Industry News

Read the latest payroll Industry News

September 2010

Survey identifies Friday as the favourite pay day

More than half of British employees favour the long-standing convention of putting salaries into accounts on Friday over any other possible day of the week, according to a survey conducted by the Institute of Payroll Professionals (IPP) last month. Read more from the survey into the preferred pay day for employees

Public sector employers warned about changing pay structures 

When it comes to implementing new pay structures, employers must carefully consider equal pay provisions, HR Magazine has warned. Read more about the warnings to public sector employers about changes to pay structures

National Payroll Week begins

The Institute of Payroll Professional's (IPP) annual industry awareness event, National Payroll Week, begins today. Find out more about National Payroll Week

Recruiter Magazine looks at the growing demand for background check services

The increasing importance of a background check service to pre-employment screening and recruitment was the subject of an article in Recruiter magazine last week. Read more about the growing demand for background check services

Payroll problems leave workers chasing payments

The plight of workers at a factory in Wales has illustrated how an efficient and trustworthy payroll service is vital in making sure that employees receive their wages. Read more about the payroll problems leaving working chasing payments

Germany makes proposal to ban Facebook from employment screening in European law

A new law to be voted on by German parliament later this year could see employers banned from using Facebook during the pre employment screening process, reports People Management magazine. Read more about German calls to ban Facebook from employment screening in European Law

August 2010

DWP says employers support pension auto-enrolment

Most employers in the UK support proposals to have staff automatically enrolled into a workplace pension scheme, the Department of Work and Pensions has claimed (DWP). Find out more about news from the DWP that employers support pension auto-enrolment

Technology fuelling calls for new flexible working patterns

The traditional nine to five working day is increasingly less popular among employees, many of whom wish to see more flexible working arrangements become commonplace, according to a survey from a recruiter. Read more about technology creating calls for new flexible working patterns

Half of employees couldn't pay bills if pay cheque is late

Half of employees would be thrust into financial difficulty if their pay cheque was late, according to research published today by The Institute of Payroll Professionals (IPP). Read more about the findings that half of employees couldn't pay bills if pay cheque is late

Sanitisers an effective absence management tool claims research

Introducing alcohol-based hand sanitisers to the workplace could be an effective absence management strategy, as a new study has indicated that they can contribute to a reduction in absenteeism due to illness. Find out more about the research into how Sanitisers are an effective absence management tool

Managers critical to cutting long-term absences 

When it comes to long-term sick leave and absence, management skills are vital in getting employees back into work according to new guidance from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Read more about the role of managers in cutting long-term absences

Study finds working overtime could increase heart risk 

Regularly working 10 to 12 hour days can lead to a significantly increased risk of heart attack, a new study published in the European Heart Journal has found. Read more about the connection between overtime and heart risk

MoD plans "major data cleansing" of its payroll software

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is to conduct a "major data cleansing exercise" to improve the performance and accuracy of its payroll software.  Read more aboout MoD plans for Data Cleansing on its payroll software

CIFAS publishes special report into staff fraud

A new report from the UK's fraud prevention service has shown a worrying increase in the estimated amount of identity fraud by private and public sector employees. Find out more about the CIFAS special report into staff fraud

Google CEO says the young will struggle to escape 'cyber pasts'

Young people may be forced to change their name to escape the consequences that come with exposing private information on social networking sites like Facebook, Google's boss has said.  Read more about  the comments from the Google CEO about the young and their cyber pasts

Employers warned over health employment screenings before Equality Act comes into force 

The Equality Act will stop employers asking certain employment screening questions, warns People Management.  The Equality Act 2010 will come into force on October the 1st and will include section 60, which prohibits the use of pre-employment health questionnaires until a job offer is made. Read more about the warning to employers about health employment screening

IPP warns over Student Loans Company email scam

Graduate employers and payroll administration departments should be aware of an email scam from a group claiming to represent the Student Loans Company (SLC), the Institute of Payroll Professionals has warned. Find out more about the IIP warnings about email scams

Union leaders concerned over changes to Cumbrian Council's payroll service

Union leaders in Cumbria have expressed concerns that lower paid workers could suffer due to upcoming changes to the County Council's payroll service. Find out more about the concerns of union leaders about Cumbian Council's payroll service

Merseyside council staff took equivalent of 2,000 years off sick last year

Staff at Merseyside council took the equivalent of almost 2,000 years off sick last year, according to figures obtained by the Freedom of Information Act.  Find out more about the sick leave taken by Merseyside Council Staff

Man worked for over four years before being caught lying about right to work in UK

A man who came to the UK on a student visa claimed he had the right to work in the UK, landed a job in the kitchen of a hospital and earned £87,000 before he was caught lying. Find out more about the man who worked for four years whilst lying about his right to work in the UK

IPP warns over pay freeze for public sector

The two year pay freeze for all public servants earning more than £21,000 outlined in the 2010 budget will damage the sector, the Institute of Payroll Providers (IPP) has warned. Find out more about the IPP warnings over public sector pay freezes

HMRC reviews release of Time to Pay data

HM Revenue & Customs has postponed the release of statistical information on Time to Pay arrangements whilst it considers a possible policy of data secrecy. Read more about the HMRC review of the release of Time to Pay data

Minimum wage extended

Payroll service providers should be prepared to amend their practices to ensure that 21 year olds are paid the full adult minimum wage, as the government has announced the qualification age is to drop from 22 years of age this Autumn. Find out more about the extension to the minimum wage

Consultation into possible PAYE shake-up launched

David Gauke, the Treasury minister, has launched a consultation on how PAYE can be improved.
As reported by Real Business, the pay-as-you-earn system is used by around two million employers and accounts for over 30 million employees. Read more about the consultation into PAYE shake-ups

CIOT backs government consultations on tax reform

The government's recently published discussion papers on tax have been backed by the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT), who say that the tax system must be simplified. Read more about CIOT backing the Government consultations on tax reform


July 2010

IT and HR systems should be more closely aligned

According to a recent report, HR and IT professionals need to work together more efficiently to recognise the positive impact that HR technology can have on a business. Read more about the report into IT and HR systems

Plans to force employers to offer flexible-working welcomed

Plans to force businesses to offer flexible working to employees have been welcomed by employers, according to Personnel Today. Read more about the plans for force employers to offer flexible-working

Employment screening by "postcode discrimination" not supported by research

Discrimination by postcode is not a part of employment screening despite the claims of anecdotal reports and theories on the incidence of unemployment in deprived areas, according to new research commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).  Read more about the research into employment screening by "postcode discrimination"

REC calls for "common sense" approach to criminal record employment screening

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has called for the government to take a "common sense" approach to criminal vetting of staff and only make employment screening required where strictly necessary. Read more about the calls for a common sense approach to employment screening

IPP: 1 in 10 do not understand their payslips in full

Almost one in ten workers (9%) say they do not understand all the details on their payslips, according to a new study from the Institute of Payroll Professionals (IPP). Find out more about the IPP research into payslips

9 out of 10 businesses do not use a background check service during recruitment

Almost 9 in 10 (87%) of businesses in the UK do not use a background check service during recruitment, yet nearly two thirds say that they have encountered misrepresentations in applications from outside candidates. Find out more about Business use of Background check services

Inefficiently managed payroll services cost companies £4,000 per employee

Poorly managed payroll services are costing UK companies almost £4,000 per employee by failing to effectively follow pay policies, according to a new study from HR consultancy firm Mercer. Find out more about the cost of inefficiently managed payroll services
 

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