Unions announce mother of all unions
The TGWU has announced that talks have opened on the creation of a new trade union, based on a merger of the Transport and General Workers Union, Amicus and the GMB.The union said its executive had “unanimously endorsed a proposal to open discussions with Amicus on the creation of the new union and to write […]
Business applauds incapacity benefit shift
This week’s announcement that the Government was moving to end the present incapacity benefit regime has, it seems, earned it copious brownie points with a full spectrum of business interests, from the Federation of Small Business to the Institute of Directors. The changes, says the Government, provide “enhanced financial security” for those genuinely unable to […]
Gangmasters exposed as serial exploiters of migrant labour
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) claim that migrant workers in the UK, including those with the right to work here are subjected to such high levels of exploitation that they meet the legal definition of ‘forced labour’.This time last year 19 Chinese Morecambe cockle pickers drowned when they were caught by the night tide. The […]
£7.5 million sex discrimination claimant goes back to court
Last December, Stephanie Villalba a former Merrill Lynch banker lost the biggest sexual discrimination claim in Britain, of £7.5 million.The £300,000 a year banker who could earn upto a million annually claimed that she was the victim of persistent sexual discrimination and bullying.On one occasion Ms Villalba claimed that she was made to sit in […]
Softworld preview: Selecting the best payroll software for your business
By Dennis Keeling Dennis Keeling, Chief Executive of the Business Application Software Developers Association, will be speaking at the Softworld HR & Payroll seminar ‘How to select and implement a business system effectively’ at 9am on Thursday 3 March. Here’s a snapshot of what he’ll be discussing … This year will see a number of […]
Scrap compulsory retirement, says IoD
Compulsory retirement on grounds of age should be scrapped, the Institute of Directors (IOD) said yesterday, claiming that the measure would “forestall the UK’s looming pensions crisis.”In a statement, the IoD said that an NOP survey of its members said they opposed staff being compulsory pensioned-off when they reached a certain age. The IoD added, […]
Accenture scoop 10-year BT HR deal
Telecom giant BT have signed a £306 million 10-year deal with consultants Accenture for human resource administration services and business process outsourcing.The contract, thought to be one of the largest renewals of an outsourcing contract for HR services in the world supersedes the previous five year contract.The service will be delivered via Accenture HR services […]
Staff keep ‘quiet’
A snapshot survey shows that although internal communication in UK plc is steadily improving, staff still feel unable to ‘speak up’.Sixty-four per cent of workers claim to be aware of their organisation’s long term goals. A figure that compares to just 52% when the same sentiments were tested in 1999.Kate Pritchard, pollster ORC International’s employee […]
UK tops Euro entrepreneur table
New research shows that the UK is Europe’s most entrepreneurial major economy, with almost 10% of the population planning to strike out on their own.The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2004, an international research group part funded by the Department of Trade and Industry, places the UK ahead of rivals Germany, France, Italy when it comes […]
Case Study: Sara Lee – Developing e-performance management systems
An old-fashioned paper-based system was putting the brakes on HR efficiency at 150,000 strong Sara Lee, global manufacturer and marketeer of consumer products so something had to be done. The challenge:As a global operator, consistently managing the performance and potential development of employees, operating in many different business environments is a challenge. Sara Lee had […]
Review: New Market Mavericks
Title: New Market Mavericks Author: Geoff Cutmore Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd ISBN: 047087046XPrice: £24.95Reviewer:Colin Eastaugh Cutmore’s book is a thoroughly entertaining tour of the investment industry in 2003. The author has interviewed eight individuals: four hedge fund managers, two technical traders, fund of funds manager and a stock market historian – all men […]
Simon Cowell is ‘boss’ idol
Pop guru and X Factor judge Simon Cowell best known for his caustic wit and cruel appraisals of would-be pop stars has been voted in as the perfect boss.One in two Brits rated him the ideal manager in a poll undertaken by Trust Medical.Former Glasgow Rangers player and chef Gordon Ramsey came a close second, […]
IT managers ‘lack soft skills’
Most UK IT managers feel unequipped to manage their teams effectively, according to a recent poll conducted by Parity.The research, found that 56% of IT managers felt under-equipped for their role, while 67% of their staff recognised this skills gap among their bosses. Almost half of the staff surveyed said that their managers lacked vital […]
Pregnancy discrimination is rife
Around 30,000 working women are sacked, made redundant or leave their jobs due to pregnancy discrimination.These are the shock findings released today by the Equal Opportunities Commission.Under current laws discrimination on the basis of pregnancy is unlawful, but EOC figures show that of the 441,000 women who are pregnant at work each year almost half […]
‘Massive increase in Court Fees to prevent access to justice?’
James Taylor of Bevans Solicitors discusses access to justice. Job satisfaction for Solicitors lies in many areas, but for me, providing access to a civilised system of dispute resolution is high on the list. When I hear tales of the Italian mafia or read of the lawlessness in places like Iraq, I realise what an […]
HRZone members shake off ‘outsourcing’ threat
Far from fearing the threat of outsourcing, over half (57%) of respondents in our month long poll believe that it presents the HR function with the opportunity to focus on other areas of work.Just 19% felt that it was a threat. While a nervous 16% said it could become a danger if the trend increases.HRZone […]
Feature: Getting the most out of appraisals
Graham Yemm, founding partner of Solutions 4 Training looks at the appraisal procedure and what can be done to make the experience more worthwhile for everyone involved. Does your organisation have one of those annual ‘occasions’ that few look forward to: the annual appraisal or performance review? How do you look forward to it? I […]
HR Tip: Re-employment of dismissed workers
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: An employee whom we dismissed is claiming unfair dismissal and asking the court for his job back. Can the court do this? A: If the Employment Tribunal finds that you unfairly dismissed […]
Skills shortages yet to put pressure on pay
Skills shortages are having little impact on wages, according to a snapshot survey of pay rises.Website Monster.co.uk asked over 2,000 British employees when they last received a pay increase and found that 74% had not received a pay rise in the previous year, while 39% had not seen their salary increase in two years. Another […]
The Church of England gets ‘calling’ for HR
For the first time in its 475-year history the Church of England is looking to create an HR department.The Review of Clergy Terms of Service will be debated at General Synod in London on Tuesday 15th February and if passed will give new rights to 11,500 clergy.Eighteen posts will be hired to head up the […]
