Money

Checkout staff bonus pot halved

Press Association — 2013-05-23T10:35:00+00:00

Filed under: Career

Checkout staff at Tesco have seen their annual shares bonus pot halved after the supermarket giant slumped to its first annual profits fall in nearly 20 years.

The retailer said 280,000 UK staff will share a payout worth £56 million, down from £110 million a year earlier and worth a maximum of £1,625 per worker.

About 5,000 top managers and its board have also been denied bonuses and long-term shares awards after the retailer's 2012/13 performance "fell short of where we wanted it to be", its annual report revealed.

Tesco endured a "challenging" year in 52 weeks to the end of March, with bottom line pre-tax profits diving 51.5% to £1.96 billion as it was hit by slowing sales growth and a raft of hefty writedowns.
These included an £804 million charge from its decision to scrap more than 100 major store developments in the UK. It also took a £1.2 billion hit from its failed foray in America and is offloading its loss-making Fresh & Easy business. Tesco is instead focusing on reinvesting profits in its existing UK business and expanding online, part of a £1 billion overhaul.

Chief executive Phil Clarke took home £1.17 million during the year, up marginally on a year earlier, comprising a salary of £1.11 million and £57,000 in benefits. That compares with a £7 million potential package. Finance director Laurie McIlwee saw his total pay fall almost 20% to £917,000, the report showed.

Mr Clarke and Mr McIlwee missed out on long-term shares worth a combined £2.4 million when the awards lapsed because of the missed performance targets. Tesco's top 5,000 bosses earned 16.9% of their bonus potential a year earlier.

Stuart Chambers, chairman of the group's remuneration committee, said: "This demonstrates that our remuneration policy is effective in aligning pay with performance".

The £56 million staff shares award is equivalent to 1.5% of an employee's earnings, and is payable to workers who joined the group before February 25. Shares are held in trust and can be sold after three years.

A spokeswoman said while the staff payout is not tied to specific measures, "it's not been a secret that it's been a challenging year for the business".

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Squash maker cutting home town ties

Press Association — 2013-05-23T02:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Career

Robinson's squash maker Britvic is to close its factory in the city where it was founded in the 19th century under plans to axe up to 400 jobs.

The group is cutting its ties with Chelmsford in Essex, where it was founded by a Victorian chemist making soft drinks, by closing a Fruit Shoot and J20 fruit drinks factory with about 230 job losses.
It is also shutting its Pennine Spring water factory in Huddersfield with 40 job losses and closing a warehouse in Belfast employing 20 staff under the plans to merge its UK and Irish operations - which will result in 300 to 400 job losses.

The soft drinks giant announced cost cuts totalling £30 million over three years as it reported a 50% surge in pre-tax profits to £37.5 million for the 28 weeks to mid-April. It said the cuts aim to improve returns for shareholders and comes ahead of a Competition Commission decision on its merger with Irn-Bru owner AG Barr, expected by July. It will then decide whether to go ahead with the deal.

Britvic last year moved its headquarters from Chelmsford to Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire and said remaining office staff will transfer to its new site, ending about 150 years' association with the city.

Britvic, which takes its name from its predecessor the British Vitamin Products Company, has started a consultation with staff and the sites will close in the first quarter of next year.

The Chelmsford factory was built in 1954 and makes soft drinks in cans, glass and plastic bottles. Work will transfer from there to other sites in the UK, Ireland and France. It also has major operations in east London, Norwich and Leeds.

The Huddersfield site and natural spring was acquired by Britvic in 2004 from lemonade maker Ben Shaw's, and bottles water under the Drench and Pennine Spring brands. A spokeswoman said Britvic will focus on Ballygowan, its Irish water brand.

Chief executive Simon Litherland said: "We regret the potential loss of jobs caused by the change and are committed to supporting affected employees. I am confident that the execution of this strategy will build a more successful Britvic and lead to a much stronger financial performance."

The job cuts came as Britvic announced a slight increase in revenues to £639.2 million for the six months. The group hailed a significant turnaround amid tough consumer markets, as price hikes helped compensate for weaker volumes.

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MoD pays £100k for blowing sniper ID

Adrian Holliday — 2013-05-22T08:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Career

Blundering MoD officials blew commended army sniper Craig Harrison's identity to the media - and the MoD has now coughed up £100,000 in compensation. Harrison and his family had to quit the UK for fear of kidnap by Al Qaeda supporters.

The move led the sniper to be put on permanent sick leave - and a sizeable MoD bill for the taxpayer.

Steady hands

Harrison was a celebrated sniper having killed two Afghan rebels from a distance of 8,120 feet. In an interview he admitted the conditions of the two kills were close to perfect - mild weather, good visibility, little wind - besting a previous record of 7,972 feet. The official range of his L115A3 Long Range Rifle was closer to 4,920 feet, or just under a mile.

MoD rules are supposed to ensure all sniper IDs are kept secret, otherwise they risk becoming trophy targets for terrorists. "Craig was happy to talk to the media when he returned to the UK [from Afghanistan]," reported the Telegraph, "and everyone wanted to know about his amazing kill. But he never thought for a second his ID would be released."

