put a smile on your face by reading this
Read this humorous HR recruitment joke about a Resources Director who discovers hell’s true nature after choosing it over heaven. A classic tale with a witty punchline about workplace deception and false promises.
Equal Opportunities Workshop
Join an online Equal Opportunities workshop on October 24 to explore the business case for workplace inclusion, discuss discrimination challenges, and exchange experiences with HR professionals about effective equality practices.
Worker Safety Rep pilot scheme launched by Health and Safety Chief
The Health and Safety Commission has launched a pilot scheme to train and deploy worker safety advisers, addressing the challenge of providing safety representation in small firms and fragmented workplaces. Selected and trained by the TUC, these advisers will travel between sites to support workers not covered by permanent on-site safety representatives.
Blunkett: Jobs boost for disabled
Education Secretary David Blunkett announced plans to help 800,000 people with long-term illnesses or disabilities return to work through new rehabilitation and retention pilots. The government aims to build on New Deal’s success by offering greater support and enabling people to work rather than remain dependent on benefits.
Government minister tells public sector workers to embrace change
Cabinet Office Minister Ian McCartney urged public sector workers to embrace modernisation and change management to improve government services. He highlighted successful initiatives like CCTV crime reduction and NHS walk-in centres, while announcing new training seminars to help civil servants develop leadership and IT skills needed for digital transformation by 2005.
New Policy for public sector IT systems
The UK Government launched the e-Government Interoperability Framework (e-GIF) to enable public sector IT systems to communicate seamlessly, supporting the goal of moving all government services online by 2005. The policy aims to create 24-hour one-stop government access and reduce bureaucracy by electronically joining information across departments.
Backcare week and European Health and Safety Week
Back strain costs the UK economy £3.8 billion annually and affects 16 million people. During European Health and Safety Week (16-22 October), the TUC, BackCare, and Forum of Private Business are launching a back pain report and a free advice phone line offering guidance from ergonomists, solicitors, and chiropractors.
Businesses could be defenceless under corporate killing laws says CBI
The CBI warns that proposed corporate killing laws lack clear tests for determining company culpability, potentially leaving businesses unable to defend themselves with protections available to individuals facing comparable charges.
Passing share option gains to the employee
New regulations allow employers granting share options to employees to transfer National Insurance contribution liability to workers, addressing accounting challenges and cash flow issues for startups experiencing volatile share prices.
Big Brother star Craig tells how to make charities the winners
Big Brother star Craig Phillips joined a Government campaign to promote Payroll Giving, a tax-efficient way to donate to charities through employer deductions. Donations made through payroll are deducted before tax and received a 10% government boost until April 2003, providing charities with predictable, regular income.
Payroll Giving: Background Information
Payroll Giving is a government-supported scheme where employers deduct charitable donations from employee salaries before tax and forward them to Inland Revenue-approved charity agencies. The scheme costs employers little to nothing and offers tax relief to donors, with the government aiming to double contributions to over £60 million annually by 2003.
Share option NIC regulations: Background Information
Under the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000, employers and employees can jointly elect to transfer liability for employer National Insurance Contributions on share option gains to the employee. This arrangement helps companies with volatile share prices manage unpredictable accounting provisions and supports smaller start-up companies with limited cash flow.
The right to snoop
From October 2000, UK employers gained the legal right to monitor employees’ emails and phone calls during work hours, sparking controversy among trade unions who argue the practice violates privacy rights without consent.
Job stress and mental illness
A MIND survey reveals that workplace stress is perceived as a leading cause of mental illness, surpassing bereavement and loneliness. The research found that 27% of respondents would hide mental health issues from employers, highlighting significant workplace stigma around mental wellbeing.
Employment Minister backs jobs for disadvantaged communities
Employment Minister Tessa Jowell announced Government backing for local job creation schemes in disadvantaged communities, with £9.5 million in funding available over three years. The New Deal Innovation Fund operates around 50 projects nationwide, helping ex-offenders, homeless people, and ethnic minorities overcome employment barriers.
HR Zone Newswire # 1 – Special launch issue, feature interview
HR Zone Newswire launched in July 2000 as a dedicated publication covering employment, legislation, personnel and human resource issues, complementing the TrainingZONE website. This special inaugural issue features an interview with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and explores key HR topics including IR35 and employment partnerships.
