£20m boost for women
The government has launched a £20m initiative to train more women to work in construction in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics. Education secretary Alan Johnson said female workers should be involved with designing and building the games. Chancellor Gordon Brown also pledged to support women workers in areas with skills shortages.
www.personneltoday.com/35885.article
Leaders fail to listen
Failing to give adequate feedback and not listening are the worst mistakes UK business leaders can make, a survey showed. Almost 80% of the 1,400 senior executives questioned by the Ken Blanchard Group consultancy said that not providing adequate feed–back was the top leadership mistake. About 80% said leaders who did not listen to them were the worst.
www.personneltoday.com/35909.article
Minimum wage rise
This week, MPs are expected to approve raising the adult minimum wage to £5.35 per hour from 1 October 2006. The minimum hourly wage for 18 to 21-year-olds will rise to £4.45, while the rate for 16- and 17-year-olds will go up to £3.30. The increases will affect 1.3 million workers, and were recommended by the Low Pay Commission last year.
www.personneltoday.com/35900.article
