How Did I Get Here? Sue Schoormans, Managing Director, Complete People Management Ltd
Managing Director Sue Schoormans reveals why enforcing policies that are biased towards women may be the only way to get HR to board level. 1. How strategic is your current role and what does it involve?I am the Managing Director of my own HR consultancy company, founded in 2003. At present I am the business […]
Off the record: Transsexual employees
Ranjit Dhindsa, employment partner at Reed Smith explains how to handle the logistics when an employee undertakes gender reassignment including directions on which toilet should be used during the process. When an employee announces they are about to have a sex change, what they need (and are legally entitled to) is support and understanding. Gender […]
HR Tip: Return from maternity leave
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Q: A woman on maternity leave wishes to return early but has given us only one week's notice to do so. Can she do this? A: If she informed you about her pregnancy […]
Comment: Working longer and portfolio careers
"Not long after I became an independent consultant nearly 20 years ago, I realised that the notion of a date on which I would retire no longer had any meaning for me." Roy Gaynor, Managing Director of management consultants' training and support network, Navisys Academy explains. Under funded pension schemes exacerbated by the baby boomer […]
“More rights than a protected panda bear” – maternity in UK business. By Sarah Fletcher
More legal rights than a protected species panda bear” is how one HR professional describes the general attitude towards pregnant employees. From 1 April 2006 the statutory rates of maternity, paternity and adoption pay will increase from £106 per week to £108.85; but is this enough? Sarah Fletcher asked HR professionals if the financial support […]
Yawning European pay gap closes in
According to a report published by the Federation of European Employers (FedEE) the pay gap across Europe is narrowing. FedEE point to a number of contributory reasons: EU members are increasingly developing a more coherent labour market as people are enabled to move and work in different countries more easily. Western European countries are struggling […]
Pay gap widens
Whilst overall temporary and permanent pay rose across most job types in 2003, the gap widened significantly between those earning top rates and those at the lower end of the scale, according to new salary research by Kelly Services. National resultsOn average, temporary staff on the lower end of the scale (across the 16 job […]
Expectant mothers still experience pregnancy discrimination at work
Pregnant women still continue to face problems at work, according to survey results released today during National Pregnancy Week. The survey, which questioned 1200 people, revealed that over a fifth knew an expectant mother who had experienced difficulties at work because of her pregnancy – rising to a third amongst women aged 25-34. Experiences included […]
Women continue to miss out on training – research
Some two million working women in the UK may be missing out on opportunities to develop their careers, whilst their male counterparts take the lead, according to research out today. A survey commissioned by management training provider Cambridge Online Learning, revealed that twice as many women as men have missed out on training due largely […]
Effects of medication in the workplace – report
New research published by the Health and Safety Executive looks at the effects of medication prescribed for anxiety and depression on working life. It was commissioned by HSE in response to an increase in the numbers of people suffering with anxiety and depression in recent years, leading to widespread use of medication to treat these […]
Workers want to ease into retirement
New research from Penna Sanders & Sidney – now Penna – and the Employers Forum on Age (EFA) suggests that older employees are keen to extend their working lives – but only if employers respond to their changing needs. "Generation Flex" indicates that 85 per cent of employees say their needs change throughout the life cycle of […]
New law means FE and HE have to monitor race relations
Further and Higher Education establishments will be among the public bodies required to monitor the recruitment and progress of staff by racial group under new race laws coming into effect this year, Angela Eagle Race Relations Minister said today. Speaking about the implementation of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 at the 'Race Equality for […]
Fair Play Champions join the drive to equal pay
Employment Minister Tessa Jowell yesterday hosted the first meeting of the Fair Pay Champions, leaders in their fields who will work with government to spearhead the drive towards equal pay across the private and public sector. Ms Jowell also announced plans to extend the work-based 'Taster Day' programme to women who want to return to […]
EOC: Britain Stuck in a Rut
Britain still has to get to grips with the challenge of achieving equality between women and men said Julie Mellor, Chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), on the day the EOC publishes its annual report. Ms Mellor said: “The range of cases the EOC took last year shows just how deeply sex discrimination is […]
New measures to help the disabled back into work
Minister for Disabled People, Margaret Hodge, and Social Security Minister, Hugh Bayley, announced on Monday that a national network of Job Brokers is being set up to offer people on Incapacity Benefits the support, guidance, and preparation they need to find paid work and move off benefit dependence. This New Deal will be delivered largely […]
£10 Million for Equal Opportunities in the Fire Service
£10 million to help Brigades promote equality in the fire service was announced yesterday by Home Office Minister Mike O'Brien at the Fire 2000 Conference in Manchester. The Government has announced a 67% increase in capital funding for the service. The Minister gave a commitment that £10 million of the £59.7 million credit approvals for […]
What are current equal opportunities in the UK – and what are the future impacts?
Equal Opportunities in the UK has seen significant changes in recent years – this mainly due to government legislation and an active Trade Union involvement. Could anybody help me identify relevant changes i.e. Race Relations, Sex Discrimination, Ageism, Equality of Women – how has this affected business? Cost factors maybe – or increase in employees […]
Women who mean business
Dr Mo Mowlam, Minister for the Cabinet Office joined forces with The Adelaide Group, a networking forum for women business leaders, yesterday to discuss women's equality. Speaking about her experience in government and listening to women's views Mo Mowlam said, "We probably all share the belief that our economy will only be truly successful if […]
Minister: Clear pensions statements should lead to greater individual savings
Jeff Rooker, Social Security Minister, yesterday presented a Kiss FM employee with their first combined pensions statement. Emap, one of the pilot partners currently working with the DSS on combined pension statements, issued them to over 2,000 employees including staff from Kiss FM and Smash Hits. The statement sets out an individual's estimated income in […]
New Head for Cabinet Office Women’s Unit
Susan Atkins was yesterday named as the new Director of the Women's Unit. She will take up her post on 30 October, replacing Fiona Reynolds who is leaving to become Director General of the National Trust. Susan is moving from the Home Office where for the last eighteen months she has been Head of the […]
