Government reshuffle sees changes at Work and Pensions and Education and Skills Departments
Both the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education and Skills have seen personnel changes as a result of the Government reshuffle announced last Wednesday.At the Department for Education and Skills, Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning John Healey departs for the Treasury and is replaced by Stephen Twigg, previously Deputy Leader […]
Dialect remains a barrier to business success, finds survey
Scousers, brummies and cockneys beware – UK directors are busy judging you on the way you speak! According to a survey of UK directors undertaken by the Aziz Corporation, strong regional accents continue to be a disadvantage to those looking to succeed in business. Nearly two thirds of small company directors and half of those […]
HR outsourcing not on the increase, says survey
Most SMEs and large companies don’t plan to outsource any of their HR functions in the near future, even if they already outsource some, according to a new survey.The survey, carried out by Metrica Research for Northgate Information Solutions, found that although two-thirds of SMEs and up to 84% of larger companies do now outsource […]
Downturn bites on recruitment and payroll
According to new research by Cubiks, the effects of the current economic downturn have started to bite hard, causing anxious employers to cut back on recruitment expenditure, payroll costs, business travel and expense allowances. “Managing people through an economic downturn” also shows that the workplace of 2002 is proving to be particularly pressurised with stress […]
Family-friendly policies improve productivity
Two new reports by researchers from the Judge Institute of Management have given intriguing insights into the results of family-friendly policies.Boosting productivity through flexibilityAccording to research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, firms that take a family-friendly approach to working hours and other employment practices are more likely than others to rate themselves ‘above-average’ on financial […]
Time is money: 10p a minute!
If you ever wanted to find out exactly how much that extra half hour in the office or snatched lunchbreak were worth, a scientist at Warwick University has come up with the answer.The Times reports that Ian Walker, professor of Economics, has come up with a formula which allows you to work out the exact […]
Hewitt: Time to sort long hours mentality
Although many elements of the workplace in Britain are effective, more work definitely needs to be done to come up with a solution to Britain’s long hours culture, according to Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Patricia Hewitt.Writing in the Financial Times, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry says there is no […]
HR Zone Any Answers Digest #8 – Project or line management?, strategic work/life balance, absenteeism…
================================================================= HRZONE Any Answers Digest – Issue 8 Tuesday 28 May 2002 http://www.hrzone.co.uk/anyanswers/=================================================================********** THIS WEEK’S TOPICS ***** THIS WEEK’S TOPICS ********** Line management in a project environment… naming a performance management process… strategic use of work/life balance… absenteeism… post-entry interviews ********** THIS WEEK’S TOPICS ***** THIS WEEK’S TOPICS ********** Editorial=========Any Answers goes from strength to […]
Half of employees are looking for new jobs
Nearly half the workforce is either actively or passively looking for a new job at the moment, according to the latest research from recruitment group Reed. Statistics from over 800 people of working age across the UK commissioned by Reed from independent researchers BMRB show 31% are currently passively job-seeking by staying aware of the […]
Somerfield Signs Multi-Million Pound HR Deal with SAP
Aiming for virtually paperless HR and payroll departments London – May 27, 2002 – Somerfield, one of the UK’s largest grocery retailers, has signed a seven-figure deal with SAP to overhaul its HR and payroll processes. The project – SAP’s first HR win in the grocery sector – will see Somerfield progress from a predominantly […]
HR professionals uninspired by bosses
Nearly a third of Human Resource professionals are most inspired by friends, with only five percent claiming to be inspired by their bosses, according to a survey conducted at HRD by Video Arts.Fortunately, while our bosses are not the most inspirational people in our lives, HR professionals stated that the second most inspirational people were […]
UK’s Best Boss rewarded
The Parents at Work and Lloyds TSB Best Boss competition 2002 has been won by a City of London financial manager and father of two – Ian Barnard, Head of Benefits at Cogent Investment Operations Ltd based in Moorgate, London. Cogent is a leader in outsourcing investment operations, administering in excess of £143bn on behalf […]
Acronyms in the office
Do you realise it’s E.O.W? It seems acronyms such as End Of the Week have become the new office jargon, according to a study by Office Angels.The research, conducted among 1,000 employees, looked at how people communicate in meetings and found that acronyms are being over-used by 71% of office workers. A major contributing factor […]
Make time at work for sleep!
Last week we reported on the problem of people losing sleep because of worries over work. This week a solution: sleep at work. No, really. Many people use power napping to help them remain alert throughout the day. Learn how it can help you. This item was contributed by Vielife. You have just had lunch, […]
Call for restrictions on employers’ use of genetic data
The Human Genetics Commission (HGC) today publishes a major report into the storage and protection of personal genetic information. The report, “Inside information – balancing interests in the use of personal genetic data”, has recommendations to the Government aimed at improving public trust while enabling advances in medical science. The recommended measures include:– Making it […]
Management-union partnership eases difficult market conditions
Partnership between management and unions can have a beneficial impact on companies' financial performance where the workplace faces a declining or turbulent market, according to new research published today. The finding comes from research undertaken by the independent Policy Studies Institute commissioned by the Department of Trade and Industry. The study – Collective Bargaining and Workplace Performance – […]
Employment Tribunals likely to increase
Government hopes of cutting the number of employment tribunal cases could come to nothing, UK employers believe. According to a survey by IRS Employment Review, published by LexisNexis IRS, more than four out of five senior human resource managers (83.4%) think that proposals set out in the Employment Bill to overhaul dispute procedures will either […]
Employers give low priority to Health and Safety
UK Businesses are woefully ill prepared for the new Corporate Killing laws due to come into force during this parliament, according to new research by training providers RRC. Despite the Government’s Revitalising Health and Safety initiative which aims to reduce the incidence of work related illness and accident by up to 30% by 2010, RRC […]
Tea rules the workplace
Despite the growing popularity of coffee, new research reveals the good old cup of tea still fuels the British workforce. The cuppa remains the number one drink for workers who consume the equivalent of nearly 200,000 baths a week. The research by recruitment agency Pertemps questioned staff from lorry drivers to office workers on their […]
How dangerous is your work?
Driving a company car while at work nearly tops the league of the most dangerous jobs in Britain claims a leading independent road safety organisation, The Guild of Experienced Motorists (GEM). People who have to drive as part of their employment, covering more than 25,000 miles per year, have as dangerous a working environment as […]
