Ask the Expert: Can changes to employment terms be imposed without discussion?
Employers must consult employees before making changes to terms and conditions of employment. If an employer imposes changes without discussion, employees can raise a grievance or potentially claim constructive dismissal, depending on their contract terms and length of service.
News: NHS whistleblower subject to “super gag”
An NHS Trust paid a former chief executive over £500,000 in severance, including a “super gag” confidentiality clause that prevents him from discussing patient safety concerns that allegedly led to his dismissal in 2010.
News: London bus workers set two pre-Olympic strike dates
London bus workers have scheduled two strike dates—July 5 and July 24—demanding £500 Olympic bonuses, disrupting at least 40 routes during morning rush hour. The action comes as rail and tube workers have already secured similar payments, while bus companies and the union remain in dispute over compensation.
A typical HRD: Part 6 – Local government
Local government HR directors face significant pressure from austerity measures requiring cost-cutting and efficiency improvements simultaneously. Modern HR leaders must demonstrate resilience, emotional intelligence, and strong communication skills to navigate organizational transformation and manage the impact of difficult decisions on staff.
Public sector struggles to recruit top talent
The UK public sector faces significant recruitment challenges, with 82% of organisations struggling to fill vacancies, particularly at senior and managerial levels. Pay freezes, pension reforms, and a declining sector image are driving talented staff away, compounding staffing shortages amid ongoing austerity.
UK employment trends see more self-employed
The UK recorded 4.2 million self-employed workers in April 2012, the highest since records began in 1992. The rise reflects difficulty finding permanent roles, with more people taking short-term work as nannies and cleaners rather than launching new enterprises.
Blog: How to wear someone down when applying for your job vacancy
A Primary Care Trust’s job posting for a Communications Manager requires applicants to read 26,000+ words of dense documents—five times more text than the U.S. Constitution—potentially designed to discourage applicants from pursuing a position already earmarked for a preferred candidate in the public sector.
News: Three police forces adopt shared HR services for first time
Three UK police forces—Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire—are adopting a shared HR system called Origin for the first time, a £2.3 million deal with Capita expected to save approximately £900,000 annually once fully implemented.
News: Half of pubic sector workers got zilch in April pay settlement
Over half of public sector workers received zero pay increases in April 2012 pay settlements, according to XpertHR data covering 29 reviews. This contrasts sharply with the private sector, where only 15.1% of deals resulted in no wage rises, with median pay awards reaching 2.5%.
News: Unions ballot bus drivers for strike over Olympics bonus
Unions are balloting London bus drivers on strike action to demand a £500 Olympics bonus, citing 800,000 expected extra passengers and arguing drivers are the only transport workers excluded from extra pay during the Games.
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: Government brands public sector pensions strike as “futile”
Hundreds of thousands of public sector workers struck over pension reforms, with the government branding the action “futile.” The 24-hour walkout affected NHS workers, civil servants, prison officers and police, though authorities dispute participation numbers.
Blog: Abandon principles – Your friend is after a job
A Telegraph article reveals how a former Transport for London communications director secured his position through personal connections rather than merit, bypassing formal application processes entirely. The case raises serious questions about HR’s role in hiring practices and whether nepotism undermines fair recruitment standards.
News: Budget cuts see public servants improvise to get training
Budget cuts have forced UK public sector workers to rely on colleagues and online research to develop essential skills, with 41% learning new competencies through informal means as external training provision shrinks.
News: Temp hiring on the up as employers continue to shed permanent jobs
Temporary hiring surged 33% in early 2012 as UK employers shed permanent positions across financial services, commerce, and the public sector. The North West led growth at 61%, while HR and IT professionals faced particularly strong demand despite the double-dip recession.
CSC axes 1,100 jobs, 640 go offshore
CSC is cutting 1,100 jobs total, with 640 positions being moved offshore to India. The announcement came days after workers protested compulsory redundancies, with unions opposing the cuts and pushing for voluntary departures instead.
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.
CSC staff protest about proposed NHS Lorenzo deal redundancies
CSC staff protested against compulsory redundancies planned for workers on the NHS Lorenzo patient records system. Unite union rejected the company’s proposal despite receiving voluntary redundancy requests, and has proposed an alternative plan to avoid job losses.
Tube maintenance staff to strike next week
London Underground maintenance staff on Tube Lines contracts will strike for 72 hours starting April 17 over a pension and benefits dispute. The RMT union, representing about 1,000 workers on the Piccadilly, Northern, and Jubilee lines, is demanding access to Transport for London’s pension scheme and equal travel concessions.
NHS Academy set up to train next generation of leaders
The NHS Leadership Academy has been established to train leaders across the NHS, public health, and social care to improve patient outcomes. The national centre will develop doctors, nurses, health professionals, and managers to create engaged teams that positively impact patient care and health results.
