Sainsbury’s pensions strategy risky, says analyst
Struggling retailer Sainsbury’s is risking a pensions shortfall if it adopts a new pensions strategy, according to leading pensions consultant John Ralfe. Ralfe, an independent pensions consultant and former manager of Boots’ pension fund, says that Sainsbury’s fund now invests 60% of its assets in shares and 40% in bonds. This marks a change in […]
Poor inductions trigger resignations
Employers are forgetting the importance of well executed and compiled inductions according to latest research by reed.co.uk which shows that one in 25 employees have walked out after starting new jobs because of poor attention to starter orientation.Almost all workers, 93% are reported to believe that a poor induction has a continual effect on their […]
Focus On: HR Specialists – Chris Burrows, E-HR
The E-HR revolution has software providers fighting it out for a share in this new market; it has changed the face of business not only in terms of processes and record-keeping but in every aspect of strategic HRM, the way we learn, capture and analyse data and even conduct employer/employee relations; Chris Burrows, E-HR Manager […]
Business leaders express doubts over exam reform
Business leaders say they are still to be convinced that reforming the exam system would raise standards of literacy and numeracy.The comments come as the report on the education of 14 to 19-year-olds by former schools inspector Mike Tomlinson is published. The report suggests replacing GCSEs and A-levels with a diploma.Under the plans, there would […]
Retail workers get Christmas holiday
The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) has been successful in its campaign to ensure large stores do not open on Christmas Day.The Christmas Day (Trading) Bill passed its final Commons stage last Friday. The new regulations prevent shops of more than 280 square meters from opening on December 25.Currently stores only have […]
Workers are ‘faking it’
‘Faking it’ a survey published by HR consultancy DDI, says that workers are playing a part to fit into corporate expectations forcing them to hide their true personalities.Almost half (45%) admit to leaving part of their true selves at home when they leave for work in the morning while a third (31%) said they are […]
Rules baffle unemployment benefit claimants
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has revealed that tens of thousands are missing out on unemployment benefit because they don’t understand the rules.Many claimants are not aware of government sanction rules says the TUC. If people leave work voluntarily, through misconduct, turn down a job offer or give up a place on a training scheme […]
Editor’s Comment: Beating the pension time bomb
By Annie Hayes, HRZone EditorBy 2050 if I have escaped accident, disease and terrorism I will be one of the predicted 48% of people over the age of 65, this may seem unremarkable in itself but when you compare it to today’s pool of retirees of which there are 28% in the population you can […]
Cantor Fitzgerald claimant award cut
Money brokers Cantor Fitzgerald International won a six-figure reduction to a £912,000 damages award to a former employee who claimed he was subjected to a vicious and premeditated campaign of bullying, harassment and intimidation by his immediate superior.Steven Horkulak, a £400,000 a year senior manager at the firm was employed on a fixed-term contract that […]
Life Coaching
Hi there,I’ve just set up my own company – Summit Goals – www.summitgoals.com. Based on my experience of working with people with special needs, I take the stance that everyone has a particular, unique set of special needs. I therefore look at the whole person to establish a foundation of where they are right now […]
‘Blairite’ says tax rises should not be ruled out
A former pensions minister has said the government should admit that tax will have to rise to make up the pensions shortfall identified in this week’s Turner report.John Denham, chairman of the Commons home affairs committee, told Channel 4 News: “My fear is although we know it’s a big problem we are not actually going […]
FTSE 100 lead the way on DC pensions
Defined contributions (DC) pension schemes are offered by four out of five FTSE 100 companies, according to new research.Watson Wyatt found the average maximum employer contribution into a FTSE 100 DC plan to be 8.5% while contributions from employees topped up the total fund to 13%.Varied pensions approaches included design structures, contribution rates and structures, […]
Car parts makers to get their pensions
Under a deal announced yesterday, tens of thousands of workers at car parts maker T&N look set to get their pensions, after a new deal offered by its US owner was accepted by unions. It had been thought that up to 40,000 workers would be left without their full pension – or any pension at […]
One-man bands win insurance battle
The long-awaited decision on employers’ liability insurance for sole traders was announced yesterday.The Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 requires employers to insure against claims by employees for any personal injury sustained at work. There is currently a penalty of up to £2,500 for failure to insure on any day.Key stakeholders voted by 80% to […]
Q&A Feature: Reg Ruffle on E-learning
Reg Ruffle of HRD & Payroll solutions talks frankly to HRZone about the emergence of e-learning, what it is and how it can help benefit business. Q1: How do you define e-learning and what is its scope?A: We define e-learning as harvesting the vast knowledge and skills of professional tutors. Blending it with the latest […]
NHS recruits to undergo criminal checks
By 2005 NHS hopefuls will be faced with Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks; Health Minister John Hutton said the new measures would increase patient safety.The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) allows CRB checks to be carried out only on staff that will have access to patients in their normal duties.This means that any workers […]
HR Zone Briefing #212 – £57 billion a year pension gap revealed
================================================================ HR Briefing Issue 212 14 October 2004 http://www.hrzone.co.uk ================================================================ SITE HIGHLIGHTS **** SITE HIGHLIGHTS **** SITE HIGHLIGHTS **** 1. 57 billion pounds a year pension gap revealed 2. TUC calls for compulsory pension contributions 3. Feature: Homeworking – benefit or burden? 4. The New HR Charter: Part 11a – Auditing HR 5. Any Answers […]
High-demand for leaders that ‘inspire’
Workers are crying out for inspiration from their leaders and hitting a brick wall; according to a new report.Research published by the Chartered Management Institute and the DTI shows that staff yearn for trust, conversation with the boss and praise. Only 40%, however, say they are getting this.The report pinpoints a growing ‘inspiration gap’.Less then […]
Half of workers say ‘no’ to working into old age
One in two workers would prefer not to work beyond the State Pension age; says new research.A survey of 1500 office workers aged between 18-65 by recruitment firm Office Angels shows that 52% of respondents are against the idea sprouted by the Adair Turner report on pensions to work into old age and beyond 65.Older […]
The New HR Charter: Part 11a – Auditing HR
What do the UK Government, Investors in People, Ofsted, HM Inspectorate of Police, National Audit Office, the Audit Commission and quite a few other organisations all have in common? Quite a lot actually. For a start, they all try to audit HR practices and the impact they have. Another thing is that none of them […]
