Softworld announces speakers
The Quo Group, PA Consulting Group, Inland Revenue and GEE Publishing are among the line up at this year’s Softworld event, held at the NEC Birmingham on 20-21 October.Over 40 exhibitors will be at the Softworld HR & Payroll event including leading players, Frontier Software Plc, Northgate HR, Sage (UK), Snowdrop Systems and KCS.Softworld Accounting […]
SMEs can halt decline by adopting a longer-term view
The task of building and maintaining a sustainable business model could never be described as a walkover. Get it wrong, and you could be staring down the loaded barrel of corporate failure. Get it right and you will earn the respect and loyalty of those who matter most to your business: your customers, your employees […]
HR Tip: Homosexual discrimination
HRD & Payroll Solutions continues to bring HR Zone members a range of HR tips. This week’s tip looks at homosexual discrimination. Q: One of my employees complains that his colleagues make jokes and comments about him being homosexual. He assures me that he is not. Indeed I have met his wife and children. However […]
The New HR Charter: Part 8 – Politically correct yes – but is HR more effective?
It is some years since I last had an operational HR role and managed an HR team but very recently I found myself back in just such a position, nominally and temporarily, while I was working for one of my HR clients. I have to admit that the experience opened my eyes to the new […]
Domestic violence costs employers
Time off work due to injuries caused by domestic violence is costing employers £2.7 billion a year; according to a new report.The research conducted by Professor Sylvia Walby of the University of Leeds was commissioned by the government.The cost of domestic violence estimates the cost of human and social suffering to be £17 billion. The […]
SMEs say ‘no’ to more bank holidays
A new survey has revealed that over 90% of businesses believe that a new bank holiday will have a negative impact on productivity.The news comes on the back of fresh calls by the Trades Union Congress to bring the number of bank holidays in line with the rest of Europe who currently average 11 days […]
Top work whinges revealed
The first UK ‘whinge report’ was published today revealing that workers long for a ‘pat on the back’ in recognition of a job well done.The research of almost 1600 managers in the UK was conducted by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and Adecco. Managers advise bosses to: 1. Say thanks: 40% of managers feel exploited […]
Prison staff join the striking queue
Staff working in the prison service including electricians, cooks and maintenance workers are the latest group to threaten strike action over pay. In recent weeks the country has witnessed similar threats from British Airways (BA) and the fire service.In each case pay won the day. BA staff secured an 8.5% pay rise over three years […]
Banker claims £7.5 million for sex discrimination
Stephanie Villalba, a former Merrill Lynch banker is suing for £7.5m in damages for unfair dismissal, sex discrimination and unequal pay.Villalba claims that the bank is ‘institutionally sexist’ and accuses her former boss, Ausaf Abba for forcing her to act as a stewardess for male colleagues on a corporate jet.The £300,000 a year banker will […]
Heads will roll at BA
BA chief executive, Rod Eddington has launched an investigation into last week’s chaos at Heathrow airport and vows to take ‘appropriate action’.Almost 100 British Airways (BA) flights were cancelled and 10,000 passengers disrupted last week. The airline apologised to customers and said staff shortages were to blame. A claim that the unions refute.Brendan Gold of […]
Businesses exposed to fraud
Employers rank fraud as a top business concern, according to research from accountants and business advisers MacIntyre Hudson.The survey of owner-managed businesses show that 38% see fraud at the single biggest threat to the security of their business, compared to 36% citing burglary. Just over a quarter of respondents fear employee fraud saying it is […]
Workers dread holiday return
Suffering from post-holiday blues is a real concern for employers with latest findings showing that nearly 60% of employees dread returning to work after a break.The research conducted by Investors in People looks at employee attitudes to work as the summer draws to a close.Motivation was the key concern for most respondents with the majority […]
Top marks for GCSE pupils
While the pass mark for GCSEs remained the same as last year at 97.6%, top grades showed the biggest increase since 1999.A* to C passes were up from 58.1% last year to 59.2% this year. While A* to A grades increased at a similar level up from 16.7% last year to 17.4% this year.In the […]
Fire strike averted
A planned strike by 52,000 Fire Brigades Union (FBU) members, due to be carried out next month was averted yesterday after agreement was reached by both parties.The strike had been called in protest of working over public holidays.The Trades Union Congress saved the day by constructing a new form of wording to cover the issue […]
Editor’s Comment: Are more bank holidays the answer?
By Annie Ward, HRZone EditorThe TUC have revived calls this week for the government to introduce an additional bank holiday; HR Zone examines the issues and asks whether more annual leave is the answer to combating stress, improving productivity and work/life balance. Bank holidays were first introduced for religious observance. The Bank Holidays Act of […]
SMEs in the dark about new dispute regulations
As of October, all businesses regardless of size will be obliged to apply new documentation to manage disciplinary, dismissal and grievance procedures. The new steps-system will mean that employers will be exposed to costly Employment Tribunal claims if they fail to follow the correct procedures when dismissing staff.Bristol-based human resources specialists, Crescent HR say that […]
Retail pay increase below average
Workers in the retail sector are set to receive an average salary increase of 2.8% next year, a rise that is below the current rate of headline inflation.The survey by Mercer HR shows that the rise is in line with actual increases this year, but slightly lower than in 2002 when staff received a 3.1% […]
Flexi-working is top perk
Flexible working hours was the most popular benefit chosen by 61% of those questioned in a recent survey; reports our sister site Training ZoneOut of 12 potential benefits, people were asked to choose and rank according to importance – five that would be most influential in a decision to join a new company. Holiday allowance […]
BA cuts cause havoc
The troubled airline, British Airways (BA) has hit the headlines again this week as staff shortages caused further flight disruption. Following a narrow escape from strike action over pay the airline seemed to be back on its feet, having reached a settlement with the unions.Customers were left angry when an estimated 3,000 passengers faced disruption […]
Case Study: NHS Lothian improving IT literacy
IT literacy for NHS employees has become a fundamental requirement to ensure the smooth running of busy hospitals and to increase levels of patient care. This requires the latest technology and accessibility to flexible IT training to ensure staff have the knowledge to operate IT applications. NHS Lothian – University Hospitals Division (NHSL-UHD) partnered with […]
