Cloud TV: SuccessFactors’ Paul Roberts on HCM and the cloud
Paul Roberts of SuccessFactors discusses how cloud computing is transforming HCM and business execution in this exclusive interview from the Business Cloud Summit.
Four-year central government HR framework deal goes to Logica
Logica has won a four-year central government framework contract valued between £50m and £500m to provide transactional HR, payroll and finance services across UK government organisations. The scalable deal allows participating agencies to select their own service levels and HCM platforms, with costs decreasing as more organisations join.
Talking Point: The wimpish manager problem
A survey found 86% of workers believe their managers lack integrity, with many exhibiting evasive and unfair behavior. Managers who avoid honest conversations due to fear of confrontation—such as delaying difficult announcements or withholding truthful information—earn little respect and undermine workplace trust.
Fashion houses face intern probes from next year
HMRC is launching compliance visits at fashion houses from January to ensure interns are paid the National Minimum Wage. The government department warned London Fashion Week exhibitors against exploiting young interns as unpaid labour, with officials noting that intern complaints are rare despite widespread underpayment.
Lowering organisational stress levels
Excessive workplace stress affects 42% of UK employees daily or weekly, causing health problems and reduced productivity. HR departments can address this through workplace changes and staff training, which also provides financial benefits by reducing sick leave and maintaining work quality.
Blog: 12 tips for stress-free Christmas shopping
Reduce Christmas shopping stress with these 12 practical tips, including planning ahead, shopping early, taking breaks, wearing comfortable clothes, and using gift vouchers. Simple strategies like using public transport, shopping with friends, and taking time to relax can make the holiday season more enjoyable and less overwhelming.
Government must give gangmasters’ enforcement agency more teeth
The Gangmasters Licensing Authority risks losing its effectiveness unless the UK government provides it with stronger powers and adequate funding to protect temporary workers in the food industry, according to industry experts concerned about continued worker exploitation.
Ask the Expert: What rights do staff have during performance reviews?
Employees have a statutory right to be accompanied by a trade union representative or colleague at disciplinary hearings, including performance review meetings that may result in disciplinary action. HR managers should ensure fair procedures are followed to support potential dismissals.
Avoiding the hidden cost of Christmas perks
Companies must carefully manage Christmas gifts and perks to avoid unexpected tax bills. Staff gifts are capped at £150 per person annually, while client gifts must be unbranded or under £50, with specific restrictions on food and drink. Christmas parties remain tax-deductible, but exceeding spending limits can trigger liability on entire event costs.
Blog: Some strategic HR predictions for 2012
Bersin’s 2012 HR predictions highlight key trends including the shift toward “glocal” talent strategies, rising employee engagement challenges, and the move toward agile performance management approaches. Organizations must adapt their HR practices to remain competitive.
EU final salary pension proposals could cost employers £100bn
Proposed EU Solvency II regulations for final salary pension schemes could force UK employers to inject £100 billion into schemes and potentially close them entirely, the Pensions Minister warns. The rules risk damaging economic growth and undermining pensions already protected by existing UK safeguards.
Unilever branded “spiteful” for cancelling strikers’ Christmas perks
Unilever cancelled Christmas parties, hampers and bonuses for striking workers in retaliation for a 36-hour walkout over pension changes. More than 2,500 employees protested the company’s plan to slash retirement income by up to 40%, with unions condemning the move as “spiteful” and damaging to Unilever’s reputation.
Social media policy: Can your business afford to be without one?
A social media policy helps employers protect their business from potential legal liability, reputation damage, and workplace issues arising from employee posts. Without clear guidelines, companies risk defamation claims, discrimination lawsuits, and harmful public comments that can reach wide audiences and be difficult to contain.
Plan in advance to cope with winter weather, warns ACAS
HR departments should prepare winter weather policies now to minimize staff shortages and disruption, ACAS advises. Key steps include clarifying pay expectations for weather-related absences, enabling remote work, and establishing clear sick leave procedures to handle increased winter illness.
2011 – The year of social learning: Five keys to realise true ROI
Social learning addresses three critical workplace challenges: organizational knowledge loss, generational learning differences, and the inability to develop skills as fast as business changes. Employees need immediate access to expert insights and real-time problem-solving rather than waiting for formal training courses to stay competitive.
Call for employers to offer ex-forces training and work placements
Ex-forces organisations have urged the government to encourage employers to offer training programmes and work placements to service leavers. A new report warns that armed forces unemployment is rising, with numbers expected to triple by 2020, requiring urgent action to support those transitioning to civilian life.
The growth of learning and development in 2011 – and what lies ahead in 2012
UK businesses are prioritizing learning and development to address skills shortages and unemployment. Companies investing in targeted, bite-sized training and mobile learning strategies will gain competitive advantages and improve workforce productivity in 2012.
Blog: Beware the seven most common justifications for bullying
Bullying in the workplace stems from justifications that organizations often tolerate, particularly when the bully is talented. Leaders must address bullying immediately to prevent it from poisoning workplace culture and driving away qualified employees.
2011: The HR year in full
2011 presented significant HR challenges, from youth unemployment hitting new highs and stress-related absences rising to pension reform controversies and pay inequality concerns. HRZone’s editor highlights the year’s most impactful employment law, workplace policy, and workforce development stories affecting the HR community.
2011: That was the HR year that was
In 2011, HR leaders grappled with fairness and democratization amid economic crisis, rising unemployment, public sector strikes over pensions and austerity, and widening pay gaps between executives and workers. Gender diversity and board-level representation also dominated HR discussions during this turbulent year.
