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Editor’s Comment: Can workplaces survive without leaders?
Exploring whether workplaces require traditional leaders, this article examines how leadership exists throughout nature and considers if organizations can thrive without a hierarchical leader at the top, or whether success depends on cooperation and distributed decision-making.
Flexible working tops pay in ‘wants’ list
Flexible working has become the second most important workplace priority for British employees after pay, with 70% wanting flexible hours. A survey of 1,000 workers found that 46% find their workplace stressful, while those able to work from home report significantly higher job satisfaction.
Information and Consultation – Jaw, Jaw not War, War
New Information and Consultation Regulations requiring companies with 150+ employees to consult workers on workplace matters came into force in March 2005. Implementation is staggered by workforce size, with employers able to negotiate agreements with employees or face default consultation provisions.
Skills shortages bite as jobs pick up
As the UK job market rebounds, employers face widening skills shortages, particularly in sales and IT roles. The latest Recruitment Confidence Index shows 48% of companies plan to hire more staff over the next six months, but half struggle to fill sales positions and 45% report difficulty attracting IT talent.
Businesses struggle to kick the smoking habit
UK businesses struggle to implement workplace smoking bans despite passive smoking causing 300 deaths annually and costing employers over £340 million yearly in productivity losses. While employers have legal obligations to protect non-smokers under workplace health regulations, fewer than half offer support for staff to quit smoking.
HR Zone Briefing #242 – Traits for HR success …
Explore the essential traits and management skills that define success in HR leadership, from workplace stress identification to family-friendly policies and e-recruitment best practices.
Colborn’s Corner: Is there a place for ethics in HR?
Explore whether HR professionals should act as organizational conscience when business pressures conflict with ethical responsibilities. This article examines HR’s role in protecting employees during closures, handling recruitment missteps, and challenging misconduct despite reputational concerns.
HR prepares to party
UK companies are investing an estimated £2.5 million annually on corporate events and parties, with HR and PR departments increasingly dedicating resources to staff celebrations. The trend reflects growing recognition that corporate gatherings boost employee morale and serve as meaningful ways to show appreciation.
Working time opt-out is scrapped
The European Parliament’s Employment Committee voted to eliminate the working time opt-out, meaning employers will no longer be able to ask staff to work more than 48 hours weekly by 2010. The CBI opposed the decision, arguing it failed to take a balanced approach and warning of negative impacts on UK businesses.
Verifile: CV Verification and Background Screening Service
Verifile is the UK’s leading CV verification and background screening service that verifies educational, career, and personal information while checking criminal and credit histories. The affordable service delivers results within five working days, helping businesses reduce recruitment fraud, lower turnover costs, and ensure employment compliance.
Top tips for developing leadership skills
Develop essential leadership skills through improved communication, team involvement in change management, building self-confidence, and maintaining broad perspectives. These strategies help leaders enhance productivity and staff morale while navigating organizational change effectively.
Tardiness is greatest bug-bear
Employee lateness frustrates 87% of employers, yet most lack monitoring systems or disciplinary measures to address the issue. Only 30% of bosses track punctuality, while 17% of workers admit arriving late at least seven times monthly, costing businesses significant revenue.
The ‘how to’ of e-recruitment
Recruiters can maximize their e-recruitment success by selecting the right job boards based on vacancy projections and sector needs, using NORAS data for targeted audience insights, and optimizing job postings to attract qualified candidates through proper formatting and proactive CV searching.
Re-training hopes realized for MG Rover workers
The UK government announced a £150 million support package for MG Rover workers following the manufacturer’s collapse, including up to £50 million for retraining, redundancy payments, and business loans. Rapid response services were established to help displaced workers identify transferable skills and access employment support across the West Midlands.
Retirement at 70 to ‘fatten’ pensions … the Tory plan
The Conservatives propose allowing people to work until age 70 to boost pension savings, while cutting red tape and abolishing mandatory annuity purchases at 75. The party opposes Labour’s “citizen’s pension” plan, arguing it would be expensive and unaffordable without higher taxes.
Home workers cause security ‘headache’
Remote home workers pose significant security risks to businesses, with costs estimated at £8.5 billion annually. IT security experts warn that most homeworkers neglect security awareness, leaving companies vulnerable to viruses and hacking threats despite the growing appeal of flexible work arrangements.
Survey reveals culture of ‘lookism’
A global survey reveals widespread “lookism” in the workplace, with significant percentages of people believing employers should be allowed to discriminate based on appearance. The Employment Law Alliance study found that 16% of respondents felt personally discriminated against for their looks, while experts warn this culture affects UK businesses as much as American ones.
HR Tip: Providing basic details for references
When providing employment references, you can limit information to employment dates and job title, but must avoid misleading omissions. Be transparent about what details you provide, as most employers primarily verify employment continuity.
How ‘family-friendly’ are the parties?
The three main UK political parties propose different family-friendly policies, including varying maternity leave options, flexible working arrangements, and workplace protections. Labour offers the most comprehensive package with extended paid maternity leave and pension reforms, while the Conservatives focus on flexible maternity payment options and the Liberal Democrats propose a maternity income guarantee.
