HR grows its ‘influence’
Most HR professionals agree that the function has become more influential over the past five years.These are the latest findings from analysts, IRS Employment Review.More than seven in ten respondents or 73% said that HR had grown in power. Mark Crail IRS managing editor puts the trend down to a new direction:“Our respondents report that […]
Editor’s Comment: Lighting the torch for jobs creation in 2012
By Annie Hayes, HRZone EditorA London Chamber of Commerce poll shows that 68% of London businesses back the Capital’s bid for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games while 47% of the 357 respondents believe they would benefit in some way if London wins the bid; Editor’s Comment looks at what the Games would mean for jobs […]
Work-life balance wins over pay …… again
A raft of recent surveys shows that workers value work-life balance over pay rewards; the most recent findings show that two thirds of staff have vowed to ‘get a life’ in 2005.Research from Lloyds TSB and Working Families, which marks the launch of their annual search for Britain’s Best Boss 2005, reveals that the desire […]
Get ready for Softworld HR & Payroll event
The twice yearly Softworld HR & Payroll event is back this Spring, exhibiting at London’s Grand Hall, Olympia.Showcasing software solutions to payroll and HR professionals, attendees will be able to meet with over 50 of Europe’s leading software providers.Free, independent master classes and breakfast briefing sessions will also be available, hosted by independent experts. Key […]
Bank predicts worsening skills gap in 2005
The UK’s skills gap is expected to stretch this year, making it hard for employers to fill technical positions. A fresh report by Lloyds TSB bank predicts that skills shortages could lead to labour market ‘bottlenecks’. In turn, it says, this could have an upward influence on wages for many skilled positions. According to a […]
Jobs cull as shoemaker bows out of UK production
Shoe giant, Clarks International has announced the closure of its last remaining UK factory based in Ilminster, Somerset.A spokesperson for the firm told HRZone that the company had for some time been outsourcing its production to the Far East and this move was just the final step to complete a total production transfer overseas.The factory, […]
Europe leads the world in outsourcing
Europe is now the world’s leading market for new outsourcing contracts, according to research from international sourcing advisory firm TPI. TPI’s latest Quarterly Index found that in 2004 Europe represented 49% of the value of major outsourcing contracts (worth more than £28m) behind the US at 44% and Asia Pacific at 7%. In total European […]
Case Study: Royal Mail delivers First Class HCI Service
Royal Mail implemented the government’s Home Computing Initiative (HCI) to inject meaning to Chairman, Alan Leighton’s objective to make the organisation ‘a great place to work’; 22,000 employees have since signed up heralding the scheme a success. About the businessRoyal Mail Group is a public limited company wholly owned by the government, comprising three brands: […]
Breakaway union challenges Aslef
Aslef, the union representing train drivers, crew and operators has been rocked by the announcement that a breakaway group of disaffected rail workers are creating the Associated Train Crew Union (ATCU).The news comes as a fresh blow to Aslef who are still coming to terms with the dismissal of its former general secretary, Shaun Brady […]
Staff resolve to be better employees
Workers are turning over a new leaf this New Year and resolving to be better employees. Instead of the usual promises to stop smoking, drink less and take more exercise, employees are resolving to kick bad work habits, according to a new report. A survey of 1,500 staff by recruitment firm Office Angels found common […]
Research day for Coaches and Mentors
Coaches and mentors from all over the UK are to meet in February to share latest research in their field. The event, to be held at Sheffield Hallam University on February 9, is the fifth in a series of successful Mentoring and Coaching Research days, held jointly by the university’s Mentoring and Coaching Research Unit […]
Review: ‘The Medici Effect’
Title: The Medici EffectAuthor: Frans JohanssonPublisher: Harvard Business School PressISBN: 1-59139-186-5 Price: $24.95Reviewer: John PopeThis is an interesting book. Its theme is that radical new ideas and innovations in business can be found at the ‘intersection’ of ideas, concepts and cultures. It is a passionate plea to remind us, yet again, of the value of […]
Taxman may be best way to beat absenteeism
The taxman may be the best way to beat persistent absenteeism, according to national law firm Rowe Cohen which believes “people would rather be at work than have the taxman snooping around their affairs”, the threat of which might “slash soaring ‘sickie’ rates across the UK.”According to Rowe Cohen, industry estimates that up to 15% […]
Work costs Brits £170k
Shock findings show that British workers are spending 15% of their average annual salary on work-related expenses including travel, lunch and clothes; a cost that equates to almost £170k over each worker’s lifetime.The research, commissioned by retail sandwich chain Benjys, shows that of the 500 workers quizzed, the majority are spending the equivalent of the […]
Opinion: Dealing with inappropriate language in the workplace
By Philip Evans, Company Secretary at NCA LtdIn response to member Douglas King’s recent query on the place of language in the workplace, HRZone contributor Philip Evans has compiled an opinion piece which examines the issues in further detail. Last year brought a situation I thought I might never see, someone lost their job due […]
TUC to give pension plans ‘public’ battering
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) have earmarked 18 February as a day of campaigning against Government plans to reform public sector workers’ pensions.In 2002 the Government published its Pensions Green Paper which sought to raise retirement ages in the public sector from 60 to 65, and to increase the age at which people could take […]
Office life hampers HR productivity
More than half (58%) of all HR professionals suffer between five and 20 interruptions per day when working in the office.Almost a fifth (17%) complain of more than 20 daily interruptions; the figures are dramatically reduced to only 17% of HR professionals who endure just five to ten daily interruptions when working from home.The research […]
Revenue is among ‘top ten’ employers for gay people
‘Stonewall’ has placed the Inland Revenue among the top ten employers for lesbian, gay and bisexual staff.The lobbying group said its Corporate Equality Index demonstrated that many major employers are “firmly committed to supporting and developing gay staff”.The British Council was the country’s top employer for gay people, Stonewall said. The Revenue was placed joint […]
Member wire #81 – ‘Snake bites back at boss’ wins
================================================================ HR Zone Members Newswire Issue 81 11 January 2005 http://www.hrzone.co.uk ================================================================ SITE HIGHLIGHTS **** SITE HIGHLIGHTS **** SITE HIGHLIGHTS **** 1. Feature: Employees’ ‘right to be consulted’ 2. Editor’s Comment: Forty winks in 2005? 3. ‘Snake bites back at boss’ wins HRZone Competition 4. Lunch hour extinction ‘supersizes workers’ 5. Any Answers: benchmarking, race […]
HR Tip: Developing women managers
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: We have a large female workforce but most of our supervisors and managers are male. We would like to redress this balance and feel that we have some women with management potential. […]
