How to lead staff during an economic downturn
With the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the takeover of HBOS, everyone is focusing on how businesses can cut costs and streamline operations. Stephen Archer explains how to address and lead staff during these times to increase retention as well as commercial effectiveness. The current turmoil in the financial markets has meant that the media […]
Colborn’s Corner: A change of culture?
Some people may have given a wry smile at the thought of many financial services workers losing their reputedly high bonus payments, with a perception in the media that the ‘fat cats deserved it’. But is this fair? Are we adding to the hysteria? Quentin Colborn examines the issues of bonuses and the much larger […]
HR tip: Misuse of redundancy because a person isn’t good at her job
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 want to let a person go who is not very good at her job, so propose to make her redundant. Any problems with this?" HR tip: Yes indeed. You may make […]
Human capital management: The next generation
Somewhere tucked away in Oracle’s portfolio of acquired software companies is what used to be HCM champion PeopleSoft. But while CRM and database engines grabbed the headlines at Oracle OpenWorld, the firm was also keen to demonstrate that its HCM and talent management strategies are alive and well and gearing up to tackle Oracle’s vision […]
Can you keep your head when all around you are losing theirs?
Claire Logan, Rhonda James and Jacky Simmonds discuss the uncertainty of today’s constantly changing business landscape and explain how to keep the focus on business delivery, citing a merger at TUI Travel as an example. Uncertainty is now the only constant. The current economic climate has made us all acutely aware that we are living […]
Making change stick
Organisations often need to make effective change and create innovation but, in many cases, the change happens initially and then reverts back to old habits. Iain Davidson suggests creating a ‘bubble’ of change, which contains hard and soft dimensions allowing creativity and innovation to take place. Organisations often need to effect change within a particular […]
Ask the expert: Misconduct or not?
An employee is constantly off sick and refuses to supply a medical certificate or sick note from his doctor. Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar, and Martin Brewer, partner at Mills & Reeve, advise on whether it is grounds for misconduct. The question:We have an employee who has been with the company for nearly four […]
How To… Make Redundancies
In the current economic climate it seems as though daily we read in the press about another company making redundancies and shedding their workforces. Given the need to cut costs it’s not surprising that companies look to their most expensive resource, their employees, in order to streamline the business. However redundancy should be a last […]
Charity Selects HR and Payroