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This week's news in brief…
Finance firm cuts jobs
As many as 1,700 jobs are to be cut as Sun Life Financial of Canada reduces the size of its UK direct sales force. The company currently has around 2,000 employees and aims to cut that to approximately 900 by the end of this year.
Flexibility over salary
A survey of 300 employers revealed that more than 50 per cent of employees would prefer flexible benefits to a pay rise or promotion. The research conducted by Office Angels found that 93 per cent of employees put training on the top of the list in terms of flexible benefits.
Senior posts threat
Older workers face tough futures in traditional financial services because of mergers and the growth of technology. Research by the Open University Business School has revealed that industry consolidation has reduced the number of senior and middle management posts.
Add stress to H&S
More than three-quarters of employers believe stress should be incorporated into health and safety legislation. A study published by the Health & Safety Executive reveals that 79 per cent of employers think stress should be controlled in the same way as other workplace health and safety issues.
Diversity at Whitehall
The Government is to offer staff from ethnic minorities the chance to work alongside ministers as part of a drive to improve the diversity of its workforce. The move, which is expected to start next month at the DfEE, is part of the Government’s modernising campaign and it is hoped will increase the numbers of ethnic minority staff at senior management level at Whitehall.
Names push study
Moves to make Indian call centre workers use English names to help their British customers are being looked into by the Commission for Racial Equality. It is claimed that at GE Capital’s call centre in Delhi staff are not all
