December 2023
Retail Gazette
Article
Major UK food retailers and trade bodies, the British Retail Consortium, NFU (National Farmers' Union) and UK Hospitality are calling upon the government to address the current labour shortages and skills gaps by making reforms to the Apprenticeship Levy.
Key retailers and trade bodies call from changes to the UK's Apprenticeship Levy
Personnel Today
Preliminary research, undertaken by Oriel Partners Limited and covered in Personnel Today looks at the impact of AI-generated CVs on the selection process.
The conclusion? The face-to-face interview will need to validate candidate profiles and data to ensure AI hasn't embellished the skills and attributes of potential employees.
Assessing the impact of AI-generated CVs on candidate selection
People Management
It’s good practice to sit down and review the previous year; its challenges and pressure points.
People Management highlights XpertHR’s recent survey and discusses which headaches caused the most pain.
What were the main recruitment issues facing HR teams in 2023?
November 2023
Entrepreneur
Article
Based on a recent survey in the US by Visier Inc., of the 1,000 employees who took part only 38% said they had aspirations to become a manager in their organisation. And this view wasn't just associated with their current job; 36% said they didn't want to be a manager anywhere else.
Ryan Wong, CEO of Visier Inc. discusses the ‘management gap’
BBC Business
HR teams looking at innovative ways to retain their best talent could consider job sharing as a solution. BBC Business reports on platforms like We JobShare, matching strangers to job share opportunities.
Under a job share arrangement, employers can be satisfied that their investment continues with access to different skills and experiences. Of equal importance, employees returning to work after a career break can opt for a role which matches their skills, training and education.
Sky News
Sky News reports on the announcement by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt that he is accepting the recommendation made by the Low Pay Commission to increase the national living wage to £11.44.
The increase of £1.02 will come into effect from April next year.
The minimum wage will also see an increase (of £1.11) to £8.60.
The Kennel Club
Read the latest research by The Kennel Club. There are countless reasons why a dog in the workplace is a good idea. From making us feel happy and more productive, to encouraging us to take breaks from our screens and reducing our stress levels. Having a dog friendly office can also make a company more attractive to job seekers.
The Kennel Club research says dog friendly offices are a good idea
CIPD
Analysing HR and workforce data informs businesses, whether small, medium or large so they can make strategic decisions, identify improvements and highlight any operational issues.
People analytics, writes CIPD, lacks the investment needed and their research finds that only 21% of UK HR professionals report confidence in applying advanced techniques.
Investment needed to employ more people analytics in businesses, CIPD research finds
October 2023
KPMG
Article
KPMG's global survey of 1,300 business leaders finds that two-thirds of CEOs predict a return of in-office working week by 2026.
The debate around remote working rumbles on but critics argue that it stifles creativity and collaboration, impacts on corporate culture and makes it difficult to nurture and develop younger talent.
Chartered Management Institute
A Chartered Management Institute study, in conjunction with YouGov, looked at data from 4,500 people across the UK. With 82% of managers having received no formal training to undertake their management tasks and over half holding no management or leadership qualifications, the success of many businesses may hinge on a review of their management training strategy.
CMI study: The 'Accidental Manager' - what are the potential costs to a business?
HR Magazine
Whilst awareness of neurodiversity in the workplace continues to rise, it's also the case that employment tribunals hearing disputes involving neurodiversity are also increasing.
HR magazine looks at the recent research and the reasonable adjustments employers should be making to ensure their workplace is inclusive.
New data shows employment tribunals involving neurodiversity continue to rise
Sky News
Latest wage figures from the Office for National Statistics are reported on the Sky News website today.
Average basic wages rose by 7.8% during the three months to August. Data also showed that the number of job vacancies in the three months to September was 988,000, down from 998,000 in the three months to August.
People Management
Along with HR experts, People Management looks at the key findings from the recent CIPD and Simplyhealth Health and Wellbeing at Work survey.
Companies which focus on employee health and wellbeing and invest in developing the leadership skills of their managers are more likely to report positive employee engagement.
September 2023
Personnel Today
Article
How much importance do you put on your company's internal mobility strategy?
Research from Cornerstone's 2023 Talent Mobility Study shows that most employees are interested in what their organisation can offer in terms of career growth opportunities. Clearly, by providing such a strategy, it will increase employee engagement and reduce turnover.
