Legislation update: ‘Young’ employee wins age discrimination claim
A younger worker successfully won an age discrimination claim after being dismissed without evidence of poor performance. The case demonstrates that age discrimination protections apply to workers of all ages under UK employment law, with no minimum service requirement needed to bring a claim.
Teachers’ strike costing businesses millions
A 21-year teachers’ strike is costing UK businesses up to £68 million in lost working hours as parents scramble to arrange childcare or take time off work. The National Union of Teachers is demanding a 4.1% pay increase instead of the government’s 2.45% offer, citing three years of below-inflation wage growth.
Is a team building day just a ‘day out’?
Effective team building goes beyond fun activities and requires clear objectives, team involvement, and structured follow-up to improve workplace performance. Rather than a one-off event, successful team development is an ongoing process that delivers real business results.
The importance of performance management
Formal performance management aligns employees with business goals and serves as a powerful engagement tool. It enables managers and employees to share feedback, identify development needs, and provides insights to shape learning and succession planning strategies.
HR tip: Employee relocation too far away
Employers can express concerns about an employee relocating 20 miles away, but can only take action if the position requires on-call availability or if the move causes documented performance issues like lateness or fatigue-related deterioration.
HR slides down league of best jobs for mums
HR ranks sixth in a league table of best jobs for returning mothers, with nearly half of HR workers reporting unfair treatment post-return. Teaching tops the list, while only 45% of HR mums feel treated equally in their workplace.
Think tank exposes cost of education under Labour
A think tank report reveals that nearly 4 million pupils failed to achieve five GCSEs including English and maths under Labour, despite a 75% increase in education spending totaling over £70.5 billion.
Job boards fail SMEs
Research reveals that over half of job boards lack transparency about candidate audiences and pricing, while a quarter fail to display basic business information like company registration details, making it difficult for SMEs to confidently select recruitment platforms.
Lack of skills cost £1.45 billion a year
Poor numeracy and literacy skills are costing UK workers £1.45 billion annually, according to the ME-Q Index. Workers struggle with everyday calculations like checking bills, calculating tips, and comparing phone tariffs, with nearly 100,000 people losing over £1,000 last year due to basic skills gaps.
MBA slams credit crunch gloom
MBA graduates are commanding average starting salaries of $109,678 globally, with European business schools reporting higher average salaries than US and UK counterparts for the first time. Despite economic challenges, employment rates remain strong at 90-93% within three months of graduation, demonstrating the continued value of MBA qualifications.
Sex discrimination claimant seeks to ‘top up’ award to £19m
Former city lawyer Gill Switalski seeks to increase her sex discrimination award from £13.4 million to £19 million, claiming she suffered mental and physical harm from workplace bullying at asset management firm F&C. An employment tribunal previously ruled she faced sex discrimination and harassment by senior management.
Depression Awareness Week highlights the issue of stress at work
Depression Awareness Week (21-26 April) urges UK employers to combat workplace mental health stigma and support stressed employees. Stress, depression, and anxiety account for over 50% of mental health-related absences, with depressed workers averaging 30 days off. Employers can reduce absence through flexible work arrangements, occupational health support, and counselling services.
Tipping the scales: Achieve a great work-life balance
Discover practical strategies for achieving work-life balance, from understanding your multiple roles to setting smart goals and improving time management. Expert advice helps managers work more effectively rather than longer hours to sustain results and nurture both career and personal life.
Targeting costs in the online job hunt
Online job recruitment can significantly reduce hiring costs and streamline administration compared to traditional methods. Companies using web-based recruitment systems can cut recruitment expenses, reach broader applicant pools, and speed up processes, though they must ensure effective systems and site design to avoid application overload and discrimination risks.
Taking care of your company’s future
Succession planning helps companies build strong leadership pipelines and retain top talent at all levels. By proactively identifying and developing key performers, businesses can ensure continuity, reduce costly turnover, and maintain competitive advantage amid workforce aging challenges.
L&D: A bunch of trainers or developing the future workforce?
L&D departments must evolve from transactional training providers to strategic partners that develop future workforce capabilities. This requires aligning learning with business needs, supporting knowledge workers through job-embedded and technology-enabled methods, and fostering professional networks rather than simply delivering courses.
Ask the expert: Consent for medical reports
Employee consent for medical reports is required when obtained from practitioners with a clinical care relationship, such as GPs or specialists. However, consent may not be necessary for occupational health assessments or independent medical practitioners without prior clinical involvement, though employers should generally seek consent and maintain confidentiality obligations.
Faltering motivation levels hits third of workers
Nearly one in three UK employees lack motivation in their current role, with 43% planning to leave within a year. Key demotivating factors include unreasonable workload, feeling underpaid, and lack of career development support.
Salary freezes as economy slows
More than 30% of organizations are freezing or considering freezing base salaries due to economic slowdown, according to a Hay Group study of over 1,000 companies. The survey also found that 15% are freezing salaries for all employees, while 20% plan to freeze or reduce staffing levels in the near future.
Pregnancy gives candidates the wrong start
A survey reveals that 76% of employers would reject job candidates if they knew they were pregnant within six months of starting. Over half of bosses consider pregnancy likelihood before hiring, a practice that violates sex discrimination law and has led to increased tribunal cases.
