Sainsbury’s gives graduates a taste for leadership
Sainsbury’s has launched a community-based action-learning programme to develop leadership skills in graduate recruits, partnering with a local primary school in Newham that includes an allotment project.
TUC and FSB champion apprenticeship cause
The TUC and FSB are calling for apprentice minimum pay to increase from £80 to £110 weekly, arguing higher wages will improve completion rates and diversity in apprenticeships. The campaign launches during the first-ever Apprenticeships Week in February 2008.
Social enterprises beat profit chasers to ’employer of choice’ gong
A YouGov survey shows 30% of workers would choose social enterprises as employers over traditional businesses (16%) or government institutions (13%). The poll reveals strong preference for social enterprises to run local services, with respondents valuing their combination of business efficiency and ethical principles.
Employee engagement: Tailoring it to the company
Employee engagement—defined as a passion for work involving emotional, cognitive, and physical commitment—comes in many forms across organizations. While research shows engaged employees are more productive and loyal, only three in ten UK workers were engaged in 2006, with younger employees showing particularly low engagement levels. Companies like Yahoo and KFC demonstrate that tailored engagement strategies reflecting company culture can effectively inspire workforce commitment.
Employing illegal workers: Are you in the know?
The Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 introduces stricter penalties for employing illegal workers, including civil penalties up to £10,000 per employee and potential imprisonment. Employers must now verify worker eligibility through specified documents and conduct ongoing checks to comply with the law.
You and your job – happy together?
Nearly half of the working population feels unhappy in their job, but career coach Denise Taylor shares practical strategies to improve your work satisfaction. From reframing your mindset to seeking feedback and maintaining work-life balance, these actionable tips can help make your workday more enjoyable.
Ask the expert: Re-hire after redundancy
Employers can re-hire an employee months after redundancy without legal complications, provided the redundancy was genuine and a compromise agreement was properly executed. The re-hired employee won’t retain previous service continuity, meaning they must work another year before gaining unfair dismissal protection.
CV howlers leave candidates jobless
Common CV mistakes like misspelling, grammatical errors, and inappropriate email addresses are costing jobseekers interviews. A recruitment poll found three-quarters of employers view poorly written CVs as bigger turnoffs than interview mishaps, with easily avoidable errors being the most frustrating.
Single women rank highest for ‘unpaid’ overtime
A Trades Union Congress study finds that 39% of women under 30 work unpaid overtime, compared to just 25% of men their age. The trend may contribute to health issues and career progression gaps, as women often reduce hours after having children.
Overwhelming vote in favour of rights for agency workers
Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of giving agency workers the same rights as permanent staff, passing a Private Member’s Bill 147 to 11 despite government opposition. The proposal aims to eliminate pay discrimination between agency and permanent employees doing identical work, though business groups argue it could damage the economy.
It takes 2.0
Web 2.0 tools like social networking sites are transforming how companies recruit and build their brands. While some organizations ban these platforms, forward-thinking HR teams are leveraging sites like LinkedIn to attract talent, access richer candidate profiles, and maintain valuable relationships with former employees.
Stressed out: Who is looking after HR?
HR professionals who implement workplace wellbeing policies often face their own stress challenges, yet may struggle to acknowledge it. While employers increasingly recognize employee wellbeing’s business value, HR staff deal with heavy workloads, difficult people decisions, and pressure to show ROI, making their role uniquely stressful.
Protecting employees who work in high-risk countries
Companies have a moral and legal obligation to protect employees working in high-risk countries by assessing risks, establishing clear safety policies, and determining when conditions become too dangerous. UK businesses face increasing legal pressure from corporate manslaughter legislation and health and safety laws that extend to overseas operations.
Pedalling your way to good health
Cycling to work offers employers an affordable way to support employee health and wellbeing. Regular cycling can improve fitness, reduce heart disease risk, and aid weight loss without significant workplace investment.
HR tip: Advising retirement age employees of their rights
Employers must formally notify employees in writing 6-12 months before retirement age, informing them of their right to request extended employment. The notification must outline the formal process for requesting an extension, including rights to a meeting with a companion and appeal procedures. Failure to follow proper procedure may result in unfair dismissal claims.
Employers divided on rights of agency workers
Employers remain divided on equal rights for temporary agency workers, with a new survey revealing disagreement over whether they should receive the same employment terms as permanent staff and how long qualifying periods should be.
Management slog reaps little reward
Eighty-nine percent of managers work beyond their contracted hours, averaging an extra 40 days yearly, yet see little reward for their efforts. The long-hours culture is damaging employee health and performance, with experts warning employers risk losing talent without addressing workload and engagement issues.
Breach of trust causes workers to walk
Over half of workers have left organizations due to trust issues, with lack of open communication cited by 40 percent. Management behaviors like broken promises, breach of confidentiality, and unethical conduct erode workplace trust and impact productivity.
Management turns perpetrator as bullying cases soar
Workplace bullying has surged significantly, with 69% of employees reporting experiencing it compared to 52% in 2003. Nearly half of bullying cases involve management, and 62% of victims report negative impacts on their personal lives. Experts urge employers to implement clear anti-bullying policies and provide safe reporting channels.
McDonald’s basks in top restaurant employer award
McDonald’s has been named Caterer and Hotelkeeper’s Best Place to Work in Hospitality 2008 for the restaurant and bar sector. The company credits its success to investing in employee development, offering flexible scheduling options like the Friends & Family Contract, and providing comprehensive benefits covering everything from discounts to career advancement opportunities.
