When is a GCSE not a GCSE?
GCSEs are now offered in multiple formats—modular, linear, and vocational—which can significantly affect grades and employability. Employers often don’t understand these differences, making it difficult to assess candidates’ actual skills and competence based on qualifications alone.
HR workers love the job despite rising workloads
Despite rising workloads equivalent to an extra day per week, 94% of HR workers report job satisfaction. However, nearly one in three has resigned due to increased workload pressure, and confidence in career prospects has dropped significantly.
Ask the expert: Asking for redundancy
When an employee asks to be made redundant following a business reorganisation, employers must be cautious about dismissing them without a genuine redundancy situation. Legal experts advise that a compromise agreement may offer a safer alternative if the employee wishes to leave.
Caption competition: And the winner is…
Bryony Bennett from Kent wins this month’s caption competition with a clever wordplay entry inspired by a poll comparing UK workers to celebrity chefs. She receives a prize of Italian wine, organic white wine, or non-alcoholic drinks to the same value.
Older workers and women first for the chop
Women and older workers have been hit hardest by redundancies during the credit crunch, according to ONS data showing 8,000 fewer women and 1,000 fewer men aged 50 to state pension age in employment. Employers risk uncapped compensation claims under age discrimination laws when using age as a redundancy factor.
Unemployment set to reach 2 million
The UK faces a potential technical recession with unemployment expected to rise by 250,000 to 300,000 over the next two to three years, potentially reaching nearly 2 million jobless. Recent ONS data shows unemployment climbing to 1.67 million, with the largest monthly increase in claimant counts since 1992.
Temp or Perm?
Charles Handy’s “Shamrock Organisation” model introduced a flexible employment structure combining permanent managers, contracted specialists, and temporary workers. This approach has become the norm, with temporary and agency work expanding dramatically across the UK economy and public services outsourcing nearly doubling in recent years.
Talent & HR related blogs in one place
Discover a curated collection of UK-based HR and talent management blogs in one convenient location. This aggregated resource brings together blog posts and a comprehensive blogroll of HR professionals sharing insights on recruitment, employee development, and workplace trends.
Delivering effective L&D on a tighter budget
L&D managers face budget pressures while needing to retain talent and develop employee skills. Effective programmes must focus on high-demand competencies like communication and leadership while leveraging cost-effective, workplace-based learning approaches.
Training is not enough
Employee performance depends on three factors: ability, motivation, and opportunity. While training builds ability, effective management ensures employees are motivated and have the conditions to succeed—making strong management just as critical as training for organizational performance.
Beware of what you wish for – lifelong learning has arrived!
Gordon Brown’s new right-to-training proposal could revolutionize workplace learning, but success depends on building genuine learning cultures rather than relying on legislation alone. Experts warn the initiative will only work if employers and employees see it as mutual progress, backed by strong performance management and skills evaluation.
The future for L&D: All drugs and no rock and roll?
L&D budgets face pressure amid economic uncertainty, with organizations shifting toward coaching, localized learning, and selective in-sourcing rather than full outsourcing. Despite lower central budgets, total organizational spend on development has grown through decentralized initiatives, though this organic learning model risks erosion from cost-cutting measures.
Nine months is only the start: Managing maternity
Effective maternity management extends far beyond the nine-month leave period. Employers must implement integrated strategies across organizational, managerial, and individual levels, including flexible working arrangements, to retain talented women and prevent costly talent loss in a competitive job market.
Handling redundancies when times get tough
Employers must follow strict legal procedures when making staff redundant to avoid unfair dismissal claims. Redundancies triggered by business closure, workplace closure, or reduced staffing needs require different consultation processes depending on the number of employees affected, with collective redundancies involving 20+ employees requiring formal notification and consultation with representatives.
IT professionals in over 160 countries to accelerate their careers with British Computer Society and Pearson VUE partnership
The British Computer Society and Pearson VUE partnership enables IT professionals in over 160 countries to pursue certifications in software testing, business analysis, project management, and ISO/IEC 20000. Through Pearson VUE’s network of 5,000 testing centers, candidates can book exams online with flexible scheduling and enhanced security measures.
Registration open for ‘Best Companies’ awards
Organisations can now register for the Best Companies Accreditation and Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For awards, recognised benchmarks for workplace engagement. Registration closes 31 October, with results announced in January and March 2009.
Should HR managers care about employee health?
Rising health issues like stress, obesity, and aging among workers are increasingly impacting productivity and sick leave, prompting HR managers to recognize employee health management as a strategic workplace concern alongside traditional health and safety practices.
HR tip: Continuity of employment and length of service
When an employee returns within one week of leaving, their previous service continues unbroken. This means redundancy calculations and notice periods are based on total accumulated service, not just the time since re-engagement.
Colborn’s Corner: Poaching staff
A recent High Court ruling shows that employment contracts can effectively prevent staff poaching through restrictive covenants. HR professionals can use this to develop strong retention strategies, combining enforceable contracts with recognition and career development to keep key talent from competitors.
Official statistics confirm job prospects are on the slide
Official statistics show UK unemployment reached 1.67 million in July, with the claimant count rising by 20,100—the largest monthly increase since 1992. The CIPD warns job prospects have weakened across nearly every sector, with redundancies rising and wage growth slowing to 3.4%.
