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HR Zone Members Newswire Issue 73
9 November 2004
http://www.hrzone.co.uk
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SITE HIGHLIGHTS ***** SITE HIGHLIGHTS ***** SITE HIGHLIGHTS
1. Editor’s Comment: Stress in the 21st century
2. HR Tip: Workplace relocation
3. Feature: Examining the right to time off for dependants
4. Bosses play scrooge this Christmas
5. Any Answers: recovering pay, disabled workers, working time
SITE HIGHLIGHTS ***** SITE HIGHLIGHTS ***** SITE HIGHLIGHTS
Editor’s note
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Stressed out? Got too much on your plate? Editor’s Comment
takes a look at stress in the 21st century and finds it to be a
condition shared by all levels of workers – many of whom have
the same concerns – pondering the difficulties and entrapments
of their working conditions, job flexibility, career prospects
and pay.
Whatever the causes of stress what is undisputable is that
ignoring the issues costs businesses and if latest news is
anything to go by – workers won’t even be offered an opportunity
to unwind during the festive season as more bosses plan to throw
in the party towel and abstain from hosting an office bash this
Christmas.
Share your views on stress today and let us know whether you
think employers are doing enough to manage the issues. Post your
comments at:
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/133038
Regards,
Annie Hayes
Editor
mailto:editor@hrzone.co.uk
HSA launch innovative private medical insurance plan
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HSA Personal Medical Plans have been launched to help employers
provide a new type of private medical insurance that is flexible
and offers choice. There are 4 modules, which can be mixed and
matched to suit your needs and those of your employees. For
further information, please click below or call 0800 328 1200
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/redirects/hsa2.html
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Member’s news
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Welcome new members
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This week, HR Zone welcomes members from the following
organisations, among others, to the site:
The Adams Consultancy Ltd; Age Concern Norfolk; Environment
Agency; Clarks; Black & Decker; Compass group; Michael Page;
Employers Organisation; Women’s Resource Centre; Nottingham
Trent University; HM Customs & Excise; St George’s Hospital
Medical School; Lloyds TSB; Fast-Track SA; Quantum Business
Media; Wine Cellar Ltd; Kingston Magistrates’ Court; JB
Consultants; Bristol City Council; Profile Security Services
Ltd; Wolters Kluwer; Teamtec Software Solutions; Russell
Personnel & Training; London General Transport Services Ltd;
Farnham Castle; Britannic Assurance; Watson Wyatt LLP; CIPD
HCI schemes: the fastest growing employee benefit in the UK
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Home Computing Initiatives (HCI schemes) are the fastest growing
staff benefit in the UK, allowing employees to enjoy the latest
computing technology. Because companies typically recover the
cost of the loaned computer equipment through salary sacrifice,
they can benefit from reduced employer National Insurance
Contributions of as much as 64 pounds per person per year. To
find out more visit:
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/redirects/ukhc.html
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Editor’s Comment: Stress in the 21st century
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Wednesday marked National Stress Awareness Day, an annual event
now in its seventh successive year – stress though is far from a
cyclical occurrence, it is ever-present in every-day life;
Editor’s Comment looks at the issues.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/133038
HR Tip: Workplace relocation
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HRD & Payroll Solutions continues to bring HR Zone members a
range of HR tips. This week’s tip looks at workplace relocation.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/133098
Feature: Examining the right to time off for dependants
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In this feature Alison Wallace looks at the legal framework
surrounding the employment right to take time off for
dependants.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/133094
Bosses play scrooge this Christmas
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Christmas cheer will be in short supply this season if findings
from employment law firm, Peninsula are anything to go by.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/133066
FSB calls for a ‘regional minimum wage’
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The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has made its case for a
regional based National Minimum Wage (NMW) pointing to its
varied impact across the UK.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/133007
Government funds equality message
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The Department of Trade and Industry are putting 1.4 million pounds
into a campaign designed to spread the word on equality.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/133064
Poor customer service blamed on managers
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More than three in five workers in customer facing sales and
service roles believe that failing line management is one of the
major causes of the UK’s culture of poor customer service and
neglected sales opportunities.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/133076
Fireworks safety could put firms in the dock
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The Fireworks Act 2003 together with the Fireworks Regulations
2004 means that for the first time firms will have to comply
with legal guidelines when organising or hosting firework
displays.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/132997
‘Embarrassed’ employers fall foul of DDA
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Employers in the UK are too shy to investigate disabilities
causing them to fall foul of regulations imposed under the
Disability Discrimination Act (DDA); according to employment law
firm Withers LLP.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/133022
Any Answers answered: Recovering pay
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Q – I worked for Organisation X for around three years before
joining my current organisation in June 2004.
Organisation X withheld 1% of the annual pay increase due in
August 2003 due to financial difficulties and promised to pay
it, fully backdated, when the money situation was clearer.
This didn’t happen while I was there, but I have since learned
that Organisation X is now paying the additional 1% pay rise and
backdating it for all current employees. Am I entitled to
approach Organisation X asking for my backdated pay?
Gary Cookson
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A – You will need to consider the agreement between yourself and
your old employer. Were there any conditions attached to the
repayment of the backpay? Did they say that you had to remain in
their employment? If you have a copy of a letter confirming what
they said, that would be really helpful.
Assuming you can prove that you are entitled to the backpay you
should write to them and ask for payment. If they fail to pay,
you will then be in a position to enforce payment through the
small claims court.
Quentin Colborn
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http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/133081
If you have a question – or can offer an answer – go to
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/anyanswers/
Any Answers
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Any Answers is the place to go to share your professional
experiences with others. A selection of new Any Answers
questions posted this week:
Katy is looking for advice on the fair treatment of disabled
workers – can you help?
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/133087
Out-of-hours rota: Sarah Medway is looking to change current
working hours? Have you got any handy tips?
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/132996
Marjorie Gardyne is looking for some content pointers for a
motivational workshop she is running.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/132970
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