- the Equality Bill amendment to allow dual discrimination cases;
- how regulating no-win no-fee lawyers would impact on HR; and
- we ask you for your suggestions on how should make it onto the Personnel Today Power Players list.
Presenter Louisa Peacock is joined by Helen Williams and John Charlton.
- Lobby groups want the Home Office to crack down on intra-company transfers as they say they are an abuse of immigration legislation
- The Heyday age discrimination day court case date is set and the Personnel Today campaign on scrapping the default retirement age
- Business psychologist Binna Kandola tells Personnel Today all humans are prejudiced and this translates into the workplace.
Presenter Louisa Peacock is joined by John Charlton and Rob Moss.
The training undertaken by Armed Forces reservists helps bring valuable skills into the workplace back home. Guy Logan and a group of employers joined a team on exercise in the Arctic Circle to find out more.
- Swine flu: should employers really pay attention to the media hype and should HR be preparing now for a pandemic? Includes an interview with the editor at Personnel Today's sister publication, Occupational Health, Noel O'Reilly
- Equality Bill: The long-awaited Bill to eradicate the gender pay gap has finally been published, but with the Conservatives possibly coming into power next year how much of it will employers necessarily need to take note of?
Presenter Louisa Peacock is joined by Noel O'Reilly and Kat Baker.
HR news and views including:
- should overweight nurses be told to lose weight?
- will unions accept the 0.5% pay deal for council workers?
- how will a spate of equal pay cases affect the public and private sector?
Presenter Guy Logan is joined by Kat Baker and John Charlton.
HR news and views including:
- Financial services HR chiefs fear that scrutinising bonuses too much will damage their business;
- CIPD chief executive Jackie Orme tells Personnel Today that HR must lead the bonus culture change, and challenge bosses who do not think about long-term packages;
- we debate the latest legal case involving bonus pool payouts, where a worker may be denied £92,000; and
- one in four people who are ill struggle into work regardless: is 'sickness Britain' just a myth?
Presenter Louisa Peacock is joined by John Charlton and Noel O'Reilly.
demonstrators protest over the use of foreign workers and failure of Gordon Brown to fulfill his "British jobs for British workers" promise, and
in the second part of our series from the European HR directors business summit in Birmingham, HR professionals believe their reputation can only improve during the recession.
- As the government steps up efforts to urge employers to offer apprenticeships, HR practitioners are concerned how this may come across as yet more job cuts are on the cards
- M&S whistleblower Tony Goode talks to Personnel Today's sister publication Computer Weekly on his imminent trial, why he blew the whistle on a measure to cut redundancy pay, why there is a "culture of surveillance" at M£S, and why he thinks he was unfairly dismissed. See the full video footage online at
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2009/01/08/234114/marks-and-spencer-whistleblower-speaks-about-consumer-data.htm - Two discrimination cases at HBOS involving a muslim woman, and the Met Police.
Presenter Louisa Peacock is joined by Guy Logan and John Charlton.
Join Personnel Today for the last podcast of the year.
HR news and views including:
- What happens next regarding the Working Time Directive? If the opt-out is scrapped for good, as is looking likely after the European Parliament vote to do so, what will that mean for employers? How long can employees work for on average under the new rules?
- A new tribunal ruling on TUPE means companies going into administration using a 'pre-pack agreement' will not need to follow TUPE rules and can change staff's terms and conditions.
Presenter Louisa Peacock is joined by Helen Williams and John Charlton.
Edited and produced by Louisa Peacock.
The next Personnel Today podcast will go live on podomatic.com on 9 January 2009. Until then Merry Christmas from the Personnel Today podcast team.
HR news and views including:
- Why the UK is likely to lose its current exemption rights from the Working Time Directive, forcing employees to stop working more than 48 hours a week. We debate the latest thinking from MEPs in Brussels.
- Whether making pay cuts instead of job cuts will actually cause problems for employees further down the line when they come to taking pensions, or indeed, if and when they get made redundant. Plus: Is the move to reduce workers' salaries just stalling the inevitable?
- How HR can minimise the sick days called in after office Christmas parties. Experts talk about what the role of HR is and what the role of the line manager is.
Presenter Louisa Peacock is joined by Greg Pitcher and John Charlton.
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 discuss how recent developments in the Sharon Coleman case will pave the way for new rights for carers, and make discrimination by association a reality for employers
- And we ask how the new ‘fit note’ to replace sick-note Britain culture will help HR to reduce sickness absence – find out what Dame Carol Black had to say.