The benefits of getting your company's internal mobility strategy right
Enterprise Nation and The Entrepreneurs Network
A new report 'Access all areas: Older workers' suggests the UK economy can be stimulated by encouraging the over 50s (who left employment in their droves during the pandemic) to return to the fold or start their own business.
Manpower Group
The latest Manpower Group Employment Outlook Survey shows there are reasons to be positive.
Survey data extrapolated from employers from 41 countries showed net positive hiring intentions with Outlooks ranging from +11% to 41%. Ongoing talent shortages are proving challenging but employers are looking to older applicants who may be looking to reskill, those that no longer have caretaking responsibilities or have been long-term unemployed.
New data published by the Manpower Group reports net positive hiring intentions
Business Matters Magazine
Work life balance is driving growth in female entrepreneurs according to new research by Small Business Britain and reported in Business Matters magazine. Working around busy lives, balancing childcare whilst still maintaining a foothold on the career ladder, sees more women creating their own opportunities by starting new business ventures.
Growth in female entrepreneurs according to a Small Business Britain study
August 2023
Graduate Recruitment Bureau
Article
It's a popular misconception that graduates hired onto recruitment programmes move to pastures new once their training has been completed. The Graduate Recruitment Bureau explains why organisations should build programmes into their business strategy.
Why investing in a graduate recruitment programme is good for business
HR Magazine
HR Magazine reports on a recent study by HR software provider, CIPHR, which found that 49% of UK employees work out of hours for free each week. Senior managers, remote workers or those who work in the education or legal professions are most likely to undertake unpaid overtime on a regular basis.
Facilities Management Journal
According to an Advanced Workplace Associates' survey, UK workers now complete 1.6 days in the office - up from 1.45 days in 2022.
Surprisingly, AWA's survey found that 46% of employers did not have a hybrid policy in place which required employees to come into the office. Of the 25% of companies who did have a policy, they required their teams to be present 3 days in the working week.
Culture Amp
The concept of 'managing up' is gaining more traction via Gen Z - especially on social media platform Tiktok. Culture Amp discusses its meaning and why managing up is important. Gaining an understanding of what drives the manager; developing effective work relationships for the benefit of the individual and ultimately the organisation.
Managing up and why its important for both the individual and the organisation
The Guardian
The Guardian reports that Zoom joins the growing number of corporations calling their employees back to the office. Where their workforce is located in reasonable proximity to an HQ (50 miles or less) they're being asked to work a minimum of 2 days in the workplace.
Zoom calls employees back to the office - at least on a hybrid basis
July 2023
People Management
Article
CIPD releases figures which highlights the lack of human resources experience of executive or non-executive board members in FTSE 350 companies.
This lack of HR representation arguably impacts on issues such as workplace culture, positive diversity and inclusion programmes, business strategy, productivity and employee engagement.
Human resources expertise poorly represented at board level, CIPD report finds
Raconteur
Raconteur provides useful analysis of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) data concerning UK worker absence. It discusses the demographics of sickness absence, the occupations most likely to take the most days off due to sickness, how we compare to other countries and how employers may like to consider a revamp to their absence policies to bring them up to date with current working arrangements.
UK worker sickness absence: analysis and advice for employers
Acas
Acas published its 2022-23 Annual Report last week. It reported that there was a 22% increase in the number of collective disputes, with the majority of cases involving pay.
Business Insider
Media channels have recently raised questions about working from home and employee productivity. Still more is being asked about the effectiveness of the four day week and whether this policy enables organisations to operate effectively.
In response, the nine day fortnight is gaining traction and businesses are looking at this as an alternative to the four day week. A recent survey undertaken by recruitment business Hays found that over two-thirds of UK professionals polled favoured this option - rising to 72% in the 20-39 year old age group.
A 9 day fortnight could be the happy medium for employers and employees alike
Employee Benefits
Employee Benefit covers the announcements made by Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer around DC pension reform. Some of the UK’s largest defined contribution (DC) pension providers having come to agreement with the government:
BBC News
As we approach the busiest period of the UK hospitality season, workforce shortages continue to hit the headlines. According to the Office for National Statistics, vacancies in the hospitality sector are 48% higher than before the pandemic.
