Lord Alan leads the call for realistic strategy to clear public sector deficit
Lord Alan Sugar and business leaders warn that the government must develop a clear economic growth strategy to offset public sector job cuts. Without private sector confidence and job creation, reducing the deficit will be impossible, they argue.
Risky business: Balancing the risk types in teams and organisations
Effective teams require a balance of different risk-taking tendencies, from calculated risk-takers to risk-averse members. Understanding individual risk dispositions and how they interact is essential for creating sustainable organizational success and avoiding the extreme behaviors that contributed to financial crises.
The ultimate guide to the Equality Act
The Equality Act 2010 consolidates discrimination laws and introduces new protections including discrimination by association, perceived characteristics, restrictions on health questionnaires, and voidance of pay secrecy clauses. Employers must update recruitment practices and employment contracts to comply with these expanded equality requirements.
Agency worker directive ‘not for review’
The UK coalition government has abandoned plans to amend the Agency Workers Regulations 2010, which grant 1.3 million temporary workers equal employment rights to permanent staff. Legal constraints from a binding agreement between the CBI and TUC prevent amendments without both parties’ consent, so the government will instead focus on developing guidance to help employers comply when regulations take effect in October 2011.
Supporting employees out of the public sector
The NHS’s Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme (MARS) offers a structured approach to staff reductions across the public sector. Outplacement support can help departing employees transition careers by identifying transferable skills and managing the job search process effectively.
610,000 jobs will be axed in the public sector by 2016
The UK coalition government planned to cut 610,000 public sector jobs by 2016 through budget reductions exceeding 50% in some departments, according to leaked Comprehensive Spending Review documents. The cuts would affect one in ten public sector workers, with significant impacts on justice, tax, and other services.
Charities must improve leadership talent to tackle global challenges effectively
International charities need stronger leadership development and talent management to address global challenges like climate change and humanitarian crises effectively. Research shows NGOs must improve inter-agency cooperation, organizational innovation, and responsiveness while developing managers capable of working across borders with international partners.
Employers back government’s minimum threshold on strike ballots proposal
Three-quarters of UK employers support government proposals for a minimum threshold on strike ballots, citing concerns that industrial action could harm economic recovery. A YouGovStone study found 88% of senior decision-makers expect rising industrial unrest following budget cuts, with two-thirds worried about damage to economic growth.
Video: Marcus Buckingham, the strengths finder
Marcus Buckingham, developer of the Gallup StrengthsFinder system, explains why focusing on developing your strengths is more effective than fixing weaknesses. Watch his insights from a Benchmark for Business event.
Ask the expert: Extension of probation period
Extending an employee’s probation period is not a disciplinary meeting and does not trigger the right to be accompanied, even if the employee has less than one year’s service. Employers can extend probation without following formal disciplinary procedures, though clear communication with the employee is essential.
Siemens: HR and IT work together 4Success
Siemens completed the world’s largest cloud HR implementation with over 400,000 employees across 80 countries, achieved through close collaboration between HR and IT departments. The project addressed critical business challenges including skills gaps, global standardization, and the need for unified people management systems.
Public sector workers not suitable for private sector jobs
Despite 85% of redundant public sector workers being open to private sector jobs, over 90% of commercial employers view their experience as irrelevant. Employers cite poor communication of transferable skills, lack of market insight, and unrealistic expectations about sector differences as major barriers to employment.
Public sector workers say striking worth the public perception risk
Public sector workers acknowledge striking risks public sympathy but 49% say it’s necessary to protect their jobs. However, 54% wouldn’t accept pay cuts to participate in industrial action, and both unions and government must communicate carefully to manage public perception during spending cuts.
Should UK brace for winter of discontent?
UK unions are preparing for potential industrial action over government spending cuts, with the TUC staging a Parliament protest as a spending review looms. A new study on employee relations reveals concerns about labor disputes in the public sector, where workforce action is most likely.
Measuring the effectiveness and gain of training
Measuring training effectiveness requires examining tangible, measurable improvements in employee performance and their monetary value to the organization. This article explores tough questions about whether training benefits genuinely justify costs and how to identify ineffective programs versus worthwhile investments.
The Digital Workplace: HR in focus
K2 Advisory’s research reveals how digital tools and devices shape modern workplaces. HR professionals must better assess technology needs, measure staff satisfaction with workplace tech, and establish clear social media policies while preventing always-on culture burnout.
Leadership styles – What can HR learn from The Apprentice?
The Apprentice TV show demonstrates critical HR lessons about ineffective leadership, including aggressive management styles, micromanaging, refusing feedback, and failure to engage teams in decision-making. HR professionals can learn what not to do by analyzing contestants’ poor leadership approaches and understand how successful leaders embrace feedback and build trust.
Staff retention failures costing businesses £42bn a year
Poor staff retention is costing UK businesses £42 billion annually, with nearly a quarter of employees actively seeking new jobs due to pay and conditions concerns. The average cost of replacing a worker equals roughly one year’s salary when accounting for lost productivity and recruitment expenses.
Maternity leave: A practical guide
Understand statutory maternity leave entitlements for employees in the UK. Eligible mothers receive 26 weeks ordinary maternity leave plus 26 weeks additional maternity leave, with a compulsory two-week minimum after birth. Employers must receive notification by the 15th week before expected childbirth.
How to: Select a coach
Learn how to select the right coach for your organization, whether hiring an external professional or developing in-house coaching. Discover key criteria to evaluate, including experience, coaching models, confidentiality practices, and communication skills to ensure effective coaching relationships.
