Outsourcing and shared services will get bobbies back on beat, claims report
A Policy Exchange report argues that outsourcing and shared services could save British police millions of pounds by redeploying officers from back offices to frontline policing roles. The study claims taxpayers have spent at least £500m since 2006 on non-frontline police positions and recommends linking future funding to efficiency savings.
Blog: HR must not let uninspiring company cultures set in
HR leaders must identify and address pockets of negative company culture where underachievement and lack of development have taken root. Without strong leadership, training, and visible role models for progression, employees struggle to improve and advance within the organization.
Does performance-related pay provide value for money?
Performance-related pay has failed to deliver better company results, according to research showing executive bonuses soared 700% since 2002 while share prices grew only 21%. Studies reveal performance pay schemes offer little motivation for average workers due to minimal award increases and provide limited value for money across organizations.
Simple steps to help women reach the top
Achieving gender equality in UK business leadership requires deliberate action from organizations. While Lord Davies’ target of 25% female directors on FTSE 100 boards by 2025 is important, research shows women bring valuable benefits including emotional intelligence, communication skills, and strategic effectiveness to boardrooms.
Female unemployment to jump again from 23-year high
Female unemployment is rising to 23-year highs, with the TUC warning of further increases as public sector job cuts begin. Women make up a disproportionate share of public sector workers, making them vulnerable to upcoming government redundancies across health, education, and local government.
Legal Insight: The religious discrimination issue
The Church of England has raised concerns about religious discrimination in the workplace, but UK law requires a careful balance. Under the Equality Act 2010, employers must accommodate religious beliefs unless they can objectively justify policies that disadvantage certain employees. Courts decide each case individually based on specific facts and circumstances.
Ask the Expert: How sick is sick?
An employee on sick leave posted social media photos of activities and worked a second job, raising questions about legitimacy. Two employment lawyers offer contrasting advice: one suggests cautious investigation given potential health issues, while the other recommends disciplinary action or dismissal for breach of contract.
Criminal convictions for tax evasion jump 38% in a year
Criminal convictions for tax evasion rose 38% to 148 cases in the year ending March 2011, as HMRC intensified enforcement efforts with increased funding and targeted investigations. The crackdown includes international deals to close offshore tax havens and disclosure facilities encouraging voluntary compliance.
Enterprise social media collaboration is on the up
Businesses are increasingly adopting enterprise social media collaboration, with 60% believing every company needs a social presence. However, leaders remain concerned about brand management, metrics, and productivity risks despite growing employee support for becoming a “social enterprise.”
Blog: Thank God it’s Monday – what it takes for true employee engagement
True employee engagement means genuinely loving your work. Unlike most people who dread Mondays, highly engaged employees can’t wait to return to their jobs because they find purpose and joy in their roles and relationships with those they serve.
Holcim cements behaviour metrics into leadership development scheme
Holcim embedded behavioral metrics into its global leadership development program to measure the impact of training on business outcomes. The LEAP program tracked learning objectives and behavioral indicators across 775 managers in 21 territories, with feedback from 1,049 observers to assess how effectively training translated into improved performance.
One out of 25 bosses ‘could be a psychopath’
Research suggests one in 25 bosses may be a psychopath, yet they often remain undetected because they excel at mimicking leadership qualities, charming colleagues, and hiding behind their status. Psychologist Paul Babiak explains that successful psychopaths in business lack empathy but use natural charisma and manipulation skills to climb the corporate ladder.
New boss hacks back on Everything Everywhere management team
New CEO Olaf Swantee reduced Everything Everywhere’s management team from 26 to 10 on his first day, forcing out six senior managers including the vice president of HR and deputy chief executive. The restructuring is the latest round of cuts at the merged Orange and T-Mobile company, which has already shed over 1,200 positions since combining.
Council decision to equip binmen with iPads causes stink
Bury Council voted to spend £9,000 on iPads for its 22 refuse collection lorries to improve recycling rates and reduce missed collections, a move that has sparked public and tabloid criticism despite potential savings.
Workday integrates with Salesforce.com for social collaboration purposes
Workday has integrated with Salesforce.com’s Chatter and Force.com platform, enabling employees to collaborate on workforce data including payroll, budgeting, and project expenses in real-time. The integration allows developers to build custom applications using Workday workforce information within Salesforce’s environment.
Blog: What are you bringing to the top table?
HR must bring business-focused metrics to gain a seat at the executive table. Rather than reporting administrative statistics, HR should present data on employee value alignment, bottom-line impact, high-performer identification, and culture management that directly concerns the CEO and drives organizational competitive advantage.
Dress codes and uniforms: it’s all about presentation
Dress codes and uniforms shape how customers perceive a business, with standards varying by industry and customer contact level. Smart presentation builds professional trust and confidence, while also helping employees mentally prepare for work and serve as brand ambassadors.
First 2,000 armed forces personnel are axed
Nearly 2,000 armed forces personnel face redundancy following the coalition government’s Strategic Defence Review, with the army releasing 920 soldiers and the RAF dismissing 930 staff. The cuts, part of a planned 22,000 personnel reduction over four years, have sparked controversy particularly over the disproportionate impact on Gurkhas.
‘Outrageous behaviour’ of Microsoft UK bosses exposed in High Court battle
Microsoft UK’s senior leadership faces allegations of workplace misconduct in a £10 million High Court dispute. A former manager claims he was wrongfully dismissed after refusing to admit to misconduct he denies, while Microsoft demands repayment of his signing bonus.
Leadership development programmes not up to snuff in too many organisations
Only 38% of UK leaders and HR professionals rate their organisations’ leadership development programmes as highly effective, while 20-24% consider them ineffective. Research from CIPD and DDI highlights the critical need for better leadership development to equip leaders with essential skills for driving change and executing strategy.
