Recruitment of older workers sparks warning about new legislation
Organizations recruiting older workers ahead of new age discrimination legislation face legal risks. The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations, coming October 1, protect workers of all ages from discrimination, meaning deliberately targeting older workers could trigger age discrimination claims.
Business leaders need to update their skills
Communication skills are the top priority for business leader development, with 43% of senior executives naming it as the most critical skill. Research reveals that leaders most commonly fail at listening and providing feedback, with these gaps directly impacting employee productivity and organizational performance.
Cumbria earmarks £15 million for equal pay claim
Cumbria County Council has increased its financial reserve for an equal pay claim to £15.3 million, up from £8.7 million. An employment tribunal ruled the council underpaid nearly 3,000 female employees, including carers and cleaners, compared to male colleagues, though the council has appealed the decision.
Bumps to babies
Businesslink launches an interactive tool helping small businesses understand maternity rights, workplace obligations, and employee entitlements. The guide covers maternity pay, leave, flexible working, and addresses gaps in manager knowledge about pregnancy workplace management.
Opinion: Don’t take recruitment measurement lightly
Most organizations lack rigorous measurement of recruitment success, with nearly half using arbitrary methods that fail to evaluate whether hired candidates actually meet performance objectives. This oversight is costly, given that senior executive hires typically cost £30,000 and underperformance can result in significant lost profits.
HR Zone Briefing #300 – How To Get An HR Job You’ll Love
Learn how to take control of your HR career and advance to senior positions with expert advice from bestselling careers author John Lees, who shares strategies for becoming your own career coach in this exclusive HR Zone feature.
Psychometrics spotlight: Testing times – the FIRO-BTM personality questionnaire
The FIRO-B personality questionnaire, developed by Will Schutz in the 1950s, assesses relationship styles by measuring how people express themselves toward others and what behavior they want in return across three core needs: inclusion, control, and affection. This 54-question tool helps individuals understand interpersonal dynamics, improve communication, and resolve conflicts in team and personal development contexts.
Union in World Cup sickie row
Trade union Amicus faced criticism from employers’ groups after publishing advice on its website about minimizing risks of taking unauthorized time off to watch World Cup matches. The union denied promoting “sickies,” arguing the article actually warned of the risks involved.
Company of the week: KPMG
KPMG, an employer of over 10,000 staff, uses diverse and customizable benefits to attract and retain talent. The firm offers 17 flexible benefit options including customizable healthcare, flexible working arrangements, interest-free graduate loans, and on-site meals, with employees able to tailor packages to their individual needs.
HR Software Show – Exclusive preview
The CIPD’s HR Software Show at London Olympia on 21-22 June features over 50 suppliers showcasing HR automation solutions, from integrated web-based suites to specialist recruitment and attendance tools. HR Zone previews key product announcements ahead of the event.
Merging HR functions in government could save millions
Merging HR and finance functions across central government could save £560 million annually by reducing administrative spending to match private sector efficiency levels, according to a CBI report on shared services in the public sector.
Inflexible attitudes over flexible working
Despite government efforts to promote flexible working, 60% of employees believe requesting it would damage their careers. While 90% think flexible working should apply to everyone, not just parents, trust issues and concerns about appearing uncommitted remain significant barriers to adoption.
Moves To Close ‘Bank Holiday Loophole’
The UK government has launched a consultation to close a loophole allowing employers to count bank holidays as part of statutory paid leave. The proposal would increase minimum paid leave from 20 to 28 days, with bank holidays kept separate, phased in starting October 2007.
What’s the answer? Redundancy after sick leave
An employee on long-term sick leave remains protected by employment law during redundancy. Employers must follow proper redundancy procedures, consider alternatives to dismissal, and investigate whether the absence might indicate disability before proceeding with termination.
Firms suffer daytime drinking problem
One in six UK employees admits to drinking alcohol at work, with workplace accidents linked to alcohol affecting 20-25% of incidents, according to a new survey. HR managers are urged to implement anti-alcohol policies to manage liability and create safer working environments.
HR career management: Taking control
Learn to take control of your career by becoming your own career coach. This guide reveals three essential steps—starting with career awareness—to help you move beyond outdated passive career thinking and create a strategic path aligned with both your strengths and organizational needs.
Coaching myths explained
Experienced HR manager Dave Marchant debunks common coaching myths, explaining that effective coaching doesn’t require expertise, formal qualifications, or knowing the answers. Instead, successful coaching relies on key interpersonal skills, active listening, and guiding coachees to discover their own solutions.
Ministers address bosses’ bank holiday leave dodge
The government plans to prevent employers from counting bank holidays as part of employees’ annual leave entitlement, potentially benefiting up to two million low-paid workers. Under new proposals, statutory leave will increase from 20 to at least 24 days starting October 2007, with further increases phased in over subsequent years.
Sacking stroke victim costs employer £20k
A veterinary surgery was ordered to pay £20,352 in compensation after illegally sacking a 22-year-old nurse who became blind following a stroke. The employer dismissed her without considering reasonable adjustments that could have allowed her to continue working in her receptionist role, marking one of the first direct discrimination cases under the Disability Discrimination Act to reach tribunal.
Member’s tip: Corporate responsibility on employee benefits
Employers should design employee benefits packages based on workforce needs and business culture rather than following a standard formula. Keith Luxon recommends assessing your workforce demographics, company longevity goals, and competitive positioning to create an effective benefits strategy.
