Brown hints at corporation tax cuts
Gordon Brown has hinted that he may introduce cuts in corporation tax if they are needed to ensure that Britain does not lose investment to its competitors.The Chancellor told the CBI’s annual conference today: “We will continue to look with you at the business tax regime so that we persuade people that it is in […]
Job cuts protestors hit CBI conference
Civil service strikers have taken their protest to the CBI conference today; the move follows on from the one-day industrial stoppage held last Friday.On 5 November, 100,000 civil servants stayed away from work in protest against government plans to axe 100,000 civil and public service jobs.A huge range of services across the UK were hit […]
Car number plate ‘1 HR’ revs up for five-figure offer
HR car enthusiasts are in for a treat as unique car registration plate ‘1 HR’ goes up for grabs. In the latest league table of personal number plates by Newreg.com ‘1 HR’ is listed with a value tag of £68,995. An asking price that is even higher than the average public sector HR director salary […]
M&S HR Director makes exit
Troubled retailer Marks & Spencer has announced cuts to its board of directors including Jean Tomlin, Human Resources Director.Disappointing results were the trigger for the board reshuffle.Interim results for 2004/2005 show that pre-tax profits for the six months to 2 October fell to £292.7m, down from £325m a year ago. While UK sales were reported […]
Lack of time not cash hinders training
Time, not money, is holding back the skills levels of the British workforce, according to a study out today. John Weston, Chairman of learndirect, has today called on British businesses to make greater use of e-learning to provide greater efficiency in improving staff skills and enabling the UK to remain competitive in Europe and across […]
Poor customer service blamed on managers
More than three in five workers in customer facing sales and service roles believe that failing line management is one of the major causes of the UK’s culture of poor customer service and neglected sales opportunities.The findings from performance improvement specialist Prosell reveals that 10% of the nine million frontline workers in the UK consider […]
Offshoring a ‘survival issue’ says Digby Jones
On the opening day of the CBI’s conference, Director-General Digby Jones described offshoring as “part and parcel of doing business in the global economy,” and continued, “Make no mistake, this is a survival issue.Anyone who believes that firms have a great deal of choice are naive. Companies know if they don’t do it, somebody else […]
Bosses play scrooge this Christmas
Christmas cheer will be in short supply this season if findings from employment law firm, Peninsula are anything to go by.In their recent poll eight in ten employers said they wouldn’t be organising a festive bash for workers. Booze fuelled antics are putting 73% of respondents off with the majority saying that fights, arguments and […]
Government funds equality message
The Department of Trade and Industry are putting £1.4 million into a campaign designed to spread the word on equality.Deputy Women and Equality Minister Jacqui Smith has announced that 43 voluntary and community sector organisations will benefit from a £1.4 million cash boost to inform people of their rights under the new Employment Equality (Sexual […]
Editor’s Comment: Stress in the 21st century
By Annie Hayes, HRZone EditorWednesday marked National Stress Awareness Day, an annual event now in its seventh successive year – stress though is far from a cyclical event, it is ever-present in every-day life and seemingly in all walks of life; Editor’s Comment looks at the issues. We’ve all seen the cartoons of stressed managers […]
‘Embarrassed’ employers fall foul of DDA
Employers in the UK are too shy to investigate disabilities causing them to fall foul of regulations imposed under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA); according to employment law firm Withers LLP.The obligations of the DDA have been extended to businesses with fewer than 15 employees as of 1 October 2004. This means that if an […]
Civil service strike starts
Trade unions say that hundreds of thousands of civil servants across the UK will be staying away from work today in a one-day strike organised in protest against government plans to axe 100,000 civil and public service jobs.The strike is said to be the biggest in over a decade, 160 government departments and agencies are […]
FSB calls for a ‘regional minimum wage’
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has made its case for a regional based National Minimum Wage (NMW) pointing to its varied impact across the UK.The NMW has affected some parts of the UK more than others; according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)who have put their case for a varied NMW based on […]
Fireworks safety could put firms in the dock
The Fireworks Act 2003 together with the Fireworks Regulations 2004 means that for the first time firms will have to comply with legal guidelines when organising or hosting firework displays.The new Act was introduced to plug the gap in current legislation; under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 any company holding a non-domestic […]
E-HR manager at Coventry City Council scoops HRZone prize
Softworld conference goers competed for some bubbly at the HRZone and TrainingZone stand at Birmingham’s NEC recently.The exhibition featured around 40 leading solutions suppliers, as well as an educational programme comprising vendor seminar, breakfast briefing and masterclass sessions.Prize winner Chris Burrows said of the event:“Softworld was once again a well worthwhile visit. Many of the […]
24/7 working means kids miss out
Weekend working is having an adverse impact on family life in Britain; says a new study carried out by the National Centre for Social Research on behalf of Keep Time for Children.Around 1.4 million parents are working regularly through the whole weekend while over 2.5 million families are affected by a parent working regularly on […]
Feature: Top 10 tips on motivation
By Sarah Coles-Porter, Event Director, Incentive World & National Incentive ShowEverybody needs to be motivated, a good motivation scheme at work improves productivity, customer and employee loyalty and morale; Sarah Coles-Porter presents her top ten motivation tips. Incentives, gifts and rewards are not just important but essential to a productive and happy office. The importance […]
Member wire #72 – Reflections on the CIPD annual conference
================================================================ HR Zone Members Newswire Issue 72 2 November 2004 http://www.hrzone.co.uk ================================================================ SITE HIGHLIGHTS ***** SITE HIGHLIGHTS ***** SITE HIGHLIGHTS 1. Editor’s Comment: Reflections on the CIPD annual conference 2. CIPD speakers warn of stress dangers 3. Coaches should consider their mistakes 4. Reward professionals cash in on top salary 5. Any Answers: terrorism, staff […]
Civil service strike confirmed for Friday
The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has confirmed that the civil service will strike this Friday.Attempts to prevent the industrial action were thrown out at the High Court. The call for a one-day national civil service strike is over government plans to axe over 100,000 jobs. The one day stoppage is said to be […]
Mixed reports blight Stress Awareness Day
A report out today by the Institute of Directors (IoD) shows that 58% of its members have no experience of their staff suffering from stress; these findings conflict with research by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) which reports that three in five workers now complain of being stressed at work.The IoD say that 76% of […]
