Settling workplace disputes – review published
Acas has published a research report on the dynamics of public sector disputes and the role of third parties in resolving them. The report, by Susan Corby of the University of Greenwich, analyses different approaches to settling public sector disputes and looks at how these might develop in future. It also compares approaches used in […]
Employers plan gay worker monitoring to avoid discrimination
According to a report in the Independent, some UK firms are planning to carry out gay and lesbian audits of their staff in the hope of avoiding compensation claims for discrimination brought under new sexual orientation laws that take effect this December. Guidance published by Acas, has apparently led to a surge of inquiries from […]
Businesses warned ‘cash in lieu’ of holidays is invalid
The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has been in holiday mood or to be precise, taking a closer look at 'rolled-up' holiday pay issues. Every employer should become familiar with their conclusions, says Alan Lewis, an employment law specialist at Manchester's George Davies Solicitors. His plain language interpretation of their decision is as follows: The court […]
UK workers back in top City banking jobs
Renewed demand for trading skills and experience means that UK workers are once again claiming the top City banking jobs – compared to two years ago when their European counterparts could expect to earn salary packages up to 25% higher. A survey of almost 16,000 candidates by City headhunters, Napier Scott, shows the average UK […]
Flexible benefits improve employee retention
Over 60% of companies report that the introduction of flexible benefits increases employee commitment and retention, according to the 10th annual Flexible Benefits Survey. The survey of 400 organisations conducted by Hewitt Bacon & Woodrow, also found that 2002 saw the largest increase in organisations implementing flexible benefits for the past decade. The research reveals […]
Firms lack formal policies on age discrimination
Four in 10 employers have no formal or informal policy on age diversity or age discrimination, new research claims.The IRS survey on employers’ attitudes to the new age discrimination law reveals that employers appear to have done very little development work on age diversity policy and practice. Responses from 83 HR departments across the private […]
Community feature: Introducing…
HR Zone puts the spotlight on Martin Stockton, a guest speaker at the forthcoming Softworld HR & Payroll event and new member of HR Zone. What’s your current job role?HR Transformation Leader at Towers Perrin.What did you do before this job?Worked for IBM as HR Transformation leader for EMEA, prior to that worked in HR […]
Firms look to alternative ways of reducing pensions costs
Final salary scheme closures are slowing, as firms consider alternative ways of reducing the costs and risk of running a pension scheme, new research claims.Less than a quarter of firms reviewing their pensions plans have decided to close their final salary schemes to new members and offer instead a defined contribution (money purchase) plan.Although the […]
Firms extend car or cash choices
UK companies are offering employees increasing choice in the make and model of the company car they drive, according to research by consultants Watson Wyatt.Data summarised from over 200 UK companies for Watson Wyatt’s UK Compensation Report 2003, found that only 1 in 10 sales executives and field service engineers have no choice over make […]
Getting to grips with new employment laws
2003 has so far been a busy year for employers having to get to grips with new employment laws – and the pace looks set to continue. The Government has recently published a number of consultation documents on forthcoming regulations and proposals. HR Zone provides a summary of what’s in store and where you can […]
Why reorganisations often fail…
<img src="/files/siftmedia-photolib/photo_exec_meeting.jpg" alt="Executive meeting" vspace="5" hspace="5" height="94"Reorganisation often sees simultaneous “hiring and firing” yet organisations are failing to audit existing skills before making redundancies, according to new research.The CIPD survey of 800 executives found that, while over 85% of reorganisations involve a reduction in the workforce and two-thirds of reorganisations lead to the recruitment of […]
Rising healthcare costs present dilemma for firms
More than 4 in 10 companies will cut eligibility for healthcare benefits if costs continue to rise, a new survey claims.However, 8 in 10 companies believe they would have difficulty attracting and retaining good employees if they did not offer private healthcare, the survey by Mercer Human Resource Consulting found. Although 8 out of 10 […]
Lack of evaluation impacting on training budgets
<img src="/files/siftmedia-photolib/photo_trainer2.jpg" alt="Teaching" height="100" Despite significant annual expenditure on public sector training, a lack of formal evaluation means there is little way of proving a return on investment (ROI). Consequently, gaining senior management buy-in for bigger training budgets is a difficult task, according to new research.Responses from 101 central and local government and NHS bodies […]
Stop whingeing about red tape, says TUC
British business is stuck in a "low-road" rut, under-investing and competing only by driving down costs and prices, says the Trades Union Congress (TUC). In its response to Professor Michael Porter’s UK Competitiveness report, 'Shifting to the high road', commissioned by the DTI, the TUC agrees that UK business is building on sand by fighting […]
Community feature: Introducing…
In this popular feature, we take a closer look at the working lives of some of HR Zone’s 18,000 membership. This week, Crispin Garden-Webster, HR Specialist at the Asian Development Bank, shares some of his experiences of working in HR. What’s your current job role? I am an HR Specialist with the Asian Development Bank […]
UK holiday entitlement amongst lowest in Europe
UK entitlements to statutory annual leave and public holidays are amongst the lowest in Europe, according to a new study. The research, by Mercer Human Resource Consulting, reveals that wide discrepancies continue across the EU in paid holiday entitlements. When added together, statutory annual leave and public holidays range from just 28 days in the […]
Flexible training “essential” to future of NHS
The NHS must allow more junior doctors to train part-time if it is to meet the demands of the NHS Plan and the European Working Time Directive, claims a BMA-led working group.As the number of female trainees is expected to increase, and research has shown that half the UK’s 39,000 junior doctors would like to […]
Only a seasonal job?
Seasonally led businesses that employ extra staff during peak trading periods could be among those caught out by regulations on fixed term contracts. Nichola Evans, partner and employment law specialist at Rowe Cohen Solicitors, in London, spells out the rules that apply. Same deal as permanent staff ‘Fixed term’ employees (that term includes temporary or […]
HR should “take a lead” on corporate social responsibility
HR managers should use their skills as change management specialists to take a lead on CSR, argues a new CIPD report. The report, Corporate Social Responsibility and HR’s Role, reveals that HR has lead responsibility for CSR in a fifth of organisations – up from 7% in 1995.It claims that HR has a crucial role […]
Softworld HR & Payroll preview – new product launches
Softworld HR & Payroll returns to the NEC, Birmingham on 24–25 September 2003.As sponsors of the event, HR Zone will be publishing a range of updates and news from the event before, during and after it takes place. Featuring an exhibition of 30 leading vendors, the showfloor will play host to a number of new […]
