News: PM pledges legal changes to allow crosses at work
Even if two British Christians lose a landmark European Court case to allow them to wear symbols of their faith at work, David Cameron plans to change UK legislation to let them do so. His stance came to light yesterday during exchanges at Prime Minister’s Question Time, when he was asked about the case of […]
Blog: The Olympics – A matter of trust?
Whether you agree with London Mayor Boris Johnson‘s comments about ‘skiving’ home-workers or not, his outspoken views last week have once again raised the bigger issue of trust. As we move closer to the Olympics, I believe we will see more evidence of companies that do – and companies that don’t – trust their staff. The Olympics is […]
News: TUC to replace Barber with first female director general
The TUC has appointed its first female leader, Frances O’Grady, to take over as general secretary when incumbent Brendan Barber steps down at the end of this year. Although little known outside the trade union movement, O’Grady, who joined the TUC in the mid-1990s, is well-regarded and is expected by some to shake it up, […]
Podcast: LOCOG’s CEO Paul Deighton talks diversity and inclusion
Natalie Cooper, the editor of our partner, online jobs board Changeboard, conducts an exclusive interview with Paul Deighton, chief executive of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. They talk about the challenges to be faced when trying to ensure that diversity and inclusion are embedded in organisational culture and how such […]
News: Disabled Remploy workers to strike over 2,800 proposed job cuts
Disabled workers are to stage two 24-hour strikes in protest at plans to close 36 of the 54 Remploy factories that employ them, leading to 2,800 job losses. Members of the GMB and Unite unions will walk out on Thursday 19 and 26 July to express their “disgust” at the coalition government’s proposals to axe […]
Blog: Why is it still a novelty when women get a seat on the board?
“Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s Long-Time COO, Becomes First Woman On Its Board Of Directors.” That was the breathless announcement coming from CNBC this week. thi As my daughter always says, “Really”? Here we are in 2012 and to make mention of the fact that she will be the only WOMAN to me just sounds so dated. […]
Blog: Does gender equality stretch to pensions?
In the clean and well-rewarded land of management it’s easy to believe that the situation for women at work isn’t really too bad these days and to overlook what’s actually going on at the employment coalface – particularly in respect of older working women. While we managers, diversity specialists and HR professionals focus our attention […]
Blog: Why a balanced boardroom is a better boardroom
So, it’s a proven fact that having women in the boardroom improves business performance. Now, before you write me off as a radical feminist with a chip on her shoulder pad – hear me out. Drawing upon a database of 441 companies, the McKinsey Women Matter 2010 report found that “companies with the highest share of women outperform companies […]
Equal pay tribunals could lead to near £20k of audit and legal costs
A review of all staff wages must be carried out by a company after it has lost an employment tribunal claim over equal pay, according to equalities minister Lynne Featherstone If a tribunal rules that a worker has been discriminated against because of their gender, that firm would be compelled to examine employees’ salaries, an […]
News: Men v women or men + women?
Men and women have different leadership strengths, and organisations need a balance of both if they are to be truly effective. That’s the conclusion of a new study from Talent Innovations which analysed feedback results of nearly 14,000 managers to identify the differences in how men and women were rated against a set of 18 […]
News: Senior execs lead by example in adopting social media tools
Senior executives use social media more frequently than any other more junior members of staff, including ‘Generation Y’, new research has revealed. A European survey, which involved talking to 2,700 professionals across the UK, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain and Sweden, found that 71% of senior executives use social tools at least once a […]
News: Male boards ‘appoint candidates in their own image’
The appointment of women to senior management positions is being held back by male-dominated boards who hire executives that are similar to themselves, a report has warned. According to research conducted by Cranfield University on behalf of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, potential candidates for board-level posts among FTSE 350 companies are generally hired […]
News: Female Network Rail staff to fight for equal pay
Network Rail bosses were accused today of treating women like “second class citizens” after research revealed that they were being paid on average £4,500 per year less than their male colleagues. The findings of the survey of more than 2,000 workers will result in some 34 female middle managers launching an initial claim for […]
Legal Insight: Positive discrimination – A trap for the well intentioned?
Recent publicity on the use of positive action in recruitment or promotion in tiebreak situations has left HR directors with a dilemma. Should positive action be used to improve diversity either in the organisation generally or to help women and members of ethnic minorities break through “glass ceilings” into management? Section 159 of the […]
How to manage a mixed age workforce
Two years ago, the number of people who were over 65 outstripped those who were under 16 for the first time. Moreover, the abolition of the Default Retirement Age now means that older workers are likely to stay in the workplace for longer – either through choice or economic necessity. Meanwhile, Generation Y-ers […]
HRD Video Vox Pops: How to engage an increasingly diverse workforce
At the CIPD's HRD learning and development conference in London Olympia last week, we asked a number of experts what their top tip for engaging an increasingly diverse workforce was. And here's what they told us:
Blog: Will pensions auto-enrolment hit the spot?
With pension auto enrolment due to come into effect towards the end of this year, businesses need to start planning now if they want to get themselves in order ahead of the big switch. If planned correctly the impact on resources for your business required to put the workplace pension scheme into place can be […]
News: Employers can force retirement in ‘public interest’, rules Supreme Court
Employers are within their rights to force employees to retire if they can prove that there is a public interest reason in doing so, according to a landmark legal ruling. The UK’s Supreme Court unanimously dismissed an appeal today by solicitor, Leslie Seldon, who was told to retire by Clarkson Wright & Jakes just after […]
Former press officer sues GCHQ for bullying amid “widespread” racism claims
A former senior press officer is suing GCHQ for allegedly having been a victim of “widespread” race discrimination and constructive dismissal after being victimised for making “public interest disclosures” as a whistleblower. Alfred Bacchus claims that his managers bullied him while he was a senior press officer at the government’s secretive spy base in Cheltenham, […]
Construction sector sets up industry-wide forum to boost inclusion
The construction industry has set up an industry-wide forum to try and improve diversity and boost its employment levels among women, ethnic minorities and disabled people. The Construction Industry Leadership Forum for Fairness, Inclusion and Respect was set up following recommendations by the Employment and Human Rights Commission, after two studies on diversity demonstrated the […]
