How to spot a maverick (and channel their talents)
Mavericks are creative, independent thinkers who display distinctive traits including extroversion, risk-taking, and low agreeableness—making them innovative but challenging employees. Research from LSE and UNSW suggests employers can benefit by channeling their unconventional talents while setting appropriate boundaries.
Most employers believe fit notes don’t work, studies reveal
Two studies reveal that most employers doubt fit notes effectively reduce sickness absence. While the CIPP poll found nine in ten employers question their effectiveness, research suggests the problem may lie with GPs providing inadequate information rather than the notes themselves.
Employers offered hiring incentives under £1bn ‘Youth Contract’ scheme
The UK government launched a £1 billion Youth Contract scheme offering employers financial incentives over £2,275 to hire young people aged 18-24 and provide work experience or apprenticeship places. The initiative aims to help 160,000 young people find employment or training in a difficult job market.
Balfour Beatty warns its 12,000 staff of possible redundancies
Balfour Beatty has warned its 12,000 UK staff of possible redundancies as the construction firm restructures amid declining infrastructure projects post-Olympics. The move comes as the OECD forecasts the UK economy has slipped back into recession, with up to 4,000 jobs potentially at risk.
Employers and unions spat over extent of public-private sector pay gap
Official government figures show public sector workers earn 8% more than private sector employees on average, sparking a dispute between employers and unions. While the CBI cited the data to support local pay decisions, Unison argued the figures don’t account for the higher proportion of skilled workers in the public sector and the outsourcing of lower-paid jobs.
2,100 Game-rs lose their jobs following closure of half UK stores
Game is closing nearly half of its 609 UK stores, eliminating 2,104 jobs in the biggest retail collapse since Woolworths. Administrators have been appointed to explore saving the remaining 333 stores through a potential sale or lender-led rescue deal.
Public sector jobs cull to lead to “tectonic shift” in UK labour market
Coalition government budget cuts will eliminate more than one in seven public sector jobs, reducing the workforce to record lows and triggering a “tectonic shift” in the UK labour market structure, according to the CIPD’s analysis of employment projections.
Rooting out the “cancer” of employee cynicism
Employee cynicism, driven by years of economic uncertainty and austerity measures, spreads through organizations like cancer, undermining customer engagement, sales performance, and bottom-line results. Cynical employees offer deeper discounts, avoid upselling, and fail to take ownership of problems, creating a paralysis that stifles innovation and productivity.
Public sector jobs cull will jump to 730,000 by 2017, forecasts OBR
The Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts 730,000 public sector job losses by 2017, up 20,000 from previous estimates. The cuts, driven by government budget constraints, are expected to accelerate initially before slowing through 2012-2017, prompting union warnings about wage cuts in economically deprived regions.
Budget 2012: Fears over lack of prep time for Olympics Sunday working plans
Chancellor George Osborne proposed suspending Sunday trading laws during the 2012 Olympics, allowing large shops extended hours across eight weekends. Employers and unions raised concerns about insufficient preparation time and potential negative impacts on shop workers forced to work additional hours.
Budget 2012: Local pay deals ‘could expose public sector to discrimination claims’
Local pay deals in the public sector could expose employers to discrimination claims if not carefully implemented, according to legal experts. The Chancellor proposed making public sector pay more responsive to regional rates, but selective application risks equal pay issues, particularly affecting female employees in lower-paid roles.
Budget 2012: Income tax changes branded ‘Robin Hood lite’ at best
The 2012 Budget increased personal tax allowances while cutting the top rate of income tax from 50p to 45p, though critics argue the changes do little to support growth and jobs. While higher earners benefit significantly, lower-income workers such as nurses face net losses despite the allowance increase.
Budget 2012: Pensioners are today’s “biggest losers”, claims industry body
The National Association of Pension Funds criticized the 2012 Budget, claiming existing pensioners are the “biggest losers” due to the removal of age-related tax allowances worth over £2 billion. While welcoming the new single-tier state pension proposal, the industry body warned current retirees would face significant losses despite the government’s simplification efforts.
Budget 2012: Five industries singled out for special treatment
The 2012 Budget targets aerospace, energy, pharmaceuticals, creative media and science as key industries to diversify the UK economy away from financial services. The Chancellor announced tax credits for video games and animation, patent tax cuts for life sciences, and £100 million for research facilities, aiming to create one million jobs over five years.
Budget 2012: The dismantling of national pay bargaining begins
The UK Chancellor will announce plans to allow central government departments to set their own local pay rates, starting with three departments in April. The move, which could trigger further union strikes over pension changes, aims to eventually extend local pay bargaining across the entire public sector, despite union criticism that it will harm poorer regions.
Government’s compensated no fault dismissal proposals garner mixed response
The UK government’s proposals to allow micro-businesses to dismiss employees without fault by paying compensation have received mixed responses. While business groups like the CBI support the measure as a hiring incentive, employment experts warn it could discourage recruitment and undermine employment rights without clear economic benefits.
Legal Insight: Employee or consultant? Lessons from the Student Loans Co
The Student Loans Company case highlights the legal distinction between employees and consultants. While consultant arrangements can offer tax benefits, they lack employment protections like paid leave and redundancy rights. Courts and tax authorities examine whether individuals are genuinely self-employed or actually employees avoiding statutory obligations.
Four years of redundancies cost UK employers £28.6bn
Nearly 2.7 million UK workers have been made redundant in the past four years, costing employers £28.6 billion. Manufacturing and construction sectors accounted for about a third of job losses, while the cumulative loss of economic output amounts to between £87 billion and £135 billion.
Talent Spot: Vikki Sly, global recruitment director at QlikTech
Vikki Sly, global recruitment director at QlikTech, challenges the myth that hiring decisions are made in seconds. She believes successful companies must invest time in recruitment to find candidates who fit both technical requirements and company culture, especially in competitive IT markets.
EU Parliament votes in favour of binding female boardroom quotas
The EU Parliament voted to establish binding quotas requiring 30% female board representation by 2015 and 40% by 2020 at publicly-listed companies. Meanwhile, a UK report showed slower progress, with female directorships rising to only 15.6%, prompting concerns that voluntary measures may prove insufficient without EU-wide legislation.
