Unfair dismissal is still largest complaint
Of the 162,932 different complaints to tribunals, unfair dismissal continues to be the largest category of complaint – responsible for almost a third of applications to tribunals, followed by applications under the Wages Act (almost one quarter), according to new figures by Acas.The number of applications reaching employment tribunal has decreased for the third consecutive […]
Graduates seek companies offering ‘golden hellos’
Companies who offer to pay off graduate debts are becoming increasingly sought after by today’s new entrants to the job market, a new survey reveals. Over a quarter of employees in their twenties rate the provision of student debt assistance as an important factor when deciding whether to apply for a new job, according to […]
Companies increasingly make employees face the music
Large corporations increasingly use hip pop music to develop loyal, hard-working employees, and encourage workers, literally, to sing from the same hymn sheet, according to new research. Company songs, from IBM's rehash of a US fighting song to NCR's rendition of the Beatle's 'Back in the USSR', are being used to reinforce corporate culture and […]
HSE publishes consultation on first aid at work
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is seeking opinions on the regulation of first aid at work. Every employer and every self-employed person has a duty to make provision for first aid in their workplace, the duties are currently contained in The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 and Approved Code of Practice and Guidance, […]
Technology solutions for flexible benefits delivery
Flexible benefits schemes are gaining increasing interest from many organisations. David Wicken and Jon Tye of Mercer Human Resource Consulting look at technology solutions for flexible benefits delivery. The systems technology supplier market is very aware of the current level of interest in flexible benefits (flex) and over the last couple of years there has […]
How Did I Get Here? William Martin, Telewest Broadband
William Martin, HR Manager for Telewest Broadband’s Customer Operations, shares his experiences of working in HR to date. What’s your current job role?I’m National HR Manager for Telewest Broadband’s Customer Operations.What did you do before this job?I was HR Manager in the Customer Services division of BSkyB. In the early days of my career, I […]
Firms call for help on new age discrimination laws
UK managers are still unclear about the government's plans to introduce new age discrimination laws, according to a survey published by recruitment specialists Kelly Services and the Employers Forum on Age (EFA). Only 9% of UK managers are fully aware of the government's plans for age discrimination legislation. Managers are calling on the Government to […]
EU regulations threaten overtime and pensions
Business leaders have issued a strong warning that threatened EU regulation would slash the chances of work and overtime for thousands of people in the UK. The warnings come in a wide-ranging annual assessment of trends in the world of work, published by the CBI with employment agency Pertemps. Warnings show: 45% of employers would […]
Firms risk breaching data protection for equal pay
Employers seeking to protect themselves against claims for sex discrimination by completing equal pay questionnaires submitted by employees risk breaching the Data Protection Act, says Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC). Employees who suspect that they may have a claim under the Equal Pay Act 1970 can now submit a questionnaire to their employer requesting information on […]
Feature: Work-life balance – equality for all?
Flexible working should be offered to all staff – not just those with children, says Karen Charlesworth, Head of Research at the Chartered Management Institute. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy – a phrase we are all familiar with – but what about John and Mary and Sue? Do they […]
Feature: workplace childcare
With more and more parents going out to work, often out of necessity rather than choice, affordable and more importantly, reliable and safe childcare is becoming an increasingly important issue. Rachael Squire, Workplace Consultant at Principio, the workplace solutions company, looks at the options available and the benefits and considerations of implementing a workplace childcare […]
‘Resistance to change’ limits work-life balance measures
Although UK organisations have accepted that work-life balance policies do provide business benefits, a third cite ‘management resistance to change’ as the number one difficulty they face in implementing work-life balance measures.According to The Work Foundation’s survey of 303 HR specialists launched today, the majority of employers (68%) accept an organisational responsibility to help staff […]
How Did I Get Here? Craig Truter, The Body Shop UK
HR Zone puts the spotlight on Craig Truter, HR Manager for The Body Shop UK. Craig recently invited HR Zone members to join a retail HR forum. What’s your current job role?HR Manager – Compensation, Policy & Benefits – The Body Shop UK.What did you do before this job?I was HR Manager (Generalist) at Reed […]
New telework guidance
A new document on telework produced by the DTI and agreed by the CBI, TUC and CEEP UK, identifies and addresses the key issues employers should consider when implementing a teleworking policy.The guidance recognises teleworking as a progressive method of organising work that can benefit both employers and their staff. Employers can recruit from a […]
Softworld HR & Payroll: Exhibitor list
Below is a list of the stand numbers of those software and payroll providers exhibiting at the HR & Payroll Softworld event. Callidus Software – 108 Computers in Personnel – 128 Cyberaid Ltd – 306 Frontier Software Plc – 208 and 225 Grampian Software – 112 HR Zone – 314 ICS Computing Ltd – 203 […]
Consultation on reforms to employment of disabled people
Small employers are being urged to respond to guidance supporting major legal reforms to the employment of disabled people. The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) is calling for responses from people affected by changes to the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) which come into force in October 2004. Changes to the DDA being […]
Expectant mothers still experience pregnancy discrimination at work
Pregnant women still continue to face problems at work, according to survey results released today during National Pregnancy Week. The survey, which questioned 1200 people, revealed that over a fifth knew an expectant mother who had experienced difficulties at work because of her pregnancy – rising to a third amongst women aged 25-34. Experiences included […]
Employers wrangle over dress code policies
Despite reports of the death of “dress down” days, the business suit is increasingly unpopular – and now forms the basis of dress codes in fewer than half of the country’s offices, new research claims.But employers are becoming increasingly strict about what is or is not acceptable – with half of employers setting dress guidelines […]
Work Life Balance Week – 1-5 September
1-5 September is ‘Work Life Balance Week’, so to get you thinking about work-life balance issues, we’ve provided you with a round-up of HR Zone’s recent work-life balance related features, news items and community questions. You can add your own work-life balance questions in the Any Answers area of the site. Features Feature article: Work-life […]
Seasonal worker posts in decline
The role of seasonal workers is in decline – with only 41% of organisations using them, according to new research. Agency workers are now the most popular (85%), followed by fixed-term contractors (73%) and finally seasonal/casual staff (41%) according to the Work Foundation study, based on responses from 315 HR specialists.The top two reasons for […]
