Literacy and numeracy levels need lifting
The National Audit Office has said that the levels of adult literacy and numeracy in England need to be improved.Twenty-six million people of working age have levels of literacy and numeracy below those expected of school leavers. Those with the lowest levels of skills tend to work in low-skilled employment, are unemployed or are on […]
Changes at the top for LSC
The New Year will see a raft of new directors at the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).Mark Haysom, Chief Executive of the LSC said that the appointments would help the council deliver on its annual statement of priorities, which includes strengthening the role of the LSC in economic development, improve the skills of those who […]
‘Informing and consulting’ rated top HR issue for 2005
Topping the priority list for HR professionals in 2005 is informing and consulting employees while new legislation isn’t thought to be so pressing.The findings from the Beachcroft Wansbroughs’ ‘Employment Issues Monitor’ shows that nearly two thirds (61%) of respondents consider that this is the top ‘live issue’ for which they are currently focusing on developing […]
Member wire #78 – HRZone competition: Christmas party clangers
================================================================ HR Zone Members Newswire Issue 78 14 December 2004 http://www.hrzone.co.uk ================================================================ HRZONE COMPETITION ***** WIN CHAMPAGNE ***** HRZONE COMPETITION 1. HRZone competition: Christmas party clangers 2. Editor’s Comment: The folly of presenteeism 3. Focus On: HR Specialists – Sandra Beale 4. The Couch?! Gets stressed 5. Any Answers: regional weighting, staff retention, emp law […]
HR Tip: Managing capability and incapability
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 promoted a man to a team leader position a few weeks ago, but it's just not working out. What can we do? Can we fire him? A: You are dealing with a […]
Work deadlines may kill
Long working hours and short deadlines can cause heart attacks and may kill.These are the latest health warnings published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health today. The report reveals that the risk of a heart attack the day following a high-pressure work deadline is increased six-fold.TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber commented:“This research highlights […]
Retirement age fix gets mixed response
Ministers will allow employers to set a retirement age at 65 while allowing employees the right to request to work beyond this age; the news has received a mixed response.Employers’ group the CBI has called the decision ‘sensible and pragmatic’ while the Employers Forum On Age (EFA) has lashed out at the government calling it […]
Case Study: HMV’s hiring is top of the pops
HMV, the UK’s specialist retailer of music, DVDs and games, is using a retail-specific psychometric assessment to help select candidates for its graduate training programme. Developed by PSL, the ‘three-in-one’ assessment comprises verbal and numerical reasoning tests and a personality questionnaire. It gives HMV an in-depth understanding of each candidate and it prompts interviewers to […]
Poor communication escalates pensions’ problems
Employers are failing to effectively communicate the value of pension schemes to employees making pensions’ problems worse.Research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) shows that one in five over-50s interviewed had little or no understanding of how their pension schemes worked. This rose to one in three respondents in the under-25 age […]
Staff suggestions equal cash rewards
Latest research from IRS Employment Review shows that staff suggestion schemes can be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds to employers.Successful schemes can produce rewards for bosses including higher sales, more efficient ways of working and lower costs.Greater staff involvement is a key goal of staff suggestion schemes for 96% of organisations while service improvements […]
Bosses show yuletide generosity
Most directors do not support trading on Christmas Day and the majority of them let their staff leave work early on Christmas Eve. According to a December survey by the Institute of Directors, 89% of its members were opposed to businesses and shops opening on Christmas Day and 93% of them allowed staff to go […]
Workplace porn not being stopped
Seventy per cent of companies have had to discipline employees over viewing pornography at work, according to a survey published today. The survey, conducted by PixAlert in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, has also shown that more than 50% of senior managers were unaware of their “personal and civil liability for […]
Focus On: HR Specialists – Sandra Beale, HR & Training Consultant
After more than seven years in the public sector, Sandra Beale (MCIPD) decided she needed to be exposed to new challenges and different cultures and in a bold step she decided to go-it-alone carving a unique and successful career for herself as an interim manager and HR and Training consultant. Read on to find out […]
Seasonal workers in high demand
Retailers fear that customer service levels and the ability to restock shelves quickly will suffer this Christmas as a direct result of staff shortages but despite the findings only a fifth will consider training as an option for improving things.Deloitte’s Christmas retail survey shows that one in five retailers is concerned that they will be […]
Review: The Performance Coach – Seeking coaching excellence
Title: The Performance Coach – Seeking coaching excellenceAuthor: Dixon, Tony and Valentine, HazelPublisher: Gower Publishing LimitedISBN: 0 566 08513 5Price: £325.00Reviewer: Nigel HarrisAs you might expect for the price, this is a whole lot more than a book. It is a comprehensive training package enabling organisations to train up managers to become accredited performance coaches. […]
Pensions report: last chance for voluntarism
The Employer Task Force on Pensions today presented its report into occupational pension schemes, and warned that Britain is now in the “last chance saloon” of voluntary pensions contributions. Tackling the neglected subject of small business and pensions schemes, the report has said that it is introducing ” a new targeted financial incentive to encourage […]
Public sector reaps rewards of well-trained managers
Line managers in the public sector are being credited with boosting motivation and commitment among staff.A new survey suggests that public sector employees are more trusting, satisfied, committed and motivated than their counterparts in the private sector.The survey, from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that motivation amongst public sector employees has […]
Pilots threaten strike action
Commercial pilots have reacted angrily to a decision that will see EU flying times adopted.The British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) says they are concerned that the new rules will put passengers at risk as a result of fatigue from longer hours and shorter rest periods.Referring to the decision by the European Council of Ministers as […]
General Motors axes jobs
Car manufacturer General Motors is set to slash jobs in its loss-making European division by 12,000.Workers in Germany will take the biggest hit with 10,000 jobs expected to go at the Opel plants.Two thousand further jobs cuts will come from GM’s plants in Antwerp, Belgium; Zaragoza, Spain; Trollhättan, Sweden and Ellesmere Port in the UK.Managerial […]
Creative industries must up-skill to meet global challenge
The UK’s creative and cultural industries face a looming global challenge that could threaten their future, according to a new report by Charles Leadbeater, an adviser on the government’s strategy on creative industries. In the report, ‘Britain’s Creativity Challenge’, Mr Leadbeater warns that complacency about the UK’s strengths could lead to under-investment as a time […]
