Blog: What to do about bullies in the workplace

Recognise This! – Fire bullies. That is the only reasonable course of action. News about bullies in the workplace seems to come up fairly regularly. In his “Business Performance” blog, Leslie Allen recently reported on a CareerBuilder.com survey on bullies:   “The survey carried out by CareerBuilder.com between February and March of 2011, which involved […]

The HR Headmistress: On unfair dismissal

Over the last few years, I have found that the practice of dismissal for some other substantial reason (SOSR) has become increasingly useful, says Kate Russell, the HR Headmistress. This catch-all category requires an employer to show that the substantial reason for dismissal was potentially fair and reasonable in the circumstances.   There isn’t an […]

Update: BP and Dyson warn of UK engineering skills shortages

Both oil giant BP and vacuum cleaner magnate Sir James Dyson have warned of trouble ahead if the UK does not tackle its engineering skills crisis. Trevor Garlick,  BP‘s head of North Sea operations told the Sunday Telegraph that the FTSE 100 firm planned to recruit between 150 and 300 new workers per annum over […]

Falling employer confidence leads to sharp hiring slowdown

The employment recovery is set to slow sharply over the year ahead as fears over the global economic outlook lead to falling confidence among private sector employers, particularly in manufacturing. Such a situation is likely to be of concern to the coalition government, which has the stated aim of trying to rebalance the economy towards […]

Blog: The kids aren’t alright

The riots in London and other cities this week brought the issue of youth unemployment into sharp focus. Roughly 20% of 16-24 year-olds are currently unemployed. This figure climbs sharply for those living in some inner-city areas. Many observers feel more should be done to create job opportunities for young people. But would it have […]

The secret to staff satisfaction

The current climate is not only affecting business profitability but also staff morale, with employee satisfaction rates at their lowest since 2009, according to a recent survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Further research carried out by mental health charity, Mind, revealed that 41% of people are stressed by their jobs, with […]

Ask the Expert: What to do about excessive sick leave?

The Question We have an employee who works in an independent school nursery, employed since 2005. Extra responsibilities were taken on in 2009, and they are responsible for four staff.   This year she has taken 40 days absence, some of it medically certified, some self-certified. During her last absence, her manager phoned to enquire […]

Civil service union takes legal advice after losing redundancy pay battle

A civil service union is taking legal advice after losing a High Court challenge against coalition government moves to reduce workers’ redundancy and early retirement pay-outs. The Public and Commercial Services Union, which has 270,000 members, and the Prison Officers’ Association, which has 35,000, had called for a judicial review of a decision that was […]

Employee career-switching to become norm

As career-switching increasingly becomes the rule rather than the exception, employers will need to find ways to adapt to the new reality, a workforce services firm has warned.   According to a survey among 2,200 UK workers undertaken by Kelly Services, more than half expect to change careers in the next five years due to […]

VAT changes could threaten salary sacrifice schemes

From January 1 2012, companies will have to pay VAT on non-cash goods and services provided to employees in exchange for some of their salary, HMRC has announced.   According to Nick Huber, writing for our sister site www.AccountingWeb.co.uk, the change to the VAT treatment of salary sacrifice schemes, which often include such as bikes, […]

BA and Oracle launch social media-based recruitment campaigns

British Airways and Oracle are both using social media as key planks of new recruitment drives that are being described as among their biggest ever.   The UK’s flag carrier airline is using YouTube to promote three new hiring schemes that will comprise its biggest pilot recruitment drive in 10 years.   It plans to […]

UK riots: Rallying staff round in an emergency

As the events of the last week show, while many companies have good contingency policies for things such as data back-up, very few have robust policies for what staff should do when they either can’t get into work or it is dangerous for them to travel.  Most companies have simple polices around who employees need […]

Emotional intelligence is key to exceptional leadership

This article, first published by our sister site www.TrainingZone.co.uk, provides a glimpse into discoveries made by Seven Suphi, founder and MD of Odyssey Solutions Ltd, following more than ten years of behavioural change work with business leaders. His aim is to inform and inspire curiosity because he believes that being curious is the foundation of […]

FE colleges given more freedom to provide local training for unemployed

Skills Minister John Hayes has announced greater freedoms for colleges to deliver fully subsidised training to the unemployed, according to our sister site www.TrainingZone.co.uk. Under new rules that come into force for the 2011/12 academic year, only benefit claimants on Jobseekers’ Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance, who are required to seek work as a […]

CEO Insight: Stinkyink.com’s John Sollars on staff engagement

Keeping staff motivated in the workplace can be difficult enough, but when money is tight and you can’t dole out bonuses and expensive gifts, the task can present even more difficulties. The managing director of Stinkyink.com John Sollars talks to our sister site www.BusinessZone.co.uk about his strategy for ensuring that personnel stay engaged.   Over […]

Blog: ‘Cokehead’ accountant nearly bankrupts employer

In a blog post at our sister site www.accountingweb.co.uk, Robert Lovell says that:  58-year-old Charles Shaffer has been ordered to serve two to four years in prison for stealing nearly US$400,000 from his employer to fund a nine-year-long coke habit, reports Going Concern’s Adrienne Gonzalez.   According to testimony, Shaffer stole US$381,361 from telecommunications consulting […]

UK riots: How to deal with staff disruption

The unrest that has occurred in the UK in the past few days demonstrates just how quickly situations can escalate and how businesses and their employees can be affected. Croner has put together this guidance document for our sister site www.businesszone.co.uk to help businesses concerned with the impact this, or similar situations, may have on […]

Legal Insight: Family-friendly holiday policies create discrimination claim risk

Be warned: don’t be too nice to your employees this summer!  Well, we don’t actually mean don’t be nice, but if you have a family-friendly holiday policy, then you could be at risk of discrimination claims. Those well-meaning employers that give first refusal for summer leave to parents could find themselves subject to costly claims […]

HRD Insight: Metro Bank’s Barry Angel talks recruitment outsourcing

When Metro Bank opened the doors of its inaugural branch in July 2010, it became the first new bank on the British high street in over 100 years. The reason why the founders decided to throw their weight behind the new venture was because they passionately believed that customers of existing players were simply not […]

HR to play vital role in managing public service change

Public sector employers must ensure that they have the right HR capabilities in place to ensure staff engagement and manage industrial relations during a period of unprecedented change, an Acas report has warned. A discussion paper commissioned by the conciliation service entitled ‘A new era of public service employment relations? The challenges ahead’ pointed out […]