Take five – communicate better
Improve workplace communication by breaking five common bad habits: over-reliance on email, lack of transparency, and excessive jargon. This first part of a two-part series offers practical tips for HR professionals and leaders to foster more effective employee interactions and reduce misunderstandings.
Train and gain or snooze and lose
UK employers must increase investment in staff training to remain globally competitive as the economy recovers. A national survey found skills gaps rising to 19% in 2009, yet fewer workers are receiving training despite the worsening gap between employee capabilities and job requirements.
Rise in vacancies and recruitment activity point to recovery
Online job vacancies reached their highest level since December 2008, with February postings up 12% from January and 6% year-over-year, according to Monster UK’s Employment Index. While the data suggests continued labor market improvement, IT roles led growth at 19%, though some sectors like engineering and R&D experienced significant declines.
Government watchdog spends £170k on role play
The Audit Commission spent £167,000 on role-play training over three years using professional actors for staff recruitment and management development, drawing criticism from Conservative politicians who questioned the expense during financial constraints.
Not safe for work – the prevalence of porn
One in five men admit to accessing pornographic material at work, creating significant risks including brand damage and harassment litigation. Organizations need automated monitoring and enforcement tools to address this issue while maintaining reasonable workplace policies without imposing outright bans.
Engaging your talent through embodied leadership
Embodied leadership inspires talent engagement by integrating thinking, emotion, and action to create “elegant organisations.” Leaders who tap into employees’ four energy levels—muscular capability, motivation, passion, and inspiration—unlock discretionary effort and sustained healthy high performance.
Drowning in a sea of applications
Managing high volumes of job applications is increasingly challenging, especially in graduate recruitment where candidates per vacancy have nearly doubled. Online assessments like situational judgement tests help recruiters filter candidates efficiently and identify the best talent for their roles.
99th International Women’s Day reveals same glass ceiling
A UK survey of 1,741 workers released for International Women’s Day finds that nearly half believe women face glass ceilings in the workplace, with only 15% of women feeling they have equal opportunities compared to 40% of men.
Scotland lays down anti-violence guidelines
Scotland has issued the UK’s first guidelines to protect workplace staff from physical and emotional violence. Nearly one in four public-facing employees reported verbal abuse in the past year, with assaults against local authority staff rising significantly. The guidelines aim to reduce workplace violence and its associated health impacts through prevention strategies and reporting procedures.
Ask the expert: Sleeping shift
Whether sleeping shifts in care work count as paid working time depends on whether staff are required to sleep at the client’s premises or are on call. If required or on call, sleeping time is working time under Working Time Regulations and must meet national minimum wage requirements.
Supertax could do more harm than good, says pension body
The National Association for Pension Funds warns that proposed higher-rate taxes on top earners could harm lower-paid workers and cost employers significantly more than the government estimates. The scheme could generate £420-840 million in annual implementation costs versus the Treasury’s predicted £110 million, affecting workers earning £40,000-80,000 through promotions or bonuses.
Landmark agency and permanent staff wage equality
Asda has secured a landmark agreement with its meat and poultry suppliers to pay agency workers the same wages as permanent staff. The move, made in partnership with Unite union, is expected to set a precedent for other supermarkets and aligns with upcoming European Agency Workers Directive protections.
Public sector people squeeze dents optimism
The UK jobs market is recovering with vacancy growth at its fastest pace since 2007, but public sector spending cuts expected after the general election could slow recruitment over the next six to twelve months.
Public sector cuts are bad news for female workers
Female workers face disproportionate job losses as public sector cuts loom, with women making up over a third of public sector employment compared to one in six in the private sector. A major survey warns of the worst employment prospects for women in a generation as hundreds of thousands of public sector jobs are expected to be cut in coming years.
Engaging Employees – eight steps to become a people engager instead of a people manager
Transform your management approach by engaging employees’ strengths rather than focusing on performance failures. Learn eight practical strategies—from fostering transparency and accessible leadership to building collaborative partnerships—that boost productivity, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment during economic challenges.
M&S – HR business partners getting the balance right
Marks & Spencer transformed its HR function into true business partners to balance short-term cost management with long-term talent retention during the recession. By maintaining investment in training and development while managing costs, M&S aimed to preserve its employer of choice status and avoid the talent depletion that typically follows economic downturns.
Ask the expert: What are our responsibilities to employee with MS?
Employers have legal responsibilities under disability discrimination legislation when employees have multiple sclerosis. Key obligations include implementing reasonable adjustments such as modified hours or equipment, conducting proper needs assessments, and ensuring the employee isn’t treated less favorably because of their disability.
Flexible working for all – fantasy or reality?
A UK study shows 20% of men fear flexible working requests will damage their careers, despite many firms claiming to offer such arrangements. True flexible working extends beyond choosing hours—it means enabling employees to deliver results in ways that suit both them and the business, boosting productivity, creativity, and work-life balance.
Female workers should use their ‘negotiator potential’ to close the gender pay gap
Female workers can help close the gender pay gap by proactively negotiating salaries, according to career experts. Women often undervalue their contributions and avoid salary discussions, while men ask for raises more frequently, perpetuating the 20.2% pay disparity.
Staff distrustful of line managers’ instincts
Nearly half of UK staff distrust their line managers’ decision-making instincts, while three-quarters of managers admit they would change past personnel decisions if given the chance. A new survey reveals that most managers rely on gut feel and overestimate how well they know their staff, leading to costly hiring and placement mistakes.
