First published on Tuesday, Feb 14, 2023
Last updated on Tuesday, Feb 14, 2023
A new CIPD report on pay, vacancies that won’t budge, and the Valentine’s Day fallout. Read this week’s top HR headlines for the latest insights.
Have you heard the latest news?
Welcome to HR Heartbeat, where we give you a rundown of the week's top stories. Stay on the pulse of current trends impacting your business. Plus get up-to-the-minute commentaries on all things HR and legal.
So, let’s check out this week’s headlines…
Over 50% of employers have tricky roles to fill
A new CIPD report found that over half of UK employers have vacancies they struggle to fill. To help, some companies are looking to upskill existing staff and increase pay by 5%.
Though this is the highest pay rise suggestion we’ve seen in 11 years, it’s still not enough to tackle inflation and this year’s rising costs—so, you may need to find other ways to help team spirit and boost financial wellbeing for your staff.
Roses are red, violets are blue—don’t let these workplace taboos happen to you
Jokes, funny emails, banter, and gimmicky cards this February may seem like harmless fun— but employers beware! Behaviour that might seem innocent can quickly escalate and any suggestive advances that make staff uncomfortable should be dealt with seriously.
Want to learn more? Read our 3 tips for navigating Valentine’s Day in the workplace.
The government department for employment issues is changing
The Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will be split into 3. Typically, this department has the most responsibility for business changes so naturally, this change will affect employment issues.
The Business part of the BEIS will combine with the International Trade function, to create a new Department for Business and Trade (DBT). The DBT will take over responsibility for most employment law matters.
Push for higher care worker pay
The Liberal Democrats Party is calling for a higher minimum wage rate for care workers. This would amount to a £2 hourly pay rise over the National Minimum Wage. They hope that higher wages will reduce staff shortages and mean more people flock to careers in health and social care.
Grievances on the rise
Nearly a third of employers in the UK have seen a rise in grievances over the past 2 years.
The main culprits?
Work relationships and pay—so make sure your dispute resolution process is equipped to deal with colleague conflicts and salary squabbles.
Not every employer can offer a pay rise, but they can tighten up essential policies to improve teamwork and communication.
And that’s a wrap. Tune in next week for more headlines and make sure you stay ahead of major employment law changes!