Initiatives such as Hospitality Rising UK are extolling the benefits of a career in hospitality to help combat staff shortages.
UK hospitality industry continues to suffer from staff shortages
Reuters
With HSBC announcing last week its intention to downsize from its current London HQ in Canary Wharf, Reuters looks at how this move represents the global trend of businesses reducing their office capacity in light of the pandemic, economic downturn and the rise of hybrid working.
HSBC announces it is to downsize from its London HQ - Reuters looks at this global trend
People Management
In light of the recent ruling that the RAF unlawfully discriminated against white male recruits (as reported by Sky News), People Management magazine offers advice for businesses to ensure they don't fall foul of UK legislation.
RAF found to have unlawfully discriminated against white male recruits
June 2023
Aviva
Article
Aviva has published its Working Lives Report 2023: Fit for Future. Ten per cent of employers introduced support for the over 50s last year. Recognising that the majority of employers (76%) deemed this cohort to be important to retain, support programmes on offer included apprenticeships schemes, semi/partial retirement, job sharing and mid-life MOTs.
Employers off support programmes to over 50s to drive employee retention
Women on Boards Report
Data from 1,000 FTSE All-Share and AIM companies shows that executive board composition is still reliant on the traditional skill set of finance, operations and compliance. The study (2023 Hidden Talent Report) conducted by Women on Boards, in partnership with Protiviti, raises questions about the lack of experience diversity in the boardroom.
2023 Hidden Talent Report - diversity of experience at boardroom level is still a work in progress
Reed
Should employers include salary details in their job adverts?
According to Reed, pay transparency in recruitment ads protects your business brand and makes candidates more likely to apply.
BBC Worklife
Is hybrid working really that flexible? What should employers pay heed to when testing out a hybrid working model? A recent US survey reports 69% said independence was more desirable than the professional benefits of in-person work. It's therefore important that employers investigate whether they can offer some degree of choice to their employees as to how the in-day schedule may look.
Advice for employers putting together a hybrid working model
People Management
Much has been written about 'Quiet Quitting' and how organisations need to focus on retention and engagement strategies and adopt more flexible management styles.
What happens when employees actually leave their places of employment without any contact or communication? Where does that leave employers? A recent survey finds that 15% of employees had left a job simply by ghosting their employer.
When employees 'ghost' their employer - advice for organisations
May 2023
HR Magazine
Article
Is the UK facing a wage-price spiral as the Governor of the Bank of England would suggest?
HR magazine seeks advice from UK HR experts as to how HR teams should react.
The Guardian
Artificial Intelligence - what is its likely impact on our job market?
How will we need to adapt? Which industries could be affected most? How should we modify our skills and learning programmes to work with, rather than against AI?
Writing in the Guardian, Erin Ling, lecturer and assistant professor in AI and the Future of Work at the University of Surrey looks at the potential impact of AI on businesses and employment.
Artificial Intelligence - how can our market economy work alongside it?
ADP Research Institute
Disseminating the data to focus on UK employees, the research suggests around two-thirds were awarded salary increases in the previous 12 months - with the average increase being 4.9%. These figures lag behind most of our European counterparts: France (5.0%), Germany (5.5%), Italy (5.6%), Poland (7.0%) and Switzerland (6.1%).
Around 71% of UK employees expect a salary increase in the next 12 months.
The paper also reports on workplace attitudes around pay disparity, workplace flexibility, company culture, diversity and inclusion and the degree of optimism employees are feeling for the months and years ahead.
ADP Research Institute releases its People at Work 2023: Global Workforce View
HR News
A new UK study seeking responses from 3,000 ‘deskless’ staff reports that employees working in the retail sector feel most recognised by their bosses. Compared to those working in the sectors of hospitality, warehousing and logistics, these individuals are also more likely to recommend a retail career to others.
Quinyx research shows job satisfaction higher in UK retail sector
Business News Daily
Recent research, covered in Business News Daily finds that businesses which operate in an ethical manner are more likely to be successful.
If you and your management team are open, fair, honest, compassionate and act with integrity you're definitely on the right path.
