This week’s news in brief…
NHS shows ambition
● A new initiative to help unemployed people find work in the
health service has been launched by the Department for Work and Pensions. The
‘Ambition: Health’ pilot scheme will provide support and training to help the
unemployed into jobs in the NHS. It will start in Merseyside in September 2004
and in South Yorkshire in 2005. www.dwp.gov.uk
Dozy office workers
● One in four people have fallen asleep at work, grabbing 40
winks in the toilet, during boring meetings or even under a desk. A poll of 500
office staff, by recruitment firm Pertemps, found that most had dozed for less
than 10 minutes while at work, but one in 10 snoozed for more than half an
hour. One City worker admitted to curling up and sleeping in the staff shower. www.pertemps.co.uk
Carlsberg top job filled
● As part of last week’s story about Carlsberg UK’s
difficulties in recruiting an HR director, we asked readers if senior HR was up
to the job. The damning result (see News Barometer below) shows a distinct lack
of confidence in those at the top. However, Personnel Today can report that the
position has now been filled – although the successful candidate’s identity
remains a mystery as he is yet to inform his current employ-ers of the
impending move. www.personneltoday.com/goto/23443
The issues that count
● Which issues really matter to HR professionals, and what
challenges will they be facing in the coming months? IRS Employment Review is
publishing its annual HR Prospects Survey, establishing what has been good and
bad about the industry in the past 12 months, and which areas are likely to
occupy HR’s thoughts in the coming year. See Personnel Today next week for the
full story.
