Trends and emerging values in human resource management - The UK scene

Trends in UK human resource management (HRM) are shaped by its cost-driven and competitiveness-enhancing nature. The drive for leaner organisations has led to increased use of labour flexibility, downsizing and outsourcing, whilst rewards have become more performance related and benchmarking is seen as a tool for HRM practitioners. Such trends have received strong government support. Since 1997, and the new Labour government there have been signs of more protective values towards employees. However it is the influence of EU membership that has become a greater source of initiatives aimed at employee welfare and involvement. This scene must be placed in context, with an ageing population and an uneven distribution of employment, to gain some understanding of the challenges facing HRM in the UK.