How to get a promotion or pay increase!
Employees who volunteer with charities and community organizations are more likely to earn promotions and pay raises, according to a UK survey of 200 businesses. Employers value the communication and teamwork skills developed through voluntary work.
Data Protection Registrar works towards e-mail guidelines
The Data Protection Commissioner is developing email guidelines to address concerns about workplace email monitoring following recent rulings that permit managers to screen employee communications. The guidance aims to clarify legal requirements and best practices for both employers and workers regarding email use and privacy in employment settings.
Pension Minimum Funding Requirements update
The government announced plans to abolish the Minimum Funding Requirement (MFR) for pension schemes, replacing it with a long-term scheme-specific funding standard. Opra published guidance on how MFR regulations will be managed during the transition period before the new funding framework takes effect.
Employers should pay their share of Stakeholder Pensions say TUC
The TUC is calling on the government to require employers to contribute to their employees’ stakeholder pensions, citing survey data showing low take-up without employer contributions. Among employers with five or more staff, awareness of stakeholder pensions has risen to 91%, but only 27% have implemented them three months after the April 2001 launch deadline.
Hacker Young settle sex discrimination claim
A secretary at accountancy firm Hacker Young settled a sex discrimination claim for £5,000 after her part-time position was eliminated during maternity leave and she was denied suitable alternative work. The case highlights employer inflexibility regarding working hours for parents with caregiving responsibilities.
Pay Awards fall to 3.1%
Pay awards fell to 3.1% in the three months to April 2001, driven by declining inflation and slowing economic growth. The drop reflects reduced wage-setting benchmarks as headline inflation declined to 1.8%, with half of all pay deals now ranging between 3% and 3.7%.
The value in developing customer service
Developing strong customer service drives organizational success by improving profit per employee and cash flow. Research shows organizations using excellence approaches outperform industry averages by nearly 80% over five years. Success requires determining what customers want, involving employees in improvements, and measuring quality achievements.
Minister: Local action is essential to prevent skills shortages
Local skills shortages require tailored regional solutions, according to new research showing complex patterns of recruitment difficulties across England. Minister John Healey emphasizes that local labor markets demand area-specific strategies to bridge skills gaps and meet employer needs effectively.
Government proposes changes to tribunal system
The UK government has proposed reforms to the employment tribunal system, including mandatory workplace dispute resolution procedures for organizations lacking them and a new charging regime for tribunal users to reduce taxpayer burden. The proposals aim to promote workplace conciliation and reduce the rising caseload, with exemptions for benefit recipients and cases of genuine need.
Organisational Solutions that don’t work
Many organisational solutions fail because management impose changes without involving people or understanding root causes. This article argues that top-down approaches like corporate communication videos often backfire by sidelining middle management and creating cynicism among staff instead of meaningful improvement.
Will your battle tactics win in the War for Talent?
Companies face intensifying challenges in attracting and retaining top talent, with 89% of managers reporting it’s harder to recruit skilled professionals than three years ago. Organizations are moving beyond competitive salaries to offer emotional engagement, self-fulfillment opportunities, and strong company values to win the war for talent.
Chief Inspector of Schools recruitment starts in September
The Education and Skills Secretary announced that recruitment for a new Chief Inspector of Schools will begin in September, following the departure of current Chief Inspector Mike Tomlinson in April 2002.
Government Funding for Work/Life Balance Projects
The UK government awarded £4 million to 93 organizations—including Watford FC, Easyjet, and police services—through the Work/Life Balance Challenge Fund to develop flexible working practices. Up to 120,000 employees will benefit from consultancy support helping employers implement policies that improve worker wellbeing and productivity.
Working together gives competitive edge – Rita Donaghy
Acas’s conciliation service resolved 71% of employment tribunal complaints without hearings in 2000/01, saving businesses significant time and money. Rita Donaghy, Acas Chair, highlights how partnership approaches and collaborative workplace practices create competitive advantages and transform even the most challenging employment relations situations.
EU approves training funding for Midlands
The EU has approved a £9 million Government-funded training grant for MG Rover car workers in the Midlands. The three-year program will provide accredited training in engineering, IT, leadership and other skills to employees, local unemployed people, and workers in the automotive supply chain across the region.
New foundation degree promotion begins
A national advertising campaign launches today to promote the new foundation degree, a two-year work-based qualification developed with industry. The campaign aims to help students and employers fill skills gaps in key sectors through practical vocational training combined with academic knowledge.
A Latin Lesson for Managers?
The Colosseum’s construction in just 12 years required exceptional management alongside engineering expertise. Ancient Romans coordinated 30,000 workers and delivered 200 cartloads of marble daily—demonstrating project management capabilities that rival modern standards, offering lessons for today’s managers.
Team working and senior management
Senior managers often advocate teamwork and collaboration while rarely practicing it themselves. This first feature examines how some executives resist team-building efforts, despite their importance for organizational effectiveness and front-line staff performance.
Minister welcomes latest employment figures
Employment in the UK has reached a record 28.18 million, with unemployment falling below 5 percent for the first time since 1984. The Department for Work and Pensions minister welcomed the latest figures, which show strong job growth and high vacancy levels across the country.
Performance Appraisals across the pond
AccountingWEB.com hosted an online workshop on performance appraisals featuring experts Mike Chapman and Don Scholl. The session explored the purpose, process, and best practices for conducting effective performance appraisals in accounting firms.
