Whitehall needs skills revamp or reform will fail, warns report
A Parliament committee warns that Whitehall’s civil service reform will fail without building specialist skills in procurement and contract management, establishing clear leadership, and breaking down departmental silos that hinder decision-making and implementation.
HP axes second leader in a year
Hewlett-Packard has replaced CEO Leo Apotheker with former eBay leader Meg Whitman after less than a year in the role, marking the company’s second executive leadership change in a year. Apotheker’s tenure was marked by declining sales and a $60 billion drop in HP’s market value.
Blog: The social recruiting slugfest – who will win?
LinkedIn outperforms Facebook as a recruitment platform despite Facebook’s larger user base, offering superior talent identification and hiring tools. While both platforms have growth potential, LinkedIn’s professional infrastructure and business-focused features make it better suited for enterprise recruiting needs.
Case Study: LV= focuses on feedback to become destination employer
LV= launched a survey process for new joiners and leavers to gather staff feedback as part of its strategy to become a destination employer. The insurance mutual aims to boost engagement and retention of its 4,500 employees through insights on onboarding experiences, learning needs, and workplace culture.
Ask the Expert: Are staff due a holiday after sickness and maternity leave?
Employees accruing holiday during long-term sickness and maternity leave are generally entitled to carry over this leave, though restrictions apply to when it can be taken. UK law allows statutory holiday accrual during both absences, but taking leave during maternity is restricted by case law.
Alternative pension proposals could undermine public sector strike case
Local Government Employers proposed a pension plan claiming to save the government £900 million annually without immediate contribution increases, but public sector unions rejected it, saying it could undermine their strike case and unfairly burden workers.
Legal Insight: Tackling gender pay gap reporting
The UK’s gender pay gap remains largely unaddressed in the private sector due to lack of pay transparency and cultural reluctance to discuss salaries. Government initiatives like Think, Act, Report aim to compel private employers to report gender pay gaps, addressing gaps left by equal pay legislation that has proven insufficient in resolving decades-old disparities.
Blog: Restrictive covenants – fair and enforceable or a waste of time?
Restrictive covenants are common in financial services employment, but their enforceability remains controversial. A recent High Court case involving investment advisors and client contact restrictions highlights the ongoing debate about whether these contractual clauses are fair and effective or merely symbolic.
Top UK employers publish guide to improve workplace mental health
Top UK employers including Barclays and Deloitte have published a guide recommending workplace mental health improvements, highlighting that one in six employees suffer from depression, anxiety or stress—costing UK businesses £26 billion annually. The report urges organizations to prioritize mental wellbeing at boardroom level, train managers in soft skills, and create supportive environments where workers feel safe speaking up.
How to avert a ‘micro maternity’ trend
More women are returning to work just months after giving birth due to job insecurity, financial pressures, and celebrity influence. HR leaders should understand whether these “micro maternity” decisions are voluntary or driven by fear, and implement flexible policies supporting employee wellbeing and retention.
Investors demand FTSE 350 go public on female board diversity
Institutional investors are pressuring FTSE 350 companies to publicly disclose their plans for increasing female board representation, following Lord Davies’ recommendation that 25% of board positions be held by women by 2015. Seven major investment firms have given chairmen until the end of the month to clarify their diversity goals.
Fewer organisations coach, but advocates use it more, says study
A CIPD survey of 332 HR professionals found coaching usage dropped from 90% in 2009 to 77%, but organizations using it are investing more heavily. Coaching focuses primarily on performance improvement and skill development, with external coaches becoming more common.
Blog: Company success entirely depends on your culture
Company culture is not predetermined—leaders can actively create and manage it at any stage to drive organizational success. By strategically branding culture and building employee recognition programs, companies strengthen emotional connections, engagement, and long-term performance.
Sheffield Council settles equal pay claim out-of-court
Sheffield Council has settled an equal pay claim involving 900 female workers out of court, avoiding a Supreme Court case that could have cost £20 million. Individual compensation awards are expected to range from hundreds of pounds to tens of thousands, though the union expressed disappointment at the three-year timeline to settlement.
BT pays this year’s biggest sexual harrassment award to telesales worker
A BT telesales worker has won the year’s largest sexual harassment employment tribunal award of £290,000 after her manager subjected her to persistent abuse, sex discrimination, and threats. The tribunal found BT’s response “woeful,” taking four months to act on complaints while the harassment continued unabated.
US White House launches Fellowship scheme to woo top IT talent
The White House has launched a Technology Fellowship program to recruit top computer science graduates for two-year government positions, competing with private sector opportunities to build a stronger federal IT workforce.
Case Study: Speedy Services has ‘Big Ideas’ for boosting staff engagement
Speedy Services launched a ‘Big Ideas’ initiative enabling 3,500 employees to submit process improvements and product suggestions, combined with a rewards program recognizing innovation. The scheme boosted staff engagement and productivity by valuing frontline worker expertise and implementing a tiered recognition system with cash prizes and annual awards.
Talent Spot: Nicholas Connell, head of HR at The Antique Wine Company
Nicholas Connell, head of HR at The Antique Wine Company, emphasizes the importance of understanding colleagues’ individual motivations to drive effective management. The commercial manager and qualified property lawyer assumed HR responsibilities 18 months ago and is pursuing formal HR qualifications to strengthen his expertise.
Microsoft paid £1 million to silence female exec passed over for top UK job
Microsoft paid over £1 million to a female executive who was allegedly passed over for the UK managing director role in 2006, despite being considered the top candidate. The executive left after signing a confidentiality agreement, joining other recent revelations about misconduct at the software giant.
KPMG to double number of school leavers on paid-for degree scheme
KPMG is doubling its paid-for degree scheme intake to 180 students, covering tuition fees and offering a £20,000 starting salary. The six-year programme combines a four-year accountancy degree with two years of professional qualifications, while John Lewis launches a three-year graduate employment scheme targeting retail management, buying, and corporate roles.