Presenter Louisa Peacock is joined by John Charlton and Noel O’Reilly.
Edited and produced by Louisa Peacock.
- advise from a senior HR director about the function's role during the economic downturn
- how a hotel chain is preparing for the UK losing its opt out to the Working Time Directive next month, meaning employees will not be able to work more than 48 hours a week
- an interview with employment minister Tony McNulty on unemployment and how Job Centre Plus has challenging times ahead, and
- whether employers that stipulate that a job needs a degree candidate is classed as age discrimination.
- as the consultation on whether to extend the right to request flexible working to parents with kids aged 16 or under closes, employers' groups have called for clarity on what exactly will change;
- a legal expert tells employers that if they have to make redundancies, they should do so Christmas Eve rather than next year; and
- Orange HR chief Helen Chamberlain tells Personnel Today that line managers should attend employment tribunals involving their staff to understand why disputes erupt in the first place.
Presenter Louisa Peacock is joined by Guy Logan and Rob Moss.
Co-edited and co-produced by Louisa Peacock, Guy Logan and Rob Moss.
Race discrimination. High street bank Abbey has said it is considering taking a Employment appeal tribunal decision to the Court of Appeal after a former investment banker was awarded £2.8m compensation for racial discrimination.
And we have a report from Guy Logan looking at what HR can be doing to help employers and employees through the impending recession.
Rob Moss is joined by John Charlton, with a special report from Guy Logan.
shadow work and pensions secretary of state Chris Grayling speaks exclusively to Personnel Today about cutting health and safety red tape, and solving skills shortages with the 'Jeremy Kyle' generation, and
the winners of the Great Place to Work in HR awards share their secrets of success in employee engagement, leadership and management.
This week's regular podcast is a special programme on the CIPD's annual conference in Harrogate. Technical difficulties with Pod-o-matic meant that the programme could not uploaded until now - apologies.
Louisa Peacock is joined by Guy Logan and Greg Pitcher.
union boss Derek Simpson warns HR should "prepare for war" as strike action continues because of pay cuts;
prison staff details go missing in the latest data loss saga,
and we debate a strange tribunal case involving a 16-year-old boy and age discrimination: he alleged he was not given a job because the employer told him he was too young to operate a floor buffer.
Presenter Louisa Peacock is joined by Greg Pitcher, Guy Logan and John Charlton.
Produced by Louisa Peacock. Co-edited by Louisa Peacock and Guy Logan.
two thirds of respondents to an online Personnel Today poll think the CIPD is no longer relevant to HR leaders;
we delve into the mind of one of the biggest union leaders Dave Prentis to find out what makes him tick and his thoughts on current employment law for HR professionals;
and we discuss whether middle-class white men are being discriminated against at the BBC as newsreader Jeremy Paxman claimed.
Presenter Louisa Peacock is joined by Greg Pitcher, Guy Logan and Rob Moss.
Produced by Louisa Peacock. Co-edited by Louisa Peacock, Guy Logan and Rob Moss.
whether flexible working will become a casualty of the credit crunch after BP announced it would axe its nine-day fortnight
a Tesco employee is due to sue a customer after injuring himself delivering groceries – but are there legal implications for employers? and
HR director at catering giant Elior, Paul Reynolds, tells Personnel Today how he has upped his game in catering for Generation Y- those aged typically between 16 and 24.
Presenter Louisa Peacock is joined by Mike Berry and John Charlton.
employment lawyers warn firms could risk equal pay claims after a TUPE merger
a CIPD figure has called for a radical overhaul of the professional HR body
BBC HR director Stephen Kelly provides interesting insight into what it’s like to work at the broadcasting giant, and
Social care HR director Moira Brown, at care services provider Care South, warns the government needs to cough up more cash to allow care workers to train further and reach their fullest potential.
