Women struggle to get into the boardroom
Women make up just 3% of executive directors and 8% of non-executive directors in FTSE 350 companies, according to Deloitte. Despite 70% of these companies making board composition changes in the past year, women remain significantly underrepresented and are increasingly choosing employers with clearer paths to leadership.
Call centre employment swells
UK call centre employment is growing, with 58% of surveyed organisations reporting year-long hiring drives. Despite high staff turnover averaging two years per employee, employers are implementing retention strategies including career progression opportunities and improved working conditions.
Self-employed denied basic employment rights
Self-employed workers in the UK are being denied basic employment rights through a legal loophole that allows employers to reclassify staff as self-employed to avoid minimum wage and redundancy protections. The TUC and National Group on Homeworking are calling for an employment status review after nine women lost their legal case despite 14 years of employment with the same company.
Maternity regulations get a battering in court
Three trainee midwives have escalated their legal battle against maternity pay rules to an Employment Appeal Tribunal, claiming the Department of Health’s refusal to provide a £6,000 bursary during maternity leave constitutes sex discrimination. The case, backed by Unison and the Equal Opportunities Commission, highlights concerns about retaining healthcare workers when the NHS faces skill shortages.
Workers daydream about sex during meetings
A third of workers daydream about sex during office meetings, according to YouGov research. The survey found men are three times more likely than women to have such thoughts, while younger employees worry more about finances and education sector workers focus on food.
Feature: Managing sickness absence
Sickness absence costs UK employers over £11.6 billion annually, with up to a third of absences potentially avoidable. Effective absence management requires analyzing absence patterns, distinguishing genuine health issues from problematic behavior, and implementing consistent policies through occupational health assessment and clear management intervention.
Civil service job cuts trigger strike vote
The PCS union is balloting 290,000 members for strike action against government plans to cut over 100,000 civil service jobs. The ballot, running until October 22, would trigger a strike on November 5 if members vote in favor, in response to job cuts, pension age increases, and changes to working conditions.
IoD welcomes new Director General
Miles Templeman joins the Institute of Directors as the new Director General, bringing over 30 years of business experience to lead the 55,000-member employers’ organisation focused on corporate governance and director development.
Pressure on boards to justify fat cat pay
FTSE 100 chief executives earned an average of £1.5 million last year, up 8% and far outpacing typical UK wage growth. New transparency requirements and formal pay evaluations are increasing pressure on boards to justify executive compensation and narrow the widening pay gap with employees.
Surveyors and accountants lead the Christmas party revellers
Surveyors and accountants are the wildest Christmas party attendees, according to research by event organiser West End Events. Workers in their 20s consume the most alcohol, while 63% admit to returning to work with hangovers the next day.
‘Red tape day’ launched
The first ‘red tape day’ has launched a new system implementing new legislation on just two fixed dates annually—1 October and 6 April—instead of the previous arbitrary schedule. Business groups welcomed the change for reducing confusion, though they warned it shouldn’t replace broader regulatory reform efforts.
Editor’s Comment: The changing face of conflict at work
New dispute regulations introduce a three-step procedure for managing workplace conflicts, with research showing conflict costs employers 450 days of management time annually. The regulations aim to reduce employment tribunals by encouraging early dispute resolution before formal procedures escalate.
Disability legislation extends to SMEs
Disability Discrimination Act exemptions for small and medium-sized businesses were removed as of October 1, 2004, requiring all organizations to make reasonable adjustments for employees with disabilities. The expanded legislation covers physical, sensory, and mental disabilities, including stress-related conditions, with non-compliance risking costly legal action.
Office clowns out of favour
Workers value reliability most in colleagues, with 40% citing it as the ideal quality, while office clowns and social butterflies rank far lower in workplace preferences, according to new Manpower research.
Bah humbug! Festive cheer gets lost on workers
UK workers are choosing to stay at work rather than take extended Christmas breaks, with 71% of employees preferring work over lengthy holidays. New research reveals declining annual leave usage, suggesting employees are increasingly tied to their desks despite potential stress risks.
Online filing explained at Softworld
The Inland Revenue will present an overview of online filing requirements at Softworld HR & Payroll event (20-21 October, NEC Birmingham). Large employers will be mandated to file online from next year, with phased requirements for medium-sized businesses and tax incentives available for smaller employers who adopt e-filing.
Poll predicts rise in e-learning
A survey of 150 HR and training professionals reveals 96% of major organizations plan to increase e-learning in the next 2-3 years, with nearly 60% expecting e-learning to account for over a quarter of their training delivery.
Pay hikes stagnate at 3%
Average pay settlements have stagnated at 3% for 18 months, with one-third of all awards matching this level. While most pay raises fail to keep pace with inflation, public sector workers continue to outperform their private sector counterparts in wage negotiations.
Western Europeans work longer
Research shows workers in Western Europe must wait significantly longer to claim state pensions than Eastern Europeans, with differences of up to five years for women. Eastern European women can retire at an average of 59, compared to 64 in Western Europe, while men face similar age gaps.
Untapped potential trapped by inflexible working patterns
Over half of workers feel too overloaded with daily tasks to demonstrate their full potential, with inflexible working patterns identified as a major productivity barrier. Flexible working opportunities and better work-life balance are key motivators, alongside regular feedback and opportunities for development.
