Budget ‘must tackle unemployment’
Employer bodies urge the UK government to prioritize job creation in the upcoming Budget, as unemployment hits a 17-year high of 2.53 million (8%). Young people face particularly severe job prospects, with youth unemployment reaching 20.6%.
Businesses relying on temps
UK businesses are increasingly hiring temporary staff and workers in unconventional roles due to economic pressures. A survey found temporary hires jumped 65% year-over-year, with construction seeing a 184% surge, while 28% of workers now hold unsustainable jobs involving long hours, multiple positions, or extensive travel.
HR: prepare for pensions tax legislation now
New pension contribution rules take effect April 6, 2011, capping annual contributions at £50,000. HR managers should be aware of this legislation change and consult independent advisors to ensure staff receive proper guidance on tax-efficient pension planning.
Prepare for childcare tax changes
Tax relief changes for childcare schemes take effect from 5 April 2011, affecting employers offering childcare vouchers and directly contracted childcare. New employees earning at higher or additional rate will see reduced tax-free allowances, requiring employers to conduct Basic Earnings Assessments when staff join the scheme.
Budget blag: Pubs want beer duty frozen to ‘protect jobs’
The British Beer & Pub Association is calling on the government to freeze beer duty to protect nearly a million jobs in an industry worth over £21 billion. The group warns that a proposed 7% beer tax increase could worsen pub closures, which claimed 13,000 jobs last year.
Government plans to drop maternity for SMEs and weaken bribery act revealed
The UK government plans to exempt foreign companies listed on the London stock exchange from Bribery Act prosecution and remove maternity and paternity protections for small businesses with fewer than 10 employees. These proposals risk breaching OECD commitments and EU law, potentially creating international conflicts over regulatory standards.
Asda launches leadership programme
Asda is launching a company-wide leadership programme training 10,000 UK managers through specially-designed activities aimed at embedding the retailer’s vision and values. The initiative comes as research reveals one in four managers have knowingly breached professional conduct guidelines at work.
Public sector pay should be linked to performance
An independent review recommends linking senior public sector managers’ pay to performance through an “earn back” scheme while rejecting a proposed 20:1 pay cap. The report suggests greater pay transparency and publishing pay ratios could help restrain executive compensation without arbitrary limits.
Book review: The Art of Action by Stephen Bungay
Stephen Bungay’s “The Art of Action” applies 19th-century Prussian military strategy to modern business, arguing that organizations should prioritize decisive action over perfect planning. Drawing on von Clausewitz and von Moltke, the book challenges contemporary management’s tendency toward excessive control and detailed strategy documents.
The return of the thank you event
As companies emerge from recession, thank you events and incentive travel programs are making a comeback. During the financial crisis, many firms cancelled staff celebrations or conducted them secretly due to public perception concerns, risking the motivation and retention of top performers who kept businesses afloat.
Wellbeing: become more resilient
Learn how to build personal resilience through practical strategies including acceptance, mindfulness, and positive thinking. Resilience is a trainable skillset that helps you manage stress gracefully and bounce back from life’s pressures and challenges.
Ask the expert: HR reviews – do we need to consult?
HR reviews that assess staff views and organizational functioning do not legally require consultation beforehand. However, if the review leads to changes like redundancies or contract modifications, formal consultation with affected employees becomes necessary.
Bizarre CVs: For a reference, contact God
Recruiters reveal the most bizarre CVs they’ve received, including one citing God as a reference and another listing “Master of Time and Universe” as experience. A survey found UK employers spend less than a minute reviewing most CVs, with spelling mistakes and poor formatting being major turnoffs.
Eight jobs removed from ‘skills shortage’ list
Eight occupations including senior care workers and migrant chefs have been removed from the UK’s shortage occupation list, restricting non-EU skilled workers from filling these roles. The move aims to cut jobs available to non-European migrants from 500,000 to 230,000 by 2015 as part of the coalition government’s anti-immigration measures.
Event: You can get agile – survive and thrive
Discover how HR can drive organizational agility at a free executive forum hosted by Pilat HR Solutions and HRzone. Learn key characteristics of agile organizations and the HR strategies needed to help businesses survive and thrive in today’s rapidly changing environment.
Union fury at public sector pension plans
Public sector unions condemned Lord Hutton’s pension reform proposals, which would replace final salary schemes with career average earnings and raise pension ages. The GMB and Unison warned the changes could trigger industrial action, while the CBI backed the government-backed report as necessary to address a £10 billion annual pension liability gap.
Sickness insurance could replace sick pay from employers
Employers could be required to take out income protection insurance for staff instead of providing statutory sick pay, according to a proposal under review by the UK government. The plan aims to reduce the £8 billion annual sickness absence bill by incentivizing insurers to return workers to employment faster through early intervention.
Event: Reward management in financial services – where do we go from here?
Explore reward management challenges in financial services at this free breakfast briefing hosted by Curo Compensation and HRzone. Discover how to balance FSA compliance, regulatory pressures, and competitive pay while navigating expanded code requirements for 2011.
HR can do complicance but struggles with strategy, says survey
HR departments excel at compliance and statutory requirements but struggle with strategic talent management, according to a survey of 53 European organizations. Most HR leaders reported falling short on competency mapping, diversity initiatives, and work-life balance programs, despite strong relationships with executives.
Health and safety spot checks could be reduced: good or bad for business?
The Health and Safety Executive faces pressure to reduce unannounced workplace inspections by a third due to budget cuts. While some sectors like nuclear and offshore would retain oversight, unions warn fewer inspections could increase workplace deaths, though safety officials stress proactive checks are effective compliance tools.
