Autumn Statement 2011: Live expert reaction
Chancellor George Osborne unveiled the 2011 Autumn Statement on 29 November, with live expert reaction from business leaders and tax professionals analyzing the announcements and their implications for the economy.
Legal Insight: Limiting the cost of a national walk-out
Private sector employers can take preventive steps to limit strike day disruptions, including communicating work attendance expectations, ensuring employee safety at picket lines, and considering flexible working arrangements. Clear policies on leave requests and absence procedures help minimize workforce absences during industrial action.
Local government mobile working projects set to triple
Local authorities plan to triple large-scale mobile working projects over the next three years, with initiatives involving 100+ users expected to jump from 17% to 56% by 2014. Despite cultural change barriers and budget pressures, four in five councils surveyed intend to implement mobile working programs and report significant cost savings.
Clegg to fund youth wage subsidy by taxing rich
Nick Clegg announced a £1 billion Youth Contract scheme to subsidize employers hiring unemployed 16-24 year-olds, hinting the funding would come from taxes on the wealthy including capital gains tax and bank levies. The three-year program aims to provide work placements and apprenticeships to 500,000 young people.
Blog: A two-minute guide to employer branding
Employer branding is your reputation as an employer—the things that make staff consider your organization a great place to work. It encompasses every aspect of the employee experience, from recruitment through exit, including management practices, development opportunities, and company values. A strong employer brand goes beyond tangible benefits to create a culture where employees feel valued, heard, and committed to organizational success.
Christian worker sues after alleged bullying by Muslim colleagues
A Christian airport worker at Heathrow Terminal 3 is suing for unfair dismissal after claiming she faced religious bullying and harassment by Muslim colleagues. Employed for 13 years as a perfume saleswoman on a freelance basis, she was dismissed in July following complaints she says were unsubstantiated. The case, backed by the Christian Legal Centre, raises questions about religious discrimination and worker protections for self-employed staff.
Update: Auto-enrolment delayed for small businesses
Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees have been granted a one-year delay in mandatory workplace pension auto-enrolment, pushing the deadline from April 2014 to May 2015. While larger firms must comply from October 2013, the extension aims to ease financial pressure on smaller employers, though critics warn it could harm their reputation as employers.
Are we ready for an older workforce?
An aging workforce presents both challenges and opportunities for UK employers and society. With baby boomers working longer due to pension pressures and changing retirement age policies, organizations must adapt through flexible work arrangements and knowledge transfer programs to retain skilled workers and address future skills shortages.
Ask the Expert: Do internal applicants have any comeback if someone external gets the job?
Internal candidates have no legal right to preferential treatment when an external candidate is hired, as employers can freely choose their recruitment approach. However, a discrimination claim could arise if internal applicants weren’t properly considered based on protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.
Autumn Statement Preview: What to expect
Chancellor George Osborne will deliver the Autumn Statement on Tuesday 29 November at 12:30pm, with pressure mounting for tax changes and interventions to boost the struggling UK economy. The Office for Budget Responsibility will simultaneously publish its latest Economic and Fiscal Outlook amid downgraded growth forecasts.
Blog: Top tips for presenting with panache
Learn practical presentation skills to command the room with confidence. From owning your space to managing nervousness through breathing and body awareness, these tips help you deliver impactful speeches that build leadership credibility and engage your audience effectively.
HR headaches ahead as 6 million plan to delay retirement
About 6.1 million people in their 50s plan to work at least six years beyond the state retirement age, with some continuing to 70 or 71, creating significant challenges for HR departments managing extended tenures and retirement planning.
News Analysis: Cleggs’ ‘Youth Contract’ meets lukewarm reception
The Coalition Government’s £1 billion Youth Contract scheme aims to create 400,000 work placements for young people through employer wage subsidies, but has received only lukewarm reception from businesses concerned the economic crisis limits its long-term effectiveness.
Creating a sunny workplace ‘climate’
Effective leaders create a workplace “climate” that energizes employees and boosts performance by up to 30%. Research identifies six key factors—clarity, standards, responsibility, flexibility, rewards, and team commitment—that impact team performance, with leadership behavior accounting for 70% of workplace climate variation.
Legal Insight: The Swedish derogation unmasked
The Swedish derogation is a legal opt-out clause that allows UK employers to avoid equal pay obligations for agency workers under the 2010 Regulations, provided workers are permanently employed by an umbrella company with explicit contractual consent to waive these rights.
Extra holiday or training offer acceptable alternative to pay rise, says study
A study of over 2,000 workers found that 31% would accept an extra day’s holiday instead of a pay rise, while 24% prefer further training and career development. Younger employees showed greater interest in training opportunities, with 69% saying training would make them feel more valued by their employer.
HMRC looks for more PAYE Real Time Information guinea pigs
HMRC is expanding its PAYE Real Time Information pilot scheme, recruiting 1,300 additional employers to join 300 existing volunteers in testing the system. All employers will be required to submit monthly PAYE returns in RTI format from October 2013.
Blog: What state is HR in?
A survey of 550 HR professionals managing over two million employees reveals growing workplace challenges including increased staff absence, sickness, stress, and grievances in 2011. The State of HR Survey 2012 seeks to deepen insights into employee engagement, talent management, and sustainable people strategies.
Unions rubbish ministerial claims of £500m strike cost
Unions have dismissed government claims that next week’s nationwide strike will cost the UK economy up to £500 million, calling the figures “fantasy economics” and accusing ministers of scapegoating public sector workers for poor economic growth.
Legal Insight: Working through the internship issue
HR professionals must ensure interns receive the National Minimum Wage where legally required, as the government is targeting enforcement in sectors with common internship placements. Interns qualify for NMW if they’re above compulsory school age, not part of a UK education course, and perform actual work beyond shadowing with employer obligations to provide tasks.
