Ask the expert: Depression and self-certification of absence
An employee has been off work due to self-certified stress and depression, but refuses to see a doctor or get a doctor’s note. Esther Smith and Martin Brewer advise on how to handle this situation. The question:We have a situation where an employee (X) has taken three days off work. A meeting was arranged during […]
Forestry Commission Tracks Carbon Emissions with COA Solutions System
The Forestry Commission, the Government department responsible for the protection and expansion of Britain’s forests and woodlands, is measuring its carbon emissions using COA Solutions’ Employee Expense Management (EEM) system. As a Government department, the Forestry Commission is required to measure and then make efforts to reduce its carbon emissions as outlined by the Climate […]
360 feedback in 3rd person?
I have been working through a series of 360 degree feedback reports. As ever, I have been concentrating on the narrative element. And something struck me for the first time – having read a lot of 360 feedback reports!People write about the recipients in the third person – “he, she”. It is like they are […]
HR tip: Dealing with a poor performer
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Question: "We have an employee whose performance is well below par. What can we do with him?" HR tip: You should talk to him, explain the performance required, point out the performance he […]
Generating the magic: Putting the creativity back in business
With all the doom and gloom associated with today’s economic climate comes the risk that staff focus more on keeping their jobs than being innovative. Gareth Chick explains how employers can encourage their employees to get those creative juices flowing again. With the economic situation worsening daily, it is easy for the office to become […]
Employee engagement… with what?
Chris Rodgers questions what we actually mean by the term ’employee engagement’ and suggests that the practice of engagement is getting ever more removed from reality. Raising ’employee engagement’ has become one of the taken-for-granted objectives of modern management practice – fuelled largely by the ready availability of a multitude of questionnaires, surveys and models […]
Age discrimination: Mandatory retirement
Nick Sheppard explains where the law currently stands on the default retirement age, what Heyday will mean for employers, and how a decision expected in 2009 will impact organisations. The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 (the regulations) came into force on 1 October 2006. The regulations implement parts of the Equal Treatment Framework Directive 2000/78/EC […]
Ask the expert: Credit checks
Is an employer allowed to carry out credit checks on staff and, if so, is their consent required? Esther Smith and Martin Brewer advise. The question:We have been asked by a client governed by the FSA to confirm that we have carried out police and credit checks on our employees who will work at the […]
Ten tips for delivering bad news well
The current economic climate unfortunately means that there are many employers delivering bad news to their workforce, as they are forced to make job losses. Hilary Jeanes offers some top tips to handle the situation with empathy and sensitivity. The impact of the credit crunch is forcing many organisations to reduce their workforce. Telling someone […]
Legislation update: Right to time off for family emergencies
In the recent case of RBS v Harrison, the Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled on the circumstances in which an unexpected disruption of arrangements for a dependant’s care entitles an employee to take reasonable time off work under the Dependant Leave Regulations. Richard White considers this case further. RBS v Harrison: The factsThe employee, who worked […]
360 degree appraisal completion rates
For whatever reason we have a number of our clients all coming to the end of a 360 degree appraisal process at the same time. We are therefore looking at completion rates, deciding on what makes a quorum, deciding how hard to chase respondents all at the same time. I happened yesterday to be reviewing […]
The great escape: Retaining talent in a recession
As belts tighten, budgets get slashed and redundancies loom, how can HR ensure that its talent doesn’t drain away with its profits? It’s time to think creatively, says Verity Gough. If ever there was a time for organisations to secure their top talent it’s now – in fact according to KPMG’s recent poll of nearly […]
HR tip: Smoke breaks and unfairness on non-smokers
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Question: "Since the ban on smoking indoors, we insist that anyone wishing to smoke must do so outside in the yard. Several smokers therefore disappear into the yard now and again for a […]
Queen’s Speech: Equality, skills and flexible working
The Queen’s Speech on Wednesday included the much-anticipated Equality Bill and Welfare Reform Bill, as well as an announcement that there will be no delay to flexible working proposals, yet the focus was certainly on the global economic downturn.In her speech in the House of Lords, to outline the government’s proposed legislation for the year […]
Are you undermining your managers?
All organisations want managers who are in control, can effectively manage their team, and can take the initiative. But this isn’t always what you get, says John Pope, who suggests that perhaps it is because your managers are being undermined. You want managers who are tough, who can make good decisions in your absence, handle […]
Profile: SSA winner – Octopus
Chris Beaumont, sales director at Octopus HR, speaks to Lucie Mitchell about success at the Software Satisfaction Awards this year, and how the business keeps its customers satisfied. When Octopus picked up the mid-range HR software gong at the Software Satisfaction Awards in October, it was a culmination of three years’ hard work, says the […]
Redundancy: The elephant in your boardroom?
Roger Tynan examines how businesses can work with staff to avoid making redundancies, through other agreed cost-cutting measures. As unemployment continues to rise and many sectors feel the pinch of the global financial downturn, employers and employees alike are acutely sensitive to the possibility of redundancies in the difficult months ahead. But, as unpalatable as […]
Addressing core health and safety issues in a financial crisis
Current health and safety figures hide the losses to people and employers, says Lawrence Waterman, who warns that the new statistics show a worrying plateau of injuries. At first glance, the most recent data on ill health, injuries and working days lost from work look reassuring. Fatalities are down, injuries are at about the same […]
Ask the expert: Internet monitoring
How can an employer allow managers to monitor internet usage, without breaching any data protection principles? Esther Smith and Martin Brewer provide some legal advice. The question:We have been asked whether the IT department can make available to managers access to internet monitoring within the workplace, therefore allowing them to view internet usage by their […]
Vote in the Best of HRZone.co.uk 2008 awards
There’s been frenzied voting so far in the Best of HRZone.co.uk 2008 awards: “Men in HR” is making a strong comeback in the Hot Potato category, nipping at the heels of “Do Looks Matter?”Have your say in the final result by casting your votes in the ‘Best Of’ categories. If you vote for a winner, […]