Motivating employees – are shares an option for you?
Share options can be a creative way to motivate employees and boost engagement by fostering a sense of ownership. HR professionals don’t need extensive expertise to implement share schemes effectively as a retention tool.
Tackling inequality may require quotas
The European Commission is considering quotas to increase women in board-level positions, while a new report warns that employment gaps for ethnic minorities are widening despite their growing share of the UK population. The EU’s five-year gender equality strategy addresses senior positions, pay equity, and entrepreneurship.
DRA should be kept to protect SMEs
The Institute of Directors argues the government should retain the Default Retirement Age rather than abolish it, warning that scrapping DRA would burden small businesses with complex dismissal processes and divert management resources from growth. Auto-enrolment pension costs would further strain SMEs already struggling with affordability concerns.
Ask the expert: Sickness and holiday pay
Learn how to calculate holiday pay and entitlements for employees returning to work on reduced hours after sick leave, including bank holiday payments and pro-rata considerations.
Milkround still valued by graduates
Two-thirds of final year students plan to use the milk round to help choose their employer, with nearly 90% intending to attend campus recruitment events. Graduates value face-to-face contact and expect recruiters to be engaged, provide personalized follow-up, and offer insights into working life rather than simply directing them to websites.
UK employees too embarrassed to work up a sweat
One in three UK employees avoid exercising at work due to embarrassment about sweating in front of colleagues, according to a British Heart Foundation survey. The study found that 80% of workers fail to meet recommended exercise levels, with over half spending most of their day sedentary. Simple workplace changes like lunchtime walks can boost productivity and reduce sick days.
Employers need to get real about what motivates employees
Employers often misjudge what keeps employees satisfied, with nearly a quarter willing to leave for better opportunities. While companies focus on brand and benefits, workers prioritize competitive pay, career development, training, and flexible arrangements—a disconnect highlighted in the Randstad World of Work Report 2010.
There is no graduate oversupply, claims Work Foundation
The UK does not have an oversupply of graduates but rather lacks those with the right skills for a knowledge economy, according to the Work Foundation. While manual and unskilled jobs have declined, demand remains strong for professionals with expertise in managerial, technical, and professional roles.
Study finds UK organisations need to modernise their approach to talent management
UK organisations lack integrated talent management strategies, with only 30% having well-defined approaches. Research shows most companies operate siloed HR processes disconnected from business goals, putting employee engagement and retention at risk as economic recovery improves.
Mission possible: Employee engagement in the public sector
As the UK public sector faces significant budget cuts and workforce uncertainty, employee engagement has become critical to preventing talent loss and maintaining stability. The CIPD research shows that while private sector organizations prioritize talent retention, public sector organizations have failed to do so, risking a brain drain of their most skilled employees.
Top tips for mitigating seasonal recruitment risks
Seasonal recruitment carries significant risks that employers often overlook. Discover practical strategies for vetting temporary staff, including background checks and identity verification, to build a reliable workforce while meeting legal obligations and protecting your business.
Make learning sweet, says Peter Honey
Learning doesn’t have to be fun to be effective, says learning styles expert Dr Peter Honey. He argues that creating supportive environments and addressing learners’ motivations matters more than making experiences enjoyable, challenging the assumption that all learning should be jolly.
Cable announces 10% Royal Mail employee shares scheme
Business Secretary Vince Cable announced that at least 10% of Royal Mail shares will go to employees during privatisation, marking the largest employee shares scheme in 25 years. The commitment will be included in the Postal Services Bill, alongside measures to address the pension deficit and introduce private sector capital.
Vince Cable to announce consultation into exec banking pay
Vince Cable is expected to announce a wide-ranging consultation into banking executives’ pay, targeting concerns over huge bonuses while businesses struggle to secure lending. The consultation will also examine directors’ roles in takeovers and how to increase shareholder influence over corporate decisions.
HR taking action but management not owning engagement
HR departments are implementing engagement measures like team briefings and training, but most organizations fail to ensure managers take ownership of the issue. Research shows employee engagement has declined significantly, yet managers often treat feedback surveys as administrative exercises rather than actionable business priorities.
Hilton sets up Chef Apprenticeship Academy
Hilton Worldwide has launched a Chef Apprenticeship Academy offering fully funded places and salaries to 20 apprentices. Participants will complete a 12-month program combining college courses and on-the-job training, earning an NVQ Level 2 in Professional Cookery with opportunities for permanent roles at participating UK hotels.
Strike action threatened over pay and conditions
Unions threaten strike action against Northampton Borough Council over proposed pay cuts affecting 28% of its workforce. The changes would cut salaries for over 1,100 of the authority’s lowest-paid workers by up to £2,500, while higher earners remain unaffected.
What can HR learn from the X Factor?
HR professionals can learn valuable lessons from the X Factor about finding and nurturing talent. Organizations should look beyond waiting for talent to appear and instead actively identify potential within their workforce, encourage creative thinking, and provide mentoring and development opportunities to unlock employee potential.
Companies continue with ex-pat execs despite downsides
Companies plan to significantly increase expatriate assignments to emerging markets like China and India over the next five years, despite challenges in finding suitable candidates and managing remote operations effectively.
EU maternity laws ‘unaffordable’ for UK businesses
EU proposals to extend maternity leave to 20 weeks on full pay would cost UK businesses £2.5 billion annually, business groups warn. The British Chambers of Commerce says the plans are “completely unaffordable” for already overburdened companies, though some campaigners argue paid leave for both parents benefits employers through higher return-to-work rates.
