Credit crunch or global growth: What business structures are needed?
It's safe to say that 2009 will be a big year for many organisations, however the economy and markets perform. Andy Bedwell discusses how we should structure, recruit and develop to make the most of the uncertainty and recover quickly when it is over. The past year has shifted the landscape for most organisations. For […]
HR in America: Diary of an exchange visit
HR manager Lynn Starsmore shares her experiences of a month-long exchange trip, organised by the Rotary Club, which saw her flying over to Southern California to expand her knowledge and experience of HR across the pond. The journeyOn the way to the airport last-minute nerves kicked in and I was thinking, how could I possibly […]
Ask the expert: Inappropriate behaviour at a Christmas party
A manager acted inappropriately at the office Christmas party last month, due to the amount of alcohol he consumed. Esther Smith and Martin Brewer advise on what disciplinary action to take now. The question:A manager in my business acted erratically at our Christmas party due to a quantity of alcohol. This consisted of several lewd […]
Who needs training in 360 degree feedback
We often work with training organisations who use 360 feedback as an input into the design of a training programme. More often now, we are working with organisations who recognise that the 360 itself requires people to be trained.Training can assist recipients, respondents, and managers in getting the most from the process. I learnt this […]
No Irish need Apply
People forget the discrimination which the Irish, along with other immigrants, suffered even in recent times in Britain and America. It was not uncommon to see signs in boarding houses after the Second World War in England like the one below saying “No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs.” My Father in Law worked as a […]
Poor pay expected in 2009
UK employees have poor but realistic salary expectations for next year, according to a report published today by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).The CIPD’s annual Barometer Report reveals the full extent of the gloomy pay prospects for next year, after 2,604 employees were quizzed on their attitudes to pay in 2009. The […]
HR tips 2008
All our HR tips from 2008: click on the links to read any of the HR tips. December 2008Employing a married coupleDealing with a poor performerSmoke breaks November 2008Qualifying to claim unfair dismissalEmployment end dateGross misconductWithholding statutory sick pay October 2008Timing of redundancy noticeValidity of warningsMisuse of redundancyLearning ChineseTired employee September 2008Entitlements on gross misconductPhone […]
We were warned!
The Celtic Sage has often referred to the Management Gurus and to one Charles Handy in particular. Whilst often referred to in the Sassenach media as Britain’s only world class business guru he is actually the son of an Irish clergyman who established himself with his book Understanding Organisations (1976). Handy is probably best known […]
The Christmas party: You simply can’t please everyone
Here's a tongue-in-cheek look at the problems an HR director experienced whilst trying to accommodate the needs of the organisation's diverse workforce when planning the office Christmas party. You've got to feel sorry for her… FROM: Pauline, Human Resources DirectorTO: All EmployeesDATE: 21st October 2008RE: Christmas Party I'm happy to inform you that the company […]
Writing great 360 degree feedback
360 degree feedback and performance appraisals both depend on the ability of respondents (often the line manager) to write great feedback comments.I have been handling a number of debrief sessions recently and it was interesting how reliant I was on the narrative feedback section of the 360 to give me an insight into the feedback. […]
Dear Santa: HR’s Christmas wish list
With gloomy economic predictions and the prospect of job losses for many in 2009, HRZone.co.uk spreads some Christmas cheer and asks the experts what's on their HR wish list. Verity Gough reports. What would you like to see change next year, to make your working life easier? "I would like to see candidates being treated […]
How to deal with inappropriate social behaviour amongst staff
Hamish Cameron Blackie discusses how businesses can best deal with inappropriate behaviour by staff who represent them at Christmas parties and social events, including what policies to have in place and what disciplinary action to take In 2006 Theresa Davies, a female vicar from Northamptonshire, shocked colleagues with an unexpected confession at her Christmas lunch […]
Counting the cost of Christmas: The absence headache
The festive season is here again and organisations will once more be counting the cost of festive cheer as rates of absenteeism escalate. Christopher Berry explains how employers can effectively manage absence at this time of year. Despite the fact that absence has a direct impact on the bottom line, it’s surprising how many organisations […]
European Parliament votes to scrap working time opt-out
European MPs have voted to scrap the UK’s opt-out from the Working Time Directive, limiting the working week to an average of 48 hours.MEPs voted in favour of ending it by 421 votes to 273. The UK government will now enter negotiations with the European council of ministers, with the aim of reaching a final […]
Jobless claimant count reaches 1m
The number of people unemployed and claiming benefit rose by 75,700 in November, the biggest increase since March 1991, official data released on Wednesday has shown.The unemployment rate has now increased to 1.86 million, which is its highest level since November 1997, and up by 137,000 from the previous quarter.The official statistics also revealed that […]
COA Solutions Signs-up to Major New Green IT Initiative
UK business management and information systems provider, COA Solutions (www.coasolutions.com), today announces that it has signed up to the Green Charter of the Business Application Software Developers Association (BASDA), the voice of the UK software industry. This recently launched green IT initiative shows a commitment by software developers to tackling climate change both within their […]
People performance dynamics: How to make the intangible tangible
Claire Logan and Lee Kearns explore the benefits of applying a ‘systems thinking’ approach to people performance to find the cause and effect links between employee engagement and business performance. Academics and HR professionals alike have been trying over the years to prove the value HR functions and people management activities add to organisations. A […]
Top tips on being an employer of choice
Do you need to save money on new hires during 2009? Are you keen to hang onto your top talent when pay rises are unlikely? Tim Holden outlines the steps that can genuinely deliver results and ensure you are an employer of choice. More and more employers are recognising that there are a number of […]
Christmas on a budget: The office party
Don’t play Scrooge this year and cancel the Christmas party just because funds are tight. In the current economic climate, it is crucial to ensure staff feel valued and are motivated, says Penny de Valk. At a time of financial uncertainty, managers may be considering cancelling their office or team Christmas party. However, this year […]
Profile: SSA winner – SuccessFactors
SuccessFactors was this year’s winner at the Software Satisfaction Awards, in the talent management category. Andy Leaver, vice president of sales EMEA at the company, speaks to Lucie Mitchell about the key to customer satisfaction and developments in store for the software industry in 2009. 1. Why do you feel you won this award? I […]