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 […]
Talent spotting and talent shopping
In 1997, strategy consultancy McKinsey coined the (perhaps controversial) phrase, "the war for talent" and while it’s a given that having great talent is business critical for any organisation, many companies have still taken a reactive rather than proactive approach to talent attraction. In a lot of cases, employers will only start to source talent […]
Google levels playing field for gay employees
Google has begun paying gay staff in the US on average £650 per annum more than straight employees in order to compensate for the extra taxes they have to fork out. The wage hike, which will be backdated to 1 January this year, is to make up for the fact that when US organisations offer […]
Work-related illnesses cost UK economy £36bn
Although the number of staff who were fatally injured at work fell significantly last year, non-terminal illnesses caused by poor working practices cost the UK economy nearly £36bn. According to provisional figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), some 151 workers died in fiscal year 2009-2010, which equates to about 0.5% per 100,000 employees, […]
UK loves flexible working – but not managing productivity
UK businesses are embracing flexible working policies, yet are risking the bottom line due to a lack of time and attendance systems to effectively manage productivity, says a survey. A survey of 50 HR professionals carried out by Amano UK found that 98% of respondents were in favour of their business adopting flexible working practices. […]
Whitehall HR to be unified
Former head of the Football Association Ian Watmore has been appointed to lead a cross-departmental group charged with creating a single HR strategy across Whitehall. As chief operating officer of the Cabinet Office’s new Efficiency and Reform Group (EFG), Watmore will be expected to work with Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude, and chief […]
Summer and autumn of direct action ahead
The head of the RMT union has called for a general strike and co-ordinated community direct action in protest at proposed government cuts as ministers brace themselves for a summer or autumn of discontent. General secretary of the transport union Bob Crow issued a “call to arms” at the RMT’s annual conference in Aberdeen yesterday, […]
Employers: take advantage of ‘golden hello’ before it gets scrapped
Employers are being urged to take advantage of ‘golden hello’ recruitment and training subsidies before an expected government review puts their future in jeopardy. The call came as official figures revealed that 10% of graduates who left UK universities last year were unable to find jobs, up from 8% last year. The number could soar […]
Blame the Jabulani football, not the leader
At the time of writing, I’m not alone in reflecting on England’s exit from the football World Cup – the papers, the internet, the broadcast media seem to be talking about nothing else. But if you cast your mind back just a few days, one of the biggest talking points in South Africa was […]
Leadership Matters: Affair between director and her direct report
This column answers your questions on leadership, talent management, performance improvement and the employee behavioural issues that can cause even the best leadership techniques to go awry. This time an affair between a director and a person reporting to them is making life awkward. The dilemma My manager (a director) has been having an affair […]