Health secretary Andrew Lansley has marked the 63rd birthday of the NHS by announcing plans for a new National Leadership Academy for NHS staff.

Global employment trends are stabilising according to a survey of hiring and firing trends covering over 12,800 organisations in 47 countries.

Restaurant chain McDonald’s has signed a long-term partnership with British designers, Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway, and upcycling company, Worn Again, to design the uniform for its 85,000 employees.

The closure of the News of the World from this Sunday, could lead to an increase in employment tribunal claims and whistle blowing cases according to a city law firm.

The gap in average earnings between employees in the public and private sector has increased since 2007, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Heineken has introduced a new eyecare scheme for its 2,200 UK employees.

Half of employers are not allowing flexible time for the 2012 Olympics, according to the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP).

Employment legislation including pension requirements, dismissal rules and sickness absence rules is deterring deter sole traders from taking on their first employees.

LOCOG (the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games) has appointed People 1st to develop its customer service training programme for London 2012.

Travelodge is to create 1,300 jobs in the UK as part of an aggressive growth strategy.

Just over one in 10 senior executives of UK companies are planning to add permanent, professional-level staff in the second half of 2011, according to the latest Robert Half Professional Hiring Index.

Banks will have to provide far more detail on how they link pay to performance and risk, following the publication of the Basel Committee's Pillar 3 remuneration requirements.