Stacey Epstein, Vice President Marketing Communications for SuccessFactors
SuccessFactors has been a global company from the very beginning. A native European, Lars Dalgaard, SuccessFactors’ president, founder and chief executive officer, built the company from the ground up with detailed plans and operational focus on delivering solutions that would optimize performance for companies around the world. Given that focus and the fantastic growth opportunities […]
Disability awareness: Flexible working for carers
Nick Sheppard considers a recent landmark case involving disability discrimination, and advises that employers could face additional obligations when considering requests for flexible working from employees who are carers. There are 6 million carers in the UK. Current employment law provides that carers of people with a disability are entitled to limited time off to […]
HR tip: Gross misconduct v misconduct
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: "When does misconduct become gross misconduct?" HR tip: Gross misconduct is any action that strikes at the heart of the employment relationship and makes its continuation impracticable. You should give examples in […]
Colborn’s Corner: Opting out of the opt-out
The recent decision by Members of the European Parliament makes it look as if the UK opt-out on the 48-hour week could disappear by the end of the year. While a final decision has yet to be reached, there appears to be a strong chance that MEPs could vote to end the exemption for the […]
Redundancy: How to manage the survivors
How an organisation handles their redundancy situation is crucial – not just for those leaving but for those remaining. Debora Sanders explains how to motivate and manage the survivors. Redundancies are on the increase. This past September, the CIPD legal helpline saw a big surge in calls regarding redundancies and economists are predicting a significant […]
Ask the expert: Discussing salaries
Can an employer add a clause in an employee contract that forbids staff to discuss or disclose salaries? Esther Smith and Martin Brewer advise. The question:I have just come across a clause on a contract where it states that any discussion or disclosure of salaries is subject to disciplinary action. Is this legal these days?Legal […]
Home working: Making it work for everyone
An increase in the use of broadband, laptops and PDAs mean that working from home has never been easier. Tim Holden explains about the policies and procedures that need to be in place to ensure that the arrangement works well for both employer and employee. A recent study revealed that whilst most managers claim to […]
How to choose an outplacement provider
The current economic climate means that, if you are faced with redundancies in your organisation, providing employees with outplacement support is vital, says Denise Taylor. Outplacement is the process by which a company meets a duty of care to its employees facing redundancy. It helps people to come to terms with the shock of losing […]
Talent in uncertain times
Times are tough. The economic downturn that has rolled across the globe is putting pressure on organisations of all sizes and shapes in all business sectors. Management teams need to cut costs while not impacting on corporate performance. This in turn means that the importance of managing talent is more important than ever, with one […]
Beating the bully: What is HR’s role?
Despite the bad publicity, formal policies and government-backed schemes, bullying and harassment is still prevalent in the workplace. Now, as ‘Ban Bullying at Work Day’ approaches, Verity Gough asks why HR’s head still seems to be stuck in the sand. Harassment and workplace bullying is destructive, costly and damaging to all parties concerned. But despite […]
Engaging your employees in a downturn
The economy may have your business down, but has it got your employees down too? Donna Sizemore explains how to keep your workforce engaged and motivated. When recession, competition or any other crisis strikes your organisation, do your fingers reach for the panic button? It’s simply human nature to do so. Instinctively, as leaders, we […]
Avoiding redundancy: Get smarter on labour spend
John Simmonds explains how a few simple steps can enable major savings for organisations looking to cut back on labour spend amidst the growing climate of economic gloom, without the need for job losses. Redundancies and job losses are at the top of the news agenda on a daily basis in the current economic climate. […]
HR tip: Withholding statutory sick pay
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 strongly suspect the sickness absence claims of one of our workers. Are we entitled, therefore, to withhold SSP?" HR tip: You need to discuss the matter with the employee and investigate […]
HRZone.co.uk journalist scoops press award
Verity Gough, feature writer for HRZone.co.uk, has been recognised for the quality of her work after winning the specialist media prize at the Avanta Press Awards this week.The awards honour journalists whose writing demonstrates a clear awareness of the issues surrounding employment and skills. Articles from both HRZone.co.uk and sister site TrainingZone.co.uk were shortlisted for […]
Social Networking – An Opportunity or a Threat?
Nothing seems to have exposed the “Fat Controller” tendency in British companies than the introduction of Social Networking. The first reaction has been simple, BAN IT!! Frequently this has been also the second and third reaction as they welcome Social Networking with the same enthusiasm as anthrax spores being introduced into the air conditioning system. […]
The value of exhaustion: A task for the inspirational manager
Are your employees looking a little tired at work? It could be a classic sign of boredom, which is a key indicator of the need for change, says Judith Leary-Joyce, who explains that managers need to be able to spot this or risk the person looking elsewhere. John was exhausted, dragging himself to and from […]
Ask the expert: Is this discrimination?
Is it discriminatory to ask job applicants for five-year checkable histories before employing them? Esther Smith and Martin Brewer advise. The question:My company has a contract with a major bank, which stipulates that when we take on people to work on their premises they have to have lived in the country for five years, so […]
Legislation update: How to determine worker status
Richard White explains how to determine ‘worker’ status, under the Working Time Regulations 1998, and considers a case relating to this issue. In a 2004 case involving Redrow Homes, the Court of Appeal decided that bricklayers engaged by Redrow were ‘workers’ for the purposes of the Working Time Regulations 1998 and therefore entitled to holiday […]
Using technology in the war for talent
The talent war is arguably one of the most important challenges facing HR professionals today. It is therefore essential to get it right, says David Woodward, who explains how technology has a key role to play in it all. Last year’s Financial Times Research Centre research, commissioned by Ceridian, found that the top three human […]
Software Satisfaction Awards 2008: The winners
The suspense is over, and 20 companies are celebrating their successes in this year’s Software Satisfaction Awards, which were handed out at a glitzy ceremony in London on Thursday night.“This is the third annual Software Satisfaction Awards dinner – and I’m really proud to see that we have created an annual gathering where the industry […]