ACAS guidance on equality regulations
Acas has released guidance to help employers comply with new employment equality regulations taking effect in December 2003, which prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and religion or belief in the workplace and vocational training.
Work-life balance – the challenge for line managers and HR
Line managers and HR play a crucial role in developing work-life balance culture within organizations. This guide explores effective practices including open communication, understanding individual employee needs, and role modeling, supported by real-world examples from leading companies.
Managers express caution about homeworking
Managers cite concerns about monitoring and colleague interaction as barriers to homeworking policies, despite recognizing potential benefits like improved employee satisfaction and cost savings on office space. Research from 54 HR departments shows only one-third of employers allow occasional remote work.
Firms rethink pension arrangements
UK’s largest companies are increasingly closing final salary pension schemes to new members and shifting toward money purchase alternatives. Recent research shows fewer than half of FTSE 350 firms now offer open final salary schemes, down from nearly two-thirds a year earlier, as employers seek to reduce costs.
Community feature: Introducing…
Meet Sandra Walsh, an HR consultant who established her own consultancy after years as an HR Director. In this community feature, she shares her career journey from illustrating training manuals at British Steel to passing her IPM exams and earning an MBA, and reflects on how HR’s role has evolved from enforcing rules to partnering strategically with management.
Employers face greater risks of race claims
New regulations implementing the EC Race Directive shift the burden of proof in race discrimination cases to employers, who must now prove they didn’t discriminate once a claim is made. The rules also introduce statutory definitions of racial harassment and indirect discrimination, requiring employers to examine both formal policies and informal workplace practices.
Equal pay changes come into force
Changes to the Equal Pay Act now require companies to pay up to six years of back-pay for compensation, up from the previous two-year limit. The extended liability period and longer claim timeframes may increase unequal pay claims against employers.
Managers “sell” excess holiday
Research reveals 40% of managers don’t use their full holiday allowance due to heavy workloads, with some selling excess time through flexible benefits packages. Employers can improve work-life balance by offering flexible hours, early Friday finishes, and remote work options.
Online recruitment – dealing with HR technology ‘blockers’
Online recruitment projects often face internal resistance from skeptics concerned about IT system reliability, process disruption, and workflow changes. Learn how to address these common organizational blockers and gain stakeholder buy-in for your recruitment technology initiative.
Workplace dispute resolution rules published
New workplace dispute resolution rules require a mandatory three-stage process starting October 2004. Employers must have procedures in place for grievances, or face automatic unfair dismissal findings if they dismiss without following the statutory process.
Graduate starting salaries top £20,000
Average starting salaries for UK graduates have exceeded £20,000 as competition intensifies, with the average rising 4.1% to £20,300. However, top graduate recruiters cut vacancies by 3.4% while applications per position jumped to 42 from 37.
Outsourcing Training
Seeking recommendations for outsourced training providers specializing in soft and managerial skills development for UK-based companies with 1,000+ employees across multiple locations, including administrative support.
Responsible business practice improves bottom line
Research shows employees believe responsible business practices drive innovation and improve financial performance. A new study reveals that 45% of employees find their organization fails to implement the corporate values promoted during recruitment, while most workers expect fair treatment, quality products, and leadership that reflects stated organizational values.
Community feature: Introducing…
HR Zone’s community feature interviews Carole Leslie, Director at IT Learning Ltd and Employee Director. She shares insights into her organizational development career, her unconventional path into HR, and advice for aspiring HR professionals to gain broad business experience.
Age discrimination – a job for life?
The UK Government proposed legislation to outlaw age discrimination in employment, with protections against both direct and indirect discrimination taking effect by October 2006. Employers will need to justify any age-related employment decisions, with limited exceptions for specific business needs like safety, training requirements, and retirement planning.
HR Zone member survey – your views count!
HR Zone is conducting a member survey to gather feedback on how to improve the site. We invite you to share your views in just 5 minutes by answering a few quick questions.
Partnership working is on the agenda
Research shows that partnership working improves employee relations and increases workforce acceptance of change. An IRS survey found that half of surveyed employers use partnership approaches, with benefits including reduced costs, better productivity, and lower absence rates.
Fewer companies increasing pay to retain staff
Fewer organizations are increasing wages to retain staff, despite over a third raising starting salaries for recruitment, according to the 2003 CIPD survey. Training and development remain the top retention tool, while companies increasingly hire candidates with potential rather than requiring extensive experience.
HR procurement – purchasing v HR?
Over a third of HR professionals believe they’d make better procurement decisions without Purchasing involvement, yet the departments collaborate in two out of three organizations. While Purchasing has achieved significant cost savings in HR services, HR professionals worry about prioritization of cost over quality and strained supplier relationships.
Use of HR systems “hampered by a lack of training”
Many organisations struggle with HR systems due to insufficient training and poor implementation planning. A CIPD survey found only one-third of HR systems meet organisational needs, with IT providers and HR practitioners needing better communication and greater investment in staff training to maximise system effectiveness.
