Customer service staff paid 34% below national average
UK customer service staff earned an average of £14,868 in 2010, roughly 34% below the national average wage despite the sector’s threefold employment growth since 2002. Industry experts call for better pay recognition to attract talent to this increasingly vital profession.
Arc scheme to create 1,000 jobs in deprived London Olympics boroughs
The arc scheme, backed by Business in the Community, Deloitte and BP, aims to create 1,000 jobs and support 200 businesses tackling social-economic challenges in six deprived London Olympic boroughs including Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets.
Two new enterprise zones created to help BAE jobless
The UK Government is creating two new enterprise zones near BAE Systems redundancy sites in Lancashire and East Yorkshire, offering tax breaks to attract businesses and help displaced workers find employment.
Ask the Expert: Is it OK for staff to smoke e-cigs in the workplace?
E-cigarettes may legally fall under smoking bans despite containing no tobacco, as courts could interpret “heating” as equivalent to “lighting” under the Health Act 2006. Employers should consider implementing workplace policies treating e-cigs the same as traditional cigarettes to avoid confusion and potential health and safety issues.
Diverse thinking
Diversity in organisations matters increasingly under the UK Equalities Act, yet many UK businesses lag behind US counterparts in implementing diversity strategies. Diversity consultant Zena Martin highlights how British companies often lack dedicated diversity divisions and face HR department demographics that may not reflect broader society.
Pay rises on the cards in 2012 for a third of UK firms
About one third of UK employers plan to raise staff pay in 2012, according to research by Incomes Data Services. More than half will maintain current pay levels, while only 13% plan lower settlements. The rising cost of living and uncertain economic outlook will significantly influence pay decisions.
UK jobs to be hit by Europe’s “terrible plan” over pensions?
The CBI’s chief policy director warns that European Commission plans to treat pension schemes as insurance contracts could cost the UK economy nearly half a trillion pounds and harm business investment in jobs. The proposal would impose significant financial burdens on employers with defined benefit pension liabilities.
The retiring of the retirement laws – a talent management challenge?
The Default Retirement Age ended on October 1st, forcing UK employers to reconsider HR policies as people aged 50-64 will comprise nearly a third of the workforce by the early 2020s. Mature workers offer valuable experience, reliability, and soft skills, yet long-term unemployment among over-50s has doubled since 2009, indicating persistent age discrimination despite legal protections.
Agency Workers Regulations: Is your HR house in order?
The Agency Workers Regulations, which took effect October 1st, require employers to provide temporary workers with the same basic pay, hours, and benefits as permanent staff after 12 weeks. With only one in ten UK employers prepared for these changes, non-compliance could result in fines up to £5,000 per affected worker from Employment Tribunals.
How to cope with empowering line managers
Progressive organizations are delegating HR tasks to line managers to free professionals for strategic work, but this creates challenges when managers lack time and people-management skills for performance appraisals and employee relations.
Navigating the choppy waters of cultural difference
Cultural differences significantly impact business conduct in multinational companies. HR directors should prepare employees by teaching basic etiquette, encouraging language learning, understanding religious practices, and accommodating dietary needs to create favorable first impressions and professional relationships.
Double dip fears fuelling freelance frenzy
UK businesses are increasingly turning to freelancers to reduce costs amid double-dip recession fears, with freelancer platform signups rising 94 percent in the past year. Companies across education, engineering, and entertainment sectors are outsourcing short-term projects in HR, design, PR, and marketing to access specialized skills and drive innovation.
Six tips for effective talent management
Discover six essential principles for effective talent management, including staying connected with high-potential employees, maintaining regular dialogue about their career aspirations, aligning talent with business challenges, and using tailored assessments to identify future leaders.
Creating a sustainable people strategy
A sustainable people strategy requires HR professionals to develop a comprehensive approach that embeds environmental considerations into corporate culture and business operations, rather than simply creating documentation. Like the internet’s evolution, sustainability will become essential to organizational success, necessitating employee engagement and genuine behavioral change across all levels.
Compulsory apprentices for companies under Labour?
Labour would require companies bidding for government contracts to hire apprentices under a future government, according to party leader Ed Miliband. The commitment aims to address youth unemployment and skills shortages, though small business groups expressed concerns about the policy’s impact on contract competition.
Women, depression and the workplace
Depression affects one in six UK adults and is more common in women, often triggered by work stress, relationship difficulties with colleagues, and lack of support. Employers must recognize depression as a potential disability under the Equality Act 2010 and create supportive workplace environments to prevent costly absence and discrimination claims.
Talent Spot: Dean Hunter – HRD turned MD at Hunter Adams
Dean Hunter transformed his career from police officer to HR director, then managing director at Hunter Adams. After early experience in recruitment at an oil and gas company, he led a management buyout team and successfully reduced staff turnover from 50% to 7% by restoring benefits, implementing flexible working, and creating clear career paths.
From good to great: how to effect positive workplace change
Learn how to drive positive workplace change by expanding employee imagination, demonstrating that change is achievable through real examples, and providing hands-on learning opportunities that boost performance and engagement.
Three tips for managing risky employee behaviour
Manage risky employee behavior by shifting organizational attitudes toward risk, using positive language to frame discussions around uncertainty and opportunity, and aligning risk strategies with commercial objectives. These three strategies help HR directors create consistent approaches to identifying and mitigating workplace risks effectively.
Temporary workers still registering in recruitment plans
One in five employers plan to increase temporary staff use through year-end, despite upcoming Agency Workers Regulations granting equal rights to agency workers after 12 weeks, according to a Recruitment and Employment Confederation survey.
