A bold step for IT L&D
The Institute of IT Training has completed a management buyout to become an independent, self-governing body. Industry leaders endorse the move as an opportunity to strengthen professional standards and expand the organisation’s role in technology-based learning and development.
Gas workers may strike over bullying
British and Scottish Gas workers are being balloted for strike action over allegations of workplace bullying and macho management culture. The GMB union sent ballot papers to 8,000 members, with voting closing March 23, following claims of overwork, excessive up-selling pressure, and harsh disciplinary practices.
Manufacturing must retrain to stay competitive
Manufacturing industry leaders are calling for government investment in workforce retraining to help the sector remain competitive amid advancing technology and digital transformation. Without updated skills training, companies risk falling behind in innovation and commercialization despite the UK’s strong technological heritage.
McDonald’s: Would you like a GCSE with that?
McDonald’s is launching the UK’s first national work experience-based qualification as youth unemployment remains high and young people increasingly view academic credentials alone as insufficient for securing employment. The new 10-day placement programme combines practical workplace experience with skill development and mock interviews, offering participants a GCSE-equivalent qualification upon completion.
Graduates? No thanks!
Tesco’s corporate affairs director criticized school and university graduates for lacking basic literacy, numeracy skills, and proper work attitudes, despite achieving record academic results. She also blamed government bureaucracy for distracting teachers from their core task of classroom instruction.
Engaging employees – it’s a management issue
Line managers play a crucial role in employee engagement, with nearly 90% of staff at top-rated companies saying their direct boss cares about their job satisfaction. A survey of over 276,000 employees reveals that manager support matters more than senior leadership in driving motivation and loyalty.
Small businesses, watch your back when hiring
Small business owners face significant risks from bad hiring decisions, unlike larger corporations that can absorb liability. This guide offers expert advice on conducting employee background checks to protect your company from financial, reputational, and security risks while respecting privacy laws.
Five myths about public sector pay
Persistent myths about public sector pay obscure the real issues, from misleading salary comparisons that ignore job complexity to flawed arguments about pay caps and performance management challenges specific to government employment.
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.
