Editor’s Comment: Budget 2005 – High fives from HR?
Chancellor Gordon Brown’s 2005 Budget announced significant benefits for working families, including increased Child Tax Credits, expanded childcare support, and paid maternity leave rising to one year. The budget also committed substantial new investment in primary and secondary education over the coming years.
HR Directors differ in ‘coaching’ approach
HR directors take widely varying approaches to evaluating coaching programmes, with research showing they prioritize coaches’ ability to build rapport with clients. Organizations differ significantly in their involvement levels, from hands-on needs analysis and measurement to minimal oversight of coaching relationships.
Workers lament poor diet
Most office workers eat lunch at their desks regularly, with 62% snacking frequently at work on unhealthy options like crisps and biscuits. Nearly half believe working from home would lead to healthier eating habits and potential daily savings on lunch costs.
Legal triggers applauded by HRZone
HRZone members support setting common commencement dates for new UK employment legislation, with 58% voting in favor. The government now introduces new regulations at only two fixed points annually—April 6 and October 1—to help businesses better manage compliance obligations and plan for changes.
Talent untapped
Over a third of employees feel their talents are undervalued by managers who fail to reward good work or offer career progression. A survey found 35% of workers believe their experience isn’t being fully utilized, while nearly a quarter are unaware of employer development plans.
Budget 2005: At-a-glance
Gordon Brown’s 2005 Budget focused on pre-election giveaways with emphasis on early years investment and family support. Key measures included doubled stamp duty thresholds, increased child tax credits, new small business compliance targets, and expanded anti-avoidance disclosure rules.
Review: Managing Change Across Corporate Cultures
Trompenaars and Prud’homme examine four corporate culture types and argue that failed change initiatives stem from neglecting human elements alongside business objectives. This readable guide uses case studies to demonstrate how national traits and cultural models impact organizational success and change management.
WTC: Payment by employers to end next year
The Government will phase out employer payments of Working Tax Credit between November 2005 and April 2006, ending employer responsibility for the scheme. The change is expected to benefit approximately 1.2 million small businesses.
E-Learning strategy gathers pace
The UK government’s e-learning strategy aims to provide personalized online learning spaces for all learners while targeting socially-excluded groups and embedding e-learning in work-based training. The comprehensive approach includes broadband access for all schools, parental engagement tools, and support for hard-to-reach learners with special needs.
TUC court support for bank holiday bonus
Labour MP Claire Ward is presenting a bill proposing an additional bank holiday on the third Monday in October. A TUC poll of nearly 20,000 workers showed 41% support this timing, citing the 16-week gap between summer and Christmas holidays. The UK currently has eight bank holidays, below the EU average of 11.35.
The best company to work for
Nationwide Building Society has been named the best big company to work for in the UK by The Sunday Times, beating competitors like Asda and Cadbury Schweppes. The award was primarily based on employee feedback and recognizes the organization’s commitment to staff respect and genuine customer service.
Brown’s plans to get claimants back to work
Gordon Brown unveiled new employment initiatives targeting lone parents and incapacity benefit claimants, including a £20-a-week Work Search Premium and £2,000 return-to-work bonuses, as part of plans to get 80% of the eligible population into work.
PMD should spearhead election debate
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development urges political parties to prioritize people management and labor market issues in pre-election debates. The professional body has outlined key recommendations including flexible immigration policies, expanded flexible working arrangements, benefits reform, and the abolition of mandatory retirement ages to address UK recruitment challenges.
Brown touts employment record
Chancellor Gordon Brown highlighted record employment figures in his spring Budget, citing over two million new jobs since 1997 and unemployment at 4.7%. UK employment reached its highest level since 1971, with 28.6 million people in work.
Budget’s skills package
Chancellor Gordon Brown announced a skills package including £65m for Employer Training Pilots to improve literacy and numeracy, new vocational centres in high-unemployment areas, and apprenticeship incentive schemes for 16 to 18 year olds.
Budget 2005: Speech highlights
Gordon Brown’s 2005 Budget speech highlighted record economic growth with inflation at 1.6% and employment at its highest level ever. Brown emphasized fiscal discipline, with national debt at 34% and plans to extend job creation initiatives alongside enterprise reform.
Prudent Chancellor turns ‘family friendly’ with CTC
Chancellor Gordon Brown increased Child Tax Credits by £65 annually to £1,690 from April 2005, alongside rises in Working Tax Credits and childcare cost limits. The tax credit expansion aims to support low and middle-income families with children, with the maximum childcare cost share rising to 80% by 2006-07.
Personal allowances confirmed as child credits rise
The Chancellor confirmed personal income tax allowances will increase, with the basic allowance rising to £4,895. Child Tax Credit will increase by £5 weekly instead of raising personal allowances further, providing greater support for working families with children.
Half a million employers will ‘do it online’
Over 500,000 employers have registered to use the Inland Revenue’s online tax filing services for 2004/05, with the agency offering guidance on peak filing times, error checks, and £250 tax-free incentives for smaller employers who file digitally.
Staff critical of managers’ skills
More than half of British workers believe their managers lack essential job skills, with communication, organization, and technology proficiency identified as key areas for improvement, according to a new survey.
