This week’s news in brief
Andersen no more
Deloitte & Touche has taken over Andersen UK to become the UK’s largest
fully integrated HR consultancy, with more than 800 consultants. The move sees
3,500 Andersen UK partners and staff join Deloitte. Â www.deloitte.co.uk
UK tightens belt
Most UK businesses have had to make major cutbacks in the past six months by
reducing staff numbers, cutting pensions and bonus schemes or dropping training
programmes. The Job Index Survey of 1,200 HR managers by TMP Worldwide, shows
four out of 10 firms made redundancies in the first six months of 2002. Almost
a fifth have slashed training budgets and 13 per cent have cut staff bonuses. Â www.tmpworldwide.com
Staff dissatisfied
Just four in 10 UK employees are satisfied with the quality of leadership in
the workplace, according to a survey of 1,000 staff by leadership firm OPP.
More than two-thirds of workers believe trust is the most important leadership
quality, but under a third rate it as their current boss’s best skill. Â www.opp.co.uk
Confusion reigns
Local economic development and productivity is being impeded by over-complex
delivery and red tape, according to the Better Regulation Task Force. Its
latest report claims the system for local economic development is so complex
that even those involved in delivery do not understand it. Â www.cabinet-office.gov.uk
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
Public support strikes
There is overwhelming public support for council, rail and tube strikes,
according to a Guardian/ICM opinion poll of more than 1,000 adults. The survey
found that 59 per cent believe the strikes are justified, with just 29 per cent
in opposition. It also reveals strong support for the public sector unions,
with 37 per cent believing Tony Blair pays too much attention to business. Â www.icmresearch.co.uk
