The Equality and Human Rights Commission has issued county court proceedings against the British National Party in relation to its constitution and membership criteria. Although it had originally threatened to take legal action in respect of the BNP's employment practices, it has taken the decision not to pursue this aspect of its claim after a commitment by the BNP to comply with the law in this area. The Commission will instead pursue proceedings on the basis of concerns that the BNP will continue to discriminate against potential or actual members on racial grounds.
A hearing date of Wednesday 2 September has been set for the Commission’s application for an injunction against the BNP.
More here.
Friday 28 August 2009
Wednesday 19 August 2009
Pressure group urges a High Pay Commission
Compass - the left leaning pressure group - is urging the government to establish a High Pay Commission to curb excessive pay, "to review top pay and look at measures to ensure excessive pay can't damage the economy again".
It's an interesting proposal - but we can't help thinking that the law of unintended consequences might apply if a government ever did think to tread this path. It's easy to think in terms of pinstriped "fat cats", but it would, presumably, apply equally to footballers. If clubs could only pay up to £100,000 a year, all our sporting talent would ply their trade elsewhere, and talent from overseas would stay there. Hey presto! The Premiership would end up at a level somewhere between the Blue Square Premier League and the Isthmian League (look them up), which we're pretty sure no-one would want to watch. And where would all that lovely tax revenue have to come from then?
Anyway, if there was an easy answer, we're pretty sure someone would have come up with it by now - but you can read the Compass statement here, along with some interesting follow up comments from readers online.
It's an interesting proposal - but we can't help thinking that the law of unintended consequences might apply if a government ever did think to tread this path. It's easy to think in terms of pinstriped "fat cats", but it would, presumably, apply equally to footballers. If clubs could only pay up to £100,000 a year, all our sporting talent would ply their trade elsewhere, and talent from overseas would stay there. Hey presto! The Premiership would end up at a level somewhere between the Blue Square Premier League and the Isthmian League (look them up), which we're pretty sure no-one would want to watch. And where would all that lovely tax revenue have to come from then?
Anyway, if there was an easy answer, we're pretty sure someone would have come up with it by now - but you can read the Compass statement here, along with some interesting follow up comments from readers online.
Friday 14 August 2009
And on the subject of what to put on your CV...
It seems that, in Greater Manchester, exam boards are now giving out certificates for catching the bus. We look forward to this hard-earned qualification featuring prominently on your average resumé...
Thursday 13 August 2009
One in five now lie on their CV
Powerchex - those nice pre-employment screening people - have published their annual pre-employment screening survey. And it makes intresting reading. Amongst other nuggets, the survey reveals that
- the number of candidates whose CVs contain a discrepancy increased this year to 19% – the highest level for three years.
- Brokers have a disproportionately large number of candidates applying to them with hidden criminal records.
- there was a sharp increase this year in the number of under‐21 year olds with discrepancies on their CVs.
- Candidates educated in the state sector are 25% more likely to lie on their CV than those educated in the independent sector.
The "big three" CV fibs are inflating academic grades, overstating job title and duties and lying about the reason for leaving a job. All of which emphasises the importance of getting the recruitment procedure right from the start - and always making job offers conditional upon receipt of satisfactory references!
Wednesday 12 August 2009
FSA publishes new rules on pay and bonuses
You wait all week for something to write about and then three stories come in at once...
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has published new rules on how financial institutions should determine pay and bonuses for staff. In doing so, it makes clear that it wants to see bankers' pay deals linked far more closely with the long-term profitability of the banks. It says that bonuses should not be guaranteed for more than a year, and that senior employees should have their bonuses spread over three years.
Firms have until the end of October to provide the FSA with a remuneration policy statement, which will enable the FSA to check compliance with the code. Non-compliant firms could face enforcement action or, should they pursue risky processes, be forced to hold additional capital.
Well, that's what the press release says - we'll be dissecting the new rules in greater detail and will be reporting on them soon. In the meantime, you can read the new rules here.
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has published new rules on how financial institutions should determine pay and bonuses for staff. In doing so, it makes clear that it wants to see bankers' pay deals linked far more closely with the long-term profitability of the banks. It says that bonuses should not be guaranteed for more than a year, and that senior employees should have their bonuses spread over three years.
Firms have until the end of October to provide the FSA with a remuneration policy statement, which will enable the FSA to check compliance with the code. Non-compliant firms could face enforcement action or, should they pursue risky processes, be forced to hold additional capital.
Well, that's what the press release says - we'll be dissecting the new rules in greater detail and will be reporting on them soon. In the meantime, you can read the new rules here.
Unemployment hits a 14 year high
Official figures released today reveal that, in the three months to June, unemployment leapt by 220,000 to hit its highest rate since the summer of 1995. The Office for National Statistics said that the total number of unemployed now stands at 2.44 million, with 1.58 million now claiming Jobseaker's allowance.
It all means that three quarters of a million people have lost their jobs in the space of a year.
Full story here.
It all means that three quarters of a million people have lost their jobs in the space of a year.
Full story here.
Employment Trends 2009
Have you been wondering how employers are looking to weather the economic storm? A survey of 704 organisations, conducted during April and May, has some pointers for you. It found that a majority of employers are planning a pay freeze for their next pay review (55%), a recruitment freeze (61%) and changing their organisation of working time in order to cut costs (62%). On a more positive note, whilst the average value of a quarter of bonus schemes had been reduced, 62% of the companies surveyed still had their bonus structures in place.
"Employment trends 2009: Work patterns in the recession", published by the CBI and Harvey Nash, is available to download here.
"Employment trends 2009: Work patterns in the recession", published by the CBI and Harvey Nash, is available to download here.
Thursday 6 August 2009
High heels in the workplace? Ban 'em!
According to the TUC, high-heeled shoes are sexist, demeaning to women, a health and safety hazard and should be banned from the workplace. Yikes!
Actually, if you read the motion to be debated by the TUC at its conference next month, the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (who probably know a reasonable amount about feet)think that high heels "can be a hazard" and that "more should be done to raise awareness of this problem so that women workers and their feet are protected." Still, never let that get in the way of a good story, eh?
The "story" is all over the papers, but you can read what The Daily Mail has to say about it here...
Actually, if you read the motion to be debated by the TUC at its conference next month, the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (who probably know a reasonable amount about feet)think that high heels "can be a hazard" and that "more should be done to raise awareness of this problem so that women workers and their feet are protected." Still, never let that get in the way of a good story, eh?
The "story" is all over the papers, but you can read what The Daily Mail has to say about it here...
Wednesday 5 August 2009
Only in America...
While it's been relatively quiet on the employment news front in Blighty, a story from the US caught our eye.
Trina Thompson graduated from Monroe College in New York in April with a degree in IT. Four months on she hasn't found a job... so she's suing the college for the $70,000 she spent on tuition.
Our Trina alleges that the college didn't give her the leads and career advice it had promised her.
With commendable understatement, a college spokesman has said that the claim is "completely without merit".
More here...
Trina Thompson graduated from Monroe College in New York in April with a degree in IT. Four months on she hasn't found a job... so she's suing the college for the $70,000 she spent on tuition.
Our Trina alleges that the college didn't give her the leads and career advice it had promised her.
With commendable understatement, a college spokesman has said that the claim is "completely without merit".
More here...
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