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%.
‘Investors in health’ award tabled
Ministers are considering an ‘Investors in Health’ award to encourage employers to promote healthy lifestyles among staff, modeled on the Investors in People Programme. The initiative aims to recognize best practices in workplace health while highlighting business benefits including lower absenteeism and improved employee performance.
Weekend strike at Gatwick looms
Gatwick Airport faces a two-day strike this Saturday and Sunday, as baggage handlers continue their dispute over changed working practices and the suspension of a senior shop steward. The T&G union says the company has failed to address concerns over working conditions and unfair treatment of the suspended official.
HR staff targeted in impending BBC job cuts
The BBC’s new Director-General Mark Thompson plans to cut a quarter of the corporation’s 28,000 staff, with the HR department targeted for major cost reductions as part of efforts to streamline operations ahead of its Royal Charter renewal.
Review: Information Strategy in Practice
Elizabeth Orna’s Information Strategy in Practice offers a practical handbook for developing organizational information policies and strategies. The book provides concrete processes for conducting information audits, defining information needs, and implementing efficient systems, making it valuable for both students and senior executives seeking to translate mission statements into effective policies.
