Charity alliance to push Government over forced labour convention
An alliance of charities and unions is to launch a high profile campaign to try and persuade the coalition government to change its mind about backing an international convention on domestic workers rights. The UK was one of only a handful of member countries at the International Labour Organization’s conference in Geneva yesterday to refuse […]
Lowest paid in public sector to lose out on pension contributions
Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE While the retirement age for public sector workers will be linked to the state pension age in future, the lowest paid will be exempt from extra pension contributions, a government minister will say today. In a speech to the Institute for Public Policy Research in London, Chief […]
The HR Headmistress: Workplace investigations – get them right
When workplace disputes arise, many managers shoot first and ask questions later (HR are always having to deal with the metaphorical ‘bodies’.) Needless to say, this is likely to seriously flaw the disciplinary process and put the final outcome in doubt. It is vitally important to collect and consider all the facts before taking any […]
‘Sticky’ skilled workers create talent gaps
Despite high levels of unemployment, shortages of managerial, specialist and technical skills are resulting in a renewed talent war as individuals remain reluctant to change jobs due to the ongoing economic uncertainty. These are the findings of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s annual Resourcing and Talent Planning survey, which is produced in conjunction […]
Britain’s recovery ‘fragile’
Despite positive headline labour market figures, the overall picture is of a “fragile, weak recovery” that could be tipped into reverse as public sector job cuts really start to bite, experts have warned. According to official figures from the Office for National Statistics, unemployment fell significantly by 88,000 to 2.43 million or 7.7% in the […]
The psychological contract 101
A recent piece of research carried out by Right Management with MDs of SMEs across the UK rather alarmingly revealed that over half (52 percent) thought it was better to motivate staff through incentives rather than career development. This rose to 62 percent in London and the South East. This flags up a major problem […]
Surprise drop in movement in the City
Uncertainty over the pace of economic recovery led to a 19% drop in new vacancies in the City last month compared with April, a move deemed to be unusual at this time of year. The figures produced by Square Mile recruiter Morgan McKinley are significant given that financial services was the first sector to go […]
Teaching unions vote to strike
Up to 750,000 public sector workers could take co-ordinated industrial action on 30 June after two teaching unions voted to strike yesterday and a third union is expected to follow suit today. The Public and Commercial Services Union has said it anticipates that the vote will come down overwhelmingly in favour of strike action when […]
Internal, informal hires left with no training or support
Despite the benefits that coaching can bring, all too many organisations select internal candidates on an informal basis and then fail to provide them with adequate training or support, a study has revealed. According to a survey among learning and development managers at 250 large companies undertaken by QA Research on behalf of the Institute […]
Leadership forecast gloomy – development needed
Employers must employ a mix of development techniques if they are to improve leadership quality levels that have changed little over the last six years despite an estimated £14 billion in annual investment worldwide. According to a survey among 12,000 leaders and 1,800 HR professionals working in 2,600 organisations across 74 countries undertaken by talent […]
Work smarter: Welcome to the office of the future
You probably didn’t think the office of the future would be in Wootton Bassett, but one tech company have made themselves a workspace that would leave Marty McFly in a spin… Plantronics have all the gadgets. They make headsets and other work-related electronics which turn workplaces into mobile work-anywhere spaces, and help mobile workers stay […]
A guide to… Attracting talent
The issue of talent management has climbed steadily up the corporate agenda in recent years. Now, as business leaders prepare to take advantage of an economic upswing, the urgency with which companies must find the right talent with the right skills to execute on growth strategies is becoming ever more pressing. Despite the importance that […]
Ask the expert: Changing flexible working hours
This time the experts, Esther Smith and Martin Brewer explain how to change an employees flexible hours to fit the business. The question: Changing flexible working hours We agreed to a flexible working pattern (reduced daily hours) for an employee with young children starting school. Several months on this is not working for the business […]
T Mobile data selling scandal staff fined
Two former T-Mobile staff have had to pay £73,700 in fines and confiscation orders after being found guilty of selling on the details of half a million customers to direct marketing companies. Darren Hames, an area sales manager for the mobile phone operator in Hatfield, stole the information about customers whose contracts were due […]
Growth won’t solve the UK’s labour market problems
The UK’s labour market has deep-seated structural problems that will not be solved by a return to economic growth alone, the CBI has warned. In a report entitled ‘Mapping the route to growth: rebalancing employment’, the employers’ lobby group said that the decade of growth before the recession had masked a number of entrenched problems. […]
To boost share value, tailor your talent treatment
The adoption of a more personalised approach to developing, nurturing, managing and compensating key workers can boost total shareholder return by up to two thirds over a five-year period, a report has revealed. But the study among senior HR professionals at 44 organisations and 110 individuals undertaken by talent management specialists Jackson Samuel also indicated […]
Low Pay Commission to review intern and apprentice pay
The Low Pay Commission has been tasked with evaluating whether young people taking up internships should be paid and to review whether apprentices currently receive a fair wage. The coalition government has also asked the Commission to examine how current National Minimum Wage regulations could be simplified and made easier to administer as well as […]
Managers failing to motivate and communicate
Poor management communication and an inability to motivate staff are key reasons why only a third of UK personnel are currently working to their full potential, a report has claimed. A survey among 2,000 workers undertaken by staff development company European Leaders revealed that a huge two thirds failed to understand their company’s vision, which […]
Slavery in Northern Ireland revealed
Modern-day slavery is alive-and-kicking among some workers in Northern Ireland’s fishing, mushroom and catering industries, a report has warned. The research undertaken between June 2009 and December 2010 by a team at the Institute for Conflict Research for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation revealed that some migrants to Northern Ireland, who were mainly of Filipino and […]
Serious problems with vocational business courses in schools
There is a “serious problem” with the quality of the vocational business courses being offered by the majority of English schools, inspectors have warned. Ofsted said in a report entitled ‘Economics, business and enterprise education’ that it was unhappy with the courses being provided at 30 out of 39 English schools. Even though students often […]