Presenter Louisa Peacock is joined by Rob Moss, Mike Berry and Greg Pitcher.
chief people officer Angela O’Connor tells Personnel Today how the Police Service should copy the Armed Forces in advertising better for the range of career paths it has on offer, to attract the best graduates
we debate the news that McDonalds will hire thousands more people to cope with demand
and we discuss the court case that ruled in favour of Swiss bank UBS, when it complained former staff had left the company to set up a direct rival and were still poaching UBS employees.
news that councils are increasingly poaching chief executives from rival local authorities, avoiding having to promote from within or train private sector converts
how an employer was found not to breach unfair dismissal rules simply because he delayed proceedings by months
and we bring you business reaction to news that employees can now rate how good their employer is on a website.
why some employers are disillusioned by the latest duties imposed on them when bidding for government contracts, including that they must publish diversity stats and enable staff the right to training
new boss of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation Kevin Green urges HR to get the most out of the recruitment agencies they work with;
and we discuss the landmark Sharon Coleman case which has paved the way for thousands of discrimination by association claims.
Presenter Louisa Peacock is joined by Greg Pitcher, Mike Berry and John Charlton.
the Christian registrar who has won her employment tribunal against Islington council after she refused to officiate over same-sex civil partnership ceremonies
how the current economic gloom is affecting human resources departments
We report on a London Business School event this week on Generation Y and leadership
And finally why Maasai warriors are flying into London to teach our executives a thing or two.
This week's show is presented by Rob Moss, with John Charlton, Greg Pitcher and Tara Craig.
what employers can do to help tackle violent crime and street crime including stabbings and shootings - inclduing helping inner city youths find employment
how a new tool for HR directors can show how much money illness is costing the workplace
Boots HR director Alex Gourlay has suggested that employers should receive tax breaks for promoting diversity in the workplace, such as when they favour hiring under-represented groups of people equally qualified to over-represented groups, as suggested in the draft Equalities Bill in June.
why the latest training budget cuts made by companies across the UK will affect business in the long-term.
Presenter Louisa Peacock is joined by Greg Pitcher, Guy Logan and John Charlton. Co-produced by Louisa Peacock and Guy Logan.
Friday Podcast - 27 June 2008
Unions have voted for a two day strike next month over a low pay offer, and local government officials have criticised the action. Jim Savege, the lead on pay for the Public Sector People Managers’ Association, and Phil White, the head of negotiations at Local Government Employers, spoke to Mike Berry.
The government calls on employers and unions to help trade union representatives increase equality and diversity, after complaints that they were receiving unfair treatment from both sides. Harriet Harman and Jonathan Rees comment.
We discuss the controversial Equalities Bill, and a new guide for employers about the use of prayer rooms in the company workplace.
Private sector firms bidding for government contracts will now have to publish details of their diversity policies under plans unveiled in the Equalities Bill due to be read in Parliament on Wednesday 25th June
Head of recruitment at food giant Nestle, Fiona White, reveals the secret behind the firm’s successful recruitment strategy - keeping potential employees 'warm' for up to a year until suitable jobs come up.
We debate what the consequences are for the hospitality industry now that tips cannot count towards the national minimum wage.
Presenter Louisa Peacock is joined by Guy Logan, John Charlton and Mike Berry.
Equalities experts tell Personnel Today that diversity cannot be truly measured in organisations unless people come forward with disabilities they have – disabled people need to be confidentially monitored;
We bring you the latest on a major government campaign to boost awareness among carers of the right to request flexible working, and
the Chartered Management Institute advise managers and HR professionals how to manage the young generation of managers coming from Generation Y
Presenter Louisa Peacock is joined by Mike Berry, Guy Logan and Rob Moss.
The Heyday case on the compulsory retirement age will be heard on 2 July - employers are warned to prepare now for its outcome as they could be liable for age discrimination;
Leadership consultancy DDI and HR director Angela O'Connor at the National Policing Improvement Agency talk exclusively to Personnel Today on how to improve leadership training following shocking CIPD survey results; and
O'Connor warns employers to promote diversity in the workplace without exploiting minority workers.
Exclusive interviews with senior HR figures at Vodafone, Unilever, Royal Mail and Taylor and Francis on how HR can help their business leaders go through today's rapid pace of change;
An exclusive interview with Google HR director Liane Hornsey on how organisations can inspire staff through office culture - learn tips and advice on how you could change your office culture for the better
Singer Liza Minelli was almost refused entry into the UK at Heathrow aiport after her visa application had been delayed at the Border Agency UK. Find out what this means for employers trying to recruit migrant workers.
The agency workers deal which will give temporary and agency workers equal rights to permanent staff from just 12 weeks of employment;
Home secretary Jacqui Smith says she does not fear police officers will ever strike as a result of her “betraying” the Police Service out of their full pay deal, and Police Federation chair Jan Berry attacks HR’s ability to deal with officers’ demotivation during the pay deal saga
A woman that had to wear an "I’m simple" badge won her employment tribunal case under the Sex Discrimination Act
Equalities figures voice their concerns over the flexible working debate which centres on women, not men.
