Bosses in the dock as employment tribunal cases climb
Employment tribunal cases in Great Britain rose 15% to 132,577 in 2006-07, with equal pay claims surging 155%. Multiple-claimant cases now account for 60% of all cases, reflecting growing workplace disputes across discrimination and dismissal claims.
Appraisals: Prepare your people. By John Pope
Performance and development reviews often fail due to lack of preparation and training for both managers and employees. John Pope explains how proper training, clear communication, and understanding of the review process can transform appraisals into productive discussions that benefit both parties.
Demystifying today’s leadership challenges. By Duncan Miles
Duncan Miles explores practical leadership strategies for modern challenges, emphasizing how self-awareness, self-belief, and empathy help leaders secure willing commitment from their teams amid constant change and rising demands.
CIPD slam efforts to simplify diversity legislation
The CIPD criticizes the Government’s Single Equality Bill proposals, arguing they fail to adequately simplify diversity legislation and risk promoting a “box-ticking” compliance approach rather than meaningful progress in workplace equality.
HR resignations from female workers soar as pay parity fails to bite
Female HR resignations are climbing to 5.5 percent despite more women being promoted to management roles, a new survey reveals. Pay gaps remain the likely culprit, with women earning £10,294 less than men in equivalent manager positions and receiving significantly lower bonuses.
Ask the expert: Withholding witness statements from the aggrieved
Legal experts advise that while witness statements material to a grievance outcome should generally be disclosed to the aggrieved employee, anonymizing statements or offering the witness paid leave during resolution may mitigate harassment risks.
Smoke without fire? By Sarah Fletcher
Two months after the UK smoking ban took effect in July 2007, early evidence suggests minimal workplace disruption. While critics predicted plummeting motivation and staff retention issues, HR professionals report the ban caused few real problems, with most offices already having restrictions in place and mainly benefiting hospitality workers’ health.
Serious games tackle serious issues
A Welsh university has launched free interactive games and learning materials exploring equality and diversity topics including disability, age diversity, racial equality, and homelessness. The innovative ‘Addressing Barriers: Enhancing Services’ toolkits combine expert videos with serious games to help people understand barriers in education and the workplace.
Practice, practice, practice – the key to training effectiveness
Practice time after training significantly boosts productivity, saving learners an average of 32 minutes daily compared to just 12 minutes for those without practice opportunities. Personalized training tailored to individual job applications also delivers substantial time savings, making both factors critical for maximizing training effectiveness.
Half of adults recognise value of training
A government survey shows 57% of adults value training as a worthwhile investment, though regional variations exist across England. However, nearly half are unaware of the financial returns learning offers, and time constraints prevent many from pursuing new skills.
Employee sacked for posting video on YouTube
A supermarket manager won an unfair dismissal claim after being fired for posting a YouTube video of colleagues. The case highlights that employers must follow proper procedures before dismissing staff over social media incidents, or risk costly tribunal claims.
‘Green’ credentials not in line with employee expectations
Over half of UK office workers believe their employer neglects green issues, with recycling ranked as the top environmental credential when job hunting. The findings show employees increasingly prioritize sustainability and CSR practices when choosing employers, with some willing to accept lower pay for better green credentials.
Pioneers pave the way for paperless HR
Major retailers like Sainsbury’s are leading a shift toward paperless HR systems, investing millions in centralized electronic document management to improve efficiency across multiple locations. The trend is driven by regulatory requirements and the need to streamline HR processes at organizations with remote sites.
Wildcat prison strike averted with court injunction
A court injunction has forced the Prison Officers’ Association to cancel its first-ever wildcat strike, ending disruptions across 130 English and Welsh jails. The strike was called off after the Ministry of Justice obtained the legal order, as officers protested a staged 2.5% pay deal they say fails to keep up with inflation.
The next generation of employee assistance
Employee assistance programs are evolving from one-size-fits-all solutions to customized services that address both emotional support and practical life issues. Modern EAPs now tackle underlying stressors like childcare, eldercare, and financial concerns while improving productivity, reducing absenteeism, and enhancing employee wellbeing.
HR jobs to go as BAA plans to axe 2,000 positions
BAA plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs across its three major British airports, with HR, IT, planning and marketing roles likely to be affected. The Spanish parent company Ferrovial is pursuing the cuts despite recent criticism over airport service standards and security delays.
Facebook ‘blanket ban’ is over-reaction, says TUC
The TUC says employers are overreacting by imposing blanket bans on Facebook access at work, arguing employees should be trusted to use social media briefly during breaks. The union recommends sensible conduct guidelines rather than outright blocks, and warns against using Facebook profiles to screen job applicants.
Coaching high achievers
Coaching high achievers requires a tailored approach that differs from standard coaching methods. High achievers have specific needs including trust-based relationships, challenging coaches who add quick value, and goal-focused strategies aligned with their intense self-commitment and performance standards.
HR tip: Helping redundant employees
Support redundant employees cost-effectively by connecting them with local job vacancies through JobCentre and employers, providing job-search literature, and offering CV writing and interview skills training. This low-cost assistance significantly improves their chances of finding new employment.
Releasing hidden talents
Many talented individuals go unrecognized in the workplace, whether they’re in unsuitable careers, underutilized by management, or simply unaware of their own strengths. Identifying and developing these hidden talents can provide organizations with significant additional resources and help individuals find more fulfilling career paths.
