DTI Partnership Fund announces latest winners
The DTI Partnership Fund has awarded £2.5m to 70 workplace improvement projects across the UK, benefiting nearly 250,000 workers. Successful applicants receive grants covering up to 50% of project costs, with initiatives focused on enhancing working conditions and employee involvement in charities, hospitals, offices and factories.
New ACAS guidance on holiday pay
ACAS has released updated guidance on holiday pay covering part-time workers, public holidays, agency workers, leave accrual, and extended leave requests. The revised resources help employers understand holiday entitlements and statutory requirements.
“Emotional audits” help managers deal with “toxic emotions”
Emotional audits can help managers identify and address toxic emotions in the workplace caused by insensitive or incompetent behavior. Regular assessments may reveal sources of toxic emotions and prevent negative workplace stress from harming employee performance, retention, and organizational health.
How Did I Get Here? Keith Luxon , Laurel Pub Company
Keith Luxon is HR Policy and Reward Director for Laurel Pub Company, overseeing HR, employment relations, reward, and payroll for 10,000 employees across 600+ pubs. He shares his career journey from a graduate HR scheme through roles at Tesco, highlighting how redundancy and organizational change shaped his expertise in employee relations and reward policy.
National Stress Awareness Day
National Stress Awareness Day takes place on November 5th, organized by the International Stress Management Association UK with the theme “We can all do something about stress.” ISMAUK is offering free workshops and complementary therapies at LA Fitness clubs to help individuals and organizations manage stress effectively.
Case study: Diversity, communication and business impact at BT
BT demonstrates how diversity and inclusion drive business success. Over 20 years, the company has implemented initiatives like flexible work arrangements, inclusive product design, and supportive HR policies, resulting in improved recruitment, higher employee retention rates, and a workforce that reflects UK demographics.
HR Tip – New disciplinary and dismissal procedures
New statutory disciplinary and dismissal procedures will become implied in all employment contracts, setting minimum standards for fair dismissal. Failing to follow these procedures results in automatic unfair dismissal, though compliance alone doesn’t guarantee fairness—you must still have valid reasons and act reasonably.
New Equality Commission to fight discrimination
A new Commission for Equality and Human Rights will consolidate the work of three existing equality commissions to provide unified support against discrimination. The merged body will handle race, gender, disability, age, religion and sexual orientation discrimination, offering more integrated assistance to individuals facing multiple forms of inequality.
Bosses act to end ageism at work
UK employers are increasingly tackling workplace ageism ahead of upcoming legislation, with nearly a third already having policies in place and two-thirds of senior managers committed to elimination. A Cranfield survey shows most firms are avoiding age limits in recruitment and basing training decisions on skills rather than age.
Firms risking fines over firework fiasco
Companies hosting fireworks displays face potential fines and prosecution if they breach health and safety regulations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Fireworks Act 2003. Employers must conduct risk assessments, hire professional operators, inform local authorities and residents, and implement strict safety measures including defined site boundaries, trained stewards, and adequate first aid facilities. Failure to comply can result in prosecution and up to two years imprisonment.
Women have not lost right to breastfeed at work
Women retain their right to breastfeed at work despite recent court confusion, the Equal Opportunities Commission clarifies. Employers must provide pregnant and breastfeeding women with rest facilities, private spaces to express milk, and suitable storage under health and safety legislation.
Concerns over requesting flexible working are unfounded, claims survey
A CIPD and Lovells survey of 500 organisations reveals that flexible working regulations introduced in April 2003 are working well, with nearly two-thirds of employers agreeing to statutory requests and 90% reporting no significant compliance problems. The findings suggest concerns about implementation costs are unfounded, while flexible working arrangements positively impact employee morale and retention.
Complacency towards work safety increases risk for employers
Over a third of British office workers report compromised workplace safety due to insufficient equipment, with research showing increased willingness to pursue legal action against employers following accidents. The findings highlight a dangerous culture of complacency that could result in significant financial liability for companies.
How Did I Get Here? Jeremy Thorn , QED Consulting
Jeremy Thorn, Founding Chairman of QED Consulting since 1993, shares his career journey from engineering leadership to HR and organizational development, including his experience coaching Olympic fencers and building award-winning companies focused on people management.
HR managers move to fill the strategy void
HR professionals increasingly see themselves as strategic business partners, with over 72% reporting greater influence with senior leadership. A CIPD survey reveals that while HR professionals recognize business strategy as crucial, they still spend most of their time on operational tasks and line management support, indicating a gap between strategic aspirations and current practice.
Employers urged to take bullying seriously or risk jail
Employers could face jail sentences if they fail to address workplace bullying and harassment, following a landmark case where a managing director was imprisoned for ignoring racial abuse by staff. Legal experts warn that senior management now has a heightened duty of care to protect employees and should implement formal anti-bullying policies.
Students to be trained for a year in industry
Year in Industry and the Chartered Management Institute have partnered to provide gap year students with workplace management training and a Level 3 Certificate in Management. The programme addresses employer concerns that graduates lack essential skills like teamwork and diplomacy, equipping participants with practical leadership and project supervision techniques.
It’s Sven 1 Fergie 0 in the management stakes
UK managers are increasingly adopting consensual leadership styles similar to England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson’s approach, rather than the autocratic methods associated with Sir Alex Ferguson. A Reed survey of over 250 HR professionals found a 36% swing toward democratic management over the past three years, reflecting changing workplace priorities.
Hidden crisis undermines black education and careers
Young black people are underachieving due to systemic failures in education, according to education experts calling for radical curriculum reforms and better career guidance to address growing academic and employment disparities.
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