Publications

Attendance Management

a Review of Good Practice

By the late 1990s it was estimated that sickness absence cost the UK economy £11 billion each year. With changes to the sick pay rules, and growing concern over workplace stress, many employers were seeking ways of managing attendance. This report looks at how this could be done, and reviews the policies of over 30 leading UK organisations to present a model of good practice. The report also highlights key international research findings on absence.

Employability: developing a framework for policy analysis

This publication is no longer available from the client. In early 1998, the then Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) commissioned this review of the relevant literature, supplemented by discussions with DfEE officials and others, to come up with a definition and framework for employability to help inform future policy developments.

From Accidents to Assaults

How organisational responses to traumatic incidents can prevent Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the workplace

This, the second of two reports commissioned by the Health and Safety Executive, considers current understanding of trauma and the extent to which it can affect employees in a wide range of jobs. It presents findings from case studies in 17 organisations, covering a diverse range of occupations.

Developing the Key Skills of Young People

an evaluation of initiatives in the former Avon area

The Western Training and Enterprise Council, together with their partner organisation Learning Partnership West has developed a range of schemes aimed at promoting the development of the Key Skills of young people. This report presents the findings of research conducted within training providers, schools and employers. It explores the importance of Key Skills, approaches to developing and assessing Key Skills and the impact this is having upon young people. It builds upon a recent national survey undertaken by IES for the Department for Education and Employment into Employers' Perceptions of Key Skills.

Longer Term Outcomes of the Pre-Vocational Pilots

Pre-vocational pilots (PVP) aimed to help people with multiple disadvantages in the labour market access to training and support that would enable them to benefit from mainstream training programmes and subsequently move into sustainable employment. This research investigated the extent to which the PVP had been successful in achieving these aims.

Excellence in Research on Schools

An analysis of the direction, organisation, funding, quality and impact of educational research, primarily in the schools field. Research is only one of the influences on policy formation and practice, and its impact is difficult to measure. However, research is valuable if forward-looking, policy-relevant and practical.

Employers' Training of Young People

This publication is no longer available. A study of training and development of young people, provided by employers outside government-funded training. It focuses on why employers choose to recruit young people, what roles they perform and with what skills; how employers nurture these skills, knowledge and experience, and how well employers find their approaches work.

Evaluation of Access to Work

This publication is no longer available. The research paid special attention to the impact of changes that had been made to the funding arrangements for the Access to Work programme in 1996. The findings suggest that employers and disabled people who received the help were generally happy with the programme, not only with the nature and level of support provided, but also with its efficiency and responsiveness of service.