Yet a few days after the interview, the police warned him he and his family were in danger. The upheaval for his family was considerable, with his wife abandoning her hairdressing job and his teenage daughter leaving school before taking GCSEs. Due to the ensuing stress, Harrison will now be medically discharged.

Enough for a new life?

"When compensation claims are received they are considered on the basis of whether or not the MoD has a legal liability to pay compensation," the MoD told the Mail. "Where there is a proven legal liability, compensation is paid."

But how much will £100,000 last? Not long given the rising housing costs in the UK (and increasingly elsewhere in Europe, if the family moves).

Harrison will likely need to retrain in a different profession. His wife will need to find a new job. The MoD has got off lightly, and an exceptional soldier has seen his professional and home life blown apart.

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How to deal with stress at work

Hannah Ricci — 2013-05-21T06:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Career

We all get stressed out at work sometimes, but what happens when short-term worry turns into prolonged anxiety that affects our health and professional performance?

We explore work-related stress and what to do if you are suffering from it.

The problem
Stress is a major issue in the UK workforce, with 428 000 reported cases in 2011/12, according to the latest Labour Force Survey (LFS). However, the true picture is thought to be much worse as many cases go undiagnosed. In fact, figures from PruHealth report that at least one in four British workers is displaying symptoms of the most common mental health problems such as stress and anxiety.

Work-related stress caused the UK to lose 10.4 million working days in 2011/12, according to the LFS, with nursing, social work, education, public administration and defence among the industries reporting the highest number of cases.

The causes
Stress at work develops when we are unable to cope with the demands of our job, when the job requirements outweigh our capabilities. It can often go unnoticed as it tends to be the result of a gradual build of many work pressures - which can be dealt with individually - but feel overwhelming when combined with other issues going on in our lives.

According to the LFS, the most common cause of work-related stress is workload (186,000 cases) - including tight deadlines; too much work, pressure or responsibility, followed by lack of managerial support (61,000 cases) and bullying (54,000 cases).

The symptoms
Stress affects people in different ways and there are a whole host of different telltale signs, from behavioural and emotional changes, to physical and mental indicators. Common symptoms are outlined on the Health and Safety Executive website, but you should generally look out for any changes in your attitude or behaviour triggered by a situation at work. Are you drinking more heavily after work, for example, or suffering from headaches or heart palpitations?

Worryingly, workplace violence and 'desk rage' is also on the rise, according to Pru Health, with employees reporting a rise in incidents such as seeing a colleague break down and cry; being rude to or swearing at a colleague, and taking frustration out on office equipment such as hitting computers, throwing something or slamming fists on the desk.

The prevention
Careful monitoring of your mood and behavior is key to prevent the onset of stress, as well as recognising when a workload feels unmanageable and you need to ask for help. Self acceptance and maintaining self-esteem are also important, explains Cat Williams, relationship councilor and author of Stay Calm and Content.

"We are all challenged at certain times. Stress and being 'out of our comfort zone' are normal and necessary parts of learning and living. The people who cope the best are those who don't resort to criticism of themselves or others. They also accept that there will be things they cannot do and they will not be perfect, so they learn to do what they can and accept what they cannot."

Don't let work take over your life and prevent you from doing things you enjoy, such as working out at the gym or meeting friends for dinner after work. A balance between work and play is key to job satisfaction and mental well-being .

The cure
If you recognise the symptoms of stress and feel that it is impacting your health, it is important to act quickly. Identify why you are feeling overwhelmed, for example, unrealistic deadlines or unachievable sales targets, and who can help you deal with the issues, such as your manager or human resources department.

Explain how you are feeling, why your limits are being tested and what solution you would like to see. Learning to say no is a key tool to dealing with stress. It teaches that have you have a choice not to overwork and will empower you to only take on the jobs that you can manage. Employee health should be a priority in all companies and if your problem is not dealt with sensitively, it may be time to move onto a new job.

Remember your GP can help too - pay a visit if your mental or physical health is suffering as a result of your job.

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What are the worst excuses for missing work?

Jess Bown — 2013-05-17T10:05:00+00:00

Filed under: Career

"I am hallucinating" and "I've got a sore finger" are among the worst excuses that employers have been given by their work-shy employees, according to a new study.

"My dog has had a fright and I don't want to leave him" and "I've injured myself during sex" also made the list of reasons given to researchers at mutual healthcare provider Benenden Health.

Its study of 1,000 workers and 1,000 bosses indicates that six out of ten bosses don't believe employees' excuses when they call in sick - particularly when they are as far-fetched as "I am stuck in my house because the door's broken".

Gill Landon, development director at Benenden Health, said: "In a tough economy, managing sickness absence becomes vital for businesses.

"But employers are clearly suspicious about days taken off for illness - perhaps not surprising given the varied excuses presented for absence.

"This is not helped by the fact that for more than a fifth of the sick days taken, workers admitted they could have actually made it into work."

