Research by IRS sheds light on how employers obtain information about the absence and medical details of their potential recruits, what recruiters do with these details, and the costs involved.

Many employers undertake detailed background checks when recruiting, particularly to positions of trust; research by IRS looks at the methods they use, focusing in particular on references and Criminal Records Bureau disclosures.

Many organisations have relied on countries such as India and China as a source of low-cost labour, but now these countries face their own war for talent and the West must find its own people pipeline.

Facilities management company Amey’s talent management programme has tackled low staff morale and high recruitment spend. In the first two years, it has helped halve the average cost per hire.

Employers that knowingly hire illegal migrant workers now face a £10,000 fine or a prison sentence. Does this mean HR should keep closer tabs on employees?

The 2007 UK median voluntary resignation rate was 13.8% of the workforce, according to IRS research drawing on data from 278 organisations and providing voluntary and total turnover rates by sector, size and region.

Public sector workers' unhappiness with pay deals could result in more strike action. But what does this mean for staff morale and retention?

IRS’s report into the trends and developments in the assessment and selection of candidates focuses on how employers have been changing their practices, and what have proved the most effective and most risky initiatives to take.

Employers' efforts to improve the cost-effectiveness of their recruitment practices over the past two years are analysed in this IRS research. This part of the report focuses on trends and developments in job application methods.

Research by IRS highlights how employers have been changing their candidate-attraction techniques, and what have proved the most effective and most risky initiatives to take.

Employment Law Bulletin provides guidance on employers' new legal responsibilities in relation to checks on workers' immigration status.

IRS is offering free benchmarking reports on UK employers' absence rates and labour turnover levels in exchange for information about your own organisation’s figures for 2007.

Employment Review examines the latest research on the impact of migration on the performance of the UK's labour market and pulls out the main evidence on the impact of immigration on pay.

Personnel Today reports on how, when forced to recruit marketing expertise externally, drinks giant Coca-Cola set about ensuring it had a flow of internal talent ready to step up.  

Directories company Yell is one of the first UK employers to use virtual reality world Second Life for recruitment. It has also introduced a form-free online applications and assessment process, based on a bespoke behavioural model.

With recruitment budgets under pressure, it is increasingly important for HR to help reduce staff turnover.

IRS is conducting research into an important aspect of recruitment: taking account of candidates’ absence records, their medical histories and fitness for work. We would be very grateful if you could find time to take part in our survey.

The best recruitment decisions are often those where jobseekers have first been given details of a vacancy’s negative aspects as well as its good points. We look at what is involved in ensuring that there are no unwelcome surprises when recruits start a new job.

National Car Parks (NCP) is using an online psychometric testing questionnaire to improve the suitability of new recruits to the role of parking attendant, and to help reduce the high level of staff turnover. Personnel Today reports.