Jobs to go: Tuesday lunchtime sparks jobseekers’ appetite
A record number of candidates are using the 1pm slot every Tuesday to upload their CVs and apply for jobs.According to Reed Employment, a recruitment outfit, 21 per cent of candidates on their database search for jobs at around 1pm every Monday with the same number returning the following day at the same time to […]
HR consultancies: The good, the bad and the plain ugly
Consultants can net anything from £250 a day to £100,000 for an entire project; Annie Hayes finds out how to sift the good from the bad. The marketAn endless cycle of downsizing, outsourcing and efficiency initiatives has catapulted the job of the consultant into constant demand. Put simply, the consultant’s job is to effect significant […]
Diary of a job hunt: The final chapter
Earlier this year, HR Zone member Sue Harrison resigned from her job and has been reporting her search for new employment back to us here at HR Zone. In this final instalment, she is pleased to report her search is over, yet she discovered along the way that there’s ‘nowt so queer as folk’. Welcome […]
Ask the expert: Constructive dismissal?
A home-based employee has now been asked by his employer to work from the office instead. However, the employee feels unable to do this. Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar, and Martin Brewer, partner at Mills & Reeve, advise on whether the employee can bring a constructive dismissal claim. The question:A friend of mine was […]
World of learning winners celebrate in style
The BBC, Linklaters LLP, 7city Learning and BVS Training are among those celebrating their success at the World of Learning Awards.More than 400 guests attended the black-tie awards ceremony in Birmingham last week, hosted by comic Dominic Holland.Jim Reilly, project manager for the World of Learning Awards, said: “The World of Learning Awards are now […]
Benefits of £4.4 million for the ‘too fat to work’
Almost 2,000 people who are classed as ‘too fat to work’ have been paid a whopping £4.4 million in benefit.The shocking findings reported by The Times newspaper revealed that billions of pounds are being paid in benefits to people claiming to be unable to work because they suffer from illnesses that keep them away from […]
HR salaries on the rise
HR directors take home an impressive £120,000 a year, with HR officers pulling in £25,832, a new survey has revealed.In good news for those working in the profession, average earnings rose by 6.8 per cent over the last year, a figure that compares to a rise of 5.6 per cent in 2006.Remuneration Economics, publishers of […]
Ordinary job is the dream for most workers
Workers in the UK are happy with their lot and wouldn’t leave their job for the world.These are the findings of a new survey which quizzed five different industry sectors including engineering, sales, IT, construction and accountancy to find out about their dream job. Each sector was given the choice out of film star, footballer, […]
Government unveils plans for 7.5m new training places
The government plans to fund 7.5 million training places in England in a bid to raise the skills of the least qualified.Just under half of the places – 3.5 million – will be in basic skills, while 120,000 will be apprenticeships for young people, and 30,000 new places for the over-25s.There will be another 95,000 […]
Skills shortages hit two-thirds of London businesses
Businesses in London struggling to meet their skills needs are increasingly looking overseas for both graduates and lower-skilled staff, according to the CBI and KPMG.Results from the London business survey show that two out of three firms in the capital (65 per cent) expect to be troubled by skills shortages over the next six months, […]
Startling gap between HR and business
A large gap exists between the opinions of HR professionals and those in business management roles, according to a recent survey.A total of 96 organisations were surveyed and results showed that 72 per cent of HR people believed that the statement, ‘anything that gets vacancies filled more quickly’, was a high priority, whereas only 28 […]
What’s in a name?
HR professionals believe the HR name debate is nothing more than a distraction, a survey has highlighted.HR consultancy, HR with Guts, quizzed 250 senior HR professionals about how they felt about adopting a new name to indicate its change in focus. The findings showed that 77 per cent of people felt this was merely a […]
HR: The easy solution to staff development?
Leaning towards a ‘David Brent’ style of staff development is not exactly a recipe for success, so how can HR ensure that line managers play out their part effectively? Annie Hayes reports. According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) around two-fifths of organisations say that their line managers are not very effective […]
Age discrimination cases put on hold
The president of the employment tribunals service has announced that all cases relating to dismissal on grounds of retirement, under regulation 30 of the age discrimination laws, must be ‘stayed’ pending the outcome of the Heyday case, expected sometime in 2009. The announcement is a direct repercussion of a recent employment appeal tribunal decision in […]
Engagement is not enough
Employee engagement is a high priority for most HR professionals, but Jeremy Starling, managing director of INVOLVE, explains why engagement is no longer good enough and shares some tips on getting employees involved. “Our people are our most valuable asset” is a sound bite uttered by many a corporate executive, but for businesses that aspire […]
Serving up performance management
Tony Hayward discusses how successful performance management can ensure staff motivation and retention is more inventive, thereby resulting in greater employee confidence and job satisfaction. Take a couple of minutes to think about your last interaction with a contact centre. Can you remember it, for reasons good or bad? Some of you will, but […]
Are you in touch with your clients?
Like most valuable ideas, the simple ones often produce the most impressive results. It’s agreed that HR business partners (HRBPs) need to know their business and their client to ensure they give valuable and sound strategic input. But how is this done and how much time is usually given to it? Jan Hills provides some […]
HR tip: References for redundant employees
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 give all redundant employees a good reference in order to help them get alternative employment. Is this safe?" HR Tip:No, this is dangerous. You must not mislead the reader of a reference […]
Growing businesses fail to support staff
Staff play a vital role in growing businesses yet receive inadequate support from senior management, according to a new survey.The research by the Forum Corporation reveals that at top-performing firms, 80 per cent of senior executives cite the importance of staff in bringing about growth, with two-thirds of top players saying the same at less […]
Childless should have flexible working rights too, says TUC
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is calling for an extension of flexible working rights for all, not just working parents.Speaking later today at a work-life balance conference, TUC general secretary Brendan Barber will make the case for all workers to have the right to request a better balance between work and the rest of their […]