In this age of internet living, the survey also reveals that one in three managers scour social media after receiving a sickie call-in to see whether the staff member is well enough to post updates - and whether those updates match the information they have been given.

"High levels of sickness absence can have a huge negative impact on businesses - both from a financial perspective and on the effect it has on staff who bear the extra workload.

"This is naturally causing employers to be more alert to spotting staff who are not genuinely ill, using methods such as checking their social media profiles to catch them out if they are lying or rigorously questioning the reasons they give for their absence," Landon added.

According to The Week magazine, meanwhile, even those hunting for a job often make excuses for being late for interviews. It therefore advises interviewees to leave extra time to avoid having to make excuses - and almost certainly missing out on the job.

25 of the best (worst) excuses

A can of baked beans landed on my big toe
I was swimming too fast and smacked my head on the poolside
I've been bitten by an insect
My car handbrake broke and it rolled down the hill into a lamppost
My dog has had a big fright and I don't want to leave him
My hamster has died
I've injured myself during sex
I slipped on a coin
I've had a sleepless night
My mum has died (this was the second time the person used this excuse)
I am hallucinating
I am stuck in my house because the door's broken
My new girlfriend bit me in a delicate place
I burned my hand on the toaster
The dog ate my shoes
My fish is sick
I swallowed white spirit
My toe is trapped in the bath tap
I'm in A&E as I got a clothes peg stuck on my tongue
I drank too much and fell asleep on someone's floor - I don't know where I am
My trousers split on the way to work
I'm using a new contact lens solution and my eyes are watering
I have a blocked nose
I've had a hair dye disaster
I've got a sore finger

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Norway recruits polar bear spotter

Hannah Ricci — 2013-05-17T07:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Career

Happy to put yourself in sniffing distance of one of the world's most dangerous animals? Then Norway has the perfect job for you.

The arctic archipelago of Svalbard is advertising for a polar spotter: firearm skills and a loud voice are an advantage.
The Norwegian government is recruiting for the unique role on the remote Northern islands of Svalbard, whose 2,400 human residents are outnumbered by its 3,000 polar bears, according to the Associated Press. The job starts on July 8 and involves spotting polar bears to warn researchers doing work in the area.

To qualify, applicants must have previous experience outdoors, good bear-spotting skills and experience with firearms. But Helge Solli from the governor's office told the AP that the successful candidate likely won't have to use a gun "just as long as they have a loud voice" to scare off any polar bears.

The polar bear is the largest meat eater living on land. They are are extremely protective of their cubs and attack viciously when there is a perceived threat. A polar bear can reportedly cut a human head off with a swipe of its paw.

Odd jobs
The role is up their with some of the more unusual jobs advertised in recent years. Earlier this year we reported on the 'water slide tester' vacancy advertised by First Choice Holidays. The role involved riding and rating water slides, flumes and pools across 20 SplashWorld resorts in destinations including Majorca, Turkey and Egypt.

Advertised as "officially the best job in the world" in 2009, a new role of 'island caretaker' was advertised by the Queensland Tourism Board to help promote the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef to the world.

Brit Ben Southall won the job, earning £73,400 to live on an island in the Great Barrier Reef for six months, swimming, exploring and generally enjoying himself whilst filming and blogging about all the fun he was having.

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New job for ex-BP boss Tony Hayward

Press Association — 2013-05-17T00:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Career

Former BP boss Tony Hayward has been handed the job of chairman at mining group Glencore Xstrata.

Mr Hayward, who was ousted from the oil giant after the Gulf of Mexico spill, was appointed interim chairman of the enlarged mining and commodities trading group after a shareholder rebellion removed present incumbent Sir John Bond.
He was ejected from the board by more than 80% of voting shareholders, while three other directors, Ian Strachan, Con Fauconnier and Peter Hooley were also ousted. A fifth director, Sir Steve Robson, resigned earlier in the day.

The boardroom clean-out removes Xstrata's influence from the top of the company, after its takeover by Glencore earlier this month sealed the biggest mining deal in history. Mr Hayward, already a director of Glencore, was axed from the BP board in July 2010 after fierce criticism of his handling of the vast oil spill.

Mr Hayward had complained at the height of the crisis ''I want my life back'' and also attempted to downplay the impact of the incident by suggesting the Gulf was ''a big ocean''. His days were numbered when US president Barack Obama said he would sack him if he were his boss.

Sir John had already planned to quit Glencore after shareholders revolted over a controversial £140 million pay deal to retain key Xstrata staff, but the vote brought forward his exit.

Sir John said: "I recognise and respect the strong opposition among many to the retention arrangements which the board felt appropriate to ensure management stability."

Glencore has started the search for new board members after voting at its annual meeting in Switzerland left it with just four directors.

The Glencore Xstrata deal brought together Glencore's commodities trading expertise and Xstrata's mining clout to form a group which hopes to compete better against the might of miners BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto.

The takeover created a group with more than 190,000 staff and over 150 mines and production sites in more than 50 countries, headed by Glencore boss Ivan Glasenberg and headquartered in Switzerland.

