UBS faces further job cuts as credit crunch gloom spreads
The 9,000 staff working for Swiss bank UBS in London are bracing themselves for further job cuts as the organisation becomes the biggest credit crunch victim to date.Reported by The Times newspaper, the bank has disclosed big new losses from US sub-prime mortgages and structured credit. The first victim is the bank’s chairman, Marcel Ospel, […]
Pregnancy discrimination puts diversity in the spotlight
As many as 30,000 women a year lose their jobs simply for being pregnant, and the news has renewed calls for diversity to be put centre stage.A new report Sexism and the City, by equality pressure group The Fawcett Society, shows that mothers-to-be and new mothers experience the most discrimination in the labour market and […]
KPMG enhances package for working parents
Professional services firm KPMG has launched a new package designed to boost the benefits for working parents.The move is a direct reaction to predictions that life will become even more difficult for carers of children.Research conducted by the Future Foundation predicts that the number of working women in their 40s and 50s looking after both […]
Laying down the law: Legislation roundup
The April legislation amendments are upon us again. Matt Henkes takes a look at the changes you need to know about. As the 6 April regulatory implementation date approaches, it's time for HR to make a last quick check that it's not going to trip over some hidden snag. With a number of easily […]
The growth of internet use at work
With more staff spending excessive amounts of working time on personal internet activities, HR departments are under pressure to find a solution to maintain productivity. Simon Norris looks at the options. You can’t stop thinking about it. You wonder what has changed since you last saw it. That urgent document you need to write is […]
Fraudsters embellish expenses to buy diamonds and cars
Workers are swindling bosses out of £1 billion a year with spurious expense claims including plastic surgery, cars, diamond engagement rings, escorts, council tax, and honeymoons.These are the findings of budget hotel chain Travelodge, which claims the fraudsters are also using company cash to improve their homes with new bathrooms, kitchen, gyms, wallpaper and paint, […]
Talent management to be unveiled
A far-reaching study hopes to address what talent management means to organisations.The six-month project, conducted by InfoBasis, is under way, and the research aims to address the state of talent management in the UK. The research will involve interviews with a range of organisations of different sizes and across a variety of sectors. The final […]
Sexual harassment laws introduced with just three weeks’ notice
New anti-sexual harassment rules are to come into force on 6 April, despite only being laid down in Parliament two weeks ago. HRZone.co.uk has learnt that on 14 March, women and equalities minister Harriet Harman used a statutory instrument, that does not require a debate in Parliament, to introduce the rules which impose on employers […]
The challenge of imparting bad news
Jan Hills discusses how most ‘bad news’ training focuses on the reaction of the receiver and that more focus needs to be concentrated on the giver. One of the key skills of the most successful HR business partners (HRBP) is being able to challenge their client and yet still maintain a good relationship with them. […]
Ask the expert: Corporate manslaughter
What are the implications, under the new corporate manslaughter legislation, for policies on company cars? Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar, advises. The question:I have recently taken over the control of company cars and I am concerned about the implications under the Corporate Manslaughter Act. Do I need to write a separate policy to the […]
Strategic development: Are we missing the point?
We often talk about strategic programmes and actions, but are we taking the appropriate first steps? Mike Morrison finds out. Often we know where we want to get to, or at least have a good idea, but as the old saying goes: “If I was going there, I would not start from here.” That is […]
Unprepared businesses face corporate manslaughter wake up call
On 6 April 2008, the implementation of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bills come into force, yet research suggests businesses are still not prepared.When the new laws come into play, companies, regardless of size, are at risk of prosecution and conviction if a fatality is found to be caused by a gross breach of […]
Negativity costs bosses
Sour-faced bosses are damaging the bottom line with negative working atmospheres.This is according to global management consultancy the Hay Group, that says the problem is becoming rife and, in the financial services sector alone, it is costing a whopping £8.5 billion in reduced profits.The study, based on research of over 2,800 business leaders across the […]
Choctastic Easter competition: The winners
Just before Easter, HRZone.co.uk ran a competition to win a box of delicious Chateau Vert fair trade Belgium chocolates. We were inundated with entries – we never knew you all loved chocolate so much! But we could only pick five winners, and here they are: Shirley Hopkinson Donna Sims Suzanne Marke Rebecca Hall Jesse Partington […]
Employability recognised with new qualification
A level two certificate in employability skills has been launched and will be available from April 2008.The new qualification has been developed by Education Development International (EDI) and is aimed at both current employees and those wishing to enter the labour market.The qualification aims to help learners gain a better understanding of the skills required […]
Changing demographics drains talent pool
A decline in graduate levels is likely to have an effect on business, according to a new report.A moderate fall in the number of 18 to 20-year-olds from today until 2019 is predicted across the UK. It’s an overall decline that equates to 70,000 full-time undergraduate places over the next 10 years, although the dip […]
Attracting great talent
Alyson Pellowe offers advice on how to ensure the best talent wants to work for you – and not your competitors. Attracting great talent can be a difficult task at the moment. Because of the well-documented skills shortage, the best candidates can afford to be selective. Many employers find that the employee is in the […]
Talent management: Finding a cost-effective solution
Sue Lingard explains how employers can invest in cost-effective talent management solutions that allow HR more time to manage people rather than paper. The changing labour landscapeToday, talent management is fast becoming the top of everyone’s agenda. All companies face the challenges of an increasingly competitive labour market. For many, job opportunities are the click […]
Workers sacrifice dream job for shorter commute
Commuting to work has got so bad that two thirds of workers would choose a shorter journey to the office over the perfect job.This is according to a survey by recruiters Unity Personnel, which quizzed workers in Leeds, and found that only 37 per cent of people would commute for over an hour to travel […]
Kitted out for maternity leave
Just because you’ve had a baby, it doesn’t mean you want to ditch work completely. Louise Druce looks at how KIT days can help mothers stay connected with the office. Not all women want to sever ties with the company while on maternity leave, which is why ‘keeping in touch’ (KIT) days have proved a […]
