Ask the expert: Employee with two jobs
When an employee works two jobs totaling over 48 hours weekly, employers should require them to sign a Working Time Regulations opt-out form. UK guidance mandates counting all working hours across employers, not just those for your company, to ensure employee health and safety compliance.
Case in point: The importance of pay in lieu of notice clauses
Pay in lieu of notice (PILON) clauses are critical employment contract provisions that can have substantial financial consequences on termination. The Societe General v Geys case illustrates how disputes over PILON clause interpretation and execution timing can result in multi-million pound differences in severance payments between employers and employees.
Wal-Mart sex discrimination women vow to fight on
Women suing Walmart for sex discrimination vow to continue their fight after the US Supreme Court blocked a class action case involving up to 1.6 million female employees. The plaintiffs plan to pursue smaller lawsuits in lower courts and file claims with the Equal Opportunities Commission instead.
Government must join up their jobs policies
The UK government must integrate welfare-to-work and apprenticeship policies to create a sustainable jobs market, learning providers warn. Success of the Work Programme depends on merging employment, employability, and skills agendas at all government levels, while the National Apprenticeship Service should better support employer investment.
Head of HR in NHS to be replaced by interim
Clare Chapman is stepping down as the NHS and Social Care’s director general of workforce to join BT as Group People Director. Jan Sobieraj will assume the role on an interim basis, as the NHS faces significant workforce cuts and sector-wide changes.
Women to wait for pension in fast track age change plans
The UK government is refusing to slow fast-track changes to women’s state pension age, meaning 500,000 women in their 50s must wait up to two years longer to claim their pension. However, the Work and Pensions Secretary signaled openness to “transitional arrangements” that could provide higher welfare payments to affected women.
Social media in recruitment: so what?
Social media recruitment success is often overstated, with most jobseekers still preferring job boards and recruitment agencies. While effective for certain sectors like IT and marketing, social media shouldn’t replace proven recruitment channels without clear ROI and resource justification.
What your CEO is thinking and may not be telling you
CEOs expect HR leaders to understand customers and competitive dynamics, yet 30% report their HR department lacks customer knowledge and 21% say HR is out of touch with competition. Business acumen has become critical for HR executives seeking influence in strategic decisions.
Pensions ‘car crash’ predicted
UK employers are drastically underestimating the time needed to prepare for automatic pension enrollment, with 68% expecting less than a year despite recommendations of 18 months. Consultants warn this underpreparation risks a “car crash” scenario, potentially overloading pension providers and creating compliance problems for large companies.
Long service staff may actually be biggest cheats
Long-serving senior employees commit the majority of corporate fraud, according to KPMG analysis of 348 white-collar crime cases globally. These trusted workers, typically male and aged 36-45, exploit their access to override controls and commit embezzlement and procurement fraud, often remaining undetected despite warning signs like unusual lifestyles or reluctance to take leave.
MP says National Minimum Wage a ‘hindrance’ to disabled jobseekers
Conservative MP Philip Davies has claimed the National Minimum Wage hinders disabled jobseekers, suggesting they should be allowed to work for less to compete with non-disabled candidates. His comments have drawn criticism from equality groups, who argue the stance misunderstands disabled people’s abilities and violates workplace equality rights.
Charity alliance to push Government over forced labour convention
A coalition of charities and unions is launching a campaign to push the UK government to ratify an international convention on domestic workers’ rights. The UK abstained from approving the measure at an International Labour Organization conference, citing concerns about extending health and safety laws to private households. Campaigners argue the government is failing to uphold its anti-slavery legacy.
Lowest paid in public sector to lose out on pension contributions
Public sector workers earning under £15,000 annually will be exempt from increased pension contributions as the government links retirement age to the state pension age. Workers earning between £15,000 and £18,000 will see contributions rise by no more than 1.5%, with increases phased in gradually over three years.
The HR Headmistress: Workplace investigations – get them right
Effective workplace investigations require managers to gather all relevant facts before taking action. A rigorous, fair investigation process ensures compliance with company policy and employment law while helping determine whether disciplinary action is warranted based on the circumstances.
‘Sticky’ skilled workers create talent gaps
Skilled worker shortages are intensifying as reluctant employees avoid job changes amid economic uncertainty, creating talent gaps despite high unemployment. A CIPD survey found 72% of employers struggle to fill specialist and technical roles, with competition for talent rising to 52% compared to 41% the previous year.
Britain’s recovery ‘fragile’
Despite falling unemployment figures, experts warn Britain’s labour market recovery is fragile and vulnerable to reversal as public sector job cuts accelerate. While private sector employment grew, job vacancies dropped to late 2010 levels and weekly hours worked declined, signaling weakening underlying demand.
The psychological contract 101
The psychological contract—how employees feel valued and treated—is more critical to retention and engagement than transactional incentives like pay. Research shows organizations focusing solely on compensation miss key factors that determine whether talented staff stay or leave, as breaches of psychological trust drive disengagement and departures.
Surprise drop in movement in the City
New job vacancies in London’s financial sector dropped 19% in May compared with April, an unusual seasonal decline reflecting economic uncertainty. Fewer City workers are changing jobs despite bonus season, citing job security concerns and deferred compensation arrangements keeping them in current roles.
Teaching unions vote to strike
Two major teaching unions have voted to strike on 30 June over proposed pension changes, with a third union expected to follow. Up to 750,000 public sector workers could participate in what would be the largest outbreak of public sector unrest in years.
Internal, informal hires left with no training or support
Many organizations select internal candidates to coach staff informally without providing adequate training or support, according to a study. The research reveals that while 95% of organizations believe coaching benefits the business, over a third of those using internal coaches offer them no training, potentially limiting effectiveness and consistency.
