Changing Contracts
Groundwork Black Country seeks to add mandatory training and work placement clauses to contracts for Intermediate Labour Market participants to support transition to sustainable employment. The organization questions the legal feasibility of including such requirements in new employment contracts.
Absence – Disciplinary vs Capability
Employers should use capability procedures rather than discipline for frequent, unrelated absences caused by genuine illness or personal problems, as tribunals have criticized disciplinary action when employees cannot control their attendance. Capability procedures assess whether employees can meet attendance expectations, offering a more appropriate framework than discipline for managing persistent absence issues.
Should I invest in Myers Briggs training – or something else?
Explore whether Myers Briggs training is worth the investment for mentoring and personal development work, or discover alternative personality and goal-setting tools that may be more cost-effective and equally valuable.
Investors in People – without the hassle
People Insight offers a streamlined assessment service for the Investors in People Standard, surveying employee views at reduced cost while benchmarking your organization against others using their platform.
How to take the hassle out of evaluations, appraisals, benchmarking, feedback – go online
Streamline your evaluation and feedback process with online tools that automate collection, distribution, and analysis. TrainingZone and HR Zone are partnering with GetFeedback.net to offer 360 appraisals, course evaluations, customer surveys, and benchmarking tools launching in March.
Government Race Relations Consultation
The Home Secretary launches a consultation on implementing the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, which outlaws race discrimination in public functions and requires public bodies to actively promote race equality. The new legislation takes effect April 2, 2001, and seeks input on specific duties for police, health services, and other public authorities to prevent discrimination and promote equal opportunity.
Minister welcomes latest New Deal figures
The New Deal employment programme has helped 274,230 young people into jobs, with 209,240 achieving sustained employment lasting over 13 weeks. Employment Minister Tessa Jowell highlighted the initiative’s role in reaching the lowest unemployment rate in 25 years.
£120m private investment in education since 1997
Business has invested over £120m in UK education since 1997 through specialist schools, education action zones, and City Academies. These partnerships provide practical benefits including work experience, curriculum support, and volunteer involvement while helping address skills gaps in the workforce.
EU workforce forecast to peak in 2010
The EU’s workforce is projected to peak at 183 million in 2010 before declining to 154 million by 2050, according to a Eurostat report. After 2010, around 80% of European regions are expected to experience labor force declines as baby-boom generations retire.
Doncaster Council electrician’s death leads to £400,000 fine
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council was fined £400,000 after an electrician died in 1997 when he contacted exposed wires while repairing a heating unit. Council managers had known about the electrical hazard but failed to take safety measures or warn the worker.
Portable Overhead Projector
Seeking a lightweight, portable overhead projector for training sessions that connects to a laptop and projects onto a screen. Need recommendations for easy setup and portability.
Benefits in kind: Loans from employers
Employer loans to employees at preferential interest rates are taxable as benefits in kind. The official interest rate used to calculate the taxable benefit remains 6.25% for the 2001-02 tax year, helping employers simplify record-keeping requirements.
Philip Moon
Philip Moon is an experienced independent management development consultant specializing in personal effectiveness, communication skills, and organizational behavior. He works internationally with diverse clients and teaches management of change at Nottingham Trent University Business School.
Cradle to Grave Internet service launched by Goverment
The UK government launched its new centralised website, UK Online, to improve public access to government information and services across over 1,000 existing government websites. Developed with BT subsidiary Syntegra, the site averaged 123,000 daily visitors during beta testing and plans future expansion through digital TV, WAP phones, and internet kiosks.
How to get a grant and improve productivity
The UK’s Partnership Fund invites companies to apply for grants up to £50,000 to develop workplace partnerships and improve productivity. The initiative supports projects addressing bullying, health and safety, work-life balance, and skills development across private, public, and voluntary sectors.
Small Portable Projector
Small portable projectors are ideal for business training and presentations, offering lightweight designs that pair easily with laptops to display content on larger screens. Key features to consider include weight, setup time, brightness, and connectivity options for seamless integration with your existing equipment.
Fifteen new Online Coaches now available to expand this service
HR Zone has expanded its online coaching service with fifteen new coaches, bringing the total to 118 available professionals. Coaches offer free initial email advice on topics ranging from personal development to executive mentoring, with the option to establish paid ongoing relationships.
Party On!
During the dot com crash, redundant internet employees found opportunity through “Pink Slip parties” in Silicon Valley—networking events where job seekers and recruiters connected with color-coded badges, turning layoffs into career transitions and business recruitment opportunities.
What to expect in a new term for New Labour
Prime Minister Tony Blair announced Labour’s plans for a second term, including paid paternity leave of £60.20 weekly for first-time fathers and mandatory literacy lessons for unemployed adults. The initiatives aim to reduce talent waste through improved educational opportunities and family support.
Use of management information systems
Management information systems provide HR data and reporting tools that enable managers to make informed decisions about talent management, absence tracking, succession planning, and resource allocation. These systems help organizations maintain consistent people management practices while supporting strategic business goals through actionable insights.