April 2023
Evening Standard
Article
Widely reported today is the data from the Office for National Statistics confirming the number of working days lost to sickness or injury in 2022 (read the ONS release here).
A 25% increase in absence from 2021, records show over 185 million working days were lost last year.
Working days lost to sickness - data released by Office for National Statistics
People Management
People Management magazine reports on a study by Wade Macdonald - 200 HR professionals say more of their time is focused on dealing with employee relation issues than before the pandemic.
Why are ER issues thought to be more prevalent? The survey found that 77% of those questioned said that employees felt more empowered (a greater awareness of mental health and wellbeing was a contributory factor) whilst 32% attributed it to an increase in employee disengagement, potentially as a result of remote working.
Employee relation issues on the rise post-pandemic - study shows
Personnel Today
Personnel Today reports on research undertaken by Towergate Health & Protection finding that most companies struggle to ensure communication around mental health and wellbeing is effective and engaging. Employers should consider that communications are more effective if tailored to specific demographics. The research suggest employers should ask employees what they want, how they want it delivered and crucially, employers should endeavour to make the information appealing to all personality types.
Research uncovers effective methods of communicating wellbeing programmes
Mint Lounge
Effective leaders will practise disciplined downtime and it's backed up by the latest research from the University of Florida (Warrington College of Business), the University of Arizona and Florida State University.
How achieving a work-life balance can make you a more effective leader
BBC Worklife
Hybrid working has taken hot-desking to a whole new level. Whilst the upsides of hybrid working have been spoken about at length, what are the downsides?
One downside is the growth of non-personalised space in the workplace. BBC Worklife looks at the latest research and what office designers can do to mitigate any challenges to productivity and employee contentment.
Hybrid working - impersonalised workspaces and impact on productivity
Safety & Health Practitioner
Fatigue at work; its impact can be wide-reaching. Fatigue is not only going to prolong the time it takes to make decisions or learn new tasks. Fatigue will also affect reaction times, coordination and how you evaluate risk.
This article by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)'s Karen McDonnell looks at the latest safety statistics and explains why fatigue in the workplace shouldn't go unaddressed.
Latest safety figures looks at the impact of fatigue in the workplace
March 2023
The Guardian
Article
A joint report by the Trades Union Congress and charity, Long Covid Support finds that two-thirds of employees suffering from ongoing issues associated with long-Covid had received negative treatment from their employers.
The report is calling on the government to assign long-Covid occupational disease status. The government says the Equality Act 2010 makes provision for illnesses such as long-Covid, should the condition affect an individual's ability to carry out normal activities.
People Management
The Spring Budget 2023 - the key takeaways for employers from the Chancellor's announcements today have been compiled by People Management magazine.
With input from HR and legal experts at WorkNest, BrightHR, Hill Dickinson LLP, Group Risk Development (GRiD) and Demos, the article outlines the impact on business owners and their employees.
Safety & Health Practitioner
A survey of 500 companies by Towergate Health and Protection finds that 42% of UK employers are planning to increase their headcount in the coming year. The healthcare industry is looking at the biggest recruitment drive, with 63% of the companies surveyed saying they will be increasing their numbers.
Competition will fierce - remuneration and benefits packages will need to reflect the demands for flexibility and the focus on health and wellbeing.
42% of UK companies looking to add to headcount over next year
The Independent
With the Construction Skills Network report estimating that there could be a potential labour shortage in the region of 225,000 UK construction workers by 2027, this announcement by Travis Perkins is seen as a positive move for the construction industry.
Travis Perkins announces large investment in apprenticeship scheme
Reward Strategy
Nearly three quarters of employers who responded to a survey said there was little or no training for managers fulfilling redundancy measures. That's according to WorkNest, who surveyed 277 employers. Reward Strategy reports on the data.
Reward Strategy disassembles the data from WorkNest's survey on redundancy training for managers
February 2023
HR Grapevine
Article
A recent survey by Westfield Health found that 59% of the employees questioned said their mental health was the reason why they were looking for a new job.
If chronic workplace stress correlates to employee turnover, what strategies can employers put in place to support employee's mental health? With a wellbeing programme in place (and importantly, this should be right at the start of the employee's tenure in the organisation), HR professionals can help avoid burnout and high turnover.
