Employee engagement: the pursuit of workplace happiness
Employee engagement occurs when workers’ personal interests align with their organization’s goals, driving proactive contributions that benefit both. Research shows companies excelling at engagement achieve better business results, making workforce alignment essential for organizational success.
DRA scrapping could lead to more discrimination tribunals
Scrapping the default retirement age in April could trigger a surge in age discrimination tribunal claims due to lack of government guidance on replacement legislation, the CBI warns. Employers face uncertainty about new retirement rules, with nearly half concerned about increased legal disputes.
CBI demands companies ‘comply or explain’ board ratios
The CBI calls for publicly listed companies to set targets for women on boards and report progress on a ‘comply or explain’ basis, avoiding mandatory quotas. The move supports increased female representation through flexible targets and improved talent management rather than rigid requirements.
Nearly half feel organisation lacks skills
Nearly 43% of UK managers believe their organisations lack the necessary skills to meet 2011 business objectives, with 58% citing skills shortages as a major obstacle. The situation is particularly acute in the public sector, where 86% expect redundancies and job security concerns are widespread.
Good relations with MD helps retain talent
Strong relationships between managing directors and staff help reduce employee turnover in Scottish and Northern English SMEs, with staff churn rates lowest where managers view workers as friends rather than colleagues, according to new research.
Take the pain out of training seasonal staff
Seasonal staff training doesn’t have to be a headache. Innovative learning solutions like smart boards and dynamic product viewers help retailers quickly get temporary employees up to speed, ensuring consistent customer service and reducing training costs during the busy festive period.
Video: Avoiding serial litigants
Employment lawyer Jenny Wilson explains how companies can protect themselves from serial litigants when advertising job positions, and outlines practical steps employers should take to avoid legal disputes.
Update: Immigration cap legislation and how it affects you
The UK government has introduced new immigration restrictions including an annual cap of 20,700 migrants under Tier 2 (General) and a £40,000 salary threshold for intra-company transfers. These measures aim to reduce net migration while new rules will eliminate Tier 1 (General) visas for skilled workers not sponsored by employers.
Season of Goodwill? A very HR Christmas
HR departments face annual challenges during the festive season as workplace Christmas parties become potential litigation hotspots. With offensive behavior difficult to define, employers must balance holiday cheer with strict conduct policies, while employees navigate socializing without risking grievances over jokes or comments.
Recruitment freeze thaw forecast to hit London
London employers are abandoning recruitment freezes, with 45% planning to hire in the next six months compared to just 11% a year ago, according to a CBI survey. However, cautious optimism is tempered by concerns about economic uncertainty, public spending cuts, and regulatory burden.
UK skills body to be scrapped
The UK coalition government is scrapping Lifelong Learning UK, the sector skills council responsible for workforce professional development, despite a report warning that greater skills investment is essential for economic recovery. The body will cease operations by the end of March 2011, with its replacement unclear as the government faces criticism for underinvesting in skills compared to other developed nations.
Recession agression – HR managers are getting tougher to demonstrate greater ROI
As the UK emerges from recession, HR managers face increased pressure to demonstrate measurable return on investment and align people strategies with business objectives. Senior HR professionals must balance traditional workforce empowerment with results-driven accountability, managing costs while retaining talented staff.
Finance Bill 2011: Childcare voucher schemes
The Finance Bill 2011 introduces changes to childcare voucher schemes, limiting tax relief for new participants to basic rate from April 6, 2011. Employees must enroll by that deadline to benefit from higher marginal tax rates, while existing scheme members retain their current relief status.
Government u-turn on pension rates makes schemes more expensive
The UK government has reversed plans to allow private pension schemes to switch from Retail Prices Index to the lower Consumer Prices Index for pension upratings, disappointing employer groups seeking to reduce pension deficits. Industry bodies warn the move leaves schemes under financial stress without needed relief.
The eyes have it: Study into ‘nudge’ psychology
A new study shows that posters displaying human eyes encourage cooperative behavior, making people twice as likely to clean up after themselves and three times more likely to contribute money honestly. Researchers suggest these “nudge” psychology tactics could help reduce anti-social behavior by making people feel watched.
Informal learning and driving innovation future of L&D and HR
Informal and continuous learning will drive L&D innovation over the next decade, with organizations increasingly adopting social networking tools and rethinking leadership strategies to foster innovation and navigate global markets during economic recovery.
Getting retirement right
Phasing out the default retirement age of 65 requires employers to adopt more rigorous HR practices. Research shows that fears about unproductive older workers clinging to jobs are unfounded, but organizations must establish consistent procedures for managing performance fairly across all ages.
Take home pay growth at 50% of last year
Workers’ take-home pay growth has slowed to just 1% annually, half last year’s 2.2% rate, due to economic uncertainty and weak labor market conditions. Both private and public sector wage growth has declined significantly, with public sector pay expected to fall further in 2011 due to pay freezes and pension reforms.
Hunt the Robin is back!
Hunt the Robin is back this festive season on HRzone.co.uk. Find the hidden Christmas robin on the site to win a pair of cinema tickets redeemable at over 230 cinemas nationwide. Competition closes December 17, 2010.
David Fairhurst’s decade in HR: How HR earned its place at the top table
Over the past decade, HR has transformed from a supporting function to a strategic leadership role within major corporations. As business accelerated and information became more accessible, HR professionals established themselves as essential to organizational strategy by instilling company values, empowering managers, and developing structured employee learning programs.
