Jobcentre Plus gets a plus with improved services
Jobcentre Plus launches an improved service initiative using behavioral change specialists to better support recently redundant workers, graduates, and businesses. A pilot program in Greenwich developed action plans to strengthen resources and prepare the service for nationwide rollout.
Going postal – the role of HR in a strike
HR professionals could have anticipated industrial disputes by recognizing the emotional stages employees experience after economic trauma. By understanding how shock, panic, and relief affect workforce behavior, HR can intervene earlier to prevent bitter labor conflicts and strikes.
Home grown leaders preferred, say UK employees
UK employees have significantly more respect for leaders promoted internally than those hired externally, with two-thirds viewing home-grown managers as good leaders. However, most UK companies hire externally for leadership roles, and only 38% of employees are confident their leaders will navigate the recession successfully.
Recession continues: Don’t forget your workforce
Economic contraction continues despite optimism about recovery, with business leaders warning that workforce retention and morale are critical as companies emerge from recession. Employee satisfaction has declined significantly, and experts stress the importance of recognizing staff contributions through pay increases and recognition.
Size acceptance – hard to stomach?
The Size Acceptance Movement recently demonstrated against workplace discrimination based on weight and appearance, but current UK employment law doesn’t specifically protect against size-ism or look-ism. While some cases may succeed using existing sex or age discrimination laws, experts say dedicated legal protections are unlikely in the foreseeable future.
Tesco picking up pieces of ‘woeful’ education system
Tesco’s chief executive has criticized the education system as having “woefully low” standards, claiming employers must compensate by providing their own training and development programs. He called on the government to improve schooling quality and simplify the structure of education to better prepare the future workforce.
Views on HR News: HR’s Role in the Social Business
Explore HR’s emerging role in the social business movement, which emphasizes employee autonomy and customer trust over traditional hierarchical management. This roundup examines how HR leaders can support organizational transformation through enterprise 2.0 technology and collaborative business practices.
Autumn fall in recruitment
Recruitment opportunities declined in September with year-on-year hirings down a third, driven by public sector cuts and IT job losses. However, economists suggest the dip reflects seasonal adjustment rather than economic deterioration, with modest signs of private sector recovery emerging.
Risk for employees as businesses cut insurance
Many businesses are cutting insurance costs to stay afloat, leaving over half a million employees uninsured. Research from AXA and the British Chambers of Commerce reveals that only a third of businesses understand their legal requirement for employer’s liability insurance, putting employees and companies at serious financial risk.
Success in a recession: Politics
Office politics often gets a bad reputation, but it’s simply how groups make decisions in the workplace. Rather than avoiding it, developing good political skills—combining emotional intelligence, influencing abilities, and understanding workplace rules—is essential for professional success.
Tribunal report shows redundancy claims up
Employment Tribunal claims fell 20% overall between 2008-2009, but redundancy-related claims surged significantly. Redundancy pay claims jumped 48% and failures to inform and consult on redundancy more than doubled, indicating employers’ widespread non-compliance with legal obligations.
Now is the time for a new role
Managers must adapt their roles during economic downturns to lead teams effectively. Rather than hoping conditions improve or simply working faster, leaders should recognize their jobs have fundamentally changed and help their teams find clarity and purpose in the crisis.
Success in a recession: Is talent really that important?
Research reveals that determination and deliberate practice matter more than innate talent for success, even during recessions. Studies show mastery requires at least a decade of focused practice beyond your current skill level, suggesting talent should rank lower in hiring and development priorities.
Colborn’s Corner: The end of civil service redundancy cheques?
The UK government plans to cap civil service redundancy payments at two years’ salary, down from the current uncapped scheme. Public sector unions are considering legal challenges to these proposals, which could leave some employees tens of thousands of pounds worse off than under existing compensation rules.
Is your HR department ready for the economic upturn?
As economic indicators suggest the UK recession is ending, HR departments must prepare for recovery. Now is the ideal time to streamline operations, review hiring practices, and implement best practices before demand for talent increases significantly.
Success in a recession: The kitchen cabinet
Successful leaders rely on informal “kitchen cabinets”—networks of trusted mentors, allies, and experts who provide objective advice and challenge their thinking. HR professionals can foster positive informal networks by understanding how these groups form and ensuring leaders have access to trusted advisors outside their immediate business environment who can offer unbiased guidance.
Unemployment leaps to 2.43 million
Unemployment surged to 2.43 million in the three months to June, the highest level since 1995, with the jobless rate rising to 7.8%. Young people aged 18-24 were hit hardest, with unemployment at 17.2%, while job vacancies fell to their lowest level since 2001.
Building trust and confidence in a recession
During recessions, trust in business leaders declines significantly, yet most organizations aren’t actively working to maintain it. Research shows that empathy—not reliability or capability—is the most critical pillar of trust, with companies demonstrating high empathy reporting greater profitability and fewer redundancies even during challenging economic times.
The HRzone.co.uk Recession Clinic with Acas
HRzone.co.uk hosted a recession clinic webinar with Acas employment relations expert Stewart Gee, addressing workplace challenges including redundancy, restructuring, performance management, and employment contracts during economic downturns.
Managing performance in a recession
HR professionals can help manage performance during recessions by setting clear, business-aligned objectives for remaining employees, providing managerial support, and ensuring staff understand expectations and have necessary resources. Effective performance management requires collaboration between managers and employees, with HR supporting leadership through transparent communication and documented accountability.
