HR prospects survey: the state of the profession

Nearly 500 human resources directors and senior managers talk about their hopes, fears and biggest challenges in IRS Employment Review's fourth annual HR prospects survey.

Based on a survey of 487 public and private sector UK organisations, the survey finds that the underlying problems of absence management, recruitment, retention and restructuring remain the profession's core challenges.

Attention has recently also turned to information and consultation and to the slightly longer term issues raised by forthcoming legislation on age discrimination.

Dealing with disciplinary and grievance procedures represented the key regulatory priority over the past 12 months, cited by 59% of respondents.

Looking ahead, the Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004 are the principal regulatory concern. Nearly two-thirds of employers mentioned information and consultation as a priority for the coming year, more than double the proportion citing them as a priority over the past year.

  • Legal changes bring new sense of discipline to HR priorities    IRS Employment Review presents the full findings of the fourth annual HR Prospects survey, based on responses from 487 employers employing more than 2.7 million people.

  • Reward: Building a reward strategy    Sheila Attwood presents the findings of the reward section of the survey, focusing on reward strategy, developments in pensions and progress on equal pay.

    Also

    Beyond dispute? Prospects for workplace peace in our time    Mark Crail presents the findings of the section on the industrial relations climate.

    Employer branding is key in fight for talent    New research from Personnel Today looks at HR's recruitment priorities for the next two years.

    HR must abandon hope or become 'human remains'    Personnel Today editor Karen Dempsey reports on a speech from futurist Larry Hochman, held at the recent HR Forum conference on the Aurora.

    Pensions reforms raise tensions   The HR Prospects survey section on pensions (due to be published on 27 May 2005) finds public sector employers concerned that pension reforms could shatter the relative calm of recent industrial relations.

    HR prospects survey 2004, HR prospects survey 2003 and HR prospects survey 2002    Read the results of the previous two annual HR prospects surveys.