New L&D degree launched
The University of Chester and the Training Foundation have launched a Foundation Degree in Learning and Development Practice to professionalize the sector. The two-year part-time program comprises 11 modular courses, with experienced practitioners eligible for 50% credit toward completion.
Election 2010: Are you voting for flexibility?
All three major political parties are championing flexible working in the 2010 election, citing employee and economic benefits. However, businesses implementing these schemes face challenges around management control and productivity, requiring proper systems and reporting to succeed.
How do you teach a new line manager to manage?
Most organizations don’t adequately prepare first-time line managers for their new role, relying instead on generic induction courses or minimal support. Without proper development interventions, newly promoted managers often lack essential skills in performance management, employee development, and leadership, risking team underperformance and talent loss.
Five steps to wellbeing at work
Discover five research-backed strategies to boost your wellbeing at work, including using your strengths daily, building positive social connections, and making healthy choices. Since we spend roughly 30% of our lives working, taking action to improve workplace wellbeing directly impacts your mental and physical health.
CMI announces chartered manager of the year finalists
The Chartered Management Institute has announced 11 finalists for its Chartered Manager of the Year award. Selected through regional heats by expert panels, these accredited managers now compete for public votes at www.managers.org.uk/cmgr2010. CMI’s chief executive praised their commitment as positive role models for UK management excellence.
Recruitment rates up but gap in private and public sector grows
Private sector hiring is set to surge this spring, but public sector recruitment faces its bleakest outlook in six years, widening the gap between the two sectors. The net balance for public sector job recruitment has dropped to -43%, the lowest since the quarterly survey began in 2004.
The new succession planning
Self-service talent management systems are transforming succession planning by expanding opportunities beyond senior roles to engage high-potential employees across the organization. This approach reduces turnover, improves retention of top performers, and enables employees to identify career paths and development needs aligned with business objectives.
Bebo-speak: the language your younger employees don’t want you to understand
Teenagers on the social network Bebo are using deliberately distorted slang and misspellings to hide their activities from employers and authority figures, according to research. The coded language goes beyond typical text-speak abbreviations, serving as a deliberate strategy for young people to communicate privately within their peer groups while concealing content from adults.
Only 40% of employees say their business is ethical
Only 40% of UK employees believe their organization behaves ethically, according to research by Kenexa. However, companies with strong corporate social responsibility practices show significantly higher employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention rates.
Equality ruling costs Birmingham Council £200 million
A Birmingham Employment Tribunal ruled in favor of over 4,000 female council workers who were systematically paid less than male colleagues for equivalent work, with potential payouts reaching £200 million. The women, employed in roles from lollipop ladies to nursery workers, were excluded from bonuses worth up to 160% of base pay offered to men on the same grade.
Volcanic voxpops – how did you cope?
At the CIPD’s HRD event, we asked attendees how their organizations coped with volcanic disruption. Discover the various business continuity policies and strategies companies used to manage the crisis and its impact on employees and operations.
Wellbeing – the crucial engagement factor
Employee wellbeing is crucial for engagement and retention, with 90% of employees unhappy with workplace wellbeing saying they’d leave if they could. Organizations that embed wellbeing into their core values and business strategy—through small, meaningful initiatives rather than expensive perks—see measurable improvements in productivity and employee satisfaction.
Election 2010: Are the unemployment policies redundant?
Unemployment policy heavily influences voter decisions in the 2010 election, with 69% of jobseekers saying it would affect their vote. However, three-quarters are unhappy with Labour’s efforts, and 68% remain unaware of other parties’ employment proposals despite UK joblessness reaching 2.5 million.
Presenteeism – there in body, but not in mind
Presenteeism refers to employees who are physically at work but less productive due to personal issues, mental health problems, or illness. This can significantly impact work quality and safety, with studies showing it costs businesses over 1.5 times more than absenteeism. Employers can reduce presenteeism through employee assistance programs and supportive workplace policies.
Recession still biting, warns CMI
The recession continues to impact eight out of ten UK employers, with falling staff morale and rising job insecurity among senior managers. Despite official economic recovery, 41% of executives report severe business disruption, while confidence in future employment and insolvencies remains at record lows.
How to handle: Absenteeism and return to work
Effective absence management focuses on employee health and wellbeing rather than sickness monitoring. Early health assessments, trained line managers, and proper return-to-work processes help reduce absences while improving productivity and employee satisfaction.
Ask the expert: Occupational health and stress
Occupational health professionals can support employees on work-related stress leave, though expertise in mental health varies. Employees feeling unable to return due to company-caused stress should seek legal advice promptly before resigning, as claims may include personal injury, disability discrimination, or constructive dismissal.
Job cuts hit NHS and IBM
The NHS faces potential job cuts of up to 36,000 nursing positions as it seeks £20 billion in spending reductions, while IBM considers cutting 299,000 permanent staff roles and rehiring them as contractors. Both moves highlight growing pressure across public and private sectors to reduce personnel costs.
Pensions reform: support is waning
Support for UK pension reforms is declining sharply among employers and employees due to concerns about high charges, complexity, and long-term viability. New research reveals employer backing has halved since 2006, with particular resistance from smaller firms.
Are your employees aware of your sickness policy?
Many employees are unaware of their company’s sickness benefits, with a survey revealing up to 25% of businesses don’t routinely inform staff about sick leave policies or Group Income Protection coverage. Employers often withhold these details despite no evidence that transparency increases absence, missing an opportunity to improve employee engagement and motivation.
