Builders top pay charts
Construction bosses are the most generous; according to latest findings from pay analysts IRS Employment Review.Although the median basic pay award in the sector has slipped by 0.2 percentage points, to 3.5%, it remains higher than in any other sector. The construction industry has topped the pay charts for the last five years.Industry differentials continue […]
HR Zone Briefing #218 – Win champagne!
================================================================ HR Briefing Issue 218 25 November 2004 http://www.hrzone.co.uk ================================================================ SITE HIGHLIGHTS **** SITE HIGHLIGHTS **** SITE HIGHLIGHTS **** 1. The New HR Charter: What real HR strategy looks like 2. Measuring the business benefits of apprenticeships 3. Public sector hiring buoyant 4. Reference guidance – see Lewis Silkin’s TUPE guide 5. Any Answers – […]
Feature: Jobcentre Plus oils the recruitment void
In an exclusive interview, Mark Grimshaw Employer Services Director for Jobcentre Plus talks to HRZone about how employers can tailor their recruitment strategies to deliver the best staff in a tight labour market and how his organisation is helping to meet the skills gap.By Annie Hayes, HRZone Editor A meteoric rise to the top has […]
Party pooper bosses would rather abstain
One in four bosses admit they would rather not be hassled with throwing a Christmas party for workers.The findings from recruitment firm Macildowie Associates and Heatons Solicitors shows that many employers fear trouble.One director said, “It’s not really worth all the hassle. Most of my people don’t really want one anyway. They’d rather take the […]
Graduates face NHS online testing
NHS hopefuls will be required to undertake a new online numerical reasoning test as part of its graduate assessments.With 1.3 million employees, the NHS is the third largest organisation in the world and by 2005 it hopes to offer 90 places for the two-year General Management Scheme; 65 places for the three-year Financial Management Scheme […]
Bonus and jobs disappointment hits City
Slowed economic growth has put back forecasted predictions that city jobs would regain their 2001 peak from 2006 to 2007 and in further bad news for city workers bonus best estimates show a dip from last year.The projections, from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) show that forecasted City job growth for the […]
Pensions advice for employees to be tax-free
The Inland Revenue has announced a new tax exemption that will enable employers to give their employees access to valuable pensions advice without incurring a tax charge.Regulations laid yesterday exempt from income tax the benefit of pensions advice and information provided to an employee on behalf of an employer.The exemption will apply where the benefit […]
CIPD blasts government over pension plans
A solution to the pension crisis will not be found in fools’ paradise, warns the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).Last month, Adair Turner’s report revealed that Britain should be saving £57 billion more a year to plug the pension shortfall.Charles Cotton, Pensions Adviser at the CIPD has spoken out against the authorities who […]
Career move high on New Year’s resolutions
Employee turnover could soar over the next few months according to two surveys this week, which put the number hoping to swap jobs in the New Year at 25 and 40%.The first survey commissioned by training company Video Arts, found that one in four employees are planning to leave their jobs in the New Year. […]
Measuring the business benefits of apprenticeships
Think of apprenticeships and trades like plumbing, engineering and bricklaying might spring to mind. But just as Britain’s work patterns have changed since the days when heavy industry dominated so have apprenticeships. Today’s apprentices can choose to train in accounting, human resources and even training and development.Over a million young people have signed up to […]
Member wire #75 – The rise of dress ‘down’ Friday
================================================================ HR Zone Members Newswire Issue 75 23 November 2004 http://www.hrzone.co.uk ================================================================ SITE HIGHLIGHTS ***** SITE HIGHLIGHTS ***** SITE HIGHLIGHTS 1. Editor’s Comment: The rise of dress ‘down’ Friday 2. Payroll tip: Rolled-up holiday pay 3. Homeworking blighted by ‘sweatshop’ conditions 4. Work afflicts the vocal chords 5. Any Answers: dismissal and sick leave, team […]
The New HR Charter: Part 13 – What real HR strategy looks like
Following on from Part 12 perhaps it would be a good idea to start identifying the elements of a real HR strategy. Top of the list is that HR strategy has to be owned by the Chief Executive. In GE, Jack Welch came up with their performance management strategy based on his concept of the […]
Single body to represent equality and human rights
Announced yesterday during the Queen’s speech was the news that a single equalities commission will be created replacing the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Disability Rights Commission and the Commission for Racial Equality.The organisation will promote equality and human rights as well as tackle discrimination on grounds of age, religion and sexual orientation and will also […]
Corporate killing bill ‘does not go far enough’
The draft corporate manslaughter bill introduced in the Queen’s Speech has been cautiously welcomed by employers’ associations – but does not go far enough, according to a major union. The bill introduces a new offence for when death occurs as a result of management failure and will make it easier to prosecute a company, or […]
Unions secure redundancy avoidance deal with DWP
A joint agreement has been reached between the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and its National Trade Unions which seeks to avoid compulsory redundancies.The agreement, ‘Seeking to Avoid Compulsory Redundancy’ was formed against the background of the 2004 Spending Review in which the Chancellor announced plans to axe over 100,000 civil service jobs.Alan Johnson, […]
Ethnic minority employment gap exposed
Just over half (59.4%) of all ethnic minorities are in employment a figure that compares to 74.9% of the overall population.Marking the first anniversary of the Government’s Ethnic Minority Employment Task Force, Minister for Work Jane Kennedy said a lot of work had to be done to realise the potential of this group of workers:“Ethnic […]
Feature: Work-life balance and the bottom line
By Margaret Adams, work-life balance consultant and writerWe hear a lot about work-life balance these days. Stories about flexible working, family friendly policies, people wanting to work fewer hours and the desire of workers to improve their work-life balance are regularly in the news. We hear less about how introducing the work-life balance agenda improves […]
Book review: Authentic – How to make a living by being yourself
Title: Authentic – How to make a living by being yourselfAuthor: Neil CroftsPublisher: CapstoneISBN: 1-84112-519-9Price: £12.99Reviewer: Dr Jeff Wooller Neil Crofts is the former head of strategy of internet consultancy, Razorfish. After years of feeling the tension between what he did and what he wanted to do, he saw the light and took control of […]
Public sector hiring buoyant
Hiring looks to be up in the public sector with the balance of employers looking to take on more staff at +17% compared to a UK average of +18%; according to latest figures from the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.This represents a quarter-on-quarter increase of four percentage points and a year-on-year increase of three percentage points.Emma […]
British businesses warned ‘innovate or fail’
Two thirds of UK Plc is failing to generate new products and services, causing a productivity lag that is leaving British businesses exposed to global competition.Only a third have succeeded in launching a new invention in the past three years; according to the latest annual survey Design in Britain 2004-2005.Of those businesses who say design […]
