Legal Insight: Family-friendly holiday policies create discrimination claim risk
Family-friendly holiday policies can expose employers to discrimination claims from childless employees. To avoid legal risk while managing leave fairly, implement non-discriminatory policies using neutral methods like first-come-first-served or random selection rather than prioritizing parents.
HRD Insight: Metro Bank’s Barry Angel talks recruitment outsourcing
Metro Bank outsourced recruitment to specialist partner Consort Group to focus on customer-facing services while scaling operations. The bank chose culture fit and entrepreneurial alignment over established RPO providers when building its team for rapid expansion.
HR to play vital role in managing public service change
Public sector employers must strengthen HR capabilities to manage staff engagement and industrial relations during major changes driven by austerity and policy shifts, according to an Acas report. The study warns that erosion of employment conditions risks undermining the public sector ethos and requires strategic workforce management to maintain service quality.
Recruitment strategies must change to attract top financial talent
As the economy recovers, top finance professionals are increasingly selective about their next roles after years of upskilling during the recession. Employers must adapt their recruitment strategies to attract these highly skilled candidates who now have more career options and bargaining power.
JCB Billionaire tops Vocational Rich List
Sir Anthony Bamford, JCB billionaire worth £2.15 billion, tops the City & Guilds Vocational Rich List of successful entrepreneurs who built fortunes without degrees. The list includes Jamie Oliver, Rick Stein, and other self-made millionaires, with industrial and tech sectors leading at 30% of the top 100.
Youth unemployment led to riots, says Carpetright CEO
Carpetright CEO Lord Harris of Peckham links youth unemployment to the recent riots, calling on the coalition government to create more jobs for young people. With nearly 20% of 16-to-24 year olds unemployed, he argues that idle youth are more likely to turn to crime and theft.
Ask the expert: Employer queries ‘fit note’ for work-related depression/stress
When an employer contacts an employee’s GP without consent to question fit notes for work-related stress or depression, it may violate confidentiality and be seen as heavy-handed. Employers should seek employee permission before requesting medical information beyond what’s provided on standard sick notes.
Book review: The Great Workplace – How to Build it, How to keep it and Why it matters
The Great Workplace examines how employee satisfaction directly impacts business performance, drawing on decades of research from the Great Place to Work Institute. Authors Michael Burchell and Jennifer Robin present compelling data showing that the 100 Best companies achieved 6.8 percent annual stock returns versus 1.04 percent for the S&P 500, while emphasizing trust, pride and camaraderie as leadership priorities.
The Workplace: Equipping Starbank for the future
Starbank, a UK-based laminate panel manufacturer founded in 1976, partnered with Festo to implement management development and leadership programs. Recognizing the need for structured management practices beyond operational expertise, the company repositioned itself around its UK heritage and customer service to support sustainable growth.
Just over half of staff work through their holidays
Over half of UK employees work during their holidays, with nearly one in five doing so regularly, according to a YouGov study. Young workers aged 18-24 are significantly more likely to work during vacation than older employees, raising concerns about workplace stress and employee wellbeing.
How is James Murdoch conducting himself?
James Murdoch’s testimony that simply distributing a code of conduct ensures business integrity falls short of best practice. Effective codes require ongoing staff engagement, leadership buy-in, and a strong organizational culture—not just compliance documentation.
Top director pensions 29 times higher than employees
FTSE 100 directors receive average pensions of £175,000 annually—29 times higher than the typical employee pension of £5,860. While most companies have closed final salary schemes for workers, nearly all kept them open for executives and increasingly provide large cash supplements to circumvent tax restrictions.
Stressed!!! Companies are screaming out for HR to help.
Nearly a third of employees experience increased stress when colleagues take holiday leave, yet 60% say their employers provide minimal support for work-related stress. HR leaders face mounting pressure to address workplace stress, as inadequate employer support risks legal liability and employee burnout.
PM and Chancellor plan top tax rate cut to 45p
The Prime Minister and Chancellor plan to cut the top income tax rate from 50p to 45p, citing Treasury analysis showing the current rate generates minimal revenue due to tax evasion. The proposed cut would cost the government an estimated £750 million annually.
Ask the expert: Redundancy and re-employment
There is no fixed legal minimum time for re-advertising a redundant position. If the redundancy was genuine, timing is unrestricted. However, waiting six months rather than three significantly reduces unfair dismissal claims, since employees have three months from termination to file tribunal claims. If circumstances genuinely changed, contacting former employees is advisable.
Your job specification: 5 tips to take it from drab to irresistible
Attract top talent by crafting compelling job postings. Learn five essential tips to write clear, informative, and engaging job descriptions that highlight your company’s best qualities and make applying easy.
Interns: opportunity or exploitation?
Unpaid internships that involve “real work” rather than training may entitle interns to minimum wage, as highlighted by a recent employment tribunal victory. Employers should assess whether interns are performing genuine work or receiving training to avoid potential wage claims.
Whither employee benefits?
Employee benefits may be losing importance as economic pressures mount, with organizations prioritizing cash compensation and cost-cutting over discretionary perks. However, non-monetary benefits tied to job satisfaction and organizational purpose remain valuable for retention and employee motivation.
Graduates focus on money, not idealism
A new study reveals that 93% of graduates prioritize salary over idealism when choosing careers, with financial considerations dominating decision-making amid economic uncertainty. Only 4% of graduates rated making a difference as an important factor in job selection.
Shoesmith wins unfair dismissal appeal case claim
Sharon Shoesmith, sacked as head of children’s services following the Baby P scandal, has won her unfair dismissal appeal after the Supreme Court upheld a ruling that her removal was unlawful. She could receive over £1 million in compensation from Haringey Council and the Department for Education for lost pay, pensions, and legal costs.
