News - WorkScales

Female construction workers set to continue growing in numbers
The number of female construction workers is set to continue growing after training programmes targeting women saw surprising success. Sector skills council ConstructionSkills has been awarded further funding af

Liberata, Local Government Association sign 10-year outsourcing deal
Liberata has signed a 10-year outsourcing deal with the Local Government Association (LGA), that aims to save £29m over the lifetime of the contract. The switch will see a number of business support services inc

CIPD slams Walsh’s flexible working review as ‘lacking independence’
Imelda Walsh's flexible working review lacked independence from the government, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) implied this morning. <A href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/p

Friday Podcast: NHS executive pay, employee engagement and Michelle Mone
This week's special programme is recorded at the Human Resources Forum on board the Oriana cruiseliner. One NHS head of HR responds to Sir Gerry Robinson opening address about efficiencies in the NHS and in particular

HR leaders escape worst jobs cull since 9/11
Proof of the value chief executives are placing on their people managers has emerged with figures showing that HR managers are surviving the worst round of redundancies since 11 September, 2001. The <E

Lie detectors to be used to detect genuine sickness absence
EXCLUSIVE Lie detectors could soon be used to deter workers from 'pulling sickies', after the government hailed trials of the technology a success. <P

Police HR jobs to go as forces focus on front-line services
HR jobs in the Police Service are likely to plummet as forces look to plough more resources into the front-line operations, experts have warned. <A href="http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2007/02

Employer groups slam calls for new laws to protect vulnerable workers
Lobbyists have hit back at a report by the TUC-backed Commission on Vulnerable Employment, saying employers shouldn't be punished by tougher laws just because of actions by "rogue organisations". The <A href="http://www.p

HR jobs cut as British Transport Police focuses on the front line
EXCLUSIVE The British Transport Police will cut 20% of its HR workforce in a bid to pour more resources into the front line, Personnel Today has learned. H

Minister Pat McFadden's silence on scrapping agency workers' Bill is an 'embarassment'
Employment relations minister Pat McFadden’s decision not to vote on whether the agency workers’ Bill should be scrapped has been branded an “embarrassment” by employers. The controversial Temporary and Agency Workers (Equa

Tighter migrant regulations herald border police role for HR
Tighter immigration laws coming into effect this autumn will lead to confusion among employers, with HR professionals effectively becoming an unpaid border police force, experts have warned. The <A h

Dyfed-Powys Police to revise expenses policy after credit card abuse
A Welsh police force has vowed to change its internal expense claim policies after its former chief constable was found guilty of misusing his corporate credit card. Terry Grange, former head of the D

MPs condemn junior doctors recruitment fiasco
A damning report into last year's junior doctor jobs fiasco has recommended employers in the NHS play a greater role in medical training and recruitment. <A href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmselect/

Strikes and pensions reduce profits at Royal Mail
Strike action and massive pension payments have contributed to a big drop in profits at Royal Mail, according to the <STR

CIPD dismisses claims that HR professionals are boardroom pariahs
Companies put too much emphasis on financial knowledge when recruiting chief executives, the CIPD has insisted. A study by rec

B&Q scoops great workplace award for second year running
Home improvement retailer BQ was the only UK employer to receive a prestigious award for employee engagement last week – as a survey laid bare the poor state of staff commitment in this country. BQ scooped t

Fire and Rescue Service diversity report slams lack of progress
The lack of diversity in the Fire and Rescue Service has come under renewed scrutiny after new figures showed the number of women and ethnic minority employees had not improved significantly. <A href

Dishonest employees to be exposed on national dismissal register
A country-wide database of 'workplace offenders' will be launched later this month to combat the annual loss of half-a-billion pounds through staff theft and fraud. The National Staff Dismissal Register will allow employer

Gerry Robinson calls on HR to stop waffling and get to the point
Sir Gerry Robinson kicked off this week's Human Resources Forum on board the Oriana crui

MPs slam Whitehall’s ‘flimsy’ plans for shared services
Government predictions that Whitehall organisations could save £1.4bn annually through sharing corporate services, such as human resources and finance, are "flimsy", MPs have warned. <A href="http://www.publications.parlia

New website for WorkScales