Corporate manslaughter: Are you doing enough?
Over 200 workers died at work last year, prompting concerns about whether organisations are doing enough to prevent deaths. The new Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act aims to make prosecuting organisations with gross negligence easier by removing the need to identify a single “controlling mind,” potentially raising health and safety standards across industries.
HR Tip: Fixed term contracts and unfair dismissal at termination
Fixed term contracts no longer protect employers from unfair dismissal claims. When a fixed term contract ends, employees have the same right to claim unfair dismissal as permanent staff, requiring employers to have a fair reason for termination, such as redundancy.
Gender inequality: Where have all the women gone? By Lucie Benson
Research shows female senior managers in major UK businesses have declined over 40 percent in five years, with only 22 percent now in top FTSE 350 roles compared to 38 percent in 2002. Inflexible workplace cultures, childcare costs, and limited leadership opportunities are driving women toward self-employment and away from corporate advancement.
Money worries force mums back to work
More than 11 million UK households depend on multiple salaries to cover living costs, with 3.5 million families relying on two incomes to make ends meet. Financial pressures force many mothers back to work by necessity, while families with children face significantly higher debt levels than childless households.
CSR – chicken or egg?
Research from Sirota Survey Intelligence found a strong correlation between employee satisfaction with corporate social responsibility and other workplace factors like management integrity, organizational competitiveness, and employee engagement, though it remains unclear whether strong CSR drives satisfaction or vice versa.
The negotiator. By Louise Druce
Business leaders can improve employee retention by adopting hostage negotiation techniques, building trust through open dialogue, and addressing workplace conflicts early. Psychologist George Kohlrieser explains how leaders who engage in honest negotiation rather than command-and-control management earn employee respect and prevent psychological disengagement.
How to make learning fun and engaging. By Lucie Benson
Discover how to transform dry subjects into engaging learning experiences. Author Bill Bryson shares his techniques for making complex topics fascinating by starting with human interest angles and conveying genuine enthusiasm, helping HR professionals create compelling training that motivates learners.
Ask the expert: Anxiety as work related illness
Anxiety and depression can qualify as work-related illnesses eligible for extended sick pay, though eligibility depends on medical evidence establishing a causal link to work. Employment law experts explain how contractual provisions and disability discrimination legislation apply to psychological injuries in the workplace.
HR tip: Return from maternity leave – staff intentions
Employers cannot require employees to disclose return intentions before maternity leave. Instead, treat departing staff well to encourage voluntary communication about their plans after birth, as circumstances often change.
Legislation update: Part time workers miss out on bank holidays
UK courts have ruled that part-time workers are not entitled to paid bank holidays if they don’t normally work on those days, as this isn’t unlawful discrimination based on part-time status but rather their chosen working schedule. However, women may still pursue indirect sex discrimination claims since more women work part-time roles.
Do the right thing: the case for diversity management. By Rob Lewis
Diversity management isn’t just an ethical imperative—it’s a business advantage. UK employers are falling behind by failing to measure and understand their workforce diversity, missing opportunities to boost innovation, talent acquisition, and profitability while addressing social inequalities.
Colborn’s Corner – Executive pay comes home to the CIPD!
The CIPD’s new Director-General package of around £500,000 raises questions about value for money and organizational priorities. This commentary examines whether the institute’s leadership salary is justified compared to similar roles and calls for greater member engagement in governance decisions.
Political correctness a barrier to employment
A Remploy survey reveals that while most UK employers support hiring disabled people, confusion over politically correct disability language may be discouraging them from doing so. Employers cite shifting terminology as a barrier, though they generally recognize disabled workers’ capabilities and value workplace inclusion.
Will the looming data protection crisis affect you?
Organizations across the public and private sectors face a data protection crisis as transitional relief for pre-1998 paper files expires in six months. Many companies with archived paper records containing personal data may struggle to comply with Data Protection Act requirements without urgent action.
Secrets of the perfect CV
Learn how to craft a CV that gets you interviews rather than rejected. Expert consultant Mike Morrison reveals essential strategies for avoiding screening filters, from what to exclude to optimizing for recruitment software using relevant keywords.
Recruitment: 2020 vision
The recruitment industry will undergo significant transformation by 2020, driven by five key trends: talent competition, regulation, workforce changes, evolving social values, and technology. Web 2.0 and emerging technologies will reshape how organizations recruit across all skill levels and address growing workforce diversity challenges.
Work-life balance ranked as top benefit
Work-life balance is the top factor making employers attractive to professionals, with nearly 40% of survey respondents citing it as essential for considering a company a great place to work, ahead of career progression and salary.
Diary of a job hunt: Age discrimination attacks
A job seeker over 50 discovers that age discrimination is a significant barrier to employment, despite legal protections introduced in 2006. After resigning from her seven-year role, Sue Harrison shares how recruiters and agencies seem reluctant to consider her candidacy, raising questions about widespread age bias in hiring practices.
Has Blair really been so bad?
Tony Blair’s tenure as Prime Minister receives mixed reviews a decade later. This article examines the actual impact of his policies on HR practices and the workplace, separating public perception from documented outcomes.
It takes two: making mentoring work. By Louise Druce
Mentoring benefits both participants: mentees gain guidance and support for professional development, while mentors find renewed purpose by sharing expertise. Effective mentoring programs, like those at United Utilities, pair experienced staff with employees at various career stages to build skills, facilitate knowledge transfer, and plan for succession.
