Skills envy sweeps the nation
A new poll reveals that over a third of people envy others’ skills and abilities more than beauty or money. The survey supports a campaign encouraging people and businesses to improve their skill levels, with 90% of respondents believing they can control their future through learning.
Colborn’s Corner: Fit for work?
A UK survey found 82% of office workers blame their jobs for limiting exercise, but the claim that employers may breach health and safety by preventing gym use seems overstated. While work-life balance matters, fitness doesn’t require gyms—alternative activities like walking, cycling, or sports can keep employees fit without lengthy gym commitments.
Disciplinary dismissal procedures: What you need to know
Disciplinary dismissal procedures must follow statutory requirements to ensure fair treatment and avoid legal claims. Key elements include written notice of meetings, the right to be accompanied, advance details of allegations, and appeal opportunities. Employers should clearly distinguish disciplinary matters from performance issues and understand what constitutes gross misconduct.
HR tip: Resignation in face of discipline
Allowing employees to resign to avoid formal disciplinary meetings may expose employers to unfair dismissal claims. Employment tribunals often view such resignations as involuntary if the employee faced implicit pressure, requiring documentation of voluntary resignation to protect the company legally.
Using ‘status’ behaviour to your advantage
Learn how to strategically adapt your behavior and body language to establish credibility and influence in business situations. High status behaviors like confident movement and direct speaking build authority, while low status gestures like stepping aside can make others comfortable, depending on the context.
Talent management: In it for the long-haul. By Matt Henkes
Less than half of UK companies have a structured talent management strategy despite recognizing its importance to business success. A well-planned approach to identifying and developing high-potential employees creates an internal pipeline for senior roles, reduces costly external recruitment, and protects organizations from leadership gaps during crises.
Remote managers fail to win employee trust
A British survey of 4,700 employees reveals that remote managers struggle to build trust, with employee confidence dropping from 70% for direct supervisors to just 40% for upper management. Poor engagement and lack of meaningful communication create distance that undermines workplace relationships.
Age discrimination puts Freshfields in the dock
A senior lawyer at top legal firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is claiming £4.5 million in age discrimination damages, alleging he faced emotional pressure to retire early and accept a reduced pension. The case centers on whether pension changes that disproportionately affected older partners were unlawful.
E-recruitment fails to net real talent
E-recruitment systems are failing to identify top talent, with automated CV filtering rejecting qualified candidates while the best prospects bypass company websites entirely, according to recruitment industry experts.
Oversupply puts brake on graduate salaries
Graduate salary growth is slowing to just 2.4% as 29 applicants compete for each vacancy, according to new research. Despite the salary slowdown, employers remain confident about filling positions, with graduate roles expected to rise 12.7% this year.
Black cloud looms over public sector as Bank renews pension concerns
The Bank of England has axed its final salary pension scheme to address a £300 million deficit, sparking concerns that other public sector organizations may follow suit. The move replaces final salary pensions with average salary schemes for new entrants and raises retirement age from 60 to 65, prompting union leaders to warn of a potential precedent across the public sector.
Skills broadcast paves way for cultural shift
A major new campaign urges people to take control of their future by investing in skills, aiming to drive cultural change in attitudes toward learning and education across England. The “Our future. It’s in our hands” initiative, backed by the Learning and Skills Council and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, will run for three to five years across television, radio, print and online media.
Ask the expert: Annual leave request refused
Learn how to handle an employee who plans to take sick leave after having their annual leave request denied. Employment law experts explain your rights regarding disciplinary action, statutory sick pay obligations, and how to address suspected abuse of sick leave policies.
‘Green’ career boom grips environmental generation
Green careers are experiencing rapid growth, with 35,000 jobs predicted in environmentally-friendly industries by 2020. Young workers aged 18-24 are driving the trend, with 80% actively seeking to make their workplaces more sustainable. Salaries for green jobs range from £18,000 to £100,000.
Creativity at work: How to generate great ideas. By Peter Cook
Learn how to boost workplace creativity by balancing structure with innovation. This article explores underlying principles like combining dissatisfaction with optimism, leveraging both solitude and teamwork, and mixing expertise with fresh perspectives to generate business ideas.
Managing absence at work. By Sandra Beale
Managing workplace absence effectively requires clear policies and monitoring systems. UK businesses lose an average of £598 per employee annually to absenteeism. Key strategies include implementing sickness reporting procedures, conducting return-to-work interviews, and establishing absence management policies to distinguish genuine illness from unauthorized absences.
Flexibility is key to success. By Lucie Benson
Flexible working arrangements can boost recruitment, retention, and productivity while improving employee loyalty and work-life balance. Currently in the UK, only parents of young children and carers have the legal right to request flexible working, raising questions about whether this right should extend to all staff.
All guns blazing: Mopping up the casualties of change. By Annie Hayes
Organisational change initiatives often damage trust between employers and employees when poorly communicated and managed. Clear, consistent communication is essential to maintain the psychological contract and employee engagement during periods of significant change.
Work/life balance is uneven for HR
HR professionals report significantly lower work/life balance satisfaction than other sectors, with only 40% believing they have good balance compared to 52% across other professions. New research also reveals 72% of HR workers plan to change jobs soon, citing overwork and lack of recognition as key concerns.
Get sporty to enjoy success
Companies encouraging team sports see significantly higher growth and staff satisfaction, with employees five times more likely to work for successful firms. Team participation boosts communication, reduces stress, and strengthens workplace relationships, yet fewer than 20 percent of UK businesses offer such programs.
