Jobs up but wages fall, claims job index

Although the number of posts being advertised may be on the up, wages are continuing to drop – unless you happen to be a senior HR director in Whitehall.  According to the latest Reed Job Index, which is based on data from reed.co.uk, the UK’s largest jobs board, demand among employers for new staff increased […]

Government budget cuts will have negative effect on private sector

The government's proposed £6bn in budget cuts, which includes a civil service recruitment freeze, will have negative knock-on effects on the private sector, leading to rising levels of unemployment, a leading HR body has warned. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) believes that the recruitment freeze, which is expected to save £170m, combined with […]

We need a fresh approach – better benefits on a budget

In this feature with a difference, eavesdrop on these team conversations and learn about benefits on a budget. Meet the team (an entirely fictional team, but each with a foot firmly in reality…well it’s my reality so I’m setting the rules here). John: 62 – Finance DirectorJohn is a Newcastle fan because everything is black […]

Containing labour costs key priority for business

The majority of employers are keen to keep a lid on pay rises this year as containing labour costs remains one of their top priorities.   But following an unprecedented year when many staff accepted curbs on pay and changes to working patterns to protect jobs during the recession, seven out of ten bosses appreciate […]

Is there reward after recession?

Catherine Chubb considers the impact of changes to rewards as we emerge from recession.  During the recession, surveys showed that around half of UK workers experienced a cut in pay, working hours or a loss of benefits. The most common cost-cutting approach taken by employers during the downturn was a salary freeze. But what is […]

Migration cap ‘needs consultation’ says CIPD

An influential HR body has called for employers to be consulted on the new government’s proposed migration cap because it could leave them struggling to hire the talent required to “survive and thrive” in a still-tentative economic recovery.   Stephanie Bird, director of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) said that members had expressed […]

‘Dire’ job figures signpost tough times ahead

‘Dire’ official jobs figures mean that the new government needs to take swift and decisive action to get Britain working again, according to a prominent HR body.  Data from the Office of National Statistics indicated that the number of people out of work in the three months to March rose by 53,000 to 2.51 million […]

Highest level of adults engaged in learning for a decade

The proportion of adults who are currently in some form of education or training or have been over the last 36 months is at its highest level for 10 years due to the difficult economic climate. According to a UK-wide survey of 4,964 adults undertaken by TNS Omnibus and sponsored by the Local Government Association […]

The leadership required to forge a coalition government

While political power talks continue and we wait to see if we will be offered a coalition, multi-party deal or minority government, Austin Swain considers the leadership skills needed to forge a strong, workable, multi-party parliament.   The political landscape has shifted beyond recognition in the last 10 days. Clegg, Brown and Cameron have moved […]

New government must provide clear plan for business growth

Whatever the outcome of the power talks currently happening to determine who leads the country, the incoming government has just 90 days to prove its business credentials, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) says. Issuing a 12-point plan for growth, the employers’ group said the next government has to put business at the heart of […]

Letter to an ex-MP – what next for the honourable members?

What can discarded MPs do now they are bereft of their constituencies? Gary Flood has unearthed this correspondence between one ex-MP and an executive recruiting agency for a light hearted look at what MPs might turn their hand to next… From: Executive Career Counselling LtdTo: Ex MP Joan Smythe IN STRICTEST CONFIDENCE Dear Joan, Thank […]

Cutting the deficit: off-shoring could be the answer

So the 2010 election delivered a hung parliament: whoever eventually fills the power vacuum for good should consider offshoring thousands of civil servant jobs, including HR and finance roles, in order to cut the huge public deficit.  This is one of the key recommendations from a policy paper entitled ‘We can cut the deficit: Ten […]

Public sector pay freezes ‘unsustainable’

A post-election government of any stripe will find it difficult to sustain public sector pay freezes because both private sector wages and inflation rates are now picking up, a study has warned.  The report by the Labour Research Department (LRD), an independent research organisation that provides information to trade unions, found that a slight increase […]

Election Live: Expert Panellists

Meet our expert panel who will be commenting on the results of the general election, live tonight on our Cover it Live page here. Phil Orford, chief executive, Forum of Private BusinessForum of Private Business chief executive Phil Orford began his career in sales before starting his own business at the age of 21. Between […]

Next government must curb public sector job cuts

A recruitment industry body has warned that an incoming government of whatever stripe must address two immediate priorities – stimulating jobs growth and cutting expenditure without creating a public sector recession by shedding thousands of posts.  The warning came as research indicated that the rate at which recruiters filled permanent vacancies slipped last month from […]

Compare the policies: employment law implications

With the General Election taking place, Lisa Mayhew, employment partner at law firm Jones Day, examines the implications of each of the main parties’ policies on employment law.  Having already introduced significant changes to employment law since 1997, the Labour Party has unsurprisingly put forward the fewest proposals. Recognising the pace of recent legislative change, […]

Election fever: follow it live here

In the early hours of 7 May 2010 the final results of one of the closest UK general elections for decades will be revealed. Join HRzone and the other SiftMedia sites for live coverage including instant reaction from a panel of experts plus a feed of the buzz on Twitter – and of course, you […]

Election 2010: Are you voting for flexibility?

The private sector used flexible working to reduce redundancy. Will the promise of flexible working legislation be a vote winner for the political parties this general election – and how will this translate into the real world of business? Before the election, Labour employment and welfare reform minister, Jim Knight, praised private sector employers for […]

Election 2010: Are the unemployment policies redundant?

Even though unemployment policy is likely to play a significant role in the forthcoming general election, it appears that none of the major parties have convinced voters that they have the answer. According to a survey undertaken among 4,000 voters and commissioned by online job board TipTopjob.com, a huge 69% of jobseekers said that their […]

Recession still biting, warns CMI

The impact of the global economic slump is still being felt among eight out of 10 employers, leading to falling levels of staff morale and ever-growing fears for the future among senior managers.  According to the new ‘Economic Outlook’ report written by Lord John Eatwell, chief economic adviser to the Chartered Management Institute, even though […]