Holiday pay historically should be provided when leave is taken, and advance pay added to normal payment (i.e. ‘rolled up pay’ ) was deemed illegal. Now businesses have the option to pay on a rolled up basis. This option is available, subject to these rules: for individuals classed as irregular hours or part-year workers –…

The Department for Education has restricted a scheme designed to alleviate the shortage of secondary school teachers in certain subjects. Despite missing its secondary school recruitment target by 50% last year, the government has decided that trainee languages and physics teachers from overseas should no longer be eligible for a £10,000 relocation payment next year….

The effects of rapid automation on recruitment have been disastrous for young people looking for work and have cut businesses off from talented candidates. Writing in the Financial Times, Margaret Heffernan, businesswoman, CEO mentor, and professor of practice at Bath University, blamed algorithms for being targeted at building traffic for websites rather than accurately matching…

Seven in 10 employers across the UK are still witnessing a shortage of all types of candidates for their roles, a survey by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) suggests. More than four-in-five small employers (with less than 50 staff) involved in the survey reported shortages of candidates (81.5%). Despite a year of slower economic…

A great workforce is the backbone of any successful organisation. As an HR professional, employee retention should be high on your list of priorities. When surveyed, 82% of global leaders agreed that HR has a pivotal role in creating a ‘people-focused’ workplace culture. So, how do you achieve this in 2024? As we step into…

The media job market is increasingly competitive. Ad-focused services battle for the same talent because, by nature, they share the same general model and core need: planning and buying media. Roles across the board therefore provide similar offerings to candidates and we are all searching the same pool for the most experienced and qualified talent,…

As businesses embrace hybrid working models, the challenge of nurturing a strong company culture becomes increasingly pertinent. With teams dispersed across various locations, maintaining cohesion, and fostering a sense of belonging can seem daunting. However, with the right tools, strategies, and mindset, building a vibrant company culture in a hybrid work setting is not only achievable but…

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published a flagship report, Competition and Market Power in UK Labour Markets, which takes a “deep dive” into key trends in the UK labour market, focusing on the impact of competition and employer market power. The report highlights the importance of well-functioning labour markets for productivity. As Sarah…

Businesses that lack clear brand values and a defined company purpose are at risk of losing their employees. In an international study looking at workers’ attitudes around company loyalty, Berkeley Communications found that three-quarters (75%) of respondents believe a company’s purpose is an important aspect of their current or prospective employer. What’s more, 73% said…

The UK job market is in a state of flux. With record numbers of job vacancies and employees feeling empowered to switch roles, retaining valued staff is more crucial than ever. High turnover isn’t just disruptive, it’s expensive. Estimates suggest replacing an employee can cost around six months’ worth of their annual salary. To thrive in…

As the new year gets underway, HR leaders will be kickstarting their people strategies – understanding the gaps that need filling and ensuring the organisation has the right breadth and level of skills to meet its targets. However, the recruitment challenges U.K. HR professionals experienced in 2023 are not expected to improve in 2024, with…

Realistic job previews are important for both prospective employees and organisations. This enables both sides to ensure that it is an appropriate job role and that the responsibilities can be effectively carried out. Recruiting, selecting, and training new staff requires a significant time investment, so it is frustrating if new employees leave after a short…