Black and Asian workers underpaid
The TUC has revealed that black and Asian male workers earn on average £97 per week less than their white counterparts. There are also large differences in pay within black and Asian communities. Pakistani and Bangladeshi men earn £150 per week less than white men, while the negative differential for Caribbean men is £115 and […]
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: a leadership fable – review
Author: Patrick LencioniPublished by: Jossey-Bass, April 2002ISBN: 0787960756Price: £16.50 Paperback: Hardback, 224 pagesBuy this book from the TrainingZONE – Blackwells bookshop.“Utterly gripping” “Keen intellect and storytelling power”, “Crisp Clear and Fun to read”All these phrases are taken from the publishers splurge, and , as usual, none of them are true. It wasn’t so gripping, but […]
Productivity improvements rely on basic efficiency increases
The pre-Budget deluge of advice for the Chancellor continues.According to productivity improvement consultancy Proudfoot Consulting, economic growth will rely on unlocking hidden productivity reserves and an end to unambitious improvement targets. Their research points to the crucial importance of basic employee efficiency. The firm says its recent study on the subject provides strong evidence that […]
UK hours and wages fare badly by European standards
Research by the Bradford and Bingley business The Marketplace shows UK workers working longer for less in real terms. Compared with France, Germany, Italy and Spain, Britain’s workers are face the highest tax bill on relatively mediocre average hourly wages. Workers in Germany top the hourly wage rate, earning £10.42 per hour – over £1 […]
Beyond work-family balance – review
Title: Beyond work-family balanceAuthors: Rhona Rapoport, Lotte Bailyn, Joyce Fletcher, Bettye Pruitt Publisher: Jossey Bass Wiley, 2002Price: £22.50, hardbackISBN: 0787957305Buy this book from the TrainingZONE – Blackwells bookshop.“Beyond work-family balance” looks beyond the surface of traditional work-life balance and considers work-personal life integration. It considers the dual agenda – gender equity and equality – by […]
Workplace disaffection threatens productivity
R and D, investment in technology, and product innovation won’t be enough to bridge Britain’s widening productivity gap unless employers address the growing disaffection of their employees, according to the Work Foundation, formerly The Industrial Society, in its founding report.“Working Capital, intangible assets and the productivity gap” reveals how employee job satisfaction has plummeted over […]
Small businesses fear implications of employment bill
A survey carried out by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has found that thousands of small firms already coping with heavy red tape burdens are concerned about the impact of the forthcoming Employment Bill, due to come into effect next year. Provisions of the Bill include the removal of the exemption which currently […]
Keeping well at work – review
Title: Keeping well at work.Author: Philip PearsonPublisher: A TUC guide, Kogan Page, 2001ISBN: 0749435755Price: GBP 8.99Buy this book from the TrainingZONE – Blackwells bookshop.I did like this book. Read from start to finish it provides a comprehensive layman’s guide to Health and Safety for “white collar” workers, including shop staff and call centre staff.It is […]
Race discrimination blocks careers
According to a survey by She Magazine and the Commission for Racial Equality, two in three British women believe race can limit career choice and career progression. Other findings include:– Only one in four women are in favour of positive discrimination at work – more on grounds of age than race.– Only 50 per cent […]
Employees reluctant to disclose experience of mental health problems at work
The Mental Health Foundation has released research suggesting that only one in three people with experience of mental health problems feel confident in disclosing this on job application forms. However, many of those who have succeeded in finding employment are pleasantly surprised with the support and attitudes of employers and colleagues when they do “come […]
Stepstone database up for sale
Liquidators from BDO Stoy Hayward are to sell the 170,000-strong CV database of Stepstone, the online recruiter that hit the rocks last year.The firm has appointed an agency to sell the data, which comes on two CDs. Customer details, including email addresses, are part of the package. The offer has raised concerns over data protection, […]
Train chaos could lead to worker exodus from capital
The high cost of purchasing property in London has been well documented as one of the reasons for ‘key workers’ such as teachers and nurses leaving the capital, but a new survey finds that the stress of travelling by rail has led many commuters to consider relocating too.The survey, undertaken by culture change specialists Managing […]
Equality directive ‘threatens jobs’ for gays, lesbians and single parents
The Independent reports on a potential loophole within the forthcoming EC Employment and Race Directives, which could, it says, lead to those working for organisations with an outlook that conflicts with their own personal life being dismissed from their jobs.The legislation, due to come to parliament later this year, requires EU member states to introduce […]
Survey finds 40 per cent would fail to notify DTI of redundancies
The Financial Times reports that a soon-to-be-published survey reveals a worrying level of ignorance about the legal procedures involved with restructuring within organisations.The survey of FTSE-500 companies, commissioned by law firm Taylor Joynson Garrett and In-House Lawyer magazine, found that despite it being a criminal offence not to notify the DTI of the intention to […]
Does your company have ‘ghost workers’?
A Financial Times article highlights the financial impact of failing to remove permissions to access computer systems and other company perks when staff leave.Writing for the paper, Jane Bird warns that it’s easy to forget to cancel health insurance or credit cards or to ask for laptop computers and other equipment to be returned when […]
HR Zone Any Answers Digest issue 4
================================================================= HR ZONE Any Answers Digest – Issue 4 Tuesday 2 April 2002 http://www.hrzone.co.uk/anyanswers/=================================================================********** THIS WEEK’S TOPICS ***** THIS WEEK’S TOPICS ********** …Redundancy criteria… therapeutic earnings/permitted work rules…flexible working practices…’planning roadshows’…********** THIS WEEK’S TOPICS ***** THIS WEEK’S TOPICS ********** Over the last few weeks, we’ve been encouraging members to profile themselves. Why? Because it helps […]
International business and HR after September 11
According to research by expatriation specialist Propeller in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, confidence is slowly being restored to the international business community in the wake of September 11th. The slump in the American economy and its knock-on effects have meant that some cuts have been made, but HR managers expect […]
UK has less stress at work than comparable countries
New research shows that, among OECD countries, Britain has relatively low levels of work-related stress. However, British employees do not take their stress lightly. The percentage of highly stressed employees in Britain who are absent from work or intend to leave their jobs in the next 12 months is among the highest in Europe. The […]
European Commission adopts new strategy for health and safety at work
Through the period 2002-2006 the Commission aims to modernise EU health and safety policy and rules to cover new types of workplace risk, such as bullying and violence at work and stress-related conditions. The strategy also seeks to consolidate a culture of risk prevention at work. Full details are available on the Commission’s site.Anna Diamantopoulou, […]
Industry asks Chancellor for help on training and employment rights
The British Chambers of Commerce are encouraging Gordon Brown to tackle regulations on business and address the poor levels of skills and training in Britain. Their proposals, which represent the views of 135,000 small to medium sized business members, call for:– A locum service of self-employed temps to help firms find cover during maternity and […]
