Book review: The Answers by Lucy Kellaway
Lucie Benson reviews a new book by Financial Times columnist Lucy Kellaway, called The Answers, which aims to provide practical advice to all those workplace dilemmas experienced by office workers everywhere. If you are stuck for Christmas stocking fillers this year, then look no further. Perfect for anyone who has ever worked in an […]
DWP appoints new HR chief as department faces strike action
Chris Last has been appointed director general of HR at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP); the news comes on the back of a threat of industrial action.Last replaces Kevin White who moves to director general of HR at the Home Office. Currently the director of HR for Ford of Europe and the Premier […]
Ask the expert: Information withheld on application
A new employee withheld information on their application form concerning a resignation from their previous job for allegedly stealing money from the company. Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar, and Martin Brewer, partner at Mills & Reeve, advise on the best way to handle a potential dismissal. The question:We have a member of staff who […]
End of year party is a chore
Christmas party celebrations are on the wane as more bosses opt out of holding the annual bash and, according to latest findings, employees don’t actually care.The Chartered Management Institute’s annual Christmas Outlook survey reveals a decline in the number of organisations holding the traditional office Christmas party. Although 66 per cent still plan to host […]
Canny candidates tailor digital footprint
Job seekers can stage-manage a next career move by grooming their social networking profiles.An online recruiting outfit has bucked a growing trend that claims e-networking is social suicide. ClickAJob says that a well-kept online profile can even help candidates secure their next position.ClickAJob’s chief executive Yngve Traberg said: “With care and attention, a good online […]
Funding boost for Train to Gain
The government is doubling its funding for Train to Gain in a bid to boost skills in line with the recommendations of the Leitch report.The extra money will mean part-funding for those doing a second full level 2 qualification, while funds for level 3 are to be increased nationally. There will also be a huge […]
New Year salaries set to rocket by 6 per cent
Global salaries are expected to rise by an average of 6 per cent in 2008.This is according to the 2008 Global Compensation Planning Report study by consultancy Mercer.Highest pay increases are expected in India at 14 per cent, almost 10 per cent above local inflation, with the lowest pay increases in North America and Western […]
Business travellers struggle abroad
Frequent business travelling is doing little to break down language and cultural barriers.A new survey has found that 88 per cent of respondents believe that executives are making more foreign business trips than ever before, and 97 per cent of those say that more effort should be made to learn about business etiquette in other […]
Family firms urged to ‘manage change to survive’
Although a quarter of UK family businesses are expected to change hands within the next five years, only half have a succession plan in place, a new report claims.Accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) said the leaders of 28 per cent of family-run companies will change by 2012, 44 per cent of which will pass to the next […]
TUC calls for £6 minimum wage
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is calling on the Low Pay Commission (LPC) to increase the national minimum wage to more than £6 an hour next year. Workers (aged 22 years plus) are entitled to a basic wage of £5.52 an hour, falling to £4.60 for those aged 18 to 21, with younger workers (aged […]
Low staff morale at HMRC
Staff morale, confidence and satisfaction are at an all time low at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) since the merger of HMCE and Inland Revenue in 2005, its staff survey has found.The results may go some way in explaining the child benefit data loss fiasco this week.The staff survey of almost 13,000 HMRC employees, conducted […]
New chief for nuclear skills
The new National Skills Academy for Nuclear has appointed Jean Llewellyn as its chief executive.Llewellyn, in her role as head of Skills Policy for the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), has been involved in the nuclear skills agenda for the past four years.She was chair of the National Nuclear Employers Steering Group for two years, […]
Bosses who employ illegal immigrants to face £10,000 fines
The Government have announced that bosses who employ illegal immigrants are now to face fines of £10,000: www.dailymail.co.ukThis is fine for those who willingly employee illegals but for the rest of us we need a system like that used by the US Department of Homeland Security and US employers where the employment status of an […]
Growing pains: The emergence of ‘e-learning’
E-learning has enjoyed a love-hate relationship with most learning and development departments since its advent, and has experienced a fair few teething problems along the way; yet more and more are falling under its spell. Annie Hayes reports. What is e-learning?If you are reading this you may already have a burgeoning interest in e-learning or […]
Knowledge management: ‘Times are a-changing’
The UK is moving rapidly towards a ‘knowledge economy’. As a result, the mantra ‘our people are our greatest asset’ can no longer be ignored and there’s now a real need for HR to have a voice at board level and instigate effective people management processes, says Scott McArthur. The relationship between organisations and consumers […]
Seven steps to better EAP management
Alan King proposes a series of steps organisations should take to help ensure that EAPs continue to meet the growing needs of companies and deliver maximum benefits, in terms of employee wellbeing and overall business goals and targets. Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) are widely accepted as an established and necessary element of organisations’ benefits packages, […]
A graceful exit scores points in the future
Almost half of workers end up working with an ex-colleague at a new job.A new survey by recruitment outfit Office Angels suggests that workers are ‘burning bridges’ by leaving on a bad note once they’ve resigned.One in three workers admits to walking out before completing their notice period with more than a quarter of employees […]
Saying ‘thanks’ can improve your bottom line
Paul Brown, incentives specialist at Maritz, explains how recognition plays an important part in retention and engagement levels. An independent workplace survey by Maritz has revealed that almost a third of UK workers say they are never thanked for their personal contribution at work; a significant 50 per cent increase from two years ago. At […]
HR tip: Affair at work
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: "One of our female accounts clerks is having an affair with a married colleague. They are often both absent from the section at the same time. We are not happy about this […]
A little thanks goes a long way
Almost a third of UK workers claim never to be thanked for their personal contribution at work, independent research commissioned by Maritz, a performance improvement company, has revealed.The survey, which marks National Thank You week (19 to 23 November), also found that not being appreciated was the reason that 28 per cent of job movers […]
