http://www.personneltoday.com/en-gbWed, 16 May 2012 11:41:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/16/58539/cipd-appoints-peter-cheese-as-new-chief-executive.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/16/58539/cipd-appoints-peter-cheese-as-new-chief-executive.html The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has announced that Peter Cheese will take over as chief executive. Cheese is currently chairman of the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) but will be leaWed, 16 May 2012 11:41:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/15/58538/government-ends-a4e-welfare-to-work-contract.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/15/58538/government-ends-a4e-welfare-to-work-contract.html The Government has ended a contract with welfare-to-work provider A4e following allegations of fraud at the company. A statement released this afternoon by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) explained that, althougTue, 15 May 2012 16:57:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/15/58537/government-moves-to-abolish-law-on-harassment-of-staff-by-third-parties.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/15/58537/government-moves-to-abolish-law-on-harassment-of-staff-by-third-parties.html The Government has today launched a consultation on plans to repeal provisions in the Equality Act 2010 that make employers liable for the harassment of their staff by a third party. Under the Act, employers can be held liTue, 15 May 2012 16:25:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/14/58535/employers-believe-apprentice-minimum-wage-should-be-doubled.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/14/58535/employers-believe-apprentice-minimum-wage-should-be-doubled.html The national minimum wage for apprentices should be increased to £5.00 an hour, say employers. This is according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's (CIPD) latest Labour Market Outlook survey, whMon, 14 May 2012 16:38:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/14/58533/fit-note-has-made-no-difference-to-sickness-absence-say-employers.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/14/58533/fit-note-has-made-no-difference-to-sickness-absence-say-employers.html Nearly two-thirds (60%) of employers believe that the fit note has made no difference to sickness absence levels since its introduction in 2010, a report has found. The research, from manufacturers' organisation EEF and heMon, 14 May 2012 12:30:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/11/58532/government-job-scheme-not-value-for-money-says-national-audit-office.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/11/58532/government-job-scheme-not-value-for-money-says-national-audit-office.html The National Audit Office (NAO) has said that the Government's Regional Growth Fund, which was set up to support growth and boost private-sector employment, has not delivered "value for money", with some of the jobs generated expected to cFri, 11 May 2012 15:22:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/10/58526/hr-professionals-almost-completely-absent-from-ftse-50-boardrooms.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/10/58526/hr-professionals-almost-completely-absent-from-ftse-50-boardrooms.html Directors with HR backgrounds are "seriously under-represented" in the boardrooms of the UK's largest companies, making up less than 1% of their board members. This is according to research from HR recruiter Ortus, which foThu, 10 May 2012 14:38:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/10/58525/employers-turn-to-informal-training-to-cut-costs.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/10/58525/employers-turn-to-informal-training-to-cut-costs.html Employers have turned to informal training methods, such as work-shadowing, social networking and mentoring, in a bid to cut learning and development (LD) costs, research has found. According to the <A href="http://wThu, 10 May 2012 09:43:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/09/58524/employment-law-reforms-confirmed-in-queens-speech.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/09/58524/employment-law-reforms-confirmed-in-queens-speech.html Proposed changes to employment regulations have been announced in the Queen's Speech, confirming widespread speculation that such measures would be included. Outlining the Government's plans for the year ahead, the Queen sWed, 09 May 2012 14:25:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/08/58522/government-should-hold-its-nerve-on-flexible-working-extension-says-cipd.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/08/58522/government-should-hold-its-nerve-on-flexible-working-extension-says-cipd.html The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has called on the Government to "hold its nerve" on the planned extension of the right to request flexible working to all employees, which is expected to be announced in the Tue, 08 May 2012 14:40:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/03/58518/three-in-four-workers-report-managers-lack-of-leadership-and-skills.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/03/58518/three-in-four-workers-report-managers-lack-of-leadership-and-skills.html Three-quarters of employees report a lack of leadership and management skills, and believe that too many managers have an inflated opinion of their management abilities, according to research released today. The Chartered Thu, 03 May 2012 14:46:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/03/58517/government-confirms-suspension-of-sunday-trading-restrictions-for-olympics-is-temporary.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/03/58517/government-confirms-suspension-of-sunday-trading-restrictions-for-olympics-is-temporary.html Plans to lift restrictions on Sunday opening hours for large shops during the Olympics and Paralympics are a temporary measure and will not be implemented permanently after the Games, the Government has confirmed. Trade unThu, 03 May 2012 12:40:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/02/58516/staffing-plans-to-tackle-border-control-queues-at-heathrow-doomed-says-expert.