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Warning over foreign farm workers

Press Association — 2013-05-15T04:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Career

Consumers will face higher food prices unless Britain opens up a scheme for foreign fruit pickers to countries outside the European Union (EU), the Government's chief migration adviser has warned.

Nearly 22,000 Romanians and Bulgarians are employed each year under the seasonal agricultural workers scheme - but this will close when access restrictions are lifted at the end of 2013.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) found that the British horticulture sector could shrink if farmers fail to find replacement workers, which could trigger a surge in labour costs and ultimately higher prices for consumers.

Professor David Metcalf, MAC chair, said the Government should consider proposals for a new scheme that targets non-EU workers, in particular in countries which have a high number of agricultural students, such as the Ukraine.

Mr Metcalf told a press conference that if the labour supply "dwindled" once the scheme closed to Romanians and Bulgarians, operators may have to "drive wages up" to secure staff. He said: "In those circumstances, therefore, it's possible that supermarkets would charge higher prices for their celery and strawberries and so on."

Mr Metcalf said supermarkets may also start to import produce from overseas to keep consumer prices competitive. He said: "If the growers need to pay much higher wages, the prices to the supermarket would go up then, it's possible then imports would go up." Mr Metcalf said the consequences of a shrinking labour supply include seeing the whole horticulture sector in Britain contracting and leading to an increase in technology being used instead of manual labour. Mr Metcalf said considering an alternative source of employment - such as countries outside the EU - was "a matter for the Government".

He added: "It's very important to emphasise that, if we did have a replacement source, the implication is that horticulture is a favoured sector. It gets a supply of cheap labour, reliable labour and, more importantly, hired labour which is not available to any other sector. The only way that we should have a replacement scheme is if such a scheme would help horticulture thrive in the long run and the evidence from stakeholders is that it would do."

The MAC said a lack of seasonal workers was a medium to long-term risk, with British farmers likely to be able to recruit a sufficient number in the first one to two years after the working restrictions on Bulgarian and Romanians are lifted.

Temporary curbs were imposed on Romanians and Bulgarians in 2005 to protect the British labour market, but they expire in December and under EU laws cannot be extended. The Government has refused repeated demands to publish or commission estimates of the numbers expected to enter Britain in the face of unofficial research predicting as many as 50,000 people arriving from eastern European countries each year.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We are grateful for the MAC's report and note its conclusion that there is little evidence the supply of seasonal labour will decline in the next one or two years. We shall consider the MAC's advice very carefully, however in general we want to encourage employers to recruit from the resident labour market where possible."

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£100,000 bonus for Channel 4 boss

Press Association — 2013-05-14T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Career

Channel 4 chief executive David Abraham received a £100,000 bonus last year, partly thanks to the success of the Paralympics.

The bonus was paid on top of Mr Abraham's £515,000 salary, and with benefits of £129,000 he received a total of £744,000, compared with £701,000 in 2011.

Mr Abraham's salary is higher than that of BBC director general Lord Hall, who is paid £450,000 a year.

The figures, revealed in Channel 4's annual report, show that the broadcaster's chief creative officer Jay Hunt's total pay went up from £487,000 in 2011 to £542,000, including bonuses of £116,000.
A one-off reward, amounting to 2.5% of the total bonus, was paid to all staff on account of the broadcaster's Bafta-winning coverage of the Paralympics, which was watched by almost 40 million people.

Total aggregate gross salaries went up from £37 million to £55 million at the main channel, Channel 4, while at the Channel 4 group it increased from £52 million to £55 million.

The commercially funded, not-for-profit broadcaster said that total content spend was £608 million - up 3% - for the year. Spending on originated content across all Channel 4 services reached £434 million, up 4% from the last year.

Channel 4 reported a loss of £29 million for 2012 while the Channel 4 group reported a £27 million loss, as part of a planned programme of investment.

Channel 4 chairman Lord Burns said: "The board is very pleased with the creative performance in 2012. Of course the Paralympics stand out, not only as a highlight of the year but in Channel 4's entire history. They exemplify much of what Channel 4 was originally established to do and what it continues to stand for today.

He said of the financial rewards: "The committee seeks to balance (the need to) reward commercial success while being sensitive to the position that Channel 4 occupies as a publicly-owned organisation." He said success had taken place "against a very tough economic climate" and that changes in executive pay were "relatively small".

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How to deal with difficult colleagues

Hannah Ricci — 2013-05-14T06:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Career

We've all encountered them - those annoying colleagues whose sole purpose it seems is to make our working life more difficult.

From the co-worker that that puts you down in meetings, to the boss that takes credit for all of your hard work - we explore how to deal with nightmare colleagues.
1.The arguer
A productive workplace needs honesty and debate, but arguing for argument's sake can be disruptive and counterproductive. With colleagues that seem to challenge whatever you say, it is important to keep your cool and not lower yourself to their level, advises Adam Riccoboni, co-founder of talent marketplace MBA & Company and co-author of the The Art Of Selling Yourself. "Stay calm as this will enable you to win the argument by reason and stop you getting caught up in confrontation," explains Riccoboni.

