Equality Bill: More red tape for employers
The Equality Bill requires employers with over 250 staff to report on gender pay gaps starting in 2013, aiming to address the 23% average pay disparity between men and women. While the government argues this will create transparency and equality, business groups warn it will increase bureaucracy and compliance costs for struggling employers.
Success in a recession: How trustworthy are you?
Building trust in your organization is critical during uncertain times, as research shows most employees and managers lack confidence in leadership. According to experts, trust depends on credibility, reliability, intimacy, and demonstrating genuine concern beyond self-interest—and how others perceive you matters more than your intentions.
Redundancy survivors: Managing increased workloads and stress
After redundancies, surviving employees often face increased workloads and longer hours, which significantly raises stress and anxiety levels. Employers must provide adequate support and communication to help remaining staff manage the additional pressure and prevent productivity from declining.
HR tip: Validity of warnings
Disciplinary warnings typically remain valid for 6-12 months, though employers can set longer or shorter periods based on offense severity. The validity period should be clearly stated in the written warning, and warnings can be kept on file after expiration to identify behavioral patterns.
Business psychology: Are you making the most of it?
Learn how HR professionals can leverage business psychology and psychometric testing to develop talent. Discover how technology and modern assessment tools have made psychology-based selection and development accessible and cost-effective for organizations of all sizes.
Budget 2009: Chancellor moves on unemployment to avoid another ‘lost generation’
Chancellor Alistair Darling announced measures to prevent youth unemployment becoming long-term joblessness, including job guarantees and training for those under 25 unemployed over 12 months. The 2009 budget response came as UK unemployment reached 2.1 million, the highest since Labour took power in 1997.
HRD 2009: Web 2.0 critical to HR’s innovation agenda
Web 2.0 technology is essential to HR’s innovation agenda, enabling collaboration, knowledge sharing, and employee engagement while helping the field add value and stay competitive, according to HR experts at the HRD 2009 conference.
Training your way out of the recession…
A Cranfield School of Management study confirms that investing in employee training during economic downturns is more cost-effective than recruiting new talent. The research found that training existing staff improves retention, motivation, and can save companies money while preparing them for recovery.
HRD 2009: HR must be “confidante” to CEO in a recession
During economic downturns, CEOs expect HR directors to serve as trusted confidantes and strategic partners on people issues, helping them navigate workforce challenges while seizing talent opportunities. HR leaders must demonstrate their value by embedding themselves in strategy meetings and maintaining focus on talent development despite restructuring pressures.
HRD 2009: Three rules to sustaining performance in a downturn, says expert
During an economic downturn, organizations can maintain performance and loyalty through three key principles: solidarity (fostering sociability and purpose), energy (cultivating purposeful momentum), and autonomy (granting employees control and flexibility). Expert Richard Reeves also emphasized that how companies handle redundancies significantly impacts retention and productivity for years to come.
How does top talent react to cost cutting?
Top talent often leaves organizations during cost-cutting initiatives when development opportunities disappear. HR leaders can retain key employees by involving them in cost-reduction and redundancy programs, which provides valuable development experience while building a cost-conscious culture and maintaining engagement.
Mental illness in the workplace: The hidden epidemic
Mental illness costs UK employers an estimated £4bn annually in stress-related absences, yet remains largely unaddressed in workplaces. With nearly 30% of employees experiencing mental health problems yearly, HR professionals must recognize behavioral changes early and create supportive environments to tackle this hidden epidemic.
Ask the expert: Long-term sickness
When an employee on sick leave returns to work to find their job eliminated, employers must follow proper redundancy procedures and consult fairly. Expert legal advice covers whether this situation constitutes redundancy or dismissal based on performance, and the importance of timely consultation before termination.
Up in smoke: ‘Quit’ day? Nothing to worry about
Becky Midgley successfully quit smoking through her employer’s stop-smoking programme and experienced an easier quit day than expected. Using a nicotine patch and inhalator, she’s now several days smoke-free with strong workplace support and positive coping strategies in place.
Keep ‘Budget for jobs’ genuine, pleads CIPD
The CIPD urges the Chancellor to deliver a genuine ‘Budget for jobs’ by cutting employers’ national insurance contributions and focusing on job creation for young and long-term unemployed, warning that payroll tax adjustments are essential to support employment during the recession.
Interview: Cath Bailey, European HR director, Kellogg’s
Cath Bailey, European HR director at Kellogg’s, discusses managing cultural integration following the company’s Russian acquisition and shares insights on nurturing talent across global operations. She highlights how Kellogg’s maintains its distinctive workplace culture through structured programs and local HR teams.
Video voxpop: What causes stress in the workplace?
Members of the public share their views on what causes workplace stress in this video voxpop series. Discover common workplace stressors and challenges affecting employees today.
Health, work and director leadership
An HSE survey found that nearly 90% of UK directors report workplace health is on their board agenda. The research examined director leadership practices on health and safety across organizations with five or more employees, revealing that larger organizations are more likely to implement monitoring and reporting procedures.
HR tip: Loss of driving licence for sales staff
When a sales representative loses their driving licence, dismissal isn’t automatic. Employers should first explore alternatives like public transport, redeployment, or remote work before considering termination, unless the ban reason significantly harms company standing.
Increase in employment tribunals: Don’t get caught out
Employment tribunal claims increased 43% between 2006-07 and 2007-08, driven by new employee-protective legislation, no-win-no-fee solicitor arrangements, and economic uncertainty. Employers must understand recent legal changes to avoid costly tribunal disputes during redundancies and dismissals.
