Review: Being the Best: The A-Z of Personal Success
Title: Being the Best: The A-Z of Personal SuccessAuthor: Nicholas BatePublisher: Capstone Publishing ISBN: 1-841112-521-0Price: £12.99Reviewer: Claudine McCleanStructured Training LimitedBeing the Best is a collection of hints, tips, maxims and theories for personal success arranged into a 26 chapter work from Attention to Zen and the Art of Being Successful.Under each letter of the alphabet […]
Bosses must shape up
Nearly half of Britain’s bosses confess to being overweight, and more than half admit they do not get enough exercise, according to a survey published today. The “Feeding Success” survey released by catering firm Avenance reveals that over a fifth of business leaders never exercise, and in times of stress, a majority of business leaders […]
Editor’s Comment: Did Brown forget the demographics?
By Annie Hayes, HRZone EditorThe recent Pre-Budget Report brought sugar-coated offerings for parents in work all designed to lure mums and single parents back to work but in all this election wooing it seems as though Brown may have forgotten that birth rates are actually down and the workforce is ageing; the biggest work/life balance […]
HR to receive pay boost
HR professionals can expect a 10% increase on current salaries.A recent salary survey produced by the recruitment consultancy Joslin Rowe says that recruitment within HR is expected to remain increasingly active.In the financial services sector, HR officers can foresee a starting salary of £34,000, which is a £4,000 increase on last year. Compensation and benefits […]
Bosses to manage worker debts
The new Debt Arrangement Scheme places an obligation on employers to manage a deduction from salary for the repayment of debt upon request.The rules apply to employees who live in Scotland but could potentially affect businesses in the UK who employ Scottish residents.The scheme is designed to help staff in serious financial difficulty to manage […]
Women at pension disadvantage
The TUC have highlighted the plight of womens’ pensions this week with a new report Time for action that reveals the extent of the problem.The Trades Union Congress (TUC) say that a combination of low pay, part time work, jobs that don’t come with pensions and shorter working lives mean that compared to men, women […]
Pre-Budget Report: Business roundup
In his pre-budget report, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown said that he wanted to meet “US levels of productivity” and to achieve a faster rate of growth than competitors. To meet the productivity challenge, the Chancellor announced a number of measures including: The creation of a National Employer Training Programme to enable employers […]
HR disappointed with IT systems
A third of HR professionals are dissatisfied with their newly acquired IT systems; these are the latest findings from employment analysts IRS.The price for this disappointment is high according to the survey with four in ten saying they had overspent their budget when buying a new HR management system (HRMS) while three out of ten […]
No HR budget for talent management
Talent management schemes are failing to benefit from budget hand-outs; this is the latest news from the Fairplace Talent Management Survey 2004.Over half (66%) of HR bosses surveyed admitted that their organisation had not allocated any budget for the retention of key employees.The news comes despite half of HR leaders saying that they believe that […]
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 […]
