This week’s news in brief
Double bias claim
A female HR manager is claiming sexual discrimination against her former
Japanese employer who said that in his country, men are considered more
intelligent than women. Christine Pratt is claiming sexual and racial
discrimination against Sanden International at an employment tribunal. See next
week’s Personnel Today for the story in full.
Rolls axes 5,000 jobs
Rolls-Royce is to shed 5,000 jobs as the crisis in the aviation market
deepens. The company plans to axe 3,800 jobs across the UK by next March. It is
predicting a downturn in demand of around 25 per cent in 2002. It has
operations in Derby, Bristol, Hucknall and Ansty, East Kilbride and Sunderland.
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www.rolls-royce.com
Hunt for staff goes on
Employer confidence has not been as damaged by the events of 11 September as
many experts predicted. The majority of UK employers are still expecting to
take on staff in the fourth quarter of 2001 and for employment prospects to
remain steady, according to Manpower research. Only 5 per cent of respondents
were more pessimistic. Â www.manpower.co.uk
Cuts must be genuine
Travel companies that have used the 11 September terrorist attacks on the US
as an excuse to get rid of unwanted staff could be vulnerable to unfair
dismissal claims, an employment law specialist has warned. Maureen Singleton,
of Leeds-based solicitors Brooke North, said she had been approached by a
number of people who have lost their jobs over recent weeks and wished to
pursue cases against their former employers.
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HR closes pay gap
HR professionals in the legal profession are closing the pay gap with their
senior legal colleagues, a survey reveals. The TMP Worldwide research shows
that London-based HR directors now command salaries of up to £100,000 a year
compared with salaried partners who can earn between £65,000 and £225,000.  www.tmp.com
