Equality commissions fail to bite
Government equality commissions have made little use of their enforcement powers, according to a new report. Between 1999 and 2006, the three commissions completed just seven formal investigations and served minimal notices. The incoming Commission for Equality and Human Rights faces similar concerns as some existing enforcement powers are being weakened.
Employer lobbying could reduce pensions for one in six
The TUC warns that employer lobbying for a one-year waiting period before pension contributions could affect 17.8% of workers, particularly those in hospitality and retail sectors who frequently change jobs. The analysis shows this would disproportionately impact Black and Asian workers and those in lower-paid positions.
What’s the answer? Old grievances
An employer receives a three-page grievance letter covering events spanning three years, including complaints about former employees. Employment law experts advise that while all reasonably practicable issues must be investigated, impractical investigations can be documented as such in writing without tribunal liability if properly justified.
Job hunters target interesting work
Job seekers worldwide prioritize interesting work, recognition, and advancement opportunities when choosing employers, according to an Accenture survey of over 4,100 candidates across 21 countries. Corporate citizenship and diversity programs ranked lower in importance.
New family friendly employment legislation proposed
The government is proposing new family-friendly employment rights including allowing parents to request part-time work, paid leave for ill children, and mandatory pay audits to address gender wage gaps. The proposals aim to make the UK more family-oriented while differentiating Labour from the Conservatives.
Sick of absence? Causes and solutions. By Annie Hayes
Employee absence costs employers around £600 per worker annually, averaging eight days per year. While absence rates have slightly declined, effective management requires monitoring patterns, understanding causes like minor illnesses and stress, and implementing return-to-work interviews rather than relying solely on discipline.
Opinion: The benefits backlash
Employers increasingly offer childcare vouchers and family-friendly benefits, but this is creating resentment among employees without children who feel disadvantaged. Understanding how these tax-exempt benefits work—and that they only partially offset rising childcare costs—can help employers address workplace discontent while supporting working parents’ economic participation.
Briefing: Taking the hassle out of harassment
Employers face growing liability for workplace harassment under the Protection from Harassment Act, which offers no standard preventative defense and allows claims up to six years after incidents occur. Expert legal advice highlights the importance of thorough investigation, documentation, and robust prevention systems to mitigate risk.
Maternity briefing: The Work and Families Act 2006
The Work and Families Act 2006 introduced significant maternity rights changes, including extending statutory maternity pay from six to nine months and removing length of service requirements for additional maternity leave. Employers should update their maternity policies to comply with these legislative changes, which take effect from October 2006.
New age policy ‘ASDA’ be good
ASDA has removed the requirement for job applicants to provide their date of birth, exceeding new age discrimination legislation that takes effect in five weeks. The supermarket’s policy reflects its stance that age is irrelevant to recruitment, with 20 percent of its workforce aged over 50.
Bank holiday drought sees productivity nosedive
Half of UK workers blame the lack of bank holidays between September and Christmas for reduced productivity, according to a YouGov survey. However, most prefer flexible working arrangements over additional public holidays to boost performance and wellbeing.
Carpet factory pays the price for lack of consultation
A carpet factory tribunal awarded £160,000 in protective pay to 38 workers after bosses failed to consult with employees or union representatives before announcing redundancies. The company ceased trading without prior notice, violating statutory consultation requirements under employment law.
Any Answers: Swearing in the workplace
Managing workplace swearing requires careful policy decisions, ranging from zero-tolerance to permissive approaches. While some managers accept profanity as workplace culture, legal cases like Horkulak v Cantor Fitzgerald demonstrate the serious risks, including harassment claims, damaged reputation, and lost business when inappropriate language goes unchecked.
HR Tip: ‘Forced’ resignations
Pressuring employees to resign instead of dismissing them is legally risky. Courts typically treat coerced resignations as unfair dismissals, so employers should follow proper disciplinary procedures and issue clear dismissal decisions when appropriate.
Disability discrimination: Are employers guilty? By Sarah Fletcher
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 aims to protect disabled workers from unfair treatment, but debate continues over whether it effectively increases workplace inclusion or creates legal concerns for employers. Employment experts discuss the gap between legislation and practice, as disabled workers remain significantly underrepresented in the UK workforce despite protective laws.
Pay awards steady despite rising inflation
Pay settlements held steady at an average of 3% in the three months to July despite inflation reaching a two-and-a-half-year high of 3.3%. Two-thirds of pay deals were lower than those from 2005, signaling employers are restraining wage growth amid rising costs.
Dads want working hours to be their flexible friends
Research shows fathers prioritize workplace flexibility over reduced working hours to balance family responsibilities. Current work-life balance policies don’t align with what fathers actually want—the ability to control schedules for school events and family commitments rather than working fewer hours overall.
GCSE pass rates hit 98.1 per cent
GCSE pass rates have reached 98.1 per cent, with A* to C grades rising to 62.4 per cent. English and maths results also improved, though foreign language entries declined despite higher pass rates. Employers increasingly prioritize good GCSEs, offering £1,700 higher starting salaries for candidates with five A*-C grades.
What’s the answer? Rising temperatures
Employers must maintain reasonable workplace temperatures and provide adequate ventilation and drinking water to all employees. During extreme heat, companies should implement measures like additional fans, water coolers, and rest breaks, though air conditioning isn’t legally required if other cooling options exist.
Long-term incentives fail executives and shareholders
PwC research shows long-term incentive plans are failing to effectively align executive compensation with shareholder returns. The study finds that new regulations, accounting rules, and poor communication have created misaligned reward programs that satisfy neither executives nor shareholders.