Presenter Louisa Peacock is joined by Greg Pitcher, John Charlton and Rob Moss.
Imelda Walsh talks exclusively to Personnel Today on the flexible working review to extend the right to request flexbile working to parents of children aged 16 and under (see http://www.personneltoday.com/45866.article);
HR directors from Topps Tiles and Monarch Airlines tell us their thoughts on the flexible working review changes: we bring you employers' reactions to the changes - will an extended right to request result in more employment tribunals or extra paperwork for HR?
A round up of what legislative changes will affect HR from announcements made in the draft Queen's Speech by Gordon Brown
and fresh views on the debate on business partnering and whether it works in organisations - is HR capable of training staff to meet the business partnering requirement? (See http://www.personneltoday.com/45340.article)
Louisa Peacock is joined by Mike Berry, John Charlton and Rob Moss.
PwC report threatens future of HR - we bring you HR's reaction
Senior police figures warn officers' workload has increased since alcohol licensing laws came into effect, because pubs and clubs are open longer into the night. Find out why HR plays a crucial role in dealing with increased incidents
Why Suffolk County Council can justify spending £350 a day on bullying and harrassment consultants - shouldn't inhouse HR already provide this service?
and whether employers should pay for migrant workers' English lessons
Also listen out for an exclusive interview with head of HR Jane Watkinson at Home Retail Group, which owns Argos and Homebase, on HR's role - strategic vs. transactional - and whether Homebase has been hit by the credit crunch.
Louisa Peacock is joined this week by Greg Pitcher, Gareth Vorster and John Charlton.
An exclusive interview with Amit Kapadia, executive director of HSMP Forum, outside the High Court in London - on the landmark ruling which stated the government acted unlawfully in changing rules to the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme
The NHS staff survey - staff reported yet more violence against them but has little progress been made by NHS employers in addressing this?
With the recent flurry of training providers being taken over, what does this mean for HR who are amid purchasing new training contracts like e-learning?
An exclusive interview with employment minister Stephen Timms on what employers need to do to maximise recruitment opportunities, including a look at why Local Employment Partnerships may help.
Newcastle College buys a major part of Carter & Carter from administrators
the European Council reviews UK information and consultation regulations
and following Harriet Harman's refusal to rule out positive discrimination in the forthcoming Single Equality Bill, we discuss whether it's acceptable.
Rob Moss hosts this week's programme and is joined by John Charlton, Mike Berry and Tony Pettengell.
No Friday podcast this week - back to normal on 28 March
Welfare reform criticisms – why minister James Purnell’s new rules may disadvantage the disabled.
Carter & Carter training provider: why did it go into administration and will if affect the skills sector? Includes talk of the Machinery of Government consultation and the future of the Learning and Skills Council.
Paternity leave: what does the latest gender pay gap statistics mean for paternity leave?
Maternity leave legal changes: Mothers will be able to receive benefits such as mobile phones and company cars throughout additional maternity leave as well as ordinary maternity leave. What does HR need to do now to prepare for changes in maternity law coming into effect this year?
Presenter Louisa Peacock is joined by Greg Pitcher, Rob Moss and John Charlton. Louisa interviews Stephen Ross, a solicitor at law firm Withers to find out what the changes to maternity leave benefits are, how this will affect HR and what HR needs to do, including informing all staff and updating policies.
Practical legal advice on what HR can do to minimise the risk of corporate manslaughter claims under the new Act, including:
What is changing in the law? (41secs in)
What penalties do companies face? Includes news on fines company can face, and a warning to employers that issue company cars (5minutes 15seconds in)
What can HR do to follow the new law? Includes practical steps on identifying and training senior managers, altering employment contracts and how HR can lead work in this area (7minutes 43seconds in)
Does the new law go far enough to make companies change their behaviour in the light of health and safety? (14minutes 44seconds in)
Presenter Louisa Peacock talks to employment partners Tom Flanagan at Pinsent Masons and David Leckie at Muclay, Murray & Spens to find out exactly what HR needs to be concerned about with the new law and practical steps they can do in the workplace right now to be prepared for changes in corporate manslaughter law.
