The Couch?! asks “Are you a workaholic?”
The Couch?! explores the signs of workaholism, from keeping slippers at the office to working through weekends and holidays. Inspired by the TUC’s “Work Your Proper Hours” campaign, this article highlights ten indicators you may be working too much and offers humorous examples of how workaholics spend their Christmas and vacations.
HR leadership elite series: why do we need HR leaders?
Effective HR leadership is critically needed to drive organizational strategy and culture, yet the HR profession remains dominated by “followership” and imitation of best practices rather than innovative direction-setting that addresses major challenges like diversity and human capital management.
Get recognised at National Training Awards
Learning and development professionals can attend free half-day workshops across the UK to prepare entries for the National Training Awards. The workshops, run by experienced trainers, help professionals showcase their achievements in training and development. Entries close April 29.
Top companies to share in diversity mentoring scheme
Leading UK companies including HBOS, Deloitte, KPMG, and Ford Europe are joining a new diversity mentoring scheme launching March 8. The program, created by Performance Through Inclusion, enables organizations to share best practices and help each other address diversity challenges in their workplaces.
Business groups hit out at minimum wage rise
Business groups are fiercely opposing planned minimum wage increases from £4.85 to £5.05 per hour, citing concerns about timing ahead of the general election and unsustainable growth rates. The FSB and British Chambers of Commerce warn the rises could damage employment and competitiveness, particularly for small retailers.
Editor’s Comment: Tipping the balance on race equality
Recent high-profile gaffes by UK leaders raise questions about race equality in the workplace. While legal definitions of racism require unfavorable treatment based on race—not merely offensive comments—ethnic minorities face significant disadvantages in employment, earning at least 10% less and accessing fewer managerial positions than white workers.
Pay settlements break free of ‘doldrums’
Pay settlements have risen to their highest level in six years, averaging 3.3% in the quarter to January 2005, ending a 22-month period of pay stagnation. Private sector wages jumped to 3.3%, while public sector awards remained steady at 3%, with more than 60% of deals exceeding the previous year’s increases.
Review: Coaching with Colleagues
This academic guide by Erik de Haan and Yvonne Burger integrates rigorous therapeutic theory with practical coaching methods, offering valuable frameworks for coaches seeking to understand the foundations of their techniques and improve their effectiveness in peer coaching relationships.
E-mail zaps productivity
Nearly 40% of workers in the UK, Germany, and the US waste an hour daily on personal emails, with most others spending up to 30 minutes a day, according to a Clearswift survey. The research reveals that IT staff are among the worst offenders, wasting up to 21 days annually on personal email use.
Government focuses on basic and vocational skills
The government will introduce new work-based diplomas for 14 to 19-year-olds in England while keeping GCSEs and A levels, focusing on strengthening basic skills in maths and English. The three-level diplomas will cover 14 areas of study and run alongside existing qualifications, with the first four available by 2008.
Outsourcing: Payroll – a safe way to test the water
European companies increasingly outsource payroll as a low-risk entry point into HR outsourcing, with 44% preferring to test the waters this way. When implemented correctly, managed payroll services can reduce operational costs by 20-25% while improving data integrity and enabling future HR capabilities.
Opinion: The changing landscape of HR technology
The Oracle/PeopleSoft merger has disrupted the HR technology market, opening opportunities for vendors to challenge established leaders. As enterprise application vendors consolidate, HR professionals must carefully evaluate whether specialized human capital management solutions or traditional ERP systems better serve their evolving business needs.
Revenue update: E-filing
The Inland Revenue offers e-filing services for employer PAYE returns, with mandatory deadlines based on company size. Employers filing online early can receive tax-free cash rewards up to £825, with multiple filing options available including payroll bureaus, commercial software, or the Revenue’s free online service.
Feature: Simon Parsons, Chair of IREEN talks ‘payroll’ with HRZone
Simon Parsons, Chair of IREEN, discusses new online payroll filing requirements for UK employers starting May 2005. Companies with over 250 employees face £3,000 fines for non-compliance, while smaller firms have longer compliance timelines extending to 2009-2010.
Q&A: International payroll and the outsourcing debate
Explore key considerations for setting up international payroll, from permanent establishment rules and double taxation treaties to currency management and legal compliance. Learn about e-filing requirements and whether to outsource payroll administration.
Feature: Making HR transformation work – six steps to success
HR transformation programmes often fail to deliver measurable results because organisations lack rigorous performance metrics and strategic alignment. This article outlines six essential elements HR functions need to successfully execute transformation initiatives and demonstrate clear business value.
City workers brave upto bonus reality
Despite lower average bonuses in 2005, City worker satisfaction with payouts increased to 54% from 40% in 2004, as employers managed expectations effectively. Job opportunities in the financial sector nearly doubled year-over-year, with strong demand across banking, risk management, and investment roles.
Tax credits and employers: Primarolo under pressure
Government consultation on moving working tax credit payments from employers to the Inland Revenue has stalled, according to tax and business groups. The Chartered Institute of Taxation and eight other organizations are pressuring paymaster general Dawn Primarolo for clarity on implementation timelines, while the Treasury insists consultation continues.
Tesco staff ‘check-out’ shares windfall
Tesco staff received £106 million in windfall payouts through Save As You Earn schemes, with top investors earning up to £7,000. Despite the financial gain, over 74% of employees chose to retain their shares as long-term investments rather than sell them.
UK leaders honest but lack soft skills
UK leaders score highly for honesty and delivering results, but lag significantly in soft skills like empathy, stress awareness, and inspiring communication, according to a survey of nearly 9,000 employees. Women leaders rated better overall than men.
