Pilot tests of judicial mediation - an alternative approach to settling employment disputes before reaching court - have been reported as 'very positive' in the Tribunals Service Annual Report and Accounts.

This Personnel Today news round-up includes: UK car industry risks losing skills and jobs to other countries Danish firm with autistic staff sets its sights on the UK UK employment and skills services must be simplified Unite calls on Lloyds

Delaying tactics' adopted by some employers when workers contact the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) for statutory recognition has led to a drop in applications from 64 in 2007-08 to just 42 in 2008-09, the TUC has claimed.

The government-commissioned MacLeod Review of employee engagement has been met with a lukewarm reception from senior HR figures, who are critical of its lack of practical measures.

Noel O'Reilly and John Charlton join Rob Moss to discuss news that the details of whistleblowing incidents heard in employment tribunals could be forwarded to the relevant regulatory authorities.

Personnel Today and the Employers Forum on Age are holding a debate on the default retirement age (DRA) and want your questions to put to panellists.

Remuneration teams within banks and other financial institutions should have more power to scrutinise staff reward, while bonuses should be paid to employees over a five-year period without being capped, the government-commissioned Walker Review has recommended.

Thousands of public sector staff will be seconded to the Department of Health (DoH) to help cope with the swine flu outbreak, the government is expected to announce next week.

BT and Tube Lines have been named employers of the year at the 2009 Apprenticeship Awards.