Wellbeing programmes - start from the onboarding stage to prevent burnout
Relocate Global
Relocate Global reports on the continuing UK skills shortage, with APSCo (Association of Professional Staffing Companies) joining with CBI (Confederation of British Industry) and British Chambers of Commerce, calling on the government to invest in an effective skills and resources strategy.
In addition to stressing the need for new visa routes and supporting businesses to upskill and re-skill employees, APSCo says reform of existing systems is required to drive overseas recruitment.
Recruiters are calling for visa reforms to address UK skills shortage
Sky News
Following the 4 day working week trial, coordinated by University of Cambridge and Boston College, many of the UK firms which took part in the trial are looking to permanently adopt a 4-day week.
With a reduction in staff sickness and an improvement in mental health, Sky News reports on the positive outcomes from the 6 month pilot involving 2,900 employees.
HR News
HR News reports on the latest job-hunting figures. January's statistics show that 88,968 people were searching for new roles which offered flexibility, compared to December's 29,796.
Those looking to work from home across the entire week rose by 85% in January. The figures also show that employers continue to favour a remote-first option (where some, but not all working is carried out remotely).
British Chambers of Commerce
A survey of more than 5,600 UK businesses show that current recruitment pressures are the highest on record. The data, collected for Q4 of 2022 by the British Chambers of Commerce, showed that 82% of firms were experiencing recruiting difficulties - up from 76% in the previous quarter.
Data shows the extent to which businesses are experiencing recruitment pressures
Institute for Fiscal Studies
The Institute For Fiscal Studies's article looks at the UK's labour market; the effects of the pandemic and how the current recession will impact on jobs and opportunities in the years to come.
UK labour market - predictions from the IFS make for tough reading
January 2023
Employer News
Article
Employer News reports on the latest research by 3R Strategy. They surveyed 500 UK businesses to find out whether they published their pay ranges. The survey also looked at salary budgets and performance assessment.
To what extent are UK businesses prepared to be transparent over pay?
Staffing Industry Analysts
How robust is the UK's job market? Typically January is a busy month for job seekers - when people tend to reassess their current role or position. Does the data suggest there are reasons to be optimistic?
According to statistics generated by Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) and Lightcast’s latest Labour Market Tracker, there were 184,335 job advertisements posted in the first week of 2023.
UK job advertisements up by 24.5% in first week of January compared to same
time last year
Personnel Today
A number of employment law changes are likely to come into effect this year. Whilst the timeframes for these changes have not been confirmed, Personnel Today gives us a run down of the revisions we should be on top of.
Changes to UK Employment Law likely to come into effect in 2023
The HR Director
Research undertaken by Group Risk Development and reported by The HR Director, looks at the variations in data collected by organisations related to employee absence due to sickness. The article discusses the extent to which effective records can help companies implement intervention measures and provide the necessary support to employees returning to work after an absence due to sickness.
Variations in sickness data recorded - and the benefit of an effective system
HR Grapevine
HR Grapevine looks at Gartner’s HR predictions for 2023 and what the main challenges will be. From tackling frontline worker flexibility needs to investing in the development of managerial skills, hiring non-traditional candidates and dealing with Gen-Z’s lack of ‘soft skills’ - this article covers a wide range of issues facing HR teams this year.
Underpinning it all is the requirement on organisations to embrace diversity, equity and inclusivity.
Sky News
Sky News reports on the profit warnings from two of the largest recruitment organisations - Robert Walters and PageGroup. Both reported challenging conditions in the last quarter of 2022; seen as an indication that the current economic situation is having a negative impact on the job market.
HR Magazine
Data from the Office for National Statistics suggests only 1 in 5 neurodivergent people are in employment.
An article in HR Magazine discusses the wealth of talent and skills employers are missing out on - and the potential loss in creative and innovative thinking.
BBC News
Data from PLACEMAKE.IO and Visitor Insights confirms what we've probably already known - the 'new' office working week is Tuesday to Thursday.
Reported on BBC News, analysis of mobile phone data use from over 500 UK high streets between 2019 and 2022 gives us an insight into human behaviour and the extent to which employees are working from home.
There's every indication to suggest patterns of office working are unlikely to return to pre-Covid times.
Data suggests UK workers are office-based Tuesday to Thursday