For more information on the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2008, coming into effect on 6 April, visit www.personneltoday.com/41798.article
March sees one of the biggest events in the coaching calendar - the bi-annual Association for Coaching conference which will attract about 600 delegates.
Katherine Tulpa, chair of the Association for Coaching and an executive coach in her own right, tells John Charlton why she's looking forward to the event and selects one session that stands out for her.
She also explains how the Association is addressing the pressing issue of coach accreditation.Katherine also advises buyers of the key question they should ask of coaches before hiring them.
This week's HR news and analysis programme includes a special guide to new illegal worker legislation.
Louisa Peacock interviews Richard Port, partner and head of employment at Clarion Solicitors, about the introduction on 29 February of fines and possible prison terms for employers found with illegal employees on their books.
Other items include:
the decision by the Court of Appeal not to recognise a unfair dismissal claim from an agency worker
a wish from the CIPD for tax relief for SMEs offering apprenticeships
and internet giant Yahoo's plans for performance related pay (they wouldn't talk about Microsoft).
This week's programme is presented by Rob Moss, with John Charlton, Mike Berry and Greg Pitcher.
John Charlton visits the Learning Technologies conference and exhibition at London Olympia and talks to delegates about the effect new technologies are having on their training provision.
This week's Friday Podcast is a special edition on the news story that broke at the beginning of the week regarding McDonald's, Network Rail and Flybe getting their employee training accredited to A-level standard.
Louisa Peacock interviews McDonald's chief people officer David Fairhurst and talks to other HR directors about whether employers should be providing this type of education to young people.
Prof Coggon, president of Faculty of Occupational Medicine, explains why occupational health practitioners need to be concerned with employees' ill health which is not caused by work
News and analysis in the human resources sector including:
alarming news on news EU proposals for health and safety
the potential for shared HR services in the higher education sector
the decision of the employment tribunal brought by a CBeebies In the Night Garden actor who claimed unfair dismissal from his role as a Tombliboo with Ragdoll Productions
and HR professionals have four months to plan for this year's National Learning at Work Day organised by the Campaign for Learning.
This week's programme is presented by Louisa Peacock, with Greg Pitcher, Rob Moss and John Charlton.
A missed opportunity for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) to work with China - one of the fastest growing countries in the world
Speculation that Jackie Orme, the newly appointed chief executive at the CIPD due to start next April, was not the first choice… The first choice was [listen here to find who!]
A warning for employers about the new Pensions Bill, and how it could land businesses in trouble and paying huge fines per employee
The latest gossip from the world of coaching: some earn more than a million pounds for a year’s work!
Presenter and reporter on the magazine Louisa Peacock is joined this week by deputy news editor Greg Pitcher, online editor Gareth Vorster and Training and Coaching Today editor John Charlton.
following the HM Revenue & Customs' "datagate", what poosible new powers for teh information commissioner might mean for organisations.
Presenter Louisa Peacock is joined this week by Greg Pitcher, Rob Moss and, making his debut on the podcast, John Charlton, editor of Training & Coaching Today.
Latest HR news and analysis including: Sainsbury's HR chief Imelda Watson to lead independent review of flexible working; the numerous bills relevant to human resources from the Queens Speech; and the appointment of Chris Humphries as chief executive of the Commision for Employment and Skills.
Mike Berry hosts this week's show, joined by Rob Moss and Gareth Vorster.
This week we bring you a taste of what’s making the headlines in human resources, including why kid’s education might suffer as a result of local authorities sorting out equal pay deals, latest news from equality experts on why race discrimination law in this country is poorly enforced and news of an interesting pilot from insurance firm AXA helping employees to understand their finances better.
Also listen out for views on office productivity as workers admit they cannot work after 3:30pm, and as ever Greg brings you his latest Gripe of the Week.
Louisa Peacock is joined by Greg Pitcher, Gareth Vorster and Rob Moss.
IRS pay and benefits editor Sarah Welfare joins Rob Moss to discuss the 2008 Pay Prospects Survey, which looks at likely pay settlements in the private sector next year.
One in three private sector employers expects to come out of the 2008 wage round with a settlement of 4% or higher.
The research, now in its 19th year, was published this month in Personnel Today's sister publication, Employment Review.
Louisa Peacock presents the latest human resources news.
This week we bring you a taste of what’s making the headlines in HR, including a councillor who got into trouble over Christmas shopping, latest news from the disability employer Remploy about closure and modernisation talks, and why the government’s Train to Gain skills programme may not be going as smoothly as it would like.