There are likely to be reasons behind an argumentative attitude, so try to find out exactly what is bugging them. "Ask The Arguer what their issues are, then address each issue and calmly present the benefits of changing to a new approach, and the decision-making process behind it," adds Riccobani. "Always strive to be be inclusive and professional, and if you feel a person is far too angry to reach a resolution, walk away and arrange to talk later."

2.The credit-thief
One of the most infuriating of co-workers is the person that takes credit for your work. Whether it is your boss or a peer trying to impress your boss - they are basically trying to convince themselves and others that they are doing well. Address the issue promptly, but don't criticize - they will only criticize you back, advises Cat Williams, relationship counsellor and author of Stay Calm and Content.

"Instead, start with something positive about them, explain your point of view to them and ask for what you would like. For example: 'I know we worked together on the project, and your contribution was very helpful, but I contributed to these specific parts, and influenced the final outcome. How can we make sure we are both acknowledged the appropriate amount? I would like specifically to be acknowledged for x, y, and z.'"

3.The boss boot-licker
The person that loves to please the boss thinks that it is the best way to get ahead and often has no idea that their colleagues, and probably their boss, know exactly what they are doing.

"It might come as a shock to the regular office brown-noser, but bosses don't really care for them much, and usually aren't that impressed," says Elliot Kidd, co-founder of Staffbay.com. "A good boss knows his weaknesses as well as his strengths, and to be told they're brilliant all the time by a toadying member of staff will be irritating at best. The best thing to do with the bootlicker is let them dig their own grave, whilst at the same time continuing to do your job to the best of your abilities."

4.The belittler
Like many troublesome colleagues, the person full of put-downs, demeaning remarks and disparaging comments is having serious self-esteem issues of their own. Expressing an overtly negative attitude towards others is a way to make themselves feel right and important.

If the belitter is sharing mean comments about others with you, just don't agree with them, says Williams. "Don't criticise the belittler's behaviour, simply be as positive as possible about other people, regardless of their attributes or ability."

If their put downs are aimed at you, it is likely that they somehow feel threatened by you. While the comments might make you upset or angry, Williams says the key to dealing with this person is learning to maintain your self-belief and self-confidence in their company. She adds: "Maybe even try to help the 'belittler' with their own self-esteem if you can by demonstrating the self-confidence to praise and appreciate them, so that they will hopefully feel less threatened by you."

5. The slacker
The colleague that doesn't pull their weight is a real burden in the workplace, but take a moment to consider why they might be slacking. It could be that they don't enjoy their job, or don't think that they are good at it.

Try to lead by example and adapt a helpful, coaching style with your colleague, advises John Salt, website director at Totaljobs.com. "Perhaps arrange to go for an informal drink to find out why they are struggling - you may find out their motivation is being affected by reasons outside of work."

If the subtle approach doesn't work and it's having a negative impact on your team, take it to the next level. Salt suggests: "Ask for a meeting with your boss, say you feel you need more resources in the specific area your colleague is responsible for - this should send a message without directly implicating the person involved."

6.The rumourmonger
The person who relishes spreading rumours does so in an attempt to control gossip and give themselves a small power trip to feel superior to the people the gossip is about.

"Just don't react to gossip," advises Williams. "Say that you prefer to make your own mind up about people, based on how they behave towards you, or based on information you know is correct. Don't criticise the rumour spreader, or they might start on you too, but if you feel strongly about their behaviour then you can say that it makes you feel uncomfortable, or that you don't think it is kind to spread gossip."

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Call to rebuild reputation of banks

Press Association — 2013-05-14T05:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Career

Banker-bashing and the sector's tattered reputation are putting young people off a career in banking, the boss of taxpayer-backed Lloyds Banking Group has warned.

Soaring distrust of banks and embarrassment about working for one is causing a damaging talent drain, Lloyds chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio said in a speech at Oxford University's Said Business School.

The 39% taxpayer-owned lender, which has itself been scarred by a series of scandals including customer mis-selling, said it "urgently" needs to change perceptions of the industry to make it an attractive career.

Banking has also been hit by the Libor rate-rigging scandal at lenders including Barclays and RBS, mis-selling of complex interest rate swaps to small businesses and high bonuses.
Mr Horta-Osorio said the sector must rebuild its reputation to attract young people. He said: "We want the best and the brightest to see banking as a credible career choice. This is vital for the industry's long-term viability."

Lloyds said its research shows 28% of students would be too embarrassed to tell friends they work in a bank, while 41% said they distrust banks and finance firms. Another 56% said they trust banks less than they did five years ago. Only 2% said they were likely to pursue a career in banking and finance, compared with 26% who said they were likely to work in the public sector.

Mr Horta-Osorio added: "The next generation should see banking as an industry that helps to build economic wealth and is playing its part as a useful member of our local communities."

