Business Week article on the benefits of recruiting disabled workers
Cisco actively recruits disabled workers, demonstrating significant business benefits. A Business Week article explores how the technology company’s disability hiring initiative creates value for both the organization and employees with disabilities.
TUC targets Call Centre bad practice
The TUC launches its “It’s your call” campaign in February to expose poor practices in UK call centres while highlighting best employers. The campaign includes a report on the industry, a freephone hotline for workers to report bad bosses, and workplace rights advice.
GMB challenges UK discrimination laws
The GMB union plans to create ethnic minority shortlists for job positions, a move it acknowledges may breach UK discrimination laws. The union argues this measure mirrors successful women-only shortlists used to increase female MPs in Parliament and aims to remove barriers ethnic minorities face in reaching senior roles.
Capability Policies
A capability policy outlines performance standards and procedures for managing employees who are unable to meet job requirements. This guide helps small and medium enterprises establish fair processes for addressing performance issues, distinguishing them from misconduct cases, and supporting employee development.
The Partnership Institute: Staff Profiles
Meet the leadership team of the TUC Partnership Institute, including Director Sarah Perman, who oversees strategic operations and partnership development. The team also includes Project Manager Véronique Duvergé, Linda Kelly (Director of the TUC National Education Centre), and Ian Borkett (Director of Consultancy and Training).
The Partnership Institute: Consultant Profiles
The Partnership Institute brings together experienced consultants specializing in organizational change, HR management, diversity, and union-management partnerships across public and private sectors.
Health, Safety and the Law for employers of under-18s
The HSE has published updated guidance for employers of under-18s on their legal duties to protect young workers from workplace hazards. The guide covers specific risks young people face, employer compliance requirements, work equipment standards, and working hour limits. This resource is essential for employers, parents, guardians and those organizing work experience.
Launch of the Partnership Institute
The TUC launches the Partnership Institute, a new consultancy led by Sarah Perman and 26 expert consultants dedicated to helping employers and unions adopt collaborative, inclusive approaches to workplace problem-solving and organizational change.
The Partnership Institute: Winning at Work
The TUC Partnership Institute launches a new consultancy promoting cooperation between employers and unions. Partnership organizations report 34% better financial performance and 24% higher productivity growth, while delivering greater job satisfaction and improved working conditions for employees.
Bridging Europe’s IT skills gap
Europe faces a significant IT skills shortage. An upcoming Brussels conference on February 20 will address online recruitment strategies, cross-border hiring, and immigration policy’s impact on tech talent availability, bringing together EU officials, private sector leaders, and academics.
Motivation & Satisfaction
Darren Cairns seeks resources on employee motivation and job satisfaction for his Business Degree studies and future CIPD graduate membership. He’s requesting information on workplace policies, improvement strategies, and relevant literature to support his academic research.
E-mail policies need review – Eversheds
Companies should review email and mobile device policies to address security risks posed by new handheld devices like PDAs. Over 100 dismissals at a London law firm highlight the importance of establishing clear acceptable use policies that balance business needs with employee rights while protecting sensitive company data.
Put Equality into Practice
Achieving equality for women and men requires more than legal changes—it demands transformation in workplace practices, attitudes, and values at home and work. Despite progress since 1975, research shows a significant gap between people’s belief in equal opportunities and their daily actions.
Telephone test for first stage interviews
Find telephone assessment providers for first-stage employee interviews. These tests typically evaluate spelling, math skills, role-playing abilities, customer service scenarios, and general competencies to screen candidates before in-person meetings.
Company pensions under threat from Europe
European Commission proposals to harmonise pension rules could force UK companies to withdraw pay-linked pensions, threatening the £650 billion British pensions industry. The UK’s robust private pension sector could be undermined by mandatory solvency rules and interest rate standardisation across the EU.
The rise and rise of the free agent
Skilled workers are increasingly operating as free agents in the labor market, viewing employers as clients rather than committing to long-term career paths. This shift reflects fundamental changes in how work is organized, driven by technology and globalization that have dismantled rigid traditional employment structures.
Inland Revenue Download Area
The Inland Revenue provides a download area with free PDF guides, advice sheets, and Employer’s Bulletins issued approximately every four to five months to help employers stay informed on tax matters.
Post Office pays out for Racial Discrimination
The Post Office paid £19,757.19 in damages after an Employment Tribunal found that management at its Preston office discriminated against a postal worker of Indian origin by selectively applying performance tests. The tribunal condemned the Post Office’s recruitment practices and failure to properly investigate the discrimination complaint.
Public’s opinion sought on Health and Safety priorities
The Health and Safety Commission holds its first public meeting to gather input on Britain’s health and safety priorities for 2001-2004, seeking feedback from businesses, unions, and the public on its draft strategic plan focusing on construction, agriculture, healthcare, and workplace hazards.
CIPD Guidelines
The CIPD provides evidence-based guidelines for effective recruitment practices, including best practices for application sifting and structured interviews. These standards help organizations design fair, objective selection processes that minimize bias and improve hiring quality.
