Employers encouraged to join consulation on age legislation
The EFA (Employers’ Forum on Age) is encouraging employers to respond to the government’s consultation paper Towards Equality and Diversity on discrimination legislation. The first period of consultation is under way and will last 12 weeks, the second is likely to be later in 2002. The EFA will be holding workshops on the proposals, and […]
Long hours take toll on personal and working relationships
A new report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has thrown some light onto the lives of people who habitually work long hours. The survey report “Married to the job?” explores the impact of working long hours on relationships with family, friends and work colleagues. It is based on two research projects. […]
Recent employment law cases
This article was provided by Daniel Barnett for Lawzone. (a) ECJ Opinion on Maternity BenefitsThe Advocate General has provided his opinion in C-476/99 Lommers v Minister van Landbouw, Natuurbeheer en Visserij. At present, it is available in French, German and Dutch only.According to the Federation of European Employers, he has advised the ECJ that is […]
Data protection – interviewees to get right to see interview notes
The Office of the Information Commissioner has released a code for recruitment and selection procedures, subject to “final pre-publication checks”. It is the first of four codes which will cover the data protection responsibilities of employers. This initial section has attracted the criticism of the Institute of Directors, because it includes a requirement for companies […]
Lack of respect for UK plc
UK firms lag behind their international competitors in the latest study of perceptions of commercial success.The FT/PwC World’s Most Respected Companies study showed that only BP and Virgin were the only UK-owned companies in the top 50, coming in at 21st and 34th respectively. Businesses with strong links to this country also featured. Royal Dutch/Shell, […]
Women failing to save for retirement
A new survey by the Alliance and Leicester suggests that many people don’t have savings plans for retirement, and that women are less prepared than men. Only 34% said they had made some retirement provision, and this broke down into 29% of women questioned, compared to 40% of men. The survey involved 2000 respondents.The figures […]
UK young people working longer than European counterparts
A research project published by the Institute for Economic and Social Research at Essex University has shown that half of young people in the UK are in the job market at just over 19 years old, whereas in Spain and Italy it takes another 5 years for half of the age group to join the […]
Compromise on workplace consultation legislation
The EU parliament and the individual member governments have reached an agreement on new directives which will compel companies to increase consultation with their workforces. Negotiation has taken three years already, and the legislation will be generally enacted in three years’ time, except in some countries (including the UK) where there is little tradition of […]
New moves against discrimination could end fixed retirement ages
The Department of Trade and Industry has published a set of proposals entitled ‘Towards equality and diversity: Implementing the Employment and Race Directives’, setting out how the government intends to implement European legislation banning discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, religion or age. The implementation will also require the extension of parts of the […]
Immigration rules to be relaxed for skilled workers
In a new revision of immigration procedures, the government plans to facilitate entry for “highly mobile people with the special talents that are required in a modern economy”, according to Home Office minister Lord Rooker.The Highly Skilled Migration programme will allow the entrant one year initially. Unlike the work permit scheme, it does not require […]
HR Briefing #67 – Influencing people, equal pay, uninspiring managers
HR Briefing Issue 67 13th December 2001http://www.hrzone.co.uk*****************************************************************Sponsorship of HR Briefing puts your business in front of 16,000 HR professionals. For details, mailto:sroy@sift.co.uk *****************************************************************CONTENTS——–RESOURCES: Comprehensive resources on influence in the workplaceNEWS UPDATE: Equal pay, managers ‘not inspiring’, UK’s best bossCAREER ZONE: Coaching and e-learningANY ANSWERS: How do you deal with abuse of sick leave?REVIEWS: Stress management, […]
Access to criminal convictions records could cause excessive discrimination
A new report by the National Institute for Economic and Social Research has warned of possible results of the Police Act 1997, which will come fully into force next year. The report has warned that under ‘Basic Disclosure’ in the Act, recruiters will be able to access job applicants’ criminal records. Convictions would be very […]
Managing the office Christmas party – Feature
This best practice guidance was provided by Mazars Neville Russell. Christmas is almost upon us. Shopping frenzy, undercooked turkey, tree lights that never work and family arguments all seem to be part of the seasonal experience – as are office parties. Parties give people the chance to enjoy themselves and build relationships with co-workers. However, […]
Stress management toolkit – Review
Title: The Gower Stress Management Toolkit for Trainers and Counsellors: a knowledge-base and 34 innovative interventions for managing stress with groups and individualsAuthor: Roy BaileyPublisher: Gower Publishing Limited, 2001ISBN: 0566082276Price: £195Buy this book from the TrainingZONE – Blackwells bookshop.An A4 Ring Binder (240 pages) containing information sheets on stress management, guidance notes on the interventions […]
Work/Life balance: awards for best employers, search begins for “Britain’s best boss”
Parents at Work and Lloyds TSB are looking for nominations for the award of “Britain’s Best Boss”. The winners of the PoW/Lloyds TSB Employer of the Year awards were announced last week. They aim to recognise “employers who help their employees and their businesses to reap the benefits of good work-life balance”. The search for […]
New proposals to reduce gender inequality in pay
The Kingsmill Review of women’s pay and employment has published its report. Denise Kingsmill was instructed to find “non-legislative and cost-effective proposals to deliver improvements in women’s employment prospects and participation in the labour market”.The government has considered the review and made its proposals, which include – new requirements for companies to reveal details on […]
`Dignity at work` bill could obstruct fair examination of grievances – expert view
This feature is contributed by Lawzone’s employment law expert, Daniel Barnett. The Dignity at Work Bill 2001 has been introduced in the House of Lords. It provides that all employees “shall have a right to dignity at work”, and that a dignity clause shall be implied into all contracts of employment. It prohibits harassment, bullying […]
Knowledge management, a state of the art guide – Review
Knowledge Management: a State of the Art Guide.Authors: Paul R Gamble, and John BlackwellPublisher: Kogan Page, London, 2001Format: Paperback, 226 pagesISBN 0749436492Price: £18.99Buy this book from the TrainingZONE – Blackwells bookshop.“The trick”, according to consultancy firm KPMG “is to make it really easy to amass content and then get it out again when you need […]
HSE examines life in call centres
A new report on conditions in the UK’s call centres suggests that staff should be trained to deal with offensive and abusive calls, and should be permitted a break to recuperate after talking to difficult customers.The report from the Health and Safety Executive lacks the horror-stories of some previous surveys, and indicates that existing guidelines […]
Senior managers are uninspiring – survey
A new report by the Institute of Management, “Leadership: a challenge for all” suggests that it is rare for junior managers to hold a high opinion of their superiors. The project was undertaken by Demos, and included respondents from the highest management levels right down to young people about to start their careers.People in leadership […]