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/02/58516/staffing-plans-to-tackle-border-control-queues-at-heathrow-doomed-says-expert.html Government plans to reduce delays at Heathrow airport's border control by overhauling the shift system and providing reinforcements are "doomed" because they ignore the performance and engagement of individual staff, a resourcing expert haWed, 02 May 2012 12:48:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/02/58515/young-people-want-access-to-employers-to-improve-career-prospects.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/02/58515/young-people-want-access-to-employers-to-improve-career-prospects.html Young people want to bridge the gap between education and work, and improve their chances of finding employment by obtaining greater access to employers, according to research published today by City Guilds. City &amWed, 02 May 2012 10:20:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/01/58514/teaching-union-condemns-performance-related-pay-proposals.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/01/58514/teaching-union-condemns-performance-related-pay-proposals.html The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has described plans to pay teachers on results as "total nonsense", following the release of a report by the House of Commons Education Committee that looked at methods of recruiting and retaining Tue, 01 May 2012 16:14:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/01/58497/businesses-request-clarification-on-healthcare-tax-breaks.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/05/01/58497/businesses-request-clarification-on-healthcare-tax-breaks.html Employers have called on the Government to clarify exactly what it intends to introduce in the way of tax breaks on healthcare plans. The Government has indicated that it wishes to provide greater incentives to encourage eTue, 01 May 2012 10:00:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/04/27/58495/riddor-changes-will-have-a-positive-effect-says-hse.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/04/27/58495/riddor-changes-will-have-a-positive-effect-says-hse.html The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has estimated that the change to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995 will lead to a fall of around 30% in the number of incidents that must be reportFri, 27 Apr 2012 09:30:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/04/26/58504/first-supreme-court-decisions-on-age-discrimination-offer-guidance-for-employers.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/04/26/58504/first-supreme-court-decisions-on-age-discrimination-offer-guidance-for-employers.html This week saw two significant age discrimination cases reach the Supreme Court, both of which involve issues that employers need to be aware of. The cases are now the leading authorities for age discrimination. The cases, Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:33:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/04/25/58493/environmental-health-institute-to-play-pivotal-role-in-london-2012.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/04/25/58493/environmental-health-institute-to-play-pivotal-role-in-london-2012.html This summer's Olympic and Paralympic Games will be among the safest ever, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has predicted. Nevertheless, environmental health will be critical to the success of the gameWed, 25 Apr 2012 15:00:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/04/25/58502/employers-urged-to-move-on-from-outdated-training-methods.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/04/25/58502/employers-urged-to-move-on-from-outdated-training-methods.html Employers are relying on outdated training methods and techniques when developing their staff, according to research published today by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). The research, launched toWed, 25 Apr 2012 11:44:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/04/25/58492/new-year-fitness-resolutions-cause-sudden-increase-in-absence.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/04/25/58492/new-year-fitness-resolutions-cause-sudden-increase-in-absence.html New Year health and fitness resolutions are responsible for a huge spike in the number of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and sickness absences, according to research. A study by physiotherapy provider <A href="http://wwwWed, 25 Apr 2012 10:00:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/04/24/58486/hr-moves-evenbase-field-fisher-waterhouse-national-apprenticeship-service.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/04/24/58486/hr-moves-evenbase-field-fisher-waterhouse-national-apprenticeship-service.html A round-up of the latest HR appointments. John Frith has taken on the role of HR director at global digital recruitment group Evenbase, which owns UK recruitment website Jobsite and online recruitment software provider BroaTue, 24 Apr 2012 15:41:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/04/24/58491/multi-million-pound-prize-on-offer-for-healthcare-solutions.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/04/24/58491/multi-million-pound-prize-on-offer-for-healthcare-solutions.html Businesses that can develop "cutting-edge" solutions to major public health problems such as obesity and alcohol misuse are being offered the chance to compete for £4 million worth of research funding. The Department of HeTue, 24 Apr 2012 15:30:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/04/24/58494/injury-profiles-tool-maps-accident-patterns-across-england.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/04/24/58494/injury-profiles-tool-maps-accident-patterns-across-england.html A new "Injury Profiles" data resource has been launched by the South West Public Health Observatory (SWPHO) on behalf of Public Health Observatories in England. Data has shown that the rates of people killed and admitted toTue, 24 Apr 2012 10:30:00 GMThttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/04/24/58496/heads-of-small-companies-feel-economic-strains-says-research.htmlhttp://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2012/04/24/58496/heads-of-small-companies-feel-economic-strains-says-research.html A significant proportion of Britain's small business bosses are risking ill health because of the stresses of keeping their businesses afloat in the tough economic climate. Research by healthcare provider Bupa found that fTue, 24 Apr 2012 09:30:00 GMT