Home workers stamp on stress but fear being ‘overlooked’
Working from home reduces stress but leads to fears about career progression.New research, led by Durham Business School, Durham University, showed that home workers worried about missing-out on ‘water-cooler networking’ – where potential opportunities for moving up the ladder are discussed informally in the office.The study also found, however, that working from home generally had […]
‘Carbon champions’ boost green engagement
Appointing a ‘carbon champion’ may help engage workers in the bid to be greener.This is according to the Carbon Trust that found that as many as 70% of employees surveyed said they wanted to cut their carbon emissions but wanted more guidance and empowerment. While 80% of those surveyed said there was no training in […]
Coaching enjoys heightened respect
Coaching is increasingly popular as a means of promoting learning and development and has moved up the agenda.This is according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s (CIPD) 10th annual survey which shows how coaching within organisations has moved beyond being ‘the latest fad’ to adding real benefits.Almost three-quarters of UK employers currently use […]
Appraisals: The bigger picture
The secret to a successful 360-degree appraisal is more than a good software package and asking the right number of questions. Verity Gough grills the experts on how to get the best out of this tried and tested method of assessment. Bad appraisals cost the economy over £2bn a year, mainly thanks to the money […]
The psychological contract within employer branding
Dr Graham Dietz examines how the current trend for employer branding can work both for and against the 'psychological contract' that exists between employer and employee. In the past decade, the 'war for employee talent' has seen organisations expend enormous amounts of time, energy and financial resources in promoting their 'employer brand'. Glossy brochures and […]
HR tip: Satisfactory references
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:"We usually offer jobs subject to our receiving satisfactory references. We have two references on one person that are quite worrying and make us wonder if we would be making a mistake employing […]
Transforming the HR function with technology
Jason Kiely looks at the different stages of technology adoption within HR and provides advice to help HR departments understand how technology can make them more efficient, and as a result add real value to the business. The issue of e-HR is high on the list of senior HR professionals for its potential to improve […]
Good looks scoop dream job
A new survey shows that attractive job applicants may have more success at the interview stage than other jobseekers.Shockingly, nearly 90% of employers in the poll by employment law service Peninsula have admitted to choosing the most attractive candidate for a job opening at least once.It’s a finding that is backed up by Online Recruitment […]
Mills-McCartney divorce highlights plight of low paid workers
The high profile divorce award of £24.3 million to Heather Mills for her four-year marriage to Sir Paul McCartney has highlighted the issue over low pay.According to experts, it would take an average McDonald’s worker 1771 years to earn that amount.Recruitment outfit Adecco compared the monthly earnings of Heather Mills, based on the length of […]
Unite opposes Northern Rock redundancy plan
The trade union Unite is opposing plans by the publicly-owned bank, Northern Rock, to make compulsory redundancies.The union is seeking assurances that the workforce will be reduced through voluntary means only. Graham Goddard, Unite deputy general secretary, said that the announcement would cause “further anxiety” for the workforce: “The union will be working to mitigate […]
Budget brings ‘breathing space’ for bosses
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has welcomed the budget, saying “no news is good news” for HR.Commenting on the Chancellor’s budget announcement, the CIPD said that employers would welcome the “breathing space” and the additional resources for skills.Gerwyn Davies, CIPD public policy adviser, said: “While we endorse the additional resources allocated to […]
Workers prepared to pack their bags for the right job
Location is not an issue if the right job is at stake, with as many as 77% of people prepared to relocate to a different city for work.This is according to a new survey by recruitment powerhouse Kelly Services, which found that 66% would go as far as moving abroad for the dream job whilst […]
LSC faces the chop
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is under threat of closure.The government made the proposals in a White Paper, which details the transfer of £7 billion to local authorities to help colleges and sixth forms deliver the reforms needed to raise the education and training leaving age to 18. A new agency will be formed, […]
Rising stars: Looking for the ‘x-factor’
A feeding frenzy for the best staff is being triggered by a war for talent that is testing even the most skilled talent management professionals. Annie Hayes discovers how to spot and keep talent. Managing talent is the most crucial challenge facing HR, according to a survey across 17 EU countries by the Boston Consulting […]
Don’t you forget about change
Jan Hills looks at the reasons why people can be resistant to change, and discusses how to work around this to complete a successful change project. Whoever first claimed that ‘starting is half the job done’ has probably never had to guide a business through a change process. Change processes have a habit of going […]
Ask the expert: Disciplinary action and illness disclosure
An employer has started disciplinary proceedings against a disruptive employee. The employee has now disclosed a medical condition which could affect the proceedings. Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar, and Martin Brewer, partner at Mills & Reeve, advise. The question:I have started disciplinary proceedings against an employee, after it was disclosed they were pursuing personal […]
Is employer brand an HR responsibility?
The employer brand defines what is unique about working for an organisation. But is it HR’s responsibility to promote a brand that can attract and retain employees? Bettina Pickering and Janet Windeatt discuss. While the concept of an employer brand has risen in prominence in recent years, every organisation, no matter whether it chooses to […]
Equal Opportunities
What is peoples views of the equalities minister Harriet Harman’s suggestion that legislation should be introduced that if two candidates were equally qualified for a position, employers would be able to reject the white person or the man in favour of a black person or a woman.Personally I belief that this is blatant racism and […]
Sick Britain costs £100 billion a year
The findings of the first ever review into the health of the work age population shows that ill health is costing Britain a huge £100 billion ever year.The cost is more than the entire annual budget of the NHS and is equivalent to the entire gross domestic product of Portugal.Dame Carol Black, the director for […]
Mums ‘start again’ after maternity leave
Taking time out to have a baby is costing working women their position on the career ladder.Tanya Hine, president of the British Association of Women Entrepreneurs, called it an “ongoing” difficulty: “It always has been a problem that once you have children you’re normally back at the bottom of the ladder and have to work […]
