feel involved in developing policies that protect both individuals and the organization, they maintain ownership and creative freedom.
Private sector pensions hit by “seismic collapse”
Nine out of ten private sector defined benefit pension schemes are now closed to new entrants, according to a study by the Association of Consulting Actuaries, widening the gap with better-protected public sector pensions and raising concerns about worker retirement savings.
Fit notes more than double days lost to sickness absence
Workers obtaining fit notes from their GPs were absent for an average of 48 days, more than double the 20 days for those without one, according to an analysis of 22,086 employee records. The study suggests fit notes may be prolonging absences rather than reducing them as originally intended.
Trends 2012: Talent management
In 2012, HR directors face significant talent management challenges including employment law changes, austerity-driven redundancies, and persistent talent gaps despite high unemployment. Key trends include aligning talent acquisition and mobility with business strategy, ensuring staff engagement amid economic uncertainty, and building leadership pipelines as baby boomers retire.
Analysis: Tribunal reform will lead to more out-of-court settlements, admits Minister
The UK Government’s tribunal reform measures will automatically refer employment disputes to mediation service Acas, but the Employment Minister admits this will likely increase out-of-court settlements where employers pay lump sums to claimants to avoid court costs.
Update: Royal Mail Christmas temps threaten walk-out
Royal Mail Christmas temporary staff in Birmingham, Essex, and Wolverhampton are threatening a second walk-out over unpaid or incorrect wages. The postal service blamed payroll system problems and offered to issue vouchers, but complaints also highlight administration failures by its in-house staffing agency Anguard.
Blog: Don’t big bosses need training sometimes too?
Executives often resist training due to their seniority and experience, but targeted development can refine skills and introduce new thinking. Success requires respecting their time constraints, identifying specific needs, and pairing them with skilled facilitators who earn their respect.
Update: High Court bid to stop tube drivers’ strike on Boxing Day
The High Court is hearing London Underground’s legal challenge to stop tube drivers’ strike planned for Boxing Day. LU claims only 42% of Aslef union members voted for strike action, while the union says 92.3% supported industrial action over pay disputes.
Update: Ministers claim pensions deal – even as unions pull out
The UK government claims to have reached a pensions agreement with 26 of 28 trade unions, but major unions including the Civil Service’s largest have rejected the deal and threatened renewed strike action over public sector pension reforms.
Blog: The UK’s first HRD-only networking event launches
The UK’s first HRD-only networking event launched as a quarterly series focused on measuring talent and HR performance. The exclusive network brings senior HR directors together to discuss strategic challenges, share best practices, and explore real-world solutions without sponsored content or membership fees.
3m jobs rely on UK being at Europe’s heart, warn businessmen
Twenty prominent British businessmen warn that more than three million UK jobs depend on maintaining strong European Union ties. Led by figures including Richard Branson and Martin Sorrell, they urge the government to re-engage in EU decision-making, arguing the single market is vital to Britain’s economic interests.
