Inside the latest issue... cover image

theHRDIRECTOR Issue 70
This issue we speak to
Tony McCarthy
HR Director -British Airways

FEATURES

Roundtable - Shared services
Benefits Survey
Succession Planning
CSR
Outsourcing

FEATURING

KPMG
Hays Group
Oakridge
Midland HR
Dynamic Transition

Work/Life Balance

Workers set to influence rental income
According to a survey for Savills by YouGov, worker’s building preferences are a fundamental consideration for investor’s and developer’s looking to maintain rental income as staff retention becomes of greater concern to employers.
Companies to take a greater role in helping employees achieve financial security
Employers are likely to take a greater role in future in helping employees with their personal financial planning, according to a survey conducted by consultants Watson Wyatt. The survey found that 73% of large UK employers want to offer financial education and planning assistance to their staff.
Weary workers are sleep deprived
Money worries are causing sleep deprivation in UK workers, according to a new survey. Twenty two million (75%) of workers admitted getting less than the prescribed eight hours of sleep each night of the working week. Estate Agents are suffering the most, only getting five hours and 50 minutes sleep a night - more than two hours less than the daily recommended quota.
Has the IT Industry adapted to flexible working?
Research conducted by www.theitjobboard.co.uk, reveals that although 61.1% of IT professionals work flexible hours, 45.2% of these do not believe the IT industry has adapted itself to a flexible working culture. Flexible working was classified as working from home, working less hours/part time, flexi-time and working a four and half day week.
Workplace survey reveals shift in employee working habits
Gensler’s 2008 Workplace survey reveals that top performing companies are embracing a fundamental restructuring of office work with workplaces that place as much emphasis on collaboration, learning and socialising as on individual head-down, focus work.
Binge working is today's culture
As the Trade Unions Congress (TUC) reveals that in the last 12 months half a million people have seen their pay packets shrink because they've stopped getting paid overtime, the latest survey* from leading wellbeing business, Water Wellpoint, suggests that people no longer work to live, but invest in their job and their careers.
Vulnerable older, long-term unemployed
] Today’s figures are a stark warning against aggressive cuts in public spending or tax rises in the Budget next week says Ian Brinkley, associate director at The Work Foundation.
Cyber addiction or workplace paranoia?
Is the UK turning into a nation of workaholics, or just a country full of paranoid workers? This summer many City employees will feel unable to completely relax on holiday worried that their colleagues will try to muscle in on their territory whilst their backs are turned? But at what price?
Majority of employers don't equate long hours with productivity
T-Mobile has announced research revealing that the majority of employers (59%) say they do not consider how late employees stay in the office as an indication of how hard they are working and nearly half (46%) of employers do not reward those who work late or out of hours.
Businesses ignoring talented Parents
A new survey for Family Friendly Working shows that talented parents are leaving the world of employment.
Could workplace parking charges be coming to a City near you?
Businesses and employees around the country are being warned that yet another tax will be coming their way if the Government gives the go-ahead for a controversial levy on workplace parking. Nottingham City Council has asked the Department for Transport to give it the green light to impose a Workplace Parking Levy (WPL)
Lone parents 'encouraged' into workplace
A Government initiative launched this week is set to assist lone parents with children aged ten and over, to get help to look for work rather, than stay on benefits. New Government regulations will also make clear they can look for part time work or jobs that fit with school hours to ensure family friendly welfare reforms.
Willing to travel…
UK workers prepared to travel more than three hours for employment. Majority of Job Seekers are looking to recession proof their futures using new tactics.
Economic downturn should be catalyst for flexible working
Introducing flexible working practices can help companies become more productive and steer them through the economic downturn, says Auto Time Solutions, one of the UK’s leading providers of time and attendance solutions. By developing a high performance work culture, based on maintaining a healthy work-life balance, companies can attract and retain good staff. In turn this can help to increase business productivity while reducing costs associated with staff absenteeism.
The fate of Fatal Friday Phenomenon
The Annual Road Casualties report covering 2007 show a drop in deaths and serious injuries at peak times on a Friday. Past statistics have shown that more accidents happen on a Friday, and particularly between the hours of 4pm and 6pm, than at any other time.
Flexible working option comes into force
From today an extra 4.5 million parents with children aged 16 and under can apply to their employer for flexible working, meaning HR will have to think harder about how to manage the workforce.
Avoid 'Secret Santa' embarrassment
As the festive season strikes again human resources experts have come up with some sage advice' 'When it comes to Secret Santa think PG-rating'.
Why 69% of All Job Candidates Lie on Their CV's
According to a recent report conducted by Hirescores.com 69% of 1,277 respondents admitted to not being honest
Embracing the benefits of flexible working
British workers could save hundreds of pounds each year by ditching the office for just one day a week, according to research commissioned by Microsoft Windows Mobile. While the discounts available for off-peak travel, gym membership, restaurants and cinemas add up to over £500 a year, British bosses remain the stumbling block.
Will green light for flexible working mean discrimination against parents?
Businesses will now be forced to embrace flexible-working conditions for their employees. The recent law change is likely to increase home working and the facility for employees to choose their hours of work.
Binge working is today's culture
As the Trade Unions Congress (TUC) reveals that in the last 12 months half a million people have seen their pay packets shrink because they've stopped getting paid overtime, the latest survey* from leading wellbeing business, Water Wellpoint, suggests that people no longer work to live, but invest in their job and their careers.
FYI Avoid World Cup fever pandemic
Kate Meadowcroft, partner at DWF in Manchester gives her top tips for employers to make sure they keep their business on a level playing field throughout the competition.
Self employment on the increase
The rapid rise of robotics and other forms of advanced IT means that many currently valued workplace skills are destined to become obsolete and that ‘softer’, people skills will come into their own.
Generation ‘standby’ on the increase
One in five people would turn down a job offer that restricts social media access at work
That David Brent incident
Two-thirds of British workers admit to having had a job-related embarrassing mishap, with men more prone to such calamities than women ...
UK commuters waste 4.6 million hours a day
Research launched as part of National Commute Smart Week finds 'smart commuting' could dramatically reduce travel to and from work
The bah humbug award goes to...
Tech support is the highest ranking sector expected to be working all over the Christmas festivities, according to a new survey