Publications

Publications graphicWe author and publish a range of resources to keep you up to date with the latest developments in employment, labour market and human resource policy and practice.

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  • People and the Bottom Line

    Tamkin P, Cowling M, Hunt W | Jan 2008 | Institute for Employment Studies

    Does the way people are treated at work make a difference to the performance of the organisations that employ them? Are there returns to investment in human capital in a similar way to investments in physical capital? These seem straightforward enough questions but they have generated huge amounts of debate. Against this background, this study takes into account concerns from both academics and practitioners, and provides a convincing argument that the investments firms make in their workforce make a difference.

  • Employment Outcomes for Women in London's Economy

    Miller L, Broughton A, Carta E, Fearn H | Jan 2008 | Institute for Employment Studies

    This report identifies patterns of difference in equality outcomes between women working in the public and in the private sector in London, to help inform the subsequent development of policies for women in London's economy. The work consists of three strands: analysis of existing datasets to provide evidence of the relative positions of women and men in London's economy; identification of areas of inequality; and identification of examples of employer policies and practice in addressing these areas of inequality. The research also considers: whether there were any significant differences between the positions of women and men employed within the public and private sectors; differences in employment outcomes for women from black and ethnic minority backgrounds and white women; and the situation of women with disabilities within the workforce.

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    Evaluation of the Activity and Learning Agreement Pilot

    Process Evaluation: Year One Report

    Maguire S, Thompson J (University of Warwick), Hillage J, Dewson S, Miller L, Johnson C, Newton B, Bates P, Page P (IES) | Jan 2008 | Department for Children, Schools and Families

    This publication is no longer available. The Activity and Learning Agreements Pilots were launched in April 2006 in 12 areas of England. This report is based on the process strand of the evaluation which used case studies to explore the operational issues and the implementation chain, identifying problems and good practice.

  • Activity and Learning Agreement Pilots - Programme Theory Evaluation (Working Paper 1)

    Incentivising Participation in Activity Agreements

    Johnson C, Newton B, Usher T, Hillage J | Jan 2008 | Department for Children, Schools and Families

    This study investigated the theory that ‘If the net additional value of the incentive was sufficiently appealing, certain young people would sign up to the Activity Agreement (AA), or at least attend an initial discussion where the wider benefits of the AA could be promoted'.

  • Recruitment and Training Among Large National Employers

    Bates P, Johnson C, Gifford J | Dec 2007 | Learning and Skills Council

    This research aimed to inform the Learning and Skills Council's understanding of large national employers' attitudes and practices in terms of recruitment and training.

  • Activity and Learning Agreement Pilots - Programme Theory Evaluation (Working Paper 2)

    Signing Up to a Learning Agreement

    Johnson C, Page R, Munro M | Dec 2007 | Department for Children, Schools and Families

    The Activity and Learning Agreements Pilots were launched in April 2006 in 12 areas of England. Activity Agreements (AA) are for 16 and 17 year olds not in education, employment or training (NEET), who are offered a weekly allowance in return for committing to a plan and completing agreed activities to re-integrate them back in to learning. Learning Agreements (LA) are for 16-17 year olds in jobs with no accredited training (JWT), to support and encourage them back into learning. This study investigated the theory that ‘In LA pilot areas where there is no financial incentive, it is the support, advice and guidance provided by the Connexions worker that will be enough to ‘kick-start’ the young person’s interest in learning and induce them to sign up to a learning agreement.’

  • Impact of Care to Learn - Tracking the destinations of young parents funded in 2003/04

    Dench S | Nov 2007 | Institute for Employment Studies

    Care to Learn is a UK government initiative that provides financial support for teenage parents who want to continue in, or return to learning. It helps with the cost of their childcare and travel. As part of the national evaluation of Care to Learn, a self-completion postal survey was conducted of young parents who received Care to Learn funding during the 2003/04 academic year. The survey was conducted during the winter of 2006.

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    Impact of the Working Time Directive on Collective Bargaining in the Road Transport Sector

    Broughton A | Nov 2007 | European Industrial Relations Observatory

    This report explores the impact of the Working Time Directive on collective bargaining in the road transport sector. It first gives an overview of the road transport sector across the European Union, looking at its employment structure and collective bargaining actors, processes and issues. It then examines implementation of the directive in different countries and its impact on key areas such as working time, rest breaks and night work, as well as those cases where derogations from the directive are permitted.

  • Evaluation of Year 2 of the Skills Coaching Trials and Skills Passports

    Page R, Casebourne J, Mason D, Tuohy S | Nov 2007 | Learning and Skills Council

    In partnership with the Centre for Social and Economic Inclusion, IES evaluated Skills Coaching, a careers and coaching service for out of work adults. The evaluation involved: case-studies in nine of the areas running Skills Coaching trials; a review of literature on employability and employment and skills policy; an analysis of the pilots’ management information; and an assessment of the cost of delivering the service.

  • Paying for Performance

    New trends in performance-related pay

    Suff P, Reilly P, Cox A | Nov 2007 | Institute for Employment Studies

    This paper examines how performance-related pay (PRP) has evolved in recent years. It uses real-life case studies to demonstrate how new techniques, closely linked to the organisation's unique characteristics and needs, can successfully act as a lever to improve individual performance and organisational effectiveness.