New minimum wage rate announced
The UK’s minimum wage rates are rising from October, with the main rate increasing from £5.35 to £5.52 per hour, affecting over one million workers. Rates for younger workers also increase, though business groups warn of added pressure amid rising energy and pension costs.
Listen to the safety reps says TUC
Union safety reps struggle to get employers to act on workplace safety concerns, with 90% citing this as a top-three problem. The TUC calls for the HSE to provide stronger support and enforce regulations protecting reps’ legally-allowed time for safety duties.
Put your baby in a zoo: discrimination and working mothers. By Sarah Fletcher
Government research reveals that employers discriminate against working mothers, with women having children under 11 facing the greatest workplace prejudice. Despite 55% of mothers with young children now working, employers cost the economy billions by avoiding hiring qualified women seeking part-time roles.
Satirist’s spot: Head office
A satirical look at corporate head offices reveals the disconnect between expensive city headquarters and actual business operations, with amenities designed more for executive convenience than productivity.
Ask the expert: Disciplinary for not attending a disciplinary?
An employee can be disciplined for failing to attend a disciplinary hearing, as long as the employer treats it as a separate conduct matter requiring its own investigation and hearing. However, the standard approach is to reschedule the original hearing and warn the employee that future non-attendance will result in proceeding without them.
Bill on agency workers rights fails
A private member’s bill seeking equal treatment for agency workers and permanent employees failed its second reading in the House of Commons on Friday, opposed by the government and the recruitment industry, which disputed claims that temporary workers face systematic discrimination.
Tread carefully with offshoring says CIPD
The CIPD warns organizations to carefully consider people management challenges before offshoring, citing service quality issues, management difficulties, and staff turnover as common problems. A survey found 15 percent of companies have brought offshored work back to the UK, with cost-cutting often pursued without involving HR in strategic decisions.
Ethnic minorities face barriers to employment
Research from the Department for Work and Pensions confirms that ethnic minorities, particularly Muslim women, face persistent employment barriers in the UK labor market. The study reveals employment penalties for Muslims exceed those for any other ethnic group, highlighting specific discrimination that requires targeted intervention.
Everybody’s going surfing…
A study found that 80% of employees spend over four hours weekly surfing the web or checking personal email at work, costing employers significant lost time and productivity. Employers should establish clear internet use policies and implement proper disciplinary procedures to address workplace web browsing.
TUC and CIPD combine to offer age advice
The TUC and CIPD have launched a joint guide to help employers and employees navigate age discrimination regulations, covering recruitment, pay, retirement, redundancy, and other employment practices. The guide aims to promote age diversity in workplaces while ensuring compliance with new age laws.
HR Tip: Implied terms of contract
Implied terms in employment contracts are obligations not explicitly stated but legally binding on both parties. These include general duties like protecting confidential information and caring for property, plus trade-specific requirements like providing tools.
Getting managers to develop their staff. By John Pope
Managers play a crucial role in employee development, yet many fail to prioritize staff training and growth despite recognizing it as their responsibility. This article explores why development initiatives often fall short and how organizations can ensure managers actively engage in developing their talented people.
Making international benefits work. By Lucie Benson
Multinational corporations must balance global strategy with local employee needs when designing international benefits packages. Factors like taxation, legislation, cultural differences, and regional priorities determine which benefits are most valued in each country, requiring organizations to adapt policies while maintaining competitive advantage.
Guidance on what makes a worker
The Employment Appeal Tribunal has established a three-part test to determine worker status: a contract to perform work or services, personal obligation to perform them, and whether work is part of running a profession or business. This guidance clarifies that casual and seasonal workers can have worker status during periods of work, even without continuous employment.
What is good work?
Good work benefits individuals, communities, and the economy, but experts are still defining what it actually means. The UK Department of Work and Pensions is convening businesses, charities, and government to establish a clear definition and identify practices that create healthier, more productive workplaces.
Equalities Review publishes final report
The Equalities Review’s final report reveals that motherhood remains the biggest barrier to women’s employment, with mothers of young children 40% more likely to be out of work than men. At current progress rates, closing the gender pay gap will take until 2085, prompting calls for new frameworks to tackle entrenched inequalities.
Age discrimination – Tackling transition
Employers must move beyond basic age discrimination compliance to implement strategic age management practices that enable seamless transitions to retirement. This requires flexible career planning, recognition that older workers have different motivations, equal workplace interactions across age groups, and ongoing skills development to retain engaged mature employees.
Absence policies and line management training: what if they don’t work?
Many UK employers fail to effectively implement absence policies and line manager training despite having access to world-leading healthcare solutions. Without clear policy wording, trained managers, and genuine organizational commitment to health management, investments in occupational health and benefits remain largely unutilized.
HR tips 2006
Explore a comprehensive collection of HR tips and guidance from 2006, covering employment law topics including disciplinary procedures, redundancy, resignations, appraisals, grievances, and workplace rights. Browse monthly archives to find practical advice on specific HR challenges.
How’s your parrot? Why ‘shemail’ could harm your career. By Sarah Fletcher
Research suggests women’s flowery, personable email style may undermine their credibility at work. Experts claim overly chatty emails with social niceties risk making professionals appear less serious about business matters compared to male colleagues’ direct, concise approach.
