Acas launches HR equality guide
The conciliation service Acas has published guidance to help HR professionals prepare for implementing the Equality Act, which is due to come into force this October. The Acas guide entitled ‘The Equality Act: What’s New for Employers?’ explains how the new legislation, which was passed on 8 April and replaces nine current laws including the […]
What does it feel like to be talent managed?
We’re looking at retention and what makes people ‘happy to be stuck with you’. Talent management programmes often play a big part in this retention strategy. But how does it feel to be part of it – or ignored by it? Claire McCartney, adviser for resourcing and talent planning, shares the CIPD’s latest findings drawing […]
Getting social with recruitment
While times have been tough recently, according to research by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and KPMG in January, the growth of permanent staff placements is at its fastest since July 2007, demonstrating that businesses are starting to recruit again. However, organisations are still operating on a lean budget so taking a cost-conscious approach […]
Ask the expert: Is depression covered by the DDA?
Martin Brewer and Esther Smith advise on whether depression is covered in this instance under the disability discrimination act. The question: Is depression covered by the DDA? I had been off work for some six weeks with depression. When I returned OH said that I was fit to work, without adjustments, but OH also said […]
Learning innovation: When the classroom won’t cut it
Building skills and harnessing talent are as critical, if not more so, in tough economic times but organisations will have to think innovatively if they are to build the skills necessary to thrive and survive. Recent figures from Lifelong Learning UK revealed that half of all office workers felt they would waste less time at […]
Government may plug BT pensions
Only days after BT averted strike action by reaching a £50 million deal on staff pay, its trustees are going to the High Court to seek a ruling on the extent to which the government should underwrite its £9 billion pension deficit. If the ruling goes in the telco’s favour and the government underwrites its […]
No break for SME bosses
Three out of five bosses in small-to-medium enterprises plan to remain in daily contact with staff during their summer break this year, a situation fuelled by concern over increasingly complex HR and payroll issues. According to a poll of 293 owners of small-to-medium businesses undertaken by internet service provider Eclipse Internet, while 73% plan to […]
Office chit-chat costs employers £2bn a year
Office chit-chats are costing employers more than £2bn each year, with the average UK worker spending over an hour a day talking to colleagues about their social lives. A poll undertaken among 1,546 workers by recruitment agency review site HireScores.com revealed that personnel spend on average 67 minutes each day chewing the fat with colleagues, […]
Coaches call for better regulation of industry
Most coaches would prefer to see self-regulation rather than government intervention to tackle fears that burgeoning numbers of unqualified people entering the profession could damage its reputation. Although the coalition government has no current plans to regulate the industry, training body, the Coaching Academy, has taken a first step in this direction by sponsoring The […]
Recruitment activity shows slowdown
The recovery in the jobs market is slowing, with recruitment activity for permanent positions last month growing at its most sluggish rate since January. Hiring activity for temporary and contract positions also showed the weakest increase since last December. Although recruitment in both categories is still in overall growth mode, according to the ‘Report on […]
Bosses fearing worker burnout due to extra duties
More than two thirds of employers fear that their workforces are struggling to cope with expanded roles following job cuts made as a result of the recession. But 52% are attributing at least partial blame to their learning and development (L&D) functions for being slow to respond to changing business requirements, with just over four […]
Employment tribunal activity on the rise
The number of claims taken on by employment tribunals has soared by 56% over the last year largely due to a significant increase in the number of multiple claimant cases brought by unions. According to official figures published by the Tribunal Service, the amount of claims accepted against employers in England, Scotland and Wales […]
Rudeness in the workplace hurts productivity
Rudeness in the workplace causes staff to make more mistakes, even if they are not on the receiving end of it, a psychologist has warned. According to Professor Rhona Flin at Aberdeen University in a paper published in the British Medical Journal, rudeness, heated discussions and arguments with colleagues all affect personnel’s concentration and […]
Employment law takeaways for July
Employment law takeaways: our bitesize legal updates for busy HR professionals, provided by Suzanne Horne of Morrison and Foerster. This month, vauge resignations, alleged mental disability and whoops-a-daisy (mind your language). 1. J v DLA Piper UK LLP – What does an employee have to prove if s/he alleges s/he has a mental disability? 2. […]
The battle for the boardroom isn’t just about gender
With recent news suggesting a reshuffle in the top 100 jobs after a report that there were more men at the top than women, thought leadership strategist Mindy Gibbins-Klein shares her view about the challenges some people face when trying to reach the boardroom, and how they can be overcome. I was shocked when I […]
Operating in emerging markets: seven successful leadership traits
Leaders in emerging markets need to adapt their leadership style to fit the demands and needs of the situation and the new workforce. Tommy Weir highlights the seven attributes that are needed for success. The emerging markets in countries such as Brazil, China, India, the Arab world and Indonesia offer substantial business opportunities for organisations. […]
Public sector strikes loom
Government ministers are exploring possible ways to curb union strike powers in order to avoid a wave of industrial action against public sector cuts this autumn. The news came as the Cabinet Office confirmed plans to alter the terms of civil servants’ redundancy packages and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) was forced to cancel […]
Don’t mix business and pleasure in workplace
The tendency to mix business with pleasure in small-to-medium enterprises is affecting bosses’ ability to manage their staff effectively, according to a study. A survey undertaken among 60 managers and personnel working in small-to-medium businesses by coaching services provider Kuhnke Communications revealed that a huge 77% of respondents spent time with their colleagues outside of […]
Ask the expert: Maternity vs holiday
This week the experts, Adam Partington and Esther Smith advise on an employee using up holiday during maternity leave. The question: Maternity vs holiday We have an employee whose baby is due on the 29 October. She has 19 days of holiday allowance left for the year and would like to take all […]
Testing positive: Evidence and debate around positive psychology
I recently saw magician Derren Brown on TV talking about mediums. In the light of what – at best – could be called circumstantial evidence that mediums did indeed talk to the dead, he mused that perhaps scientific proof was less important to the bereaved than the comfort which they took from the idea that […]