Louisa is joined by Greg Pitcher, deputy news editor, Gareth Vorster, online news editor, and Rob Moss, online editor.
As ever Greg brings you his latest gripes from what’s been getting his goat this week: people who moan about the clocks going back.
In this week’s HR podcast we take a look at some of the stories making the headlines in Personnel Today, including what HR professionals would banish to Room 101 and the outcome of an important European case on age discrimination,
We also give you a sneak preview of the results of Personnel Today’s Best Places to Work in HR awards which were held earlier this week at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Plus we have our regular Gripe of the Week, courtesy of grumpy Greg Pitcher.
Mike Berry is joined this week by online editor Rob Moss, deputy news editor Greg Pitcher and news reporter Louisa Peacock.
News editor Mike Berry introduces the Personnel Today Friday Podcast. This week he is joined by deputy news editor Greg Pitcher, online news editor Gareth Vorster and online editor Rob Moss.
Topics up for discussion include the appointment of a new chief executive at the CIPD, and interviews with government ministers Pat McFadden on the postal dispute and Mike O’Brien on pensions reform.
HR news including: Louisa Peacock discusses the revelation that three people a week are leaving the National Policing Improvement Authority; and Greg Pitcher talks to EDF Energy's Tim Boylin about health and safety and about how he got on to the the company's board, without a CIPD qualification.
Rob Moss and the team discuss the prospect of a snap general election and Greg's gripe this week: what is the new human rights and equal commission actually called? CEHR, EHRC, who knows?
Mike Berry hosts this week's programme which includes: News from the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth; the Commision for Racial Equality responds to claims of racial discrimination from its own staff; and the CIPD's Linda Holbeche's plans to encourage HR people to get an "experimental" edge.
Mike is joined by Greg Pitcher, Louisa Peacock and Rob Moss who also speculate about the new chief at the CIPD, discuss the virtual strike by IBM staff in Second Life, and the introduction of new legislation regarding Statutory Holiday Entitlement.
Personnel Today online editor Rob Moss interviews Jo Stubbs, managing editor of XpertHR, on the introduction on Monday, 1 October 2007 of new legislation on statutory holiday entitlement.
The change is the first wave of change to the law that will see statutory entitlement rise from 20 to 28 days by April 2009.
Mike Berry presents highlights of the latest human resources news including: Employers criticise GPs unflexible hours; CIPD research and policy director Linda Holbeche says HR must seize the diversity agenda and public sector HR bosses defend the high number of unfair dismissals.
Mike is joined by Gareth Vorster and Rob Moss who discuss the CIPD event in Harrogate this week as well as Greg Pitcher, whose gripe this week is the heavy security arrangements at next week's Labour Party conference.
This week's round-up of HR news including how one in four dismissals in the civil service doesn't stick; and more on the Leitch Review skills pledge.
Rob Moss is joined by Greg Pitcher and Louisa Peack to discusss the above, and by Helen McCormick who gives a sneak preview of next week's special issue for the CIPD Conference and Exhibition in Harrogate: HR with Oomph!
Greg's gripe of the week questions the achievements of the TUC Congress in Brighton this week.
HR news including: how human resources departments in Manchester are helping to tackle gang culture; how the police are trying to expand their industrial rights; and how the Leitch skills pledge is still failing to capture the imagination of employers.
Rob Moss is joined by Louisa Peacock, Greg Pitcher and Gareth Vorster to discuss the above and Greg's gripe of the week: another major sporting event, another tenuous news release fearing how no one will work anymore becuase there's sport to watch.
HR news on financial education for police officers, on UK organisations' lack of preparation for a flu pandemic, and the race to be head of the CIPD, presented by Mike Berry, Gareth Vorster and Louisa Peacock.
Why has the Financial Services Authority been drafted by Association of Chief Police Officers to deliver financial education to police officers?
A survey of UK organisations has suggested that few have made sufficient preparations for the mass absence that would be caused by a flu pandemic.
And who will be the next Geoff Armstrong at the CIPD. Apparently, there's a shortlist of three...
Rob Moss and Sue Proud join in on this week's discussion.
HR news on temporary workers, NHS redundancy payouts and Belfast City Airport workers' threat to go on hunger strike, presented by Mike Berry, Gareth Vorster and Greg Pitcher.
Sarah Veale tells Greg Pitcher about how the main topic for discussion at the TUC Congress in Brighton next month will be the Agency Workers Directive.
