HMRC staff vote for strike action over call centre privatisation plans
HMRC staff have voted overwhelmingly for strike action against plans to privatise two contact centres handling tax credits queries from January. The Public and Commercial Services Union, representing 21,000 employees, secured 70% support for walkouts over privatisation concerns and job losses.
Cable denies creating climate of fear with employment law shakeup
Business Secretary Vince Cable denies that employment law reforms will create workplace fear, despite proposals to reduce redundancy consultation periods and introduce tribunal fees. Cable claims the changes aim to remove barriers to business growth while maintaining fairness to workers.
‘Protected conversations’ will create business “nightmare”
Coalition Government proposals to introduce ‘protected conversations’ could create confusion and legal disputes for businesses, employment experts have warned. The plans would allow employers to discuss poor performance and retirement with staff without fear of tribunal claims, but critics argue the changes lack clarity and could increase red tape rather than reduce it.
Government minister threatens strike law changes
A Government minister has warned that strike laws could face reform if public sector workers proceed with planned industrial action, citing concerns about economic disruption. The Coalition Cabinet Office Minister suggested requiring a 40% minimum turnout in strike ballots, a proposal already backed by the CBI employers’ lobby group.
Unemployment at 17-year high – and worsening
UK unemployment reached 2.6 million in September, the highest level in 17 years, with the jobless rate hitting 8.3%. Wage growth weakened to 2.3% while earnings excluding bonuses rose only 1.7%, far below inflation, signaling a severe jobs and pay crisis.
Will the ‘gig economy’ be the death of HR?
The gig economy’s rapid growth raises questions about the future of HR departments. As organizations increasingly rely on freelancers and temporary workers for flexibility, traditional HR functions may shift toward procurement-focused roles, with smaller teams managing transactional relationships rather than employee development.
Home Office may have breached employee “trust and confidence”, warn lawyers
Lawyers warn the Home Office may have breached its duty to maintain trust and confidence with employees following the Border Force chief’s constructive dismissal claim. The case highlights how employers must handle disciplinary matters privately, allow employees to respond to allegations, and avoid public statements that could undermine the employment relationship.
Treasury Minister rules out full income tax and NIC merger
The Treasury Minister has ruled out a full merger of income tax and National Insurance Contributions, despite calls from tax experts to integrate the two systems as part of efforts to simplify the personal tax system. The government plans instead to improve transparency through online tools and Real Time Information systems.
Jobs market to suffer “slow, painful contraction”, warns CIPD
The UK jobs market faces a “slow, painful contraction” as public sector job losses outpace private sector hiring, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s latest employer survey. Public sector redundancies have exceeded Office for Budget Responsibility predictions, with unemployment expected to rise further amid economic uncertainty.
Employee resilience – whose responsibility is it anyway?
Employee resilience is increasingly promoted as a workplace skill, but debate persists over whether it prioritizes staff well-being or performance. The concept’s effectiveness depends on individual factors like age, experience, culture, and support systems—not just personal strength.
Regional Growth Fund to create 4,000 SME jobs
The Regional Growth Fund will provide £500m in financing to small and medium-sized enterprises through a partnership with major banks, with the Government and RBS, NatWest, and HSBC aiming to create approximately 4,000 jobs across England.
CIPD Conference: “HR must become business leaders and strategists”
HR professionals must evolve into business leaders and strategists to drive organizational performance and change through people, according to CIPD president Gill Rider. Speaking at the organization’s annual conference, she emphasized that economic challenges, demographic shifts, and declining trust in leadership have made strong business acumen essential for HR professionals.
E-learning charity goes into administration due to government cuts
Learning and Skills Network, a 25-year-old e-learning charity, has entered administration after government funding cuts caused its income to halve from £27.5 million to £13 million. The organization’s pension liabilities also increased significantly, contributing to its financial difficulties.
Update: Government pension proposals not enough to stop industrial action
Despite government concessions on public sector pensions, UK unions voted to proceed with planned industrial action on November 30. Although officials described the latest offer as a “marked improvement,” they say further progress is needed before calling off the strike.
Blog: Rewards and recognition – tips for motivating staff on a small budget
Motivate your staff without overspending using these budget-friendly strategies: offer advancement opportunities, provide written recognition, award certificates, grant extra paid time off, and invite top performers to lunch with management. These non-financial rewards boost employee morale and retention while keeping costs minimal.
Give employers tax breaks to cut youth unemployment, says CBI
The Confederation of British Industry calls for tax breaks to encourage employers to hire unemployed young people, proposing a “Young Britain Credit” worth £1,500 in National Insurance contributions for businesses hiring 16-24 year-olds during their first year of employment.
New global jobs recession could spark social unrest, warns ILO
The International Labour Organization warns that a global jobs recession threatens to trigger social unrest, with advanced economies needing five years to recover employment levels. The agency estimates 80 million new jobs are needed within two years, but current trends suggest only half will materialize.
Official apprenticeship figures exaggerated, leaked document reveals
A leaked government document reveals that official UK apprenticeship figures were inflated by counting existing workplace trainees as new starts. The 2010/11 figures showed a dramatic increase, but analysis shows most growth came from lower-skilled placements and older workers rather than young people as intended.
Top exec incomes leap 50% while staff struggle with earnings squeeze
Executive pay at FTSE 100 companies surged 50% to £2.7 million, while average workers received pay rises of just 2.6%—half the inflation rate. The disparity has prompted calls for greater shareholder scrutiny and worker representation on pay committees.
News Analysis: Jobs market shows mixed picture
London’s financial sector faces significant job losses with 30,000 positions expected to disappear by year-end, while retail employment also declined sharply. However, some recruitment sectors showed modest signs of recovery as employer confidence gradually improved.
