Employers prepare to party at Christmas
Three-quarters of UK employers plan to hold Christmas parties this year, with most footing the bill themselves. However, only 14% of organizations formally allow employees to opt out, though some are increasingly accommodating other religious festivals like Diwali.
Softworld HR & Payroll – Exhibitor list
The Softworld HR and Payroll show takes place October 20-21, 2004, at Hall 12 in the NEC Birmingham. This exhibitor list includes stand numbers for major HR and payroll software providers including Sage, Oracle, Frontier Software, and many others participating in the two-day event.
Feature: Top ten attendance tips
Discover ten essential strategies for managing workplace attendance effectively, ranked by importance. These evidence-based tips—from accurate absence recording and return-to-work interviews to written policies and manager training—help organizations reduce absenteeism and maintain fair, consistent practices across the workforce.
Labour dangles the voting carrot with paternity proposals
Labour has proposed significant increases to paternity and maternity pay, extending paternity to 90% of earnings and maternity leave from six to 12 months. The plans would also grant carers flexible work rights, though business groups warn the extensions could harm small businesses.
Tribunal wins are hollow victory
Many workers win Employment Tribunal cases but struggle to recover awards from employers, according to Citizens Advice. The charity warns that non-payment is widespread and calls for urgent government action to enforce tribunal rulings and reduce legal obstacles claimants face.
Working time reforms slammed
Proposed reforms to the Working Time Directive faced criticism from both employers and unions this week. The CBI opposed giving trade unions veto power over 48-hour work weeks, while the TUC argued the proposals don’t adequately protect workers from excessive hours.
HR encouraged to nominate enterprising youngsters
HR departments are invited to nominate enterprising young employees under 30 for the Enterprising Young Brits competition, sponsored by Lloyds TSB. Awards will be presented during Enterprise Week in November across five categories including business entrepreneur, community, creative, teen, and employee. Entries close October 27, 2004.
Fatigue hits workers
UK workers are experiencing significant fatigue that’s affecting their personal lives, with research showing two in five too tired for exercise, one in five too exhausted to spend time with children, and stress identified as the primary cause of workplace exhaustion.
Feature: Spotting future leaders
Companies increasingly recognize the importance of developing leadership talent internally rather than recruiting external troubleshooters. A majority of HR directors acknowledge talent’s critical role in business performance, yet many organizations fail to implement effective succession planning and talent management strategies to nurture future leaders from within.
HR gender pay gap revealed
Women HR managers earn an average of £8,000 less than male colleagues, according to the Chartered Management Institute’s National Management Salary Survey. While women are making progress in boardroom positions, the gender pay gap persists across the HR sector.
Total motivation show takes place
The Total Motivation Show, a new two-day event at London’s Olympia, debuts this week as the first exhibition dedicated to UK performance and motivation consultancies. The show features exhibitors offering solutions for customer loyalty, staff performance, and sales improvement, including Celador International.
Retail staff struggle against violence
Violence against retail workers has increased by 17% despite £960 million invested in crime prevention, according to new figures from the British Retail Consortium. Verbal abuse and threats to staff have surged even more dramatically, rising 109% and 161% respectively.
People management awards short-list revealed
The 2004 People Management award shortlist features six finalists competing for the prize, which recognizes excellence in people management and development. The winner will be announced at the CIPD exhibition in October, following record entries since the award’s launch in 1995.
HR Zone Members Newswire #66 – Dreamers yearn for £37k
Most workers yearn for a modest salary of £37,000 per year, according to new findings from Alliance & Leicester. This week’s HR Zone newswire covers employment law updates, discrimination concerns, and workplace policy issues affecting HR professionals.
IIP goes into reality TV
Investors in People sponsors a new ITV1 reality show called In Good Company, which follows business leaders and IIP advisers helping four struggling small businesses improve their operations over six weeks. The series aims to demonstrate how effective people management drives business success.
Bosses wary of young recruits
A survey of 486 UK employers found that 81% are hesitant about hiring inexperienced young workers aged 16-18, citing inexperience and irresponsibility as main concerns. However, employment experts warn that age discrimination in hiring will become illegal, urging employers to focus on skills and potential rather than age.
Employment Relations Bill gets Royal Assent
The Employment Relations Act 2004 has received Royal Assent, updating trade union and employment law with extended protections for workers taking part in lawful industrial action. The legislation establishes a Union Modernisation Fund providing £5-10 million to trade unions and introduces changes to be phased in from October 2004.
Dreamers yearn for £37k
A new survey reveals that UK workers consider £37,000 their ideal annual salary, representing an extra £1,000 monthly above the current average wage. Half of respondents think about money daily, with most workers holding realistic expectations rather than lavish financial dreams.
Office fraudsters may be holiday shy
Employees who avoid taking holidays may be committing workplace fraud, according to fraud solicitors. Workers shirking leave often fear their illicit activities will be discovered during their absence, making mandatory consecutive holidays an effective fraud prevention measure for businesses.
Childbearers face discrimination
Women of childbearing age face widespread workplace discrimination, with over 80% of HR professionals acknowledging employers hesitate to hire them. Asking about family plans during interviews is unlawful sex discrimination and unrelated to job performance.