Lloyds handed 25 of its staff £1 million or more in pay and bonuses last year, with five employees picking up in excess of £2 million. Mr Horta-Osorio was paid £2.5 million in pay and deferred bonuses last year, and also received £1.1 million in shares to be released in 2016 subject to performance targets.

Despite £570 million of losses in 2012, staff still shared a £365 million total bonus pot, equivalent to £3,900 per employee.

Banks have also been culling staff heavily in recent years. Lloyds recently announced plans to axe 850 staff and close a large office in Southend, Essex. Lloyds, HSBC and Barclays have announced cuts of around 5,500 jobs since the beginning of 2013, according to a union.

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Titchmarsh defends gardening jobs

Press Association — 2013-05-14T04:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Career

Gardeners must show that their profession is not for "thick, dull or unadventurous" people, Alan Titchmarsh has said, as figures revealed that horticultural firms are struggling to find skilled workers.

Businesses are being forced to recruit from overseas amid an "alarming" shortage of skilled workers in the UK, according to a new report spearheaded by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

In a foreword to the report, Titchmarsh warns that gardening is undervalued by the Government, the public and young people, and suggests that more should be done to encourage the nation's teenagers to spend more time working with "plant cells rather than cell phones".

Previous research has shown that many youngsters believe that horticultural careers are unskilled jobs for those who have failed academically, said the TV gardener and presenter.
The study, which surveyed around 200 horticultural businesses, found that more than 70% are struggling to find the skilled workers they need, while two thirds (67%) suggested that those entering the profession are inadequately prepared for work. Around a fifth (19%) of the businesses questioned said that they are being forced to recruit workers from overseas.

The report found that many firms lay blame on the poor perception of horticulture in schools and colleges, with many people viewing the profession as a hobby.

The report warns: "The seriousness of the situation must not be ignored. The main cause of the crisis is the belief that horticulture is simply a hobby, and not a serious or rewarding career for talented people; this despite the fact that most in the industry are highly skilled and have undergone years of professional training. This misconception is not helped when politicians regularly refer to gardening as an unskilled, manual job.

"One consequence is that teachers and career advisers seldom recommend horticulture to their students and the demand for further and higher education courses is in decline."

In his foreword, Titchmarsh said that gardeners have "the best jobs in the world". But he adds: "And yet our role is undervalued by Government, by the population and by young people in particular - in every instance because they just do not understand the breadth of what we do and its importance in terms of the wellbeing of the planet and its population."

RHS director general Sue Biggs said: "We are unanimous in the belief that there must now be urgent action to save British horticulture and it must happen now. Our report calls on the Government, employers and those in the education system to take action to safeguard the critical role that horticulture plays in Britain today."

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No 10 backs peer's business remarks

Press Association — 2013-05-13T07:04:00+00:00

Filed under: Career

Claims by a senior adviser to David Cameron that lower wages in a recession help make it a better time to start a business have been defended by Downing Street.

Trade unions and Labour seized on the analysis by Lord Young, accusing him of "revelling in" the availability of cheaper workers.
But Number 10 said the Tory former minister was simply reflecting the fact that start-ups tended to multiply and thrive during economic downturns and accused critics of deliberately misinterpreting his words.

The peer was previously forced to resign as Mr Cameron's enterprise expert for underplaying the effects of the recession but was subsequently brought back.

His latest comments are in a report for the Prime Minister on measures to promote small business growth. In it he writes: "The rise in the number of businesses in recent years shows that a recession can be an excellent time to start a business. Despite tough economic conditions the number of new businesses has remained remarkably resilient and at historically high levels. Business closures have remained stable and lower than pre-recession levels.

"It has always been the case that a recession can be a good time to grow a business. This is true for a number of reasons. Competitors who fall by the wayside enable well-run firms to expand and increase market share. Factors of production such as premises and labour can be cheaper and higher quality, meaning that return on investment can be greater."

Giant US firms such as GE, Microsoft and Disney all started during a recession as did half the firms on the 2009 Fortune 500 list, he points out.

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady told The Observer: "The 2.5 million people still out of work will wonder what planet Lord Young is living on when he claims recessions bring economic gains. Not only is the Government failing to deal with the living standards crisis, their advisers are revelling in the jobs and wage squeeze that is putting people's finances under strain."

Labour vice-chairman Michael Dugher said: "This is yet more evidence of just how desperately out of touch David Cameron's government has become. Whilst millions of hard-pressed families are feeling the squeeze and the Government gives out tax cuts for millionaires, Cameron's adviser seems to celebrate low wages for many in a recession."

A Downing Street spokesman said: "Lord Young doesn't say a recession is a good time, he says it can be a good time to start a business, which is borne out by the statistics. The TUC is deliberately misrepresenting his report to suit their political agenda."

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Flexible working key, survey claims

Press Association — 2013-05-13T06:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Career

Two in five people work away from their office for at least half of the week, according to research.

But just half of managers encourage flexible working, which means more than a third say they sacrifice sleep to fit in work and personal commitments, the study by office space firm Regus found.
Steve Purdy, managing director of Regus, said working closer to home helps make employees more productive and loyal to a company.

Mr Purdy said: "There is growing recognition that working closer to home - rather than at home - is often the best way to improve wellbeing and remain productive.

"In fact, one of the main reasons people use our centres today is to bridge this gap between between the traditional office and the home office."

The research comes at the start of Work Wise Week from May 12 to 18, with this Friday being "National Work From Home Day".

The week aims to encourage people to work remotely, even in coffee shops, and have more "virtual meetings" rather than travelling to the office.

Half of the 3,000 people working in the UK who were surveyed said they would be happier and more productive if they could work in different locations depending on what they were doing.

A total of 84% responded that having a say in where they work would improve loyalty to their employer.

Just under three-quarters said their manager is likely to view people who arrive early and leave late as the most hard-working.

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Employees 'unaware of cyber risks'

Press Association — 2013-05-10T05:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Career

Half of workers do not know if their company has a policy on cyber crime and do not worry about security when they download data to their phone, according to a new study.

A survey of 1,200 office workers found that part-time staff were less aware of the need to protect company data.

Staffing provider Modis said its research showed that even business owners did not think about the security of their organisation's data when downloading or uploading information.

Roy Dungworth, managing director of Modis said: "With cyber security such a high-profile issue, employers are now aware of the risks, but few realise that their own employees are their greatest vulnerability.
"Our latest research reveals that the extent of the threat of cyber crime is not being realised by employees.

"Employers must be explicit about the policies which govern the way their employees use every piece of hardware and software at their disposal, from laptops and tablets through to email and the intranet."

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2,500 council staff paid over £100k

Press Association — 2013-05-10T04:37:00+00:00

Filed under: Career

More than 2,500 town hall staff were paid over £100,000 last year, according to research.

Details compiled by campaign group the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) showed the number earning in six figures fell 11% in 2011-12.

But 103 councils were employing more staff on that level than before - and one executive was handed almost £600,000.

The latest edition of the town hall "Rich List" - assembled using data from annual accounts - found 2,525 council employees pocketed £100,000 plus, compared with 2,839 in 2010-11.
Some 636 staff received over £150,000, and 42 over £250,000. According to the report, the highest paid across the UK was Katherine Kerswell, former group managing director of Kent County Council. Her total remuneration was said to be £589,165 - although that included a sizeable redundancy package.

Matthew Sinclair, chief executive of the TPA, said: "It is good news that the number of senior council staff making more than £100,000 a year is finally falling, although that may only be because many authorities have finished paying eye-watering redundancy bills. Sadly, too many local authorities are still increasing the number of highly-paid staff on their payroll, some of whom are given hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation just to move from one public sector job to another."

A Local Government Association spokesman said: "Pay for senior officers has to provide good value for taxpayers while ensuring the recruitment and retention of staff with the right skills to oversee vital services like child safeguarding and social care.

"Local government is showing wage restraint as the 11% fall in the number of staff on more than £100,000 a year shows. There has been no national increase in senior pay for five years, including in 2013/14. Incoming chief executives are also receiving salaries that are on average 8% smaller than their predecessors.

"Local authorities work hard to ensure salaries are set at appropriate levels and have created the E-Paycheck system to allow remuneration committees to compare their pay rates with similar councils in other parts of the country."

Meanwhile, public sector union Unison published research showing that 28,000 people in local government earn just £6.30 an hour - 1p less than the new rate for the national minimum wage due to come into effect from October.

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Policies 'driving workers abroad'

Press Association — 2013-05-10T02:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Career

British workers are being driven abroad by the Government's policies, Labour has claimed, as it accused ministers of making "grand claims" about cutting net migration.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said while net migration had fallen by 72,000, that figure included 27,000 Britons leaving the UK to live abroad while 20,000 fewer were returning home.
Ms Cooper said many Britons obviously did not want to return to the UK under the coalition, claiming Home Secretary Theresa May had failed to deal with illegal immigration.

Since the coalition took over in 2010, the backlog in finding failed asylum seekers had gone up, while the number of those deported had fallen.

Speaking as Mrs May detailed the Government's plans to make it more difficult for foreign nationals to come to the UK and use free services and claim benefits, Ms Cooper admitted Labour should have introduced transitional controls on eastern European migrants coming to Britain when their countries joined the EU.

Turning to the Home Secretary, Ms Cooper said: "You are making grand claims about your net migration figures, and the Immigration Minister (Mark Harper) is attempting to do the same.

"But you will recognise that two-thirds of your drop in net migration is a result of an increase in British citizens leaving the country and fewer British citizens returning home?

"Let me quote your figures at you. You are itching at the edge of your seat. In fact, the drop in net migration has been 72,000. Of those 27,000 more Brits are leaving the country and 20,000 fewer are coming home. Are you really proud of a set of policies that have been driving British people out of the country?"

She added: "People obviously don't want to come back to Britain under your Government."

But Mrs May replied the Office of National Statistics had said the emigration of British citizens had not led to the drop in net migration. She replied: "We have reduced net migration by a third. Now I think you said you accepted that net migration was too high under the last Labour government. Will you now apologise for that?"

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Lloyds slammed for further job cuts

Press Association — 2013-05-09T13:32:00+00:00

Filed under: Career

Lloyds Banking Group has come under attack for cutting hundreds more jobs and planning to close a large office.

The Unite union said 850 staff would be axed, mainly in Southend, Essex.
It said the bank has announced almost 2,750 job losses since the start of the year.

Lloyds, HSBC and Barclays combined have announced cuts of around 5,500 jobs since the beginning of 2013, said Unite.
Lloyds' office in Southend is set to close, putting 690 jobs at risk, while the bank is also cutting another 160 roles across its commercial banking and bancassurance operations, said Unite.

National officer Dominic Hook said: "Lloyds is celebrating a return to profit and there are hints of dividend payouts to shareholders but the bank's workers are in constant fear that they will be next for the chop.

"This is no way to treat staff. It's time to urgently review this continuous tide of cuts and build the bank's strength. The constant job cuts across the banking industry is bad for bank staff, does nothing to support customers and it's bad for Britain's economy. Since January 5,500 job cuts have been announced by high street banks - that's over 1,000 a month.

"Britain's banking industry has a duty to the communities it profits from and that means these institutions need to be responsible employers."

Lloyds said the job losses are in its commercial banking, retail, group operations, group executive functions, finance, insurance, and wealth, asset finance and international divisions.

The bank said around 275 roles are being created, mainly in Belfast and Pitreavie, Scotland.

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Lawyer fined over religious remark

Sarah Coles — 2013-05-09T08:26:00+00:00

Filed under: Career

Danielle Morris, a 34 year old lawyer working in Oldham, has been fined for a religious comment made in the offices of a former employer. She had been waiting at a local medical centre when a Jewish man jumped the queue. She told a colleague about the incident, in front of a Jewish staff member, and she made a complaint.

After a process that has been dragging on for three and a half years, the incident has cost Morris thousands of pounds in fines and legal costs.

The incident

Morris told a colleague at the law practice in Rossendale Lancashire about the incident at a local health centre - where she said an Orthodox Jewish man had 'created a scene'. According to the Daily Mail, she was overhead by a cashier. The cashier asked for her not to speak in this way about a Jewish man and she responded: "I don't care, I cannot stand them."

This all happened in December 2009. Shortly afterwards the cashier left the firm, and brought a discrimination claim against Morris and the practice - winning an undisclosed level of damages. Morris then faced the Solicitor's Regulation Authority after the cashier complained to them.

According to the Lancashire Telegraph, during the process, it emerged that she had tried to apologise on three occasions, but the cashier refused to meet her. She also said she had made the remarks out of foolishness rather than malice. She has been fined £2,500 and ordered to pay costs of £5,250. This is in addition to her own costs, and the compensation originally paid.

Serious

The fine, and the threat that has hung over Morris for all this time goes to show just how dangerous it can be to make any comments that could be considered derogatory in a work environment.

Discrimination on the grounds of religious belief, is just one of the many forms of discrimination which are unlawful in the UK. You must not directly discriminate (such as refuse a job on the grounds of religion), indirectly discriminate (so policies must not penalise people from particular religions) and you must not harass or victimise people on the grounds of their religion.

None of this is going to come as a surprise to anyone. However, what may catch people out are the kinds of things which can fall into these categories. Many people believe comments to friends are made in a safe environment. They may also consider their remarks to be harmless banter, and not realise they have strayed onto dangerous territory.

ACAS warns that 'banter' and 'jokes' are very dangerous where they could be considered discriminatory. It also warns that comments about any strongly-held beliefs are risky, that discussion of the beliefs of someone's partner is dangerous, and that the comments of a devoutly religious person against non-believers is also a matter of concern. Even someone who is not religious can make a discrimination claim, if the discrimination against others around them makes them uncomfortable.

This kind of case reveals the damage that can be caused by a single remark, even when the person making it is unaware of the depth of offence they have caused. It's a reminder to us all about the care we need to take in order to avoid risking offence.

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Companies count cost of 'bad hires'

Press Association — 2013-05-08T13:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Career

More than half of employers have recruited someone who did not fit into their organisation or performed badly, according to new research.

A study by online site CareerBuilder found hiring the wrong person can have "serious" implications for companies.
The survey of thousands of managers in 10 countries, including hundreds in the UK, revealed those in Russia, Brazil and China were most likely to have been affected by a "bad hire".

One in four of those questioned in the UK said the problem had cost their company more than £50,000.

Matt Ferguson, chief executive of CareerBuilder, said: "Making a wrong decision regarding a hire can have several adverse consequences across an organisation.

"When you add up missed sales opportunities, strained client and employee relations, potential legal issues and resources to hire and train candidates, the cost can be considerable.

"Employers are taking longer to extend offers post-recession as they assess whether a candidate really is the best fit for the job and their company culture."

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