24-hour Jobcentres
The Employment Service extends its IT modernisation contract with EDS in a £500 million deal to deliver 24-hour electronic access to jobseeking services. All 1,000 Jobcentres will receive new technology including touch-screen kiosks and access to over 300,000 vacancies nationwide and internationally.
The Human Rights Act: e-surveillance, dress codes,
The TUC is publishing guidance on the Human Rights Act’s workplace implications, addressing employer concerns about email surveillance, dress codes, and worker protections. At a conference this week, the TUC will urge employers and unions to collaborate on policies that benefit broader groups of workers, including family-friendly measures and protection for vulnerable employees.
Employee Benefits
Explore prepaid concierge services for employees, a growing benefit trend among management consultancies. These services handle errands like home deliveries, workmen access, and dry cleaning collection, particularly valued by traveling executives.
"There’s no time to learn” says TUC
The TUC warns that UK employees work the longest hours in Europe and lack paid time for training, limiting their skills development. The union calls on employers to provide paid study leave, citing evidence that workplace learning improves when workers have dedicated training time.
Employers and employees are poles apart
A report by Malpas reveals significant gaps in how employers and employees perceive their working relationships. While 80% of employees believe they work beyond their contract, only half of employers think staff do more than required. Managers and staff also disagree on fair work intensity during contracted hours.
Wage settlements running at 3-4%
Recent wage settlements in the UK are clustering around 3-4%, with about a quarter of deals reaching 4% or higher, according to Incomes Data Services research for July-October 2000. Higher inflation rates are driving larger increases in inflation-linked pay agreements.
Signs that you’ve had too much of the 90’s
Nostalgic humor from the 1990s explores quirky signs you’ve embraced tech culture too much, from emailing desk neighbors to keeping your CV on a floppy disk. This lighthearted list captures the absurdities of early internet adoption and workplace tech transformation.
employee panels
Employee panels are emerging workplace structures that gather staff input on company decisions. Training new panelists typically covers their role and responsibilities, communication expectations, and how feedback influences organizational outcomes. Resources like HR best practices guides and internal policy documentation can inform effective workshop content.
What is the best recognised course certification?
Discover recognized IT certification options for workplace training programs. Learn about industry-standard credentials like MOUS and the European Computer Driving License, designed to validate employee competency across varying skill levels in desktop applications.
Women are key to unlocking ICT skills gap
Women represent less than a quarter of the ICT workforce, and recruiting more women into technology careers is essential to address the sector’s serious skills shortage. Minister for Women Margaret Jay highlighted that the industry must focus on recruitment, retention, and progression of female staff to unlock economic growth and close the gender pay gap.
Government funding to help ex-offender training and employment
The government is investing £3 million over three years to help ex-offenders find employment and reduce reoffending rates. The funding will improve connections between prisons and the Employment Service to ensure released offenders quickly access job placement, training, and education opportunities.
Discrimination and women police officers
The Home Office has launched initiatives to eliminate discrimination against women police officers, including developing non-discriminatory recruitment standards, researching female retention and progression, and consulting on part-time working policies. Officials emphasize that fairness is essential for police organizations to function effectively and access talent from all parts of society.
Role players help win new business at Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton uses professional role players from Steps Role Play to help staff prepare for competitive business pitches and presentations. Teams practice presenting proposals to simulated clients, gaining realistic experience in winning new business through drama-based training that provides practical skill development.
Carers and Disabled to have increased benefits
The government announced a £200 million yearly package providing targeted benefit increases for carers and disabled people, affecting around 350,000 families. Key improvements include a 70% rise in the carer premium, a 25% increase in disabled child premiums, and higher Disability Income Guarantee rates.
Organise 2000, New Ways to Win
Organise 2000 conference explores how trade unions can appeal to young people and women while leveraging new employment law rights to recruit members. London Mayor Ken Livingstone and union leaders discuss union recognition laws, employer obstacles, and technology-driven recruitment strategies.
£10 Million for Equal Opportunities in the Fire Service
The UK Government announced £10 million in funding to promote equality and diversity in the fire service, supporting the recruitment and advancement of women and ethnic minorities. The investment will enable brigades to upgrade facilities and implement innovative equal opportunities projects.
50,000 New Jobs in Creative Industries in the next three years
The UK’s creative industries are expected to generate 50,000 new jobs over the next three years, with growth spreading beyond London to cities like Manchester, Sheffield, and Birmingham. The sector, which includes advertising, design, film, TV, and gaming, already contributes £60 billion annually and employs 1.4 million people.
Disproportionate job losses among disabled people
New research reveals that one in three disabled people lose their jobs within a year of starting work, while one in six people who develop limiting conditions while employed also lose their jobs within a year, highlighting the need for better employment support and income policies.
The Chancellor’s speech to the CBI
Chancellor Gordon Brown outlines his vision for Britain’s economic future to the CBI, emphasizing fiscal prudence, productivity growth, and stable long-term policies over short-term economic cycles. He calls for cooperation between government and business to achieve American-level productivity and avoid the boom-and-bust patterns that have historically damaged the British economy.
Supervisory support is critical for supporting stress and post-trauma incidents
Police officers report that supportive supervision is the most effective way to recover from traumatic incidents, according to research by Glasgow Caledonian University. The study found that while critical incident stress debriefing is common practice, managerial support, job control, and positive workplace relationships are key factors in preventing post-trauma symptoms.
