Businesses back call for extra holidays
UK businesses support adding more bank holidays, with 82% of HR professionals believing increased time off would boost employee productivity. Britain currently has eight bank holidays annually, below the European average of 11, and experts warn excessive work hours contribute to stress and absenteeism.
Harrogate: from spa town to conference centre
Harrogate transformed from a spa town famous for its medicinal springs discovered in 1571 into a premier conference destination. Today it blends historic attractions like the Royal Pump Room Museum and Turkish Baths with modern amenities, elegant architecture, and renowned venues like Bettys tea room, making it Yorkshire’s premier gathering place.
Pension schemes face mandatory e-filing
Registered pension schemes will be required to file returns online and make electronic payments to the Inland Revenue from April 6, 2006, under new pension tax rules introduced to improve efficiency.
Development key to staff retention
Research shows employees prioritize career development and pay over flexible working when deciding to stay with an employer. Nearly half of employers cite career opportunities and rewards as key to retention, while only 26% believe flexible working significantly impacts staff retention.
CIPD keynote: Best practice is ‘not’ good enough
HR professionals must become innovators to survive rapid change, according to CIPD keynote speaker Gary Hamel. He argued that best practices alone are insufficient, and organizations must focus on revolution, renewal, and resilience to continuously reinvent themselves before change becomes a crisis.
Feature: The future is e-learning
HR departments are increasingly adopting e-recruitment technology to reduce costs and improve staff retention, but many are overlooking e-learning’s potential to build knowledge-based organizations. A survey of 250 HR directors reveals that while 59% use e-recruitment systems, long-term strategic opportunities through employee development remain largely ignored.
BBC reveal secrets of post-Hutton recovery at CIPD conference
The BBC’s Director of People reveals how the organization recovered from the Hutton crisis, which heavily criticized the corporation following the David Kelly inquiry. Leadership focused on managing staff grief, restoring credibility, and rebuilding organizational confidence through extensive listening and transparent communication.
Reward professionals cash in on top salary
Reward specialists earn 32% above average HR salaries, according to CIPD research. Private sector roles command higher pay than public sector positions, with significant variations based on organization size and location. Bonuses range from 4-20%, averaging 7% across the profession.
Employers fail to handle bullies
Despite having anti-bullying policies, most employers fail to address bullying root causes, focusing only on victim support while neglecting to help or train those accused of harassment. A new report reveals that line managers—who are best positioned to spot workplace bullying—receive far less training than HR professionals on handling such incidents.
New HR Charter: Part 11b – Auditing HR
HR auditing must evolve beyond cost control to assess human capital’s contribution to organizational value, particularly following corporate scandals and new accounting standards that increasingly link financial and talent management oversight.
Case Study: Leadership Training – The Blended Approach
Brooks Automation implemented a blended leadership training program combining online modules, classroom workshops, and workplace activities to develop facilitative leadership skills across its global management teams. The integrated approach, called Leadership and Teamwork, addresses the company’s need to rebuild teamwork and improve performance following industry downturn and restructuring.
Acas Launches Free Consultation Training Guide
Acas offers free web-based training materials to help organizations understand new information and consultation regulations taking effect April 6, 2005. The package includes good practice advice, legislation details, an online learning course, and a trainers’ toolkit for HR professionals.
Young Favour Vocational Training Over Academia
A new survey reveals that 61% of young people aged 16-24 prioritize learning work skills over pursuing a degree. The research indicates growing confidence in vocational training as a viable path to successful careers in the UK.
Candidate ‘gazumping’ rife as labour market tightens
Candidate gazumping is increasingly affecting UK businesses, with 70% of firms expecting to be impacted as competitors poach job offers. The trend is driven by lengthy recruitment processes and inefficient hiring practices, despite official statistics showing a stagnating jobs market overall.
Gastrozone – Harrogate: Feeling peckish?
Discover Gastrozone, a collaborative dining guide for HR professionals in Harrogate. Share restaurant reviews, recommendations, and culinary insights with the HRZone community to help colleagues find the perfect venue for client meetings and networking lunches.
Member wire #71 – Campaigners fired up for UK smoking ban
The TUC is pushing for a comprehensive workplace smoking ban in the UK, sparking debate over the balance between employees’ right to clean air and smokers’ rights. HR Zone examines the arguments surrounding this workplace health and safety issue.
HR Tip: Holiday pay
Workers are entitled to paid holiday leave under UK law, but whether employers can recover overpaid holiday upon termination depends on the employment contract. Any deduction from final wages is only lawful if the contract explicitly authorizes recovery of excess holiday taken.
Feature: Disability Discrimination Act: The New Regime
The Disability Discrimination Act 2004 amendments removed the small employer exemption, making all businesses subject to disability discrimination laws. Key changes include a new direct discrimination category that cannot be justified, expanded reasonable adjustment duties covering practices and procedures, and uncapped damages for violations.
Pay settlements stall at 3%
Average pay settlements remain flat at 3% over the past 18 months, a stability unprecedented since 1996. The private sector leads with 3% median increases, while public sector workers receive 2.9% awards, with most settlements clustered between 2.8% and 3%.
Poor paternity pay levels is a turn-off for dads
Low statutory paternity pay is deterring British fathers from taking their two-week entitlement, with only 46% willing to take leave at the current rate of £102.80 weekly. Research shows that raising paternity pay to 90% of full salary would increase uptake to 80%, while full pay could reach 87%.