Belfast City Airport staff call off their hunger strike after the Transport & General Workers Union agrees to look into its decision not to represent them.
And how did the NHS spend £83m making just 764 people redundant?
Finally, what has happened to the British summer? Greg moans.
HR news on diversity, skills and racial discrimination, presented by Mike Berry, Gareth Vorster and Greg Pitcher.
Diversity practitioners believe diversity could operate better outside human resources.
Another industry's skills programme seems destined for failure according to the Freight Transport Association.
And Asian doctors accuse the NHS of bullying after the GMC releases a report showing doctors trained outside the UK are twice as likely to be taken to a formal disciplinary, once a complaint was made against them.
Finally, should all offices have a tea trolley? Silly season stories suggest that most people think tea trollies ashould make a comeback, but Greg and Mike disagree.
HR news including: final salary and defined benefit pension schemes set to make a comeback; and the employee is sacked for his comments on Facebook.
Louisa Peacock, Greg Pitcher and Gareth Vorster discuss the latest news in human resources. They are joined by Rob Moss for a debate on social networking and, in particular, Facebook.
Apologies for the late posting - technical problems!
HR news including: home information packs - first there were too few energy assessors and now there are too many; and how can employee sick notes be improved? By going electronic says the government, but GPs aren't so sure.
Mike Berry, Gareth Vorster and Greg Pitcher review the latest news in the human resources sector. And introducing Greg's Gripe of the Week: the word "around".
HR news including: Boris Johnson attacks flexible working culture; Alliance Boots HR director Mike Cutt chooses not to take new job; and publisher MacMillan is fined for failing to comply with Information & Consultation regulations.
Mike Berry, Gareth Vorster and Greg Pitcher review the latest news in the human resources sector.
HR news including: Train to Gain fails to reach government target; police officers to receive one and a half hours' face-to-face vocabulary training; and legal advice on the website from experts who answer your queries.
Mike Berry, Louisa Peacock and Gareth Vorster review the latest news in the human resources sector.
HR news including: Government skills campaign receives a frosty reception, and the union chief who disagrees with proposed public sector strikes. Mike Berry, Louisa Peacock and Greg Pitcher review the latest news in the human resources sector.
Dawn Spalding, Greg Pitcher and Louisa Peacock discuss the hot HR topics of the week including: the implications for HR of NHS employees being behind last weekend's car bombs; the way the Metropolitan Police has managed its workforce in the light of the attacks; how human resources professionals were affected by the floods; and a look at the latest statistics regarding claims for age discrimination.
Personnel Today.com Group Editor, Rob Willock, Online News Editor Gareth Vorster and News Reporter Louisa Peacock discuss the latest HR News. A recent survey highlights that HR Professionals are one of the highest paid, the BBC forgo bonuses to meet diversity targets and flexible working is proving more and more popular.
Karen Dempsey, Gareth Vorster and Louisa Peacock provide an update on the latest HR news. Stories include the long-awaited launch by the government of the skills pledge recommended last December by Lord Leitch; a skills centre of excellence in north-east England for Japanese car maker Nissan; and the publication of a government green paper to put all of the UK's discrimination laws in one place.
Karen Dempsey, Greg Pitcher and Louisa Peacock discuss some of the highlights from this week's HR news.
These include serious concerns raised by the Commision for Racial Equality about the way a Race Impact Assessment was carried out on the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme; criticisms of the way the HR team at Remploy, the employment services provider for disabled people, announced recent redundancies; and a look at HR's role in tackling climate change.
Rob Moss, Mike Berry and Louisa Peacock preview this week's Personnel Today, including stories on the Leitch review, equal pay and the HR director who says that sacking people is easy.
Public and Commercial Services Union's general secretary Mark Serwotka suggests that HR's role should be to question some of the decisions made by leaders when there is a negative impact on the workforce. He is recorded here speaking at the HR Directors Club breakfast briefing at Shakespeare's Globe, London on 20 February 2007.
Podcast Summary
Every week, the Personnel Today team discuss the latest news in human resources. Members of the editorial team describe the stories they've been working on and the implications for human resources professionals.
Personnel Today [http://www.personneltoday.com] is a UK-based website focusing on human resources, employment law, training and occupational health. HR news is published online every weekday, and visitors can also benefit from numerous employment law resources and more than 4,000 HR job opportunities.
