Tiny bikes set to save health of office workers
Portable desk pedal machines could help office workers reduce sedentary time without disrupting their work, according to research from East Carolina University. A trial found participants used the devices regularly and burned significant daily calories, though researchers noted motivation may need reinforcement over time.
Long service soldiers sacked by email in personnel blunder
The Ministry of Defence apologised after 38 long-service soldiers, including one deployed to Afghanistan, were notified of contract terminations by email rather than through proper military protocol. The warrant officers, with over 20 years of service each, received a round-robin message about budget cuts, prompting the defence secretary to order an investigation into the breach.
Join us at TRULondon3
Follow live coverage of TRULondon3 with Charlie Duff as she compiles tweets, blogs, and industry updates on recruitment, HR, and social media. Join the conversation on Twitter or check back here for ongoing event coverage and insights.
Breast cancer – what can employers do to help?
One in eight women will develop breast cancer, with risk increasing significantly from age 30. Employers can support early detection and prevention through lifestyle initiatives, affordable screening services, and breast health awareness programs that empower employees to take action.
Ask the expert: Disability discrimination questions
Employers can ask disability-related questions on application forms only in specific circumstances under the Equality Act 2010, such as to determine reasonable adjustments needed or monitor diversity. Any disability information must be kept separate from the recruitment process and withheld from decision-makers to prevent bias.
FTSE 100 need to diversify boardrooms or face quotas
A government inquiry is expected to recommend FTSE 100 companies set targets of 15-30% female board representation within two years or face quota requirements. The review suggests strengthening corporate governance codes and requiring firms to demonstrate progress on gender equality in boardrooms.
Redundancies ahead as cuts bite
The first quarter of 2011 will see a sharp rise in job redundancies across both public and private sectors as government cuts take effect. According to a Labour Market Outlook survey, two in five organizations plan to cut jobs, with the figure reaching 77% among local authorities. The employment index has turned negative, indicating more organizations intend to make cuts than hire staff.
Love in the office – heartbreak for HR
Office romances can create serious HR challenges, including conflicts of interest, discrimination claims, and unfair dismissal risks. Employment tribunal cases highlight the importance of clear workplace policies on personal relationships and proper grievance procedures to protect both employees and employers.
Employers face fines over inappropriate background checks
Employers making inappropriate or unlawful background checks will face fines up to £500,000 under new UK government reforms. The Protection of Freedoms Bill scales back the Vetting and Barring Scheme to focus only on roles with close contact to children and vulnerable adults, reducing background checks from 9 million to 4.5 million.
Chris Last appointed head of Government HR Operations
Chris Last has been appointed as the first head of Government HR Operations, taking on a cross-departmental role while retaining his position at the Department for Work and Pensions. His responsibilities include improving HR professionalism, talent management, and implementing a unified civil service HR policy across Whitehall by March 2012.
Company revises Facebook policies after firing employee
A US ambulance service agreed to revise its social media policies after firing an employee for criticizing her boss on Facebook. The National Labor Relations Board ruled the dismissal violated workers’ rights to discuss employment conditions, though the settlement terms remain undisclosed.
Oakeshott resigns over coalition bonus cave-in
Liberal Democrats Treasury spokesman Lord Oakeshott resigned from his position in protest over the coalition government’s handling of banker bonuses under Project Merlin. He argued the deal was ineffective and that banks had “taken the Treasury for a ride” on pay restrictions.
Align social media strategy with business objectives
Align your social media strategy with core business objectives, mission, and values. Organizations must develop clear policies with employee guidance, cross-departmental input, and comprehensive training to ensure social media efforts support business goals while managing risks.
Defining resilience: what we can learn from resilient role models?
Resilience is the ability to maintain high performance and well-being under pressure, recover from setbacks, and avoid burnout. Unlike a fixed trait, resilience can be developed by strengthening four key components: confidence, purposefulness, adaptability, and social support. Learning from resilient role models helps individuals build these essential workplace qualities.
Forcing retirement after the DRA? A high hurdle…
The abolition of the default retirement age in October 2011 won’t end forced retirement. Employers can still impose mandatory retirement ages if they can objectively justify them as proportionate responses to legitimate business aims, though courts will set a high bar for approval.
Catching stars – talent management and technology
Talent management technology helps HR teams address recruitment, retention, and succession planning challenges while improving workforce planning and knowledge management across organizations.
January figures good but unemployment to remain high
January hiring grew at its fastest rate in six months, but the CBI warns unemployment will remain stubbornly high, peaking at 8.4% this year. Economic growth is expected to remain sluggish due to inflation, VAT increases, and subdued consumer spending.
John Lewis ‘bottom slapping’ case thrown out
An employment tribunal has dismissed a sexual discrimination claim against John Lewis, ruling the male shop assistant had “embellished” allegations of bottom-slapping by a colleague. The tribunal found no evidence of a bullying culture at the Oxford Street store and determined the contact was not sexual in nature.
Mind the skills gap – HRzone at TRULondon
HRzone will participate in TRULondon 3, an unconference event on February 17-18, featuring a “Mind the skills gap” track exploring how recruiters and HR professionals can collaborate to address talent sourcing challenges in the workplace.
Vox pops from Learning Technologies 2011 – Day 1
HRZone attended Learning Technologies 2011 at Olympia and asked attendees what changes they’d like to see in learning and development during 2011. Discover the insights and perspectives shared by industry professionals at this key event.
