New Look launches job magazine
Fashion retailer New Look has launched a quarterly internal magazine designed to boost employee engagement and communicate company strategy, fashion trends, and employee achievements to its 20,000-person workforce. The publication will feature product news, seasonal styles, and staff profiles while encouraging two-way communication through competitions and reader contributions.
Grad job slump will last until 2010
Graduate recruitment jobs have fallen by a quarter, with figures showing the worst decline since 1991. The Association of Graduate Recruiters warns the slump will likely persist through next year, with only the energy sector showing growth amid stagnant salaries and increased competition.
Government ‘whistleblowing’ consultation begins
The government has launched a 12-week consultation on enabling employment tribunals to share whistleblowing case details with regulators. The measure aims to improve information flow and help regulators assess claims and detect patterns of unlawful or dangerous behavior across industries.
Managing the redundancy survivors: A constant challenge
HR must manage redundancy survivors effectively to retain talented employees and maintain business success. After layoffs, remaining staff experience guilt and fear, requiring leaders to rebuild confidence and engagement through respectful treatment and support tailored to different achievement styles.
HR tip: What is theft?
Technically, removing any company property without permission—whether timber or pencils—constitutes theft. Establish clear workplace standards about what employees can take, distinguishing between minor items and valuable materials, and apply rules consistently to avoid disputes and accusations.
Time to bite the self-service bullet?
HR self-service systems enable employees and managers to access personal records and complete HR activities independently, resolving up to 66% of queries and reducing HR workload significantly. Despite clear benefits—including improved transparency, efficiency, and meeting workforce expectations—many organizations hesitate due to concerns about staff capability, data accuracy, and implementation challenges. Evaluating these systems is essential when organizational resources are constrained.
How to keep your employees cool during the heatwave
Employers must implement cooling measures to protect staff during heatwaves, as the UK lacks a legal maximum workplace temperature. HSE guidelines require reasonable temperatures, and heat illness can occur at temperatures as low as 25°C, potentially causing heat stroke in severe cases and reducing productivity through increased sickness absence.
Are they being served?
During economic downturns, HR teams focused on redundancies and cost-cutting often neglect employee engagement, risking loss of their best talent. Research shows engaged employees feel heard and informed about organizational changes, yet many companies fail to address basic communication needs that could improve retention and productivity.
Report reveals HR is pro social networking
A new report finds that 80% of HR decision makers use social networking to inform business decisions, with over a quarter discovering suppliers through these platforms. The survey reveals that social networking usage among HR professionals is widespread across all age groups, challenging the perception that it’s merely a time-wasting activity.
Ask the expert: Investigation into a complaint
An employer struggles with deciding whether to proceed to disciplinary hearing after receiving multiple complaints against an employee, complicated by questions about witness impartiality and matching testimonies from committee members.
Necessity should be the mother of innovation
During economic downturns, organizations that innovate survive and grow, while those cutting costs indiscriminately risk losing competitive advantage. Innovation spans from incremental improvements to radical transformation, and strategic thinking about organizational challenges can reveal previously unrecognized opportunities for renewal.
Beyond the crossroads: How to avoid a recession culture
Companies must carefully consider long-term consequences when cutting costs during recessions, as poor treatment of employees during downturns leads to talent departures during recovery. Short-term cost-cutting measures that ignore ethics and employee wellbeing create a “recession culture” that damages organizational effectiveness and employee trust.
How to select the right employee for the job
Effective employee screening is crucial during economic downturns when competition for roles increases and companies face financial constraints. This guide evaluates key screening methods—from telephone interviews to CV reviews—using criteria like validity, cost, bias, and return on investment to help organizations select the right candidates efficiently.
Recruitment: Overcoming budget cuts
During economic downturns, organizations must streamline recruitment processes to reduce costs while maintaining hiring quality. By reviewing selection procedures, ensuring fair and defensible practices, and using efficient online tools, businesses can identify top talent while minimizing expenses and legal risks.
Finding people that fit the organisation
Recruiting the right person requires finding candidates whose values, behaviors, and personal brand align with your organization’s culture and objectives. Ed Grimshaw explores how to move beyond intuition and systematically identify employees who will fit in, adapt to change, and contribute meaningfully to your team’s success.
‘Hands on’ HR is key to successful future recruiting
Successful recruiting in 2019 will require a hands-on HR approach rather than one-size-fits-all strategies, according to recruitment experts. A more diverse workforce with varied expectations means employers must personalize their recruitment processes and rely on human decision makers to stay competitive.
Undercover Boss: Paying lip service to the skills gap
Steven Martin, CEO of construction firm Clugston, goes undercover to discover how job cuts and poor communication have damaged staff morale. The Channel 4 episode reveals how management distance from frontline workers creates serious workforce problems.
Five things we learned at The Talent Management Conference
The Economist’s Talent Management Conference revealed how economic pressure is reshaping talent strategies, with executives moving away from the premium-priced “war for talent” model toward retention and engagement in tougher times. Key insights showed the economy influences talent management practices, while modern employees demand more from employers beyond traditional compensation and development opportunities.
Changing your HRIS software? Read this first
Choosing the wrong HRIS software can be costly and time-consuming. Before upgrading or switching systems, review your reasons for change, assess whether your current vendor can meet your needs, and determine detailed specifications based on current processes rather than wishlist features.
HR tip: Challenging doctor’s fit note
Employers can challenge a doctor’s fit note if concerned an employee isn’t healthy enough to work safely. Consider offering light duties first, or suspend the employee with sick pay while contacting their doctor with details about the job’s demands.
