Line managers lack skills for people tasks, fears HR
Although just under two thirds of HR professionals have devolved tactical activities to at least some line managers, three out of five are not convinced that they have the necessary skills and know-how to cope. According to a survey of 139 senior HR managers working in firms with more than 100 employees undertaken by YouGov, […]
Modern Workplaces consultation: the view from payroll
Back in May, the government launched a four part consultation on Modern Workplaces to explore the pros and cons of four key regulatory proposals. These proposals comprised: the introduction of a system of flexible parental leave a right for all employees to request flexible working changes to the Working Time Regulations affecting the interaction of […]
Blog: Fancy contributing to a book on corporate politics, anyone?
We’re working on a new book, which we are planning to launch later this year, on the subject of corporate politics, hidden agendas and manipulation in business. It’s a thorny topic, we know, and we believe that HR professionals are best placed to observe and comment on these activities. In the book, we cover three important […]
Career visioning as an antidote to corporate rioting
There are very few people who would give those involved in this month’s rioting the time of day, let alone the chance to explain why they sought to bring disruption, violence and chaos to the streets of the UK. But as anyone working in HR will know, communication, whatever the circumstances, is always critical. So […]
Goldman Sachs takes away bankers’ two-year old pay rise
Goldman Sachs is taking the unusual step of cutting the salaries of hundreds of its London bankers by invoking a contractual clause to phase out former pay increases by the end of the year. The move follows a previous announcement by the New York-based investment bank’s that it plans to cut about 1,000 staff across […]
Tate trustees take action to stop bullying
Complaints of bullying by managers has led the Tate galleries to issue a directive pointing out that staff have a right to work in a safe place “free from harassment or discrimination of any kind”. According to the Independent, the problem was considered so serious that the organisation’s trustees, who are appointed by the Prime […]
Digital and social media specialists’ wages soar 70% in three years
Senior digital and social media specialists have seen an explosion in pay over the last three years as companies increasingly divert marketing budgets to online campaigns. Wages have soared by almost 70% over the last three years, according to recruitment company, ReThink Recruitment. ‘Head of Search’ jobs, responsible for managing a company’s Search Engine Optimisation […]
Ask the Expert: Can I reject candidates due to their visa status?
The Question I’ve had applications for full-time permanent positions from applicants who are on a Post Study Work (PSW) Visa and so only eligible to work for two years before they would have to change status. I’m assuming that there is no guarantee that new visas would be granted, so is this a valid […]
SuccessFactors to expand beyond traditional HCM base
"In good companies, CEOs recognise the power of the people they have and the power that HR can bring to the table. If the CEO doesn’t respect what HR can bring to the table and sees it as a transactional function, well, we can try to bridge the gap. We try to ‘up-level’ HR to […]
Blog: Apple loses Jobs – so what does it mean for the people?
When one of the world’s most celebrated business leaders announces plans to make a move, the focus is all too often on shares and customer impact, but little is mentioned about the impact it will have on the people within the organisation. When Steve Jobs announced he is standing down as chief executive at Apple, […]
‘Take pay cut and unpaid leave or lose your job’, council workers warned
Thousands of council workers could be forced to take a pay cut, a reduction in sickness benefit and a week’s unpaid leave as part of radical plans in Rochdale to minimise job losses. The changes to the pay and conditions of the local authority’s 7,000 town hall workers are part of an attempt to slash […]
Update: Health unions plan first ever NHS-wide strike
Health service unions are planning to launch a series of targeted, rolling strikes this autumn rather than a mass walkout if pension negotiations with the coalition government fail as expected. The news came to light after Unison, which represents 460,000 NHS workers, hosted a meeting with other unions in London on Wednesday, in order to […]
Blog: Workplace relationships – just like in personal life, you want a good match
“You were too aggressive and I do not like aggressive.” My wife and I laughed so hard that I almost had to pull over on the side of the road with laughter. On Friday, my wife Janetta and I celebrated 39 years of marriage. The line above was referring to when we first met […]
Demand for temporary and migrant labour is on the up
Demand for both temporary and migrant workers is on the up as employers focus on maintaining flexibility and filling skills gaps during the uncertain economic times ahead. According to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation’s latest JobsOutlook survey of 600 employers, 83% expect that their use of agency workers will either increase or stay the same […]
RBS pay details exposed in Hays email
Recruitment specialist Hays has launched an internal investigation after one of its employees forwarded on an email revealing the pay of thousands of contractors who work for the Royal Bank of Scotland. According to Sky News, the message, which disclosed the pay of about 3,000 contract and temporary staff employed in areas such as HR […]
Sponsoring A level leavers – finders, keepers?
The latest round of A-level results last week highlighted a growing trend. Employers are progressively not only ‘acquiring’ talent among A-level students, but also influencing the content of some degree courses. So what can they do to ensure that they are in the best position to attract – and retain – this talent that has […]
Book Review: The Carrot Principle by Adrian Gostick & Chester Elton
Title: The Carrot PrincipleAuthor: Adrian Gostick & Chester Elton Don’t be a carrotphobe I don’t know about you but I certainly can’t remember any of the reasons I’ve received pay rises in the past. I’ve certainly not kept any of the documentation for prosperity. Neither I’m sure would they have inspired nor motivated me for […]
Blog: Employee performance ratings – the good, the bad and the ugly
Numbers say a lot about your organization, such as how much money it earns or loses, the strength of sales, and the size of the work force. I’ve made no secret recently about one area where numbers do no good: Employee performance appraisals. With very few exceptions, attaching a numerical rating to an individual’s performance […]
Horrible bosses: how to spot them and handle them
The difference between an authentic leader and a horrible boss would appear obvious. But it’s not correct to say it all boils down to behaviour because some of the most authentic leaders I know are capable of behaving ‘poorly’ at times, says Gareth Chick, a director at Spring Partnerships. The fundamental difference for me is […]
Bonuses and allowances compensate council bosses for pay cuts
Local authority bosses were compensated for promised pay cuts last year by having their bonuses and allowances boosted instead. The move came despite calls by Eric Pickles, the Communities and Local Government Secretary, for town hall chiefs to take a 10% wage reduction. An analysis of accounts published by 128 of the largest council’s […]
