Analysis: First three UK employers accredited for inclusive recruitment practices

Some 18% of working age people are disabled, yet only 48% of disabled people are employed as opposed to 78% of those without a disability. Despite some really well-intentioned employers working hard to attract and retain disabled people, research has revealed that, among the 220 or organisations questioned, there were still barriers to inclusion, primarily […]

Update: Intern name-and-shame campaign avoids media companies

A campaign to name and shame large companies that fail to pay interns a proper wage is steering clear of media companies – which are among the worst offenders – due to fears over lack of publicity. The news came to light as the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills published guidance for employers that […]

Ask the Expert: Is posting Facebook pictures of planking at work acceptable?

The Question  Two members of staff posted pictures of themselves ‘planking’ on Facebook or lying in places that put their health and safety at risk – on top of a top shelf in a backroom and above the back door at work.   Comments have been made about this on Facebook, which included the manager […]

Legal Insight: Preparing for the Agency Workers Regulations

The controversial Agency Workers Regulations hit the headlines again this week, after David Cameron intimated that he was seeking legal advice on how to dilute them, only weeks before the legislation is due to come into force on 1 October. According to the Daily Telegraph, the Prime Minister became concerned that the new laws could […]

Almost half of student internships are still unpaid

Almost half of student internships are unpaid, a survey by Graduate Prospects has revealed. A survey published in the organisation’s annual report entitled ‘Real Prospects: Higher Education’ explored whether 22,000 graduates had gained work experience while studying for their undergraduate degree. More than 70% said they had done so, often by taking on casual paid […]

Blog: Is more home-working the Olympics’ legacy for employers?

‘Olympic legacy’ is a phrase mentioned on a daily basis at present. But what effect will London 2012 have on businesses in the capital? For starters, a meltdown of public transport according to Olympic Games organisers and Transport for London. There’ll be three million more journeys a day including one million more Tube passengers during […]

Blog: Apple loses Jobs – so what does it mean for the people?

When one of the world’s most celebrated business leaders announces plans to make a move, the focus is all too often on shares and customer impact, but little is mentioned about the impact it will have on the people within the organisation. When Steve Jobs announced he is standing down as chief executive at Apple, […]

How is James Murdoch conducting himself?

In light of the News International scandal there is an important question that all organisations should be asking themselves: Is the code of conduct an effective tool that actively helps protect your reputation, or a fig leaf whose shortcomings risk leaving you woefully exposed if things turn tricky?  According to James Murdoch’s testimony before the […]

Your job specification: 5 tips to take it from drab to irresistible

Today’s job seekers can access as many as eight million job postings from the Internet alone. To attract the top job candidates in your industry, irresistible and informative job postings are a must. A well-crafted job posting not only gets you the best applicants, but also ensures those applicants have a good understanding of what […]

Who dares recruits

 British Special Forces are undertaking an active online recruitment campaign for the first time in a bid to combat falling numbers.   The SAS has posted an advert on a password-protected military job site, which can only be accessed by serving military personnel as they are the only ones eligible to apply.   Colonel Clive […]

US tech giants sued for wage fixing and anti-poaching agreements

A raft of US tech and film giants, including Apple, Google and Pixar, have been sued for anti-competitive behaviour after allegedly undertaking employee wage-fixing and agreeing not to poach each other’s staff.  The move follows a probe by the US Department of Justice last year, which resulted in the firms, which also include Lucasfilm, Intel […]

Employers not buying into value of apprenticeships

Although the coalition government claims that apprenticeships generate a £40 return for the economy for each £1 of investment, two thirds of employers do not believe on-the-job training is appropriate for their organisation.  According to a study commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to explore the economic value offered by government-funded post-19 […]

Apple report reveals poor manufacturing conditions

Technology giant Apple has admitted that child labour is a growing problem in Chinese factories that manufacture its computers, iPods and mobile phones.  The US company also acknowledged for the first time that 137 workers were poisoned at a Chinese company that makes its products and said that less than a third of the facilities […]

How to recruit higher quality candidates: a key lesson from consumer marketing

By thinking like a marketer, recruiters can create a targeted sourcing strategy that can deliver a higher quality of hire, says Tim Geisert of Kenexa.  In 2004, Dove, one of Unilever’s biggest beauty brands, sponsored a global research study that asked 3,200 women for their views on female beauty and well-being. Among the results was […]

It’s snow joke for employers and the economy

This week’s snow has seen staff absence levels leap four-fold rise compared to last year, with the cost to the economy expected to hit as much as £1.2 billion per day in lost business.  According to FirstCare, which provides absence management services, employers in Scotland and the North of England have been most affected as […]

Building a brand from within – the role of HR

It’s no secret in the industry that HR teams, like parents, do many jobs under one title. And, like parents, they are the go-to for good news and bad news, crises, problems and any major changes within the organisation. Everyone deals with the HR team; whether they work for a growing business or a multi-faceted, […]

Half of employers fear ‘old won’t go’

Only just over a half of employers expect to scrap default retirement ages completely when the practice is abolished in October next year amid fears that staff will refuse to go even if they are no longer up to the job.  Research undertaken among 115 customers by law firm Shoosmiths indicated that only 20% of […]

Google levels playing field for gay employees

Google has begun paying gay staff in the US on average £650 per annum more than straight employees in order to compensate for the extra taxes they have to fork out.  The wage hike, which will be backdated to 1 January this year, is to make up for the fact that when US organisations offer […]

Ask the expert: Advertising short term vacancies and contracts

Martin Brewer and Esther Smith advise on whether you need to advertise short term vacancies and contracts. The question: Advertising short term vacancies and contracts Could someone please clarify the law regarding the advertisement of short-term vacancies such as maternity leave? I am the Deputy Manager and my Manager is due to go on maternity […]

Poor recruitment practices damaging brands

Poor recruitment practices are damaging employers’ brands, losing them customers and hitting the bottom line, but are nonetheless becoming increasingly common as organisations find themselves swamped with growing numbers of job applications. According to research undertaken among 1,600 UK adults by psychometric testing specialist SHL, negative recruitment experiences are all too frequent among jobseekers, with nearly […]