News - WorkScales

Tribunal award and statutory redundancy limits raised
The government has announced the new limits that will apply for calculating compensation awards granted by employment tribunals. The annual increases in maximum limits of compensation have been laid before Parliament under

NHS Unite members to work-to-rule in pay dispute
NHS staff are pressing ahead with plans to hold a day of action tomorrow in protest at the government's "derisory" pay offer. Unite the union said its NHS members would hold a <A href="http://www.personneltoday.com/article

Union fury as HSBC confirms 500 UK job cuts
HSBC's decision to cut more than 500 jobs so close to Christmas has been branded a disgrace by unions. Yesterday (1 December) the banking giant confirmed it would cut 500 UK positions across the country, <A href="http://ww

600 jobs to go at Aston Martin
Aston Martin has become the latest victim of the credit crunch, as it announced plans to cut up to 600 jobs in the UK on 1 December. The luxury car maker said sales had been hit by the global economic downturn, and confirme

Apprenticeships could hit government targets with public sector support
The government's apprenticeship targets fall far short of what could be achieved if all public departments and agencies offered just 20 new schemes, a senior figure has insisted. Speaking at the <A href="http://www.pspeve

Recession-hit firms face damage from survivor guilt after redundancies
The biggest challenge for HR professionals over the next 12 months will be dealing with survivor guilt, an expert has warned. Robin Wood, managing director for HR service provider CMC, said survivors' feelings of guilt afte

Queen's Speech: employers await 2009 agenda
The government is said to be re-writing its plans for next year to ensure Wednesday's Queen's Speech has the maximum impact on the economic crisis. Since the Draft Queen's Speech was announced in May,

Baby P report condemns HR processes at Haringey Council
The damning independent report into the death of Baby P has highlighted a number of HR issues at Haringey Council. The council's head of children's services, Sharon Shoesmith, was sacked in the wake of the <A href="http://

100,000 manufacturing jobs at risk in 2009 as recession bites
Almost 100,000 manufacturing jobs will be lost next year as the UK plunges into recession, according to a report. The December 2008 Engineering Outlook survey by employers' body the EEF and advisory firm Grant Thor

Raise minimum wage to £6.10 urges TUC
The TUC has called for a 37p increase in the adult national minimum wage to help fight the credit crunch. The union umbrella body wants the rate t

Eurostar workers threaten Christmas strike in roster dispute
Eurostar staff rosters have been branded "unfair" by union bosses sparking warnings that staff may strike in the run-up to Christmas. Members of both the RMT and TSSA trade unions have voted in favour of industrial action,

Private pensions surplus boosted by low inflation
November saw the largest recorded rise in the value of the UK's biggest pension schemes. The accounting position of the 200 largest privately sponsored pension schemes improved by £38bn over the month, according to advisory

£100,000 a year nurse wins public support
News that an NHS nurse has broken the £100,000 salary barrier has been welcomed by the public. The Sunday Times yesterday revealed that Rotherh

‘Stupid’ lack of tax breaks for occupational health slammed by expert
The lack of tax incentives for employers in the government's drive for an occupational health revolution has been branded "stupid" by an expert. Sayeed Khan, chief medical adviser at manufacturers' body the EEF, told Pe

Business big wigs heap praise on motivational role of HR in tough times
A trio of business leaders have spoken of the crucial role HR professionals have to play in keeping employees motivated during the economic crisis. <A href="http://www.diageo.com/en-row/NewsAndMedia/PressReleases/2000/Pau

Friday podcast: Awards 2008, discrimination by association, and "fit notes"
HR news and analysis, including: Find out who was the overall winner at Personnel Today’s glittering awards ceremony on 27 November – and listen to why they thought they won the coveted trophy We dis

Darling to slash public sector HR jobs to fund tax giveaway
Thousands of public sector HR professionals could pay for Alistair Darling's Pre-Budget Report spending splurge with their jobs, it has emerged. Det

Disability discrimination extension leaves private sector open to claims
An employment lawyer has urged private sector employers to check their policies on carers in the workplace following a UK employment tribunal ruling in the <A href="http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2008/07/17/46759/discrimi

David Cameron riles unions with plan to devalue public sector pensions
Conservative leader David Cameron has angered trade unions by revealing that cutting back on public sector defined benefit pension schemes forms part of the Tory blueprint for the UK. <A Cameron told a meeting in Mancheste

Terror attacks in India lead to repatriation of Mumbai-based UK IT staff
The HR chief at an IT outsourcing firm is bringing home its Mumbai-based UK workers following the terrorist attack on the Indian city that has left scores of peo

Labour Market Update: older workers set to bear brunt of redundancies

CIPD Labour Market Update: