Unemployment rate crashes to all time low
Official labour market statistics out today show that the unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest levels since records began twenty years ago in 1984; the CIPD warn, however, that the rosy figures mar the record numbers of economically inactive people and soaring rates of long-term sickness levels.The unemployment rate has fallen to 4.6%, down […]
Member wire #74 – Raising the game to woo parent voters
================================================================ HR Zone Members Newswire Issue 74 16 November 2004 http://www.hrzone.co.uk ================================================================ SITE HIGHLIGHTS ***** SITE HIGHLIGHTS ***** SITE HIGHLIGHTS 1. Editor’s Comment: Raising the game to woo parent voters 2. Focus On: HR Specialists – Quentin Colborn, HR Consultant 3. Peoplesoft spurn Oracle’s takeover offer 4. Subdued growth puts manufacturing jobs at risk 5. […]
Feature: Making change for the better
By Tim Bradley, managing director, Pecaso UK‘Change Management’ refers to the psychological and physical adjustment necessary to accommodate any sort of organisational change. HR departments have realised that staff will not fall in with large change on pat: a strategy needs to be implemented to smooth the way for the transition to new working methods. […]
Parliamentary Ombudsman announces pensions investigation
Ann Abraham, the Parliamentary Ombudsman will conduct an investigation into complaints that workers were misled about occupational pension schemes.The inquiry will focus on the actions of four government bodies including the Department for Work and Pensions, the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority, HM Treasury and the National Insurance Contributions Office.The grievances have arisen from former workers […]
Blended learning set to double in UK & US
UK and US organisations plan to reduce the time that training delegates spend away from the workplace by almost doubling their use of blended learning over the next two years, according to a transatlantic study.The survey found that 13% of all organisational training is currently delivered via blended learning – a figure predicted to rise […]
Swissport workers sent packing
Seven hundred and fifty Swissport employees working at Heathrow had their airside passes removed and were sent home this morning.The company, which previously described itself as a major force in the global ground and cargo handling business reportedly ceased trading at 5 am today (Tuesday 16 November).It is rumoured that the firm awaits the appointment […]
Review: Cool Search
Title: Cool SearchAuthor: Lammiman, Jean and Syrett, MichelPublisher: Capstone Publishing Limited (A Wiley Company)ISBN: 1841124303Price: £16.99Reviewer: Kay MaddoxI don’t know about you but the sheer volume of rather dull, dry management and leadership texts, remodelled but saying the same thing over the last few years has gradually worn me down! As such my expectations were […]
Computers damage users’ eyesight
A Japanese study presents evidence which shows that short-sighted computer users have an increased risk of contracting glaucoma.Toho University School of Medicine in Tokyo conducted research which suggests that those with normal vision are not at risk but those who are short-sighted run the risk of developing the disease which can lead to blindness.Glaucoma is […]
Health Secretary calls time on workplace smoking
The long-awaited Public Health White Paper, to be published today by Health Secretary John Reid will announce a ban on smoking in workplaces and anywhere serving food but will stop short of an all out blanket ban.Smokers will be prevented from lighting up in places that serve food including cafes, restaurants and most pubs but […]
Training fails to hit the mark for finance workers
Despite being one of the biggest investors in people development too many employees in the financial services sector are under-performing; this news comes in the wake of DfES research which shows that the sector is amongst the top three reporting high skills gaps.Nine per cent of financial services organisations spend more than 3% of their […]
ACAS launches free online absence package
ACAS, the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service, have announced the launch of a free online learning package to help small businesses and organisations manage absence in the workplace. ACAS says that in 2003 the cost to business of absence was £11.6 billion with 176 million working days lost. It claims that its online course provides […]
Focus On: HR Specialists – Quentin Colborn, HR Consultant
Redundancy provided Quentin Colborn, a seasoned HR professional with the opportunity to go solo and spearhead his own consultancy; in this feature Colborn tells HRZone about the daily ins and outs of life as a consultant and how handling mergers and acquisitions can be likened to the process of buying and selling a house.Career historyWhile […]
Sellafield worker sacked for being ‘too fat’
Thirty stone Graeme Ivison has been dismissed by his employers because he was too fat to do his job at the Sellafield reprocessing plant.Ivison, aged 27 was employed as a health physics monitor.Speaking to the Telegraph a spokesperson for parent company, British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL) said:“His contract was terminated because he was too overweight […]
IIP tell business ‘develop staff to boost productivity’
Investors in People is warning British business leaders to prioritise employee development if they are to meet their own ambitious business goals.The call follows research to mark IIP week, which shows that while three-quarters of managers say staff development is the key to improving their businesses productivity, just one-in-three put this ahead of all other […]
Public sector workers air pension concerns
MPs will be confronted with protestors tomorrow as hundreds of public sector workers lobby ministers on changes that the Government is proposing to make to their pension schemes.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 […]
Pay predictors look to a brighter 2005
Pay analysts, IRS reported in October that average settlements continued to stand at 3%; a figure that has remained unchanged for the last 18 months since April 2003.In their annual survey launched today, IRS debate for how long settlements can stagnate at this figure. According to the pay predictors four in ten employers believe that […]
Editor’s Comment: Raising the game to woo parent voters
By Annie Hayes, HRZone EditorMichael Howard and Tony Blair played their ‘family friendly’ cards this week in a battle where one tried to outwit the other for points in an attempt to win over voting parents; flirtations sweetened by the promise of extended leave and better pay for mums and dads is welcome news for […]
Are you ready for the Freedom of Information Act 2000?
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 will be implemented on 1 January 2005 requiring all public bodies and associated organisations to comply with requests for information. The legislation is designed to promote openness and transparency and will give the public a general right of access to information. Public authorities, including central government, local authorities, NHS, […]
The Couch?! dreams of a room with a view
The Couch?! team now appreciates being in the office as the winter weather seems to be upon us. However with a roundabout on one side, and a building site on the other, couldn’t the view be better than this? As you may be able to see by one of our views here in Bristol KPMG […]
Subdued growth puts manufacturing jobs at risk
Quarter results show that output in the beleaguered manufacturing sector has continued to lag putting workers jobs on the line.The latest CBI and Experian regional trends survey based on responses from 770 companies report that Northern Ireland, the West Midlands and the Northeast have suffered the most.Manufacturing in the West Midlands remains particularly gloomy. Business […]
