Christmas a boring disruption, say businesses
Christmas in the workplace is a ghastly chore and goes on far too long, according to a survey published today. The report, by the Chartered Institute of Management, finds that many employees find office parties “hard work, disruptive, and dull.”It also suggests that they’re on the wane, with only 61% of employees claiming to be […]
Yawning gender pay gap in HR & payroll
The gender pay gap in the HR profession is widening, even when men and women are carrying out like for like jobs and despite the obligations imposed by equal pay legislation.These are the shocking findings from the annual Personnel and Payroll Salary Survey by Pay Magazine.The research also reveals that the higher the salary the […]
Measures to tackle tax fraud and avoidance
The Chancellor announced several measures aimed at “tackling tax fraud and avoidance”, and Ernst and Young have been quick to denounce a statement by the Paymaster General that seems to raise the prospect of retrospective measures to ensure employers and employees pay the “proper” amount of NIC.Some measures have been introduced in response to more […]
Graham plans for SLGS are go
In his pre-budget report speech the Chancellor confirmed that he would be implementing the recommendations of Teresa Graham’s report on the Small Loans Guarantee Scheme (SFLG).In October, AccountingWEB reported the publication of the Graham Report, and described the SLGS as “a red-tape nightmare [that failed] to benefit the businesses it was intended to help.”The scheme […]
Brown toys with Golden Rule strictures
In his Pre-Budget Report Chancellor Gordon Brown claimed 2004 growth would be “just as I forecast” at 3.25%, and projected the rate to be 3.0% to 3.5% next year.“Inflation is low, unemployment is low. We’re growing faster than other European countries. The strength of our economy is matched by the decisions made in 1997 to […]
PBR: Increasing investment in R&D
In his Pre Budget Report, Gordon Brown announced the implementation of a ten-year ‘Science and Innovation Investment Framework’, strengthening the partnership with business on raising investment in UK R&D and improving business-university collaboration.Under the banner of “promoting enterprise, innovation and skills” he stated that Britain has high employment levels but the amount of output produced […]
Pre-Budget Report: Miscellany
Climate changeEnvironmental issues are to be given a priority. With oil prices at $41 a barrel and the 2005 G8 Presidency set to focus on climate change Britain needs to find more energy efficient technologies. The Secretary of State for the Environment is to review policies and innovations that could deliver more efficient energy use.The […]
Small business unit to ‘transform’ tax administration
Details of a new government unit charged with transforming tax administration for small businesses were announced today by David Varney, chairman of Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise.The Treasury said the unit would “sit at the heart of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)” and “champion” the needs of small businesses.It will aim to improve “customer […]
Pre-Budget Report: At-a-glance
An at-a-glance summary of the Pre-Budget Report. A full copy of Gordon Brown’s speech can be read by clicking here.Click on the links below to jump down to each section of the Chancellor’s PBR statement:Small business unit to ‘transform’ tax administrationBusiness roundup Low-Skilled Workers to get Free TrainingIncreasing investment in R&DEmployment expert to lead UK […]
CIPD cast doubt over maternity reforms
Professional body, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) offer a cautious welcome to the Government’s proposal to extend paid maternity leave from six to nine months by 2007 while warning that rising wage pressure could trigger higher interest rates upsetting Brown’s plans for economic growth.Mike Emmott, CIPD Employee Relations Adviser said: “Research suggests […]
Work training for long-term unemployed
The long-term unemployed are to be offered free work-focused training.In his Pre-Budget Report, Chancellor Gordon Brown announced pilots to be set up in 2006, that would allow long-term claimants on income support, Jobseeker’s Allowance and incapacity benefit the chance to take up full-time training to help get them back to work.Claimants will have to meet […]
Lone parents and benefit claimants lured back to work
“It is time” announced Chancellor Gordon Brown in his Pre-Budget Report to the Commons to “attract into work lone parents and incapacity benefit recipients with the capacity to work.”Forty pounds a week will be offered to 250,000 lone parents or £2000 a year for the first year they get back to work.While Brown patted himself […]
Skills to be reviewed says Chancellor
An independent review of the UK’s skills needs is to take place, chancellor Gordon Brown has announced.The review is to be led by chairman of the National Employment Panel Sandy Leitch.The announcement follows a move by Education Secretary Charles Clarke to protect subjects vital to the UK’s trade and security like science and languages. Yesterday […]
Low-skilled workers to get free training
Employer Training Pilots (ETPs) are to be extended to the whole of the UK, Chancellor Gordon brown announced in his Pre-Budget Report.The pilots, launched in 2002, aim to help low-skilled people in work gain basic skills or their first level 2 qualification (equivalent to GCSE grades A-C).Currently available in 18 areas of England, ETPs offer […]
Critics lash Brown’s family planning
Announced in the Commons this afternoon, Chancellor Gordon Brown has unveiled a package of reforms to help get parents of young children back in the workplace. The Government’s commitment to ‘building a fairer and more inclusive society’ in which everyone can contribute from lone parents to those on incapacity benefits is supported by a number […]
Housing sector employees are proudest
Nearly three quarters (72%) of employees working in the housing sector are proud to work for their organisation; a figure that is twelve percentage points above the UK norm of 60%.These are the findings from a recent report by research specialists ORC International’s Putting it in Perspective.Work/life balance satisfaction levels also rate highly in the […]
LSC pledges to put employers in driving seat for skills
Employers are to be put in the driving seat for skills development, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has said in its first annual statement of skills priorities. Priorities include extending Employer Training Pilots – expected to appear in Chancellor Gordon Brown’s Pre-Budget Report later today – increasing apprenticeships, and a firm commitment to make […]
Single workers get rough deal at Christmas
Preferential treatment is being awarded to employees with families over single workers when it comes to allocating Christmas holiday allowances.These are the findings from a survey by Croner Consulting.Four in ten employers give priority to those with children or dependants when granting annual leave requests over the festive period while in small businesses the discriminatory […]
Feature: Employing the grey nation
Tim Bradley, managing director of Pecaso looks at the implications of an ageing workforce for HR strategy. The result of increasing life expectancy and lower birth rates is a top heavy workforce in which the elderly begin to outweigh the young. The much documented pensions’ crisis caused by this has made the British aware that […]
Feature: Training -the missing element in successful mergers and acquisitions?
By Jon Buttriss, Executive Director, Thomson NETgTough economic times over the past five years have seen an unprecedented number of companies going through the mergers and acquisitions process, however, according to Robert J. Thomas, 50-80% of companies that have merged fail to match their previous performance. In many cases, the failure is caused by a […]
