Redundancy gloom as employment prospects weaken
Yet another survey is predicting redundancy misery for thousands of workers as recruitment activity falls.The latest quarterly Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and KPMG Labour Market Outlook (LMO) survey shows employment prospects are weaker that at any time since the survey began four years ago.Although the survey finds that more than one in […]
Interims: Try before you buy
Anne Beitel explains why being an interim manager is such an attractive offering to so many highly-skilled people, and provides insight into why they are increasingly willing to then take on permanent, employed positions. A new pool of high quality executive talent has made itself available to the harassed recruitment director, as 57% of practicing […]
Time for a fresh look at CVs
Times have changed and the internet is now redefining the role of the CV in the recruitment process, argues Karl Gregory. For more than 50 years, the CV has been the standard way for most professional people to promote themselves when applying for a job. But in the digital age is the CV, in its […]
HR tip: Sexual harassment claim from ex-employee
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Question: "A woman who recently left our employment has now written to complain that, during her time with us, her boss sexually harassed her. As she has left, do we need to do […]
The danger of underestimating your fellow managers
We often rely on deep-rooted and often unsubstantiated opinions and perceptions of individuals and groups. David Pardey emphasises the importance of understanding your fellow managers and argues that the most successful managers approach new situations and opportunities with an open mind. All too often we, as both managers and individuals, are guilty of underestimating the […]
Overworked employees: A risky business
With working weeks getting longer, employees are increasingly suffering from being overworked. Richard MacKinnon explains that employers are particularly at risk in the current economic environment. Despite an overall decrease in working hours in the UK from 2000 to 2007, the average British working week is once again getting longer. Overwork, and the stress that […]
Breastfeeding women encouraged with £2m investment
Breastfeeding at work has been put in the spotlight following public health minister Dawn Primarolo’s announcement that a further £2m will be invested to help more women in England to breastfeed.The extra funding, announced during World Breastfeeding Week, promises to help improve the UK’s breastfeeding rate, which is among the lowest in Europe, and in […]
McDonald’s rides downturn and creates 4,000 jobs
Fast-food giant McDonald’s is hiring 4,000 new recruits to serve the needs of an extra 2 million customers a month.The recruitment campaign will centre on why employees love their ‘McJob’, following a two-year effort to overturn common misconceptions about working at McDonald’s.In 2006, McDonald’s reclaimed the term ‘McJob’ with its bold and disruptive ‘Not Bad […]
Downturn strategies focus of annual CIPD conference
The 2008 Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) annual conference and exhibition will focus on how to survive turbulent times. Amongst those speaking at the conference is the CIPD's chief economist, John Philpott and the Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform, Department for Work and Pensions. Philpott […]
School’s out for summer: Flexibility for parents
Alice Cooper might not have been so chuffed about school being out for summer if he’d had to juggle his busy rock touring schedule with a couple of bored kids. Matt Henkes looks at how two top firms are providing their staff with the necessary flexibility. The excitement that once accompanied the […]
Managing performance: Making it happen
In the second and final part of his series looking at performance management, John Pope examines what managers can do to encourage a culture of high performance. The previous article concentrated on developing a culture in the organisation where people were concerned about raising performance. A culture of high performance is essential – it is […]
No new laws to protect vulnerable workers
The government has announced there will be no new laws to protect vulnerable workers from rogue employers. Business groups have reported mixed feelings about the news. Neil Carberry, the CBI’s head of employment, said: “New laws and regulations do little to tackle unscrupulous firms, who simply ignore the law while they undercut law-abiding businesses. This […]
Are you well?
One of the latest hot topics to emerge in recent years is the management of wellness in organisations. Sandra Beale has some top tips on how to promote and encourage a healthy workforce. Lead by the government initially, wellness at work began in 2005 with the appointment of the first national director of health, work […]
Ask the expert: Sick employee
What should an employer consider before dismissing a sick employee who is regularly absent from work for long periods of time? Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar, and Charlotte Cooper, solicitor at Mills & Reeve, advise. The question:We have an employee who returned to work two weeks ago, following seven months’ sick. He has already […]
Half of businesses to axe staff
More than half of Britain’s businesses are planning on making job cuts despite figures which show the majority of bosses aren’t feeling undue financial pressure.According to KPMG’s quarterly National Business Confidence Survey, 53% of businesses plan to reduce their staff headcount over the coming months, with a similar number planning to implement recruitment freezes. The […]
Maternity returners to share experiences in national survey
A national survey is being launched to find out what women returners really think of going back to work.Pregnancy and childcare charity the NCT is behind the survey, which will capture women’s experiences on returning from maternity leave or adoption leave. Around 400,000 women take maternity leave each year. A figure that is set to […]
Managing/Coaching or Working with Dyslexic Thinkers
People considered to be ‘dyslexic’ and therefore ‘different’ are also often thought of as ‘difficult’. In reality no two people are the same so, what makes one person or group of people more difficult than any other?Nearly always when I find myself in a situation or with people I’m working with that I might classify […]
Empowering Employees
Empowering employees can have significant results in an organization. If employees feel empowered, they work harder, faster, become more dedicated and enjoy their jobs more. Smart organizations are proactively working towards changing their organizational environment and doing more to connect with their employees. They are taking steps to shape their workplace and develop a plan […]
Working with dyslexia
Last week I was training with colleagues on our public speaking programme. We were both going through the programme ourselves and learning from the trainer how to deliver it. It was almost like going through 2 lots of training in the same day. Come to think of it that’s exactly what it was We do […]
Damage limitation: Managing poor performers
Best Employment Law Feature 2008 Poor performers are a danger not only to themselves but to their colleagues and the organisation as a whole. Annie Hayes finds out whether 'tough love' is the only solution. A lot of fuss about nothing? The capability process – points for consideration: Identify exactly what standards the employee should […]
