HR Zone Christmas Card
The HR Zone team sends festive holiday greetings to all clients, partners, and colleagues this Christmas season.
Heads or veils? Tread carefully. By Matt Henkes
Two high-profile cases involving religious dress at work sparked intense debate this year. A Muslim teaching assistant’s hijab and a flight attendant’s cross raised questions about religious expression in the workplace, with both claimants ultimately losing their cases in November.
A third of graduates ‘chose the wrong degree’
A third of graduates regret their degree choice, according to a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development study. Many cite high tuition costs and resulting debt as barriers to homeownership, starting families, and retirement savings. The research suggests graduates would have chosen more science, technical, or business-focused courses with better workplace relevance.
Secret reference amounted to victimisation
An employment tribunal found that Brighton and Hove City Council and a senior manager discriminated against and victimised a former employee on grounds of gender reassignment. The manager revealed the employee’s change of gender and former name to a recruitment agency without consent, delayed providing references, and the council later refused to provide another reference and ignored grievance procedures.
Flying computers and a cake break: what we wish had happened in 2006
The HR Zone team imagines the workplace benefits they wish existed in 2006, including conflict resolution via boxing ring, throwing computers from windows, mandatory alcohol breaks, and tax-deductible cake allowances to soothe tensions from the smoking ban.
Smelly staff and chocolate benefits: Top HR Zone stories in 2006
HR Zone’s top 2006 stories covered workplace challenges including managing employee hygiene issues, childcare voucher benefits, age discrimination legislation, part-time work arrangements, and handling problem staff—highlighting key HR concerns and solutions for UK businesses.
HR Tip: Timekeeping standards
Establish clear timekeeping standards for all employees while addressing perceptions of unfairness. Sales staff working extended evening hours can have adjusted start times, but this arrangement must be clearly communicated to all staff to prevent resentment and maintain morale.
War for City talent to continue throughout 2007
City firms expect continued talent recruitment challenges in 2007, with 79 percent anticipating hiring difficulties despite expecting more hiring activity than 2006. Investment banks remain confident in strong economic growth, but sourcing qualified staff will remain a key priority.
DTI issues new guidance on flexibility regulations
The DTI has updated flexible working guidance to grant carers of adults the legal right to request working pattern changes from April 6, 2007. The guidance clarifies eligibility requirements and outlines responsibilities for both employers and employees regarding flexible work requests.
HR in 2007: What does the future hold? By Sarah Fletcher
In 2007, HR professionals predict major shifts including the expansion of shared service centres, increased employment law complexity, and growing staff litigation. Other anticipated changes include new equal opportunities legislation impacting training and service delivery, while HR struggles to maintain strategic relevance within organizations.
Why ‘Generation Y’ is all a lie. By Sarah Fletcher
The criticism of ‘Generation Y’ as selfish and disloyal misses a crucial point: employers created this dynamic by eliminating job security and loyalty in favor of market demands. Today’s graduates simply adapted to workplace realities where long-term commitment no longer exists.
Pay rises beat inflation
Average earnings rose 3.8% in the year to October 2006, outpacing inflation at 2.4%. Private sector pay growth of 3.9% significantly exceeded public sector gains of 3.1%, driven by increased overtime.
Frustrating promotion processes leave employees quitting to get ahead
Poor communication and secrecy around promotion processes are driving 60% of employees to switch jobs for career advancement. Research shows 53% of employees don’t understand their organization’s promotion criteria, and a third felt unfairly overlooked without explanation for the decision.
More women occupy professional roles
A Work Foundation report reveals significant growth in managerial and professional roles over the past decade, with women entering these positions at notably higher rates than men. Between 1995 and 2005, the number of female managers increased by 29.53 percent and associate professionals by 56.89 percent, challenging theories that economic change would create wider class divisions.
Ask the expert: Unrecorded resignation
An employee verbally resigns but refuses written confirmation until securing another job. Employment law experts explain what HR can legally do and whether this situation truly requires intervention.
Personal pensions accounts: white paper published
The government has published its white paper on personal pension accounts, proposing automatic enrollment for up to 10 million workers with guaranteed employer contributions of at least three percent. The low-cost scheme, launching in 2012, aims to boost pension savings by around £8 billion annually through simplified investment options and charges of approximately 0.3 percent.
HR challenge 2007: Recruitment and retention
A 2007 survey of UK senior HR managers identifies recruitment and retention as the top challenges, with 37% citing employee retention and 29% focusing on hiring talent. Constrained budgets compound these issues, prompting HR leaders to seek better employee visibility and measurement of HR processes to improve effectiveness.
Breaking up fights: Doing it better. By Dan Martin
The UK government’s 2004 employment dispute resolution reforms aimed to reduce tribunal claims by encouraging internal workplace conflict resolution, but tribunal filings have instead surged 30% since 2005, prompting a comprehensive review of the flawed system.
Plan it, don’t pan it
Strategic HR planning requires close alignment with business operations to prevent reactive scrambling. Rather than applying generic templates, HR professionals should embed themselves in departmental planning processes, monitor emerging trends quarterly, and shape company strategy proactively rather than responding to constant changes.
‘Intelligent dressing’ for the party season?
Learn how ‘intelligent dressing’ can impact your career success at office parties and professional events. Consultant Mike Morrison explores how clothing choices convey subliminal messages that influence how colleagues perceive your leadership potential and professionalism.
