Strike action on the cards for ferry giant
P&O recently announced plans to axe 1,200 jobs along with eight ships and the closure of four out of its 13 routes; the cuts are blamed on the decline in booze cruise business.Talks with the unions to save jobs have faltered resulting in the RMT union warning the ferry liner that it is “sleepwalking towards […]
New qualified teacher status for Learning and Skills Sector
A new award of ‘Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills’ for teacher training in the learning and skills sector is set to be introduced. The plan is part of a number of reforms for the post-16 education sector announced by Kim Howells, Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, at Showcase 2004, the Department of […]
Business optimism crushed as UK economy slows
The economy has reached its peak according to the results of the latest Institute of Directors (IoD) Business Opinion Survey.Optimism among pollsters had dipped to 31% a fall from 40% when views were last tested.Although in a ray of light 67% reported that overall their company was performing well over those who said things were […]
Minister ‘admits pension credit may be failing’
The work and pensions secretary admitted yesterday that the government’s pension credit was suffering from “a take-up problem” and might act as a disincentive to save for some people, according to today’s Guardian.Alan Johnson was speaking at a “saver summit” in London, hosted by the Association of British Insurers to debate possible solutions to the […]
Well strike a light – BAT staff to down tools
The manufacturing and technical trade union Amicus has said that more than 400 workers at British American Tobacco’s factory in Southampton will strike this week, to demand a bigger pay rise. Today, union members rejected a 2.6% pay offer, and demanded 3%. In a statement Amicus National Officer John Allot said, “BAT have announced massive […]
HR face NHS staffing crisis
A shortage in nursing staff and an over dependence on overseas and temporary staff who may quit at short notice has reached a critical level according to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).The survey by the RCN shows that the nursing and midwifery workforce in England has grown by 16% to 292,000 over the past […]
Revenue accidentally wiped PAYE records
It has emerged that hundreds of thousands of taxpayers may have paid the wrong amount of tax after the Inland Revenue admitted that it had accidentally deleted an undeclared number of taxpayers’ records.The Revenue has told TaxZone there was no question of anyone being asked to pay more tax as a result of the deletions. […]
HR Tip: Returning company clothing
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Q: We issue uniform fleece jackets to our outside workers. These are good quality and very desirable, and as a result some employees fail to return them to us when they leave. Can […]
Forward Features list for 2005
Please see our forward features list for 2005 below, together with service highlights and supplement links. January 2005HR predictions for 2005 – browse through some of the opinion and forecast pieces contributed by leading spokespeople in the field. CIPD forecast tough 2005 for HR Feature: Employment law 2005 Feature: HR predictions – 2005 Editor’s Comment: […]
Review: The Handbook of work based learning
Title: The Handbook of Work Based LearningAuthors: Ian Cunningham, Graham Dawes and Ben BennettPublisher: GowerISBN: 0-566-08541-0Price: £79.00Reviewer: John PopeThis is the most comprehensive and systematic work on learning that I have ever read. Its five parts set out the rational for work-based learning, strategies for learning and development, tactics and most importantly, methods for work-based […]
Workers unaware of pension reality
Latest research highlights a gulf between workers expectations and reality when it comes to their pension funds.The survey of 1000 people aged between 16 and 64 was conducted by human resources firm, Hewitt Associates.Few will have escaped the shock revelations of the Adair Turner report on pensions which revealed that Britain faces a £57 billion […]
Stress levels reach crisis point
Ahead of Stress Awareness Day being held tomorrow, 3 November the Trades Union Congress (TUC) have released a survey which shows that three in five workers now complain of being stressed at work.This is a rise of 2% since 2002 and worryingly the survey of 4,521 safety representatives shows that little is being done to […]
UK faces “catastrophic” IT skills gap
The UK faces an IT skills gap in the workforce that will damage its global competitiveness within 10 years if not addressed, according to a major new study.E-skills UK, the Sector Skills Council for IT, telecoms and contact centres, found that 76% of companies with hard-to fill IT professional job vacancies have delayed development of […]
Focus On: HR Specialists – Chris Syder, Partner at Clarkslegal law firm
Chris Syder unlocks the key to his career secrets and talks to HRZone about the ins and outs of daily life as an employment law partner, including how he keeps abreast of latest legislation changes and the challenges clients present. Career historyChris Syder followed the traditional route into law undertaking the classic LLB honours degree […]
CIPD speakers warn of stress dangers
Professor Cary Cooper told CIPD delegates that the changing face of the UK’s working culture had raised stress levels among UK managers; a view supported by Karen Seward employment lawyer at Allen And Overy who said that the decision on the Working Time Directive opt-out clause could have a huge impact on employee work-life balance.Speaking […]
Liquid lunch back in fashion
A new survey reveals that the lunchtime drink is back; the findings from Peninsula employment law firm show that 68% of respondents admitted to enjoying an alcoholic drink during their dinner hour.Of those workers that do have a drink during their midday break they don’t just stop at one, 59% said they have more than […]
Coaches should consider their mistakes
One of the most important questions a training manager can ask when interviewing a potential coach is to talk about their failures, according to David Clutterbuck.Speaking at the CIPD Conference and Exhibition, Prof Clutterbuck, visiting professor at Sheffield Hallam University’s Mentoring and Coaching Research Unit, said that the way a coach answered this question would […]
Lords to derail ‘hypocritical’ PPF pensions
Opposition peers shall today try to derail a key point relating to the Pension Protection Fund in the Pensions Bill, during its report stage reading in the House of Lords. The peers are angered by the government’s proposal to provide risk-free pensions to the staff and board of the PPF, a quango to be funded […]
TUC decry civil service jobs cuts as a ‘false economy’
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) say the civil service jobs cull is a ‘false economy’ that could obstruct real reform.Recommendations of the government’s efficiency review launched by Sir Peter Gershon in 2003 propose the losses of over 70,000 civil service jobs in addition to the shifting of 13,500 positions into ‘front-line’ services and the relocation […]
Merseyside Police win People Management Award
Liverpool North area Merseyside Police force have been announced as the winners of The People Management Award 2004; they are the first front-line public service provider to win the accolade. Their ‘Leadership Accreditation Scheme: Prepared to Lead’ is a project designed to encourage staff to take ownership of problems and develop personal relationships.Chief Superintendent Mike […]
