News: PM pledges legal changes to allow crosses at work
Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to change UK law to allow employees to wear religious symbols at work, even if two British Christians lose their case at the European Court of Human Rights. The commitment comes as Nadia Eweida and Shirley Chaplin challenge their employers’ bans on wearing crucifixes.
Blog: The Olympics – A matter of trust?
How companies handle Olympic celebrations reveals their workplace culture and approach to employee trust. Organisations that embrace the Games through shared viewing opportunities and flexible working practices send a powerful message to current staff and future talent, particularly Generation Y who seek transparency and flexibility alongside competitive compensation.
Blog: The Olympics – Learning lessons in flexible working
RBS and UK government agencies are allowing flexible working during the Olympics to boost productivity amid transport disruptions. Despite criticism, the policy highlights a crucial lesson: organizational success depends on trust between managers and employees, whether working remotely or in-office.
Christina’s Counsel: How can I make my workplace more family-friendly?
Creating a family-friendly workplace attracts top talent and reduces stress-related absences. Key practices include flexible working, childcare support, and career breaks that help employees balance home and work responsibilities while boosting productivity and loyalty.
News: 60% of workers plan to watch Olympics – with or without consent
Nearly 60% of UK employees plan to watch the Olympics during work hours, prompting many employers to offer flexible working arrangements. A CIPD and Hays survey found that over half of organizations will accommodate homeworking or flexible schedules, though some restrict leave and warn staff about unauthorized absences and disciplinary consequences.
Legal Insight: Homeworking during the Olympics
Employers allowing staff to work from home during the Olympics must ensure compliance with employment law and health and safety regulations. This includes conducting risk assessments, providing adequate equipment, and maintaining the same employee protections as office-based workers, even for temporary arrangements.
Blog: Four managerial traits to ensure flexible working works
Successful flexible working depends on four key managerial traits: emotional intelligence, organization, technology proficiency, and effective communication. Managers must adapt their leadership style to monitor employee wellbeing and productivity without direct oversight, ensuring flexible arrangements benefit both workers and employers.
News: Two out of five civil servants to home-work during Olympics
Up to 40% of Whitehall civil servants will work from home during the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer to reduce congestion on London’s transport network. The government aims to serve as a flagship example of flexible working support while managing the expected surge in public transport usage.
News: ‘Dress down Friday’ becomes the new norm for workplace attire
Workplace dress codes are becoming increasingly casual, with casual wear now the norm across many industries beyond just creative fields. A UK survey reveals that only 48% of full-time employees wear suits regularly, while younger workers and women are significantly less likely to wear formal attire to the office.
Talking Point: Would you want to live in an ‘anywhere working’ city?
UK employees spend nearly 200 hours commuting annually. A new concept called the “anywhere working city” uses technology and third spaces—locations between home and office—to reduce commuting time and support work-life balance in crowded urban areas.
Blog: Cultivating your personal brand
Develop a strong personal brand through intentional style choices that reflect your values and professional goals. Your appearance influences how colleagues perceive you, so align your workplace wardrobe with the impression you want to create about yourself.
Legal Insight: Health matters part 2 – Dealing with ‘problem absences’
Managing persistent short-term absence requires clear sickness policies, accurate record-keeping, and identifying patterns across your business. Understanding the causes—such as stress, poor management, or workplace issues—enables you to address problems proactively rather than reactively.
Legal Insight: How to cope with tube strikes
During London Underground strikes, employers must check employment contracts to determine if staff should be paid for missed work days. In the absence of contractual rights, employees aren’t entitled to wages, though employers can choose to pay anyway—while maintaining consistent policies to avoid discrimination claims.
Talking Point: Why are there still so few women in the workplace?
Despite women’s improved education levels, workplace gender gaps persist across Europe due to childcare responsibilities. Only 58.2% of women are employed compared to 70.1% of men in the EU, with significant variation by region. Nordic countries demonstrate that flexible working policies enable higher female workforce participation.
Line manager training is key to flexible working success, advises O2
O2’s flexible working pilot revealed that line manager training is crucial for remote work success. The trial showed employees were productive working from home, but the company identified managing remote teams as a key challenge requiring ongoing support and development.
Best Practice: Five pointers to ensure flexible working works
Wakefield Council’s flexible working programme has cut costs by £1.4m and boosted staff productivity while reducing commuter miles by 225,000 annually. Five key success factors include eliminating paper-based processes, taking a holistic corporate approach, securing management buy-in, engaging employees through training, and ensuring robust technology infrastructure.
Ask the Expert: Do employers have to pay for post-natal time off?
Employers aren’t legally required to provide paid time off for breastfeeding or expressing milk, though they must supply suitable facilities like a private room and refrigerator. However, employers should accommodate nursing mothers while assessing workplace hazards that could affect breastfeeding workers.
International Women’s Day: Making gender diversity a workplace reality
International Women’s Day highlights the need for greater gender diversity in workplaces. While women’s representation in FTSE 100 boardrooms has improved, they remain underrepresented at senior management levels. Employers must develop strategic recruitment approaches and foster inclusive workplace cultures to attract and retain female talent.
HSBC guarantees parents part-time working options
HSBC becomes the first UK corporate to guarantee all returning parents a part-time working option of at least two and a half days per week at pro rata salary. The move comes as Working Families charity warns that proposed Working Tax Credit changes could push working parents into poverty.
Anywhere Working Week: Helping employees switch off in an ‘always on’ world
The ‘always-on’ workplace culture leaves employees constantly connected to work, even during vacations. HR professionals must establish clear guidelines about acceptable communication practices and help managers and staff distinguish between urgent and non-urgent matters to promote better work-life balance.
