UK business not ready for a crisis
Only just over half of UK organisations have contingency plans despite high awareness of crisis risks. A new report reveals that 58% have no strategy to cope with disruptions from extreme weather, illness, cyber attacks and transport failures, with private companies least prepared.
Lecturers strike over pay and pensions
Tens of thousands of lecturers across UK universities and colleges strike today over pay and pension changes, marking their first nationwide walkout in five years. The University and College Union action follows ongoing disputes over modifications to the Universities’ Superannuation Scheme and staff compensation.
Budget 2011: Cars and fleets update
Budget 2011 introduces significant changes to business motoring costs, including the first increase in mileage allowance rates in a decade—rising to 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles—and major reforms to company car taxation from April 2011 onwards, including abolition of the £80,000 price limit and alternative fuel discounts.
Want wellbeing? Time to be flexible
Flexible working policies boost employee wellbeing and productivity, with 27% of UK workers already benefiting from remote work and flexitime arrangements. Implementing proper workforce management systems helps employers maximize these benefits while reducing costs and administration time.
Book review: Brilliant Business Writing by Neil Taylor
Neil Taylor’s Brilliant Business Writing is a practical, accessible guide to crafting persuasive business communications. The 2nd edition offers straightforward advice on emails, reports, and marketing copy, helping writers engage their audience effectively without unnecessary jargon or outdated rules.
Ignore the Bribery Act at your peril, says law firm
The Bribery Act 2010 imposes strict penalties including up to 10 years imprisonment and unlimited fines for bribery offenses. UK businesses must implement adequate anti-bribery procedures to protect against corporate liability, as organizations can be held responsible for employee misconduct even without knowledge of wrongdoing.
Budget 2011: Enterprise zones announced
The 2011 Budget announced 21 new enterprise zones across the UK, with locations including Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, and Manchester. Businesses in these zones will receive up to 100% discounts on business rates, superfast broadband, and enhanced capital allowances, echoing a similar 1980s scheme.
Budget 2011: Pensions reaction
The UK pension industry has welcomed the introduction of a flat-rate state pension as a significant reform that will simplify the complex system and provide greater clarity for savers planning retirement and employers offering workplace pensions.
Budget 2011: George Osborne minds the skills gap
George Osborne’s 2011 budget addressed the UK skills gap by pledging 50,000 new apprenticeships, 100,000 work placement spaces, and 24 technical colleges to tackle youth unemployment and boost economic growth. The measures aimed to create a more educated and flexible workforce to support financial recovery.
EHRC to focus on promoting and enforcing equality at work
The Equality and Human Rights Commission will focus on promoting workplace equality and enforcing anti-discrimination legislation under new government proposals. The coalition government plans to restrict the regulator’s remit to core activities where it can add unique value, hiving off other tasks to more cost-effective providers.
SMEs claim coalition bad for business
Nearly half of small-to-medium employers believe coalition government policies have negatively impacted their business, with 29% expecting the Budget to worsen conditions. A YouGov survey reveals SMEs prioritize easier bank funding and competitive tax regimes over current policy initiatives.
IBM settles out of court for bribery campaign
IBM has agreed to pay $10 million to settle SEC accusations of a decade-long bribery campaign in China and South Korea involving cash gifts and travel to government officials. The scheme, which occurred between 1998 and 2009, was connected to approximately $54 million in government contracts. IBM neither admitted nor denied wrongdoing in the out-of-court settlement.
Health and safety cuts will put employees at risk
Health and safety advocates warn that planned cuts to workplace inspections starting in April will increase employee injuries and deaths. The government will reduce automatic inspections by roughly 11,000 annually, limiting checks to only high-risk sectors like energy and nuclear plants while ending routine monitoring at medium and low-risk sites.
Wellbeing at work: Ease employees’ money worries
Financial stress significantly impacts employee productivity and wellbeing, with research showing strong links between money worries and mental health issues, absenteeism, and presenteeism. Employers can support staff through workplace counselling and financial education programs to address this often-overlooked challenge.
Ask the expert: Accusations – how do we handle bad mouthing of the company?
Expert advice on handling employee complaints about negative company comments made at social events. Learn whether you must name the accuser, if witnesses can act as employee companions during hearings, and how to properly investigate such allegations.
Budget Britain: Save money, banish employee rights…
The government’s “small enterprise exemption initiative” would exempt firms with 10 or fewer employees from employment regulations including maternity leave and flexible work rights. However, legal experts question whether removing employee protections derived from EU law would be lawful, and the proposals could create costly disputes over negotiated deals.
Flexible working is for senior staff only, say some
Despite 83% of UK employers offering flexible working, nearly two in five restrict it to senior staff only. Research shows flexible working reduces costs, boosts productivity, and improves motivation, yet some companies limit access due to trust concerns.
One in four have no respect for manager
Over a quarter of UK workers have no respect for their managers, with nearly half finding them unmotivating. Regional disparities are significant, with the North East most disillusioned and the South West most satisfied with their leadership.
Crowdsourcing will decide which regulations go
The UK coalition government is launching a crowdsourcing initiative allowing employers to vote on which of 21,000 business regulations should be kept or removed, beginning with the retail sector. Business Secretary Vince Cable will announce the scheme alongside a three-year moratorium on new regulations for companies with fewer than 10 employees.
Concern at only 3.7% of UK SET workforce skilled to technician level
The Skills Commission has launched a parliamentary inquiry into the UK’s shortage of technician-level skills, with only 3.7% of the workforce trained to this level compared to 5.3% across the EU. The cross-party review aims to strengthen technical training and apprenticeships to support manufacturing and engineering growth.
