Book review: Flourish by Martin Seligman
Martin Seligman’s Flourish combines positive psychology research, personal experience, and practical exercises to help readers flourish. While Seligman is an engaging writer with compelling insights, the book suffers from overstated claims, loose scientific interpretation, and unclear target audience that undermines its authority.
Salaries flatline desipte more vacancies
Job vacancies rebounded to April levels in June, with strong demand in engineering, insurance, and accounting sectors, yet salaries for new positions remained flat at 20% below December 2009 levels.
Redundancy payments top £13 billion since recession
UK employers paid out £13.4 billion in redundancy payments over three years following the recession, with 2010 seeing £4.4 billion in payoffs. The average redundancy package was £9,362 per worker, significantly exceeding the statutory minimum as companies sought to avoid unfair dismissal claims.
Duncan Smith calls to ‘give our young people a chance’ at employment
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith calls on UK employers to hire jobless British young people instead of relying on foreign workers. He argues the coalition government is tackling youth unemployment through welfare reforms and stricter migration controls, but businesses must also play their part in creating opportunities for British workers.
Lloyds to cut back office function to save money
Lloyds Banking Group plans to cut 15,000 jobs and reduce its international presence to 15 countries by 2014, targeting £1.5 billion in annual savings through back office and management restructuring, while maintaining UK branch operations.
Manufacturing skills initative to improve automotive image
Over 35 automotive organizations have joined the “See Inside Manufacturing” initiative to improve the industry’s image and address Europe-wide skills shortages. The program encourages manufacturers to open their doors to schools, helping young people overcome negative perceptions of manufacturing as technical, noisy, and dirty work.
Wellbeing at work: review of Fellowes office aids
Fellowes office aids improve workplace wellbeing through ergonomic solutions like wrist support mouse mats and footrockers. A workstation assessment identified posture improvements, while specialized equipment relieved RSI pain and pregnancy-related discomfort, demonstrating practical preventative care.
Driving behavioural change
Behavioral change is psychologically painful because our brains are wired to resist it, preferring established habits that require minimal energy. Understanding this neurological resistance and Schein’s three-stage change model—unfreezing, changing, and refreezing—helps organizations successfully drive the behavioral transformation necessary for effective organizational change.
MP exposed as hypocrite over unpaid intern
Labour MP Lyn Brown, who has campaigned for a living wage, faces accusations of hypocrisy after advertising an unpaid intern position to replace a departing salaried staff member. Campaign groups criticize the move as unfair to those from low-income backgrounds unable to afford unpaid work.
Cancer-suffering apprentice sacked
A teenage apprentice with cancer claims he was unfairly dismissed by his employers at Angel Air North East Ltd because they wanted to avoid dealing with a disabled staff member. Michael Ready, diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma shortly after his sacking in April 2010, is seeking compensation for unfair dismissal and disability discrimination, while his former bosses deny the allegations.
Uni courses with poor employability to be named and shamed
The UK government plans to rank university degree courses by graduate employment rates and salaries, naming and shaming programs with poor job prospects. Universities will be required to publish detailed employment outcomes data, with underperforming courses facing closure or overhaul to protect taxpayers and help students make informed decisions.
‘Don’t strike’ Cameron plea to public sector
Prime Minister David Cameron is making a last-ditch appeal to public sector workers not to strike on Thursday, as talks between the coalition government and unions collapsed. The walkout of around 750,000 teachers, lecturers, and civil servants centers on disputes over pension contributions and retirement age requirements.
Coming full circle – the four levels of performance appraisal
Most organisations use annual performance appraisals, but find them time-consuming and of limited value. Peter McHugh outlines a four-level maturity journey from paper-based systems to continuous, data-driven reviews that boost employee engagement and organisational performance.
Ask the expert: Am I really redundant?
An HR manager with 19 years’ service questions whether her 50% salary cut due to the company’s new legal services is genuine redundancy. Experts advise on whether the employer’s procedure and proposed 60% alternative salary fairly address her role reduction.
Older workers neglected in training and performance
Employers risk discrimination claims if they neglect older workers’ training and performance management, according to a CIPD survey showing 51% of staff aged 65+ received no training in three years versus 32% across other age groups. As the default retirement age phases out, companies must change how they manage aging workforces or face legal challenges.
UK at risk of brain drain
The UK risks losing skilled workers to overseas job opportunities, with 27% of the workforce willing to relocate for better prospects. This figure rises to 36% among young qualified professionals aged 18-29, potentially threatening economic recovery and business talent retention.
BeKnown – Facebook just got a Monster recruiting face
Monster launched BeKnown, a Facebook platform that integrates professional recruiting into the social network. The application lets users build separate professional profiles and connects jobseekers with employers, targeting passive candidates already active on Facebook.
Transparent top pay catches out 10% rise union leader
Union leader Christine Blower faced criticism after receiving a 10% pay rise to £103,000 while NUT members endured a pay freeze. The controversy emerged as UK’s top public servants lost their legal battle to keep salaries secret, with the Information Commissioner ordering disclosure of pay details for officials earning over £150,000.
Police officer sacked after Facebook comments
A Metropolitan police officer has been dismissed for posting offensive Facebook comments about a colleague and sending abusive text messages to a female officer. The 35-year-old constable was found guilty of discreditable conduct and failing to meet police standards of respect and courtesy.
Cable announces C-suite pay crackdown
Business Secretary Vince Cable pledged to crack down on excessive executive pay at UK’s largest companies, including mandatory discussions with remuneration committee heads. The announcement came as Network Rail prepared to hand its former CEO a £1 million payoff, drawing government criticism over “rewards for failure.”
