The continued importance of employee engagement and rewarding talent during the recession has been emphasised by a recent poll of around 950 workers, commissioned by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC).  Researchers found that one in three UK employees (33%) say that they have not felt valued... read more

The 2009 pre-budget report included a one off 50% Bank Payroll Tax payable by banks and other financial services firms on bonuses exceeding £25,000 awarded to any employee between 12.30pm on 9 December 2009 and 5 April 2010. Treasury officials have estimated that the new levy will apply to a... read more

With higher eductation funding expected to be a key election battleground, Tom Bewick, the chief executive of the Creative and Cultural Skills Council, has suggested that the Government should charge employers recruiting a university graduate a ‘hire premium’ of 10% on their first year’s... read more

The heavy snow fall across parts of the UK today has caused chaos for employers.  Many businesses have been forced to shut their doors (for example at least two high street banks in Manchester did so) whereas others are operating reduced hours with only a skeleton staff.   ... read more

A poll commissioned by the National Childbirth Trust has shown that over a third of women find returning to work following pregnancy “difficult” or “very difficult”. Belinda Phipps, Chief Executive of the NCT stated that “it’s time employers got a grip not just of their policies and paper... read more

Many employees who, having accepted a pay freeze this year, were looking forward to receiving a pay rise next year, will have their hopes dashed according to the results of recent survey.  The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and recruitment consultancy Harvey Nash, questioned 240... read more

More than 340,000 families are members of child voucher schemes, which allow parents to sacrifice up to £243 of their gross salary, in return for electronic vouchers that are paid to registered child carers. This can mean a saving of up to £2400 a year via tax relief on the cost of childcare.... read more

The employers of unmasked call girl turned bestselling author Belle de Jour are standing by her.  After years of speculation, Belle has revealed her true identity – she is Brooke Magnanti, a research scientist who works as a specialist in developmental neurotoxicology and cancer... read more

Following a campaign by civil liberty groups and unions the government have agreed to introduce new legislation outlawing forced labour and modern-day slavery in the UK. According to Anti-Slavery International and Liberty hundreds of people in the UK are subjected to a form of slavery and... read more

The employment appeal tribunal (EAT) has upheld an employment tribunal’s decision that an individual's belief in man-made climate change and the existence of a moral duty to live in a way that mitigates or avoids it, was capable of being a "philosophical belief" for the purposes of... read more