Economics, government & business

..yet doing well is key to pay deals

Managers at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are operating under such huge political pressures that the "catastrophic failure" in implementing its efficiency programme last year was inevitable, according to public sector consultancy, Governetz.

The BBC has spent more than £4m art to decorate its London offices, while seeking to cut about 3,000 jobs as part of a drive to save £400m in costs, according to press reports.

Deutsche Bank has already boosted revenues by about £1.3bn through its ongoing two-year programme to offshore back-office jobs to India, according to press reports

The TUC is revealing pay differences via an online database that allows workers to compare their salaries with those of their chief executives.

HR managers' shock revelation likely to surprise bosses.

Union condemns LSC for lack of skill in handling job cuts

Businesses want a complete rethink so that training is geared to business needs.

Richard Lambert, former editor of the Financial Times and a member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, has been confirmed as the new CBI director-general

BBC spreads news that new director-general of the CBI is former journalist.

Unions, employee representative groups and business bodies have given a mixed reaction to yesterday's Budget.

The CBI has welcomed individual business-friendly steps in the Budget, but said the package fell short of the boost for UK competitiveness that employers were seeking.

Gordon Brown has delivered his 10th Budget and there was plenty to interest employers.

Refugees and other disadvantaged groups will be explicitly recognised within Jobcentre Plus' jobs target for the first time under new government plans unveiled today

Announcement expected in coming weeks.