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.
Unemployment set to soar
Leaked Treasury estimates show the coalition government’s austerity budget could result in 1.3 million job losses over five years, with 500,000-600,000 posts cut in the public sector and 600,000-700,000 in the private sector. Economists question whether promised private sector growth can offset these losses.
For talent, opportunity knocks
Talent management programs boost employee engagement by preparing staff for future roles and career advancement, according to CIPD research. However, employees excluded from such initiatives report equal satisfaction levels, suggesting targeted programs may not be necessary for overall organizational engagement.
Adidas brings recruitment in-house
Adidas is bringing its global recruitment in-house to improve staff retention and reduce costs currently spent on headhunter fees. The sports company is standardizing recruitment processes across its brands and implementing new software to build talent pools and increase employee mobility.
NHS not so ‘protected’ after all
NHS Trusts are already planning redundancies and service cuts despite government promises to protect front-line services, a BMA survey reveals. Nearly two-thirds have implemented recruitment freezes affecting medical and nursing posts, while 72% report postponing clinical initiatives for financial reasons.
The management world is still turning
Management recruitment has evolved significantly from post-WWII character-based selection to modern competency frameworks. As business environments became more complex and volatile, organizations shifted from traditional leadership assessments to systematic job specifications, personal profiles, and eventually competency-based approaches to hiring and developing managers.
Recruitment – it’s not as easy as it sounds
Recruitment requires more than finding a qualified candidate—you must select someone both capable and culturally suited to your organization. Modern recruitment combines traditional interviews with assessment tools like psychometric testing and personality profiling to objectively evaluate candidates and predict job performance.
Ask the expert: Advertising short term vacancies and contracts
There is no legal requirement to advertise short-term vacancies such as maternity leave cover positions. However, experts recommend advertising internal roles as good practice to avoid potential discrimination claims and maintain employee trust.
Immigration cap: it’s happening
Despite business and Cabinet concerns about an immigration cap, the UK government plans to implement the measure anyway. Home Secretary Theresa May will launch a consultation with employers and universities, but officials confirm the cap on non-EU migrants will proceed to fulfill election commitments.
Interns need ‘training wage’ says CIPD
The CIPD proposes a mandatory “Training Wage” of £2.50 per hour for all interns to prevent exploitation and promote social mobility. The policy would require employers to pay this minimum rate regardless of industry or occupation, with legal enforcement mechanisms for non-compliance.
Talent – you’ve got it: you just don’t know it yet
Most companies lack reliable data on workforce talent, with only 33% tracking hire quality and 55% knowing if they have skills to execute strategy. Research reveals significant gaps in talent intelligence, succession planning visibility, and competency assessments across organizations.
Sleepness nights for stressed workers
Three out of four UK workers are losing sleep due to work-related stress, with civil servants most affected, averaging just 5 hours 53 minutes nightly. Studies reveal widespread workplace disengagement, with only 49% feeling a strong sense of belonging to their organization.
NEST review may mean more delays on pension scheme
A three-month government review of the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) workplace pension scheme may result in further delays to its launch, currently planned for 2012 with full rollout by 2017. The review will examine earnings thresholds, contribution levels, age groups, and enrollment timing to determine if NEST is the best approach for automatic workplace pensions.
Married transexual wins pensions rights
A married transexual has won her appeal against pension discrimination after being denied the right to claim her state pension at 60 due to her gender change not being legally recognized. The court ruled that requiring her to divorce to claim women’s pension rights violated her human rights.
Study at Harrods University
Harrods has partnered with Anglia Ruskin University to offer employees a two-year BA (Hons) Sales degree, joining a growing trend of major employers creating tailored university programmes. The intensive course combines practical and theoretical modules in sales, psychology, and business, with staff studying half a day fortnightly alongside their regular roles.
The agile employer: helping employees fit the job
Despite high unemployment, many employers struggle to fill key positions due to a skills mismatch. Forward-thinking companies can address talent shortages by identifying “teachable fit” candidates—those lacking specific skills but capable of being trained cost-effectively through reskilling and upskilling programs.
1/3 of 2010 retirees will fall below the poverty line
Nearly one-third of people retiring in 2010 will live below the poverty line, with women significantly more affected than men due to lower pension incomes and career breaks for family care, according to research by Prudential and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Training doesn’t lead to much gain, says report
A new academic report challenges the widespread belief that education and training boost economic performance, arguing that political focus on skills development is a distraction from addressing deeper structural labour market problems like ownership structures and work organisation.
