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 […]
Recruitment strategies must change to attract top financial talent
The recession meant that many senior-level finance professionals focused their efforts on up-skilling and broadening their experience, rather than looking for new roles in lean times. But, with the economy showing slow but definite growth, the jobs market is now looking more positive. Tim Vye, divisional director of Reed Finance, told our sister publication www.accountingweb.co.uk […]
JCB Billionaire tops Vocational Rich List
Jamie Oliver, JCB billionaire Sir Anthony Bamford and celebrity hairstylist John Frieda are just some of the names on the City & Guilds Vocational Rich List of people who made their fortunes without getting a degree. Sir Anthony topped the poll after seeing his family fortune shoot up to £2.15 billion this year, a situation […]
Youth unemployment led to riots, says Carpetright CEO
The chief executive of Carpetright, one of the stores destroyed in the Tottenham riots on Saturday night, has called on the coalition government to do more to create jobs for young people. Lord Harris of Peckham told the Daily Telegraph that he believed part of the reason behind the violence, which started in London but […]
Ask the expert: Employer queries ‘fit note’ for work-related depression/stress
The question: Depression/stress at work – employer queries ‘fit note’ A friend is into her 5th continuous week of absence, all supported by GP notes every two weeks, stating ‘stress at work/anxiety’ or ‘depression’. Essentially, what started as a stress at work issue three months ago has caused her lots of stress and she has […]
Book review: The Great Workplace – How to Build it, How to keep it and Why it matters
Title: The Great Workplace – How to Build it, How to keep it and Why it mattersAuthor: Michael Burchell and Jennifer Robin The Great Workplace sets out to explain how working in a “great” place adds value to business results. The book is written by Michael Burchell and Jennifer Robin – founding consultants at the […]