HR Zone gets incentivised
HR Zone explores the strangest employee incentives offered by UK businesses, from hamster-shaped radios to inflatable sun loungers. The article reveals how companies use unconventional rewards alongside premium perks like Concorde flights and spa days to motivate staff.
The Way I See It… Management Development is a Business Priority
Effective manager development is critical for business success. Companies that invest in training managers’ people skills create motivated, productive teams, improve employee retention, and gain competitive advantage in today’s challenging global marketplace.
Case Study: Bayer Pharmaceuticals’ Development Centres
Bayer Pharmaceuticals redesigned its development centres for measuring employee capability and identifying future leaders by implementing manager training and technology-based feedback systems. The changes improved assessment quality, reduced administrative costs by 70%, and reinforced the company’s commitment to employee development in a high-attrition industry.
Feature: Flexible working in the caring industry
Flexible working arrangements help employees in the caring industry balance professional responsibilities with unpaid care duties. HSA, a health insurer, offers over 220 flexible working patterns, dependent leave, and support services to assist its 29 employees who are carers—reflecting the one-in-ten national statistic.
Topaz to unveil new products at Softworld
Topaz will launch its latest Financials package and EMS payroll solution at Softworld Accounting and Finance on October 20-21 in Birmingham. The update includes new data warehousing capabilities and web-based access via the Topaz web kiosk.
Feature: Changing attitudes towards work
Employers increasingly recognise flexible working as important for employee commitment, yet only half of British workers report having this opportunity despite 96% of organisations offering flexible policies. Societal changes—including more women in the workforce and extended working lives—are driving demand for work arrangements that accommodate diverse lifestyle needs beyond traditional family-friendly options.
Feature: When employee benefits affect your business
Employee benefits like duvet days and flexible working can boost morale, but poorly managed policies risk damaging business operations. Employers must implement careful scheduling and restrictions to ensure benefits increase productivity and satisfaction without compromising staffing levels or customer service.
Online Disability Act Guide
The British Retail Consortium and Disability Rights Commission have released a guide helping retailers comply with Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act, which requires reasonable adjustments to premises and services for disabled people. The guide explains legal duties, defines “reasonable” accommodations, and offers practical suggestions for improving disabled customer access.
HR Tip: Wage deductions for parking fines
Employers can only deduct parking fines from employee wages with written consent. It’s best practice to establish clear company rules stating that employees are responsible for their own parking fines, regardless of vehicle ownership.
Welcome to The Leadership Economy
David Taylor argues that the knowledge economy has failed to deliver sustainable value despite billions spent on training and change initiatives. He proposes moving beyond the Information Age toward a Leadership Economy that prioritizes purpose, clarity, and empowering people’s natural talents rather than implementing ineffective top-down change programs.
Meet the Revenue and learn about PAYE e-filing
The Inland Revenue is promoting online PAYE e-filing at Softworld’s HR & Payroll event on 20 October. Large employers must file online from next year, with financial incentives and penalties encouraging adoption. Small employers can earn £825 tax-free over five years by filing online voluntarily.
IT Recruitment Set to Double
IT recruitment is surging with 56% of managers planning to hire staff in 2004, double the previous year’s figure. London and the North East show the strongest demand, particularly in banking and finance sectors.
Case study: campaign for learning
Campaign for Learning, a UK charity founded in 1997, promotes lifelong learning to address poor literacy and numeracy skills affecting millions of adults. Through initiatives like “Learning at Work Day,” the organization helps employees develop essential skills while highlighting the importance of continuous learning in the workplace.
The Way I See It… In Praise of Praise
Meaningful praise is a powerful motivator that demonstrates you notice and care, but it must be given thoughtfully and selectively to be effective. When offered genuinely and at unexpected moments, praise can boost morale and encourage growth, while careless or frequent praise risks seeming insincere and breeds resentment.
Softworld announces speakers
Softworld announces speakers for its HR & Payroll event at NEC Birmingham on 20-21 October, featuring over 40 exhibitors and case studies from major companies including Game Station and Siemens. The programme covers software selection, payroll legislation, change management, and employment law updates.
SMEs can halt decline by adopting a longer-term view
Small and medium-sized enterprises can prevent decline by adopting a longer-term business perspective rather than relying on short-term gains. A sustainable model requires strong internal teams, clear communication with customers and employees, and regular assessment of organizational goals and success metrics.
HR Tip: Homosexual discrimination
Employment law protects workers from discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation, regardless of their identity. Employers must stop discriminatory jokes and comments about sexual orientation, treating such behavior as gross misconduct to comply with discrimination law.
The New HR Charter: Part 8 – Politically correct yes – but is HR more effective?
Modern HR has become increasingly cautious about gathering applicant information like dates of birth to prevent age discrimination, but this approach may actually undermine recruitment effectiveness. A hiring manager’s recent experience revealed gaps in candidate assessment when key biographical details were removed from application forms, raising questions about whether political correctness has compromised professional hiring practices.
Domestic violence costs employers
Domestic violence costs employers £2.7 billion annually in lost time due to work absences from injuries, according to government-commissioned research. The total societal cost reaches £17 billion when accounting for human and social suffering, with half of absence costs borne by employers and half by individuals in lost wages.
SMEs say ‘no’ to more bank holidays
A survey of 895 small businesses shows 92% oppose adding more bank holidays, citing concerns about productivity losses and operational costs. However, 97% of employees surveyed support the proposal, believing additional holidays would boost workplace morale.
