Childcare vouchers: Advice is misleading, tax body warns
Employers are providing misleading advice, and many employees attracted by the new tax exemption for childcare vouchers will find themselves worse off, according to a leading tax body.Childcare vouchers provided by employers are free of tax and national insurance up to £50 per week with effect from 6 April but many people taking the vouchers […]
BLA publishes Best Practice Guide to support learners
New learner support guidelines aimed at training managers and providers are available from the British Learning Association (BLA).The best practice guide 10 Steps to Develop Learner Support – a guideline through the key issues gives an overview of what is meant by learner support and the different options. The free guide also includes a step-by-step […]
Shift from training to learning applauded
A four year study claims a shift from training to learning has occurred in recent years.Research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) shows that leading organisations are tackling skills shortages by creating a culture of learning.Martyn Sloman, CIPD Learning, Training and Development Adviser said, “Training is one method by which you can […]
Labour says ‘balls’ to pensions
Labour’s candidate in Normanton and Chancellor Gordon Brown’s top aide, Ed Balls, has publicly ruled out compulsory pension saving for the years to come should Labour win a further term.Speaking at a recent press conference, Balls, said that Labour would wait for expert advice on pensions policy and warned that ‘future elections will occur’ before […]
The UK has the longest work hours
The Work Foundation, a left-leaning think tank has proclaimed the UK as the official ‘work horse’ of the European Union.In the UK around 896,000 men and 492,000 women regularly work more than 60 hours per week. Just behind Ireland, the UK has the second highest proportion of men putting in more than 60 hours a […]
Work worries ‘cloud’ holiday rest
A shocking 85% of workers admit to worrying about work even when they’re on annual leave.These are the findings from Peninsula employment law firm.And according to their survey, not only are most workers worrying about work when holidaying but 69% are also concerned that their jobs won’t be there when they get back.All this results […]
Legal focus: Case law round-up
Alison Wallace, head of employment practice at Steptoe & Johnson presents a quarterly round-up of employment law case rulings including details of the first ever successful claim by a gay manager for constructive dismissal under the new Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Act. 1. Continuity of employment London Probation Board v. Kirkpatrick EATMr Kirkpatrick was dismissed. […]
MG Rover hangs onto its ‘million to one’ chance
Workers at ailing car manufacturer, MG Rover were sent home yesterday on full pay as the chances of securing a deal to save the business were said to be as little as a ‘million to one’ by the unions.A last minute emergency government loan of £6.5 million has been drafted in to buy some time.PWC […]
Conservative manifesto omits details of tax cuts
The Conservative Party has published its general election manifesto but has not yet provided further details of the £4bn of tax cuts it has vowed to make in its first Budget.The party will provide details within the next week of cuts other than the council tax rebates already promised, according to reports. It declared that […]
Member wire #94 – Win a luxury manicure!
================================================================ HR Zone Members Newswire Issue 94 12 April 2005 http://www.hrzone.co.uk ================================================================ SITE HIGHLIGHTS **** SITE HIGHLIGHTS **** SITE HIGHLIGHTS **** 1. Editor’s Comment: ‘Job-hopping’ – does HR care? 2. Opinion: Turning vision into a reality 3. The Couch!? team share their beauty DIY disasters 4. MG Rover hangs onto its ‘million to one’ chance […]
CSR and beyond: Breaking down ‘woolly’ notions
Leo Martin is a director and founder of GoodCorporation, the corporate responsibility standard and is the principal character in the BBC’s series, Good Company, Bad Company; in this the third of a new series ‘CSR and beyond’ Martin looks at how to make a business case for corporate social responsibility. In the last article we […]
HR Tip: Interview notes
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Q: We recently turned down an applicant for a job. He subsequently telephoned and asked the reason for his rejection and we gave admittedly a vague reply. He has phoned again and asked […]
HR has split loyalties
Human resources professionals are torn between their preference for global policies and procedures and their loyalty to local colleagues.A new survey by Global Integration which is being launched today at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s (CIPD) annual Learning, Training and Development conference makes the claim.According to the survey findings the dilemma exists because […]
Understanding the NHS key skills framework
The NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (NHS KSF) is an integral part of the recent key NHS initiative Agenda for Change. It promotes consistency in care and minimum standards, while standardising pay scales and progression.As part of this process, senior managers within the NHS are required to conduct regular appraisals and set clear objectives for […]
Opinion: Turning a vision into reality
<img src="/files/siftmedia-photolib/photo_joe.jpg" If the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For survey and the plethora of research that exists is anything to go by, one would say there is now clear and convincing evidence that there is a strong correlation between translation of visionary goals, good people management and business results. By Joe Espana, […]
Election Focus: What the main parties are saying
Sister site, TaxZone’s Election Focus brings you news and comment from the news pages of the main parties’ websites.* * *10 Apr – LabourTony Blair said: “If people don’t come out and vote for us on May 5th, then shortly after, Oliver Letwin produces his first Tory Budget.“And we know what’s in it. Because he’s […]
UK employment costs rocket
The cost of employment in the UK is 40% more than in the US; analysts say the findings could put off US investors.Employment costs including national average pay, social security and other mandatory and typical voluntary benefits including pension, healthcare and disability benefits have risen so much in Europe that it is now four times […]
Bosses’ group calls for ‘education and skills’ election focus
The CBI is urging the three main political parties to put education, skills and transport at the top of their election manifestos.According to the findings of their recent CBI Employment Trends Survey half of employers are dissatisfied with the literacy and numeracy levels of young people. The group, representing the views of bosses are calling […]
The Couch!? team share their beauty DIY disasters
In an effort to soothe your DIY beauty injuries The Couch?! has teamed up with The Spa at Chancery Court (winner of British Beauty Awards best day spa in 2002 and 2004 – right) to offer a free manicure for one of our deserving members.Inspired by a recent survey on beauty DIY disasters. The Couch?! […]
Leaders in short supply
Two-thirds of UK organisations are suffering from a shortage of highly effective leaders, according to the 2005 Training and Development Survey from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).The survey of 664 training managers working in UK organisations found that in response to this leadership deficit, 85% of UK organisations are now investing in […]
