New year calls made for minimum wage hike
The Institute for Public Policy Research is calling for a minimum wage increase, citing research showing over one million British children live in poverty. The think tank also recommends expanding flexible working rights to help lift more families out of poverty.
Five million work £5k for free in unpaid overtime
Nearly 5 million UK employees work an average of seven hours unpaid overtime weekly, costing them approximately £5,000 annually, according to TUC research. The union has declared February 22 “Work Your Proper Hours Day” to highlight Britain’s long hours culture and encourage workers to leave on time.
Airport strikes cancelled
Planned strikes at BAA’s seven UK airports have been cancelled after the company agreed to withdraw its decision to close the final salary pension scheme to new employees. The agreement followed talks between BAA and unions Unite and PCS, with further consultations promised over the pension scheme’s future.
Stop gap: Interim managers – an expensive waste of time?
Interim managers command premium daily rates averaging £585, but whether they deliver value depends on clear briefs, well-defined deliverables, and selecting candidates with the right mentality—not just experience.
When is a difference in pay classed as sex discrimination?
Pay differences between men and women may constitute sex discrimination under the Equal Pay Act 1970 unless the employer proves a genuine material factor unrelated to sex caused the difference. Direct discrimination occurs when women are treated less favorably because of their sex, while indirect discrimination happens when equal rules have a disproportionate adverse impact on women.
HR tip: Controlling absence
Controlling absence requires creating a workplace where employees want to attend work while fairly enforcing consequences for unexcused absences. Use return-to-work interviews to identify reasons, ensure clear communication about company direction, and implement consistent disciplinary procedures when necessary.
Tax credit rules slammed as working families fail to benefit
A think tank report criticizes the government’s tax credit policy for penalizing working families while failing to lift 1.4 million children out of poverty, despite claims of lifting 600,000 children since 1997.
Engaging with the audience: Interactive e-learning
Interactive e-learning technologies, including handheld voting systems and tablet PCs, help HR professionals keep audiences engaged during training workshops and conferences. These audience engagement tools capture both quantitative and qualitative feedback in real-time, enabling two-way dialogue and supporting blended learning approaches.
International learning provider awarded for corporate social responsibility
Tata Interactive Systems has won the Readers’ Digest Pegasus CSR Award for its corporate social responsibility initiatives in India. The recognition honors the company’s work improving education access and supporting students with learning difficulties through programs including the annual Tata Interactive Learning Disability Forum and partnerships with educational institutions.
Roster row sparks bus driver strike
Bus drivers at Wilts and Dorset depots have begun strike action over disputes regarding roster hours and continuous driving time. More than 375 RMT union members started a 24-hour strike on claims that drivers are being rostered for excessive hours without adequate breaks, with further strikes planned for January.
HR tips 2007
A comprehensive collection of HR guidance from 2007 covering essential workplace topics including interviewing, disciplinary procedures, redundancy, discrimination, and employment law. Topics range from flexible working requests and resignation handling to compliance issues like notifying JobCentre of redundancies and enforcing rest breaks.
HRZone.co.uk Email Bulletin Archive
Access HRZone.co.uk’s email bulletin archive featuring HR insights covering recession management, employee wellness, redundancy handling, employment law, and workplace strategy from 2008-2009.
HRZone.co.uk Email Supplement Archive
Browse the HRZone.co.uk email supplement archive featuring HR industry resources covering topics like talent management, learning and development, rewards, payroll, and employee benefits from 2007-2009.
This week’s email bulletins
Access HRZone.co.uk’s latest email bulletins featuring HR insights on recession management, wellness cost reduction, and learning development strategies. Browse current bulletins and explore archived content for previous editions.
Parameters set for emergency time off in landmark ruling
An employment tribunal has ruled that emergency time off is limited to the period needed to arrange solutions for an immediate problem, not extended leave. The landmark decision in Cortest Limited v O’Toole clarifies that employers must provide reasonable emergency leave but employees cannot convert it into prolonged absence.
Extreme commuters urged to work smarter
UK workers have the second longest average daily commute in Europe at 54 minutes, with some “extreme commuters” traveling three hours daily. Work Wise UK urges employers to adopt flexible and remote working to reduce commuting time, road congestion, and environmental impact.
I’m a celebrity, get me a second career
Many celebrities including Robbie Williams, Kate Moss, and Brad Pitt are pursuing second careers in catering, fashion, and film production. The Learning and Skills Council encourages the public to follow suit by acquiring new skills through college courses and available funding options.
Don’t discard elderly workers like old socks, says think tank
A leading think tank urges businesses and government to stop forcing older workers into retirement, arguing that age discrimination laws deny capable workers over 65 the opportunity to continue employment despite economic and health benefits.
Gloomy new year jobs forecast presents HR challenge
The CIPD forecasts 2008 will be the worst year for UK job creation in a decade, with employment rising just 75,000. HR professionals face significant challenges as private sector hiring slows and redundancies loom, while navigating age discrimination legislation.
More progress needed to meet Britain’s skills needs, says TUC
While vocational training participation has increased, the TUC warns that Britain must accelerate progress on skills development to meet long-term targets. The organization calls for government action, including statutory measures to expand high-quality apprenticeships and guarantee paid training time for employees.
