Employment tribunal activity on the rise
Employment tribunal claims in England, Scotland and Wales surged 56% to a record 236,100 in 2009-2010, driven largely by a 90% jump in union-led multiple claimant cases. Working Time Directive cases skyrocketed 297%, while redundancy and age discrimination claims also rose significantly, creating a growing case backlog.
Rudeness in the workplace hurts productivity
Workplace rudeness impairs cognitive function and reduces productivity, even among employees who only witness discourtesy. Research shows rudeness affects concentration and memory, with serious consequences in high-stakes fields like healthcare and aviation where mistakes can be dangerous.
Employment law takeaways for July
Monthly employment law updates for HR professionals covering key tribunal cases, including guidance on mental disability claims, conditional resignations, discretionary bonuses, and cross-border employment rights.
The battle for the boardroom isn’t just about gender
Boardroom leadership success depends on demonstrating genuine thought leadership rather than gender. As women pursue equal opportunities in executive positions, the competitive advantage goes to those who achieve reach, engagement, authority, and sustained impact in their field.
Operating in emerging markets: seven successful leadership traits
Effective leadership in emerging markets requires seven key traits, including imagination and cultural adaptation, as leaders must move beyond Western management models to succeed in countries like Brazil, China, and India with fundamentally different workforce values and orientations.
Public sector strikes loom
Government ministers are exploring ways to restrict union strike powers ahead of expected industrial action over public sector cuts. The moves include raising the threshold for strike approval and making unions legally liable for strike consequences, while the Cabinet Office also plans to alter civil service redundancy terms.
Don’t mix business and pleasure in workplace
A study of small-to-medium businesses found that mixing personal friendships with work relationships impairs managers’ ability to give impartial feedback and manage staff effectively. Experts recommend staying business-focused while remaining approachable, keeping personal involvement separate from professional evaluations.
Ask the expert: Maternity vs holiday
Experts advise on an employee who wants to use all her remaining holiday allowance during October and early November, potentially taking leave when her baby is due. Legal guidance clarifies maternity leave timing, holiday entitlement rules, and practical solutions for employers facing this situation.
Testing positive: Evidence and debate around positive psychology
Positive psychology lacks sufficient rigorous research to support its broad claims, with studies relying on small, non-diverse samples and poor emotion measurements. Critics argue the movement resists self-critique and makes unsupported promises to vulnerable populations like cancer patients, yet audiences remain drawn to its appeal despite these evidence-based concerns.
Talent spotting and talent shopping
Building talent pipelines requires proactive networking and relationship-building rather than waiting for job vacancies. The best candidates, often “passive” professionals not actively job-seeking, are found through recruiters’ networks and talent mapping—not job boards or CV databases.
Google levels playing field for gay employees
Google is paying gay US employees an average £650 more annually to offset extra taxes on partner health insurance benefits, which are taxable for same-sex couples but not heterosexual married ones. The company also extended equal family leave, medical benefits, and redefined infertility coverage for LGBTQ+ staff.
Work-related illnesses cost UK economy £36bn
Work-related illnesses cost the UK economy nearly £36bn annually, despite workplace fatalities falling to historic lows. While fatal injuries dropped 31% below the five-year average in 2009-2010, non-terminal conditions caused by poor working practices remain a significant economic burden.
UK loves flexible working – but not managing productivity
UK businesses overwhelmingly support flexible working, with 98% of HR professionals in favor, yet 46% lack time and attendance systems to manage productivity effectively. This technological gap risks undermining the benefits of flexible policies and impacting the bottom line.
Whitehall HR to be unified
Ian Watmore has been appointed to lead a cross-departmental group tasked with creating a unified HR strategy across Whitehall. As chief operating officer of the Cabinet Office’s Efficiency and Reform Group, he will work to find £6.2 million in savings across government departments and ensure coordinated cost-cutting efforts.
Summer and autumn of direct action ahead
RMT union leader Bob Crow has called for a general strike and coordinated community direct action to protest government spending cuts, warning of a summer or autumn of widespread industrial unrest similar to the anti-poll tax movement of the 1990s.
Employers: take advantage of ‘golden hello’ before it gets scrapped
Employers are urged to use ‘golden hello’ recruitment grants worth up to £2,500 before a government review removes the subsidy. Graduate unemployment reached 10% last year and could spike to 25% as public sector job cuts loom.
Blame the Jabulani football, not the leader
The Jabulani football’s properties—5% faster, softer, and slicker than standard balls—affected player performance at the 2010 World Cup. However, blaming the equipment rather than adapting to it reflects poor leadership, as the ball was uniform for all teams and beyond anyone’s control.
Leadership Matters: Affair between director and her direct report
An HR professional grapples with reporting her director’s affair with a direct report, fearing retaliation while concerned about business risks and loss of professional trust. The advice explores company culture, conflict of interest policies, and the employee’s options for addressing the situation.
It’s competitive, but graduate jobs are out there
Graduate job opportunities are rebounding with top employers planning to hire 17.9% more graduates this year, but fierce competition persists with an average of 45 applicants per position. Applications have surged 7% annually and 15% since 2008, driven partly by previous graduates still seeking work, though average starting salaries have risen to £29,000.
The eyes have it: looking after your employees’ sight
Most companies aren’t complying with UK eye care laws requiring employers to fund eye tests and glasses for computer screen users. While 73% of firms fail to meet legal requirements, affordable solutions exist—complete eye exams and glasses cost as little as £17 per employee under corporate schemes.
