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.
Member wire #95 – Leadership the Ramsay way
Explore Gordon Ramsay’s controversial leadership style and whether his approach reflects genius or hot-headedness. This HR Zone member newswire examines what his methods reveal about effective management.
Free Graduate Recruitment for Selected Companies & Agencies
Search4Grads is offering selected companies and recruitment agencies a free 6-month subscription to their graduate recruitment platform, following the success of their previous promotional campaign. Interested organizations can submit their details for this exclusive offer through their promotions page.
UK pays out for top managers
UK senior managers earn the second-highest salaries in Europe at nearly 195,879 euros, according to Watson Wyatt research. Greek managers are expected to see the fastest pay growth at 5.4%, while UK salaries are predicted to rise by 3.7% in 2005.
Rover redundancies soured by fat-cat ‘pay’ news
Thousands of MG Rover workers face redundancy after the car manufacturer’s collapse, with controversy over alleged £400m accounting irregularities and executives’ substantial payouts. The Government is investigating the accounts while offering a £150m aid package, including redundancy support.
Racism ruins careers for black workers
Workplace racism prevents black workers from advancing careers by denying them equal access to training opportunities, according to a new Trades Union Congress report. The study found 31% of black and minority ethnic workers have never been offered training, compared to 29% of white employees, with Pakistani and Bangladeshi workers facing the most significant barriers.
Case Study: Investors in People Champion ClinPhone
ClinPhone Group, a clinical trial technology provider, became an Investors in People Champion after implementing the IiP Standard, which established structured frameworks for staff development, retention, and progression. This led to significant recognition including an American Business Award, two Queen’s Awards, and ranking 47th in the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For.
Boom time for HR outsourcing
HR outsourcing is experiencing record growth in the United States, with most companies satisfied and planning to expand outsourcing over the next three years. Common outsourced functions include outplacement services, employee assistance programs, and benefits administration, with companies increasingly moving into payroll, recruiting, and learning and development.
Skills gap hits 12 year high
Skills shortages in the UK have hit a 12-year high, with over half of businesses struggling to recruit skilled staff. The problem is most acute in retail, transport, construction and communications sectors, while hiring intentions have cooled despite anticipated revenue growth.
Editor’s Comment: Leadership the ‘Ramsay’ way
Gordon Ramsay’s leadership style combines tough love with a passion for excellence, shaped by his early experiences in football and mentorship under Marco Pierre White. His uncompromising approach to management emphasizes honesty and high standards, offering insights into what drives success in demanding environments.
Leadership development is top skills challenge
Leadership development remains the top skills challenge for HR and training executives, with 58% citing it as their primary management concern, followed by talent retention (53%) and cost reduction (50%), according to a 2005 survey of over 5,000 business leaders.
Jobless count soars
Unemployment rose 4.8% with 29,000 additional jobless and claimant count up 11,000, though employment rate hit 75%, the highest since 1975. Experts describe the labour market as in “robust health” despite the quarterly uptick.
Liberal Democrats flag single tax-raising measure
The Liberal Democrats’ manifesto promises to end Council Tax through a Local Income Tax and introduce a single tax-raising measure: a 50p top rate for those earning over £100,000. The policy aims to fund free university tuition, elderly care, and local tax cuts while leaving 99% of earners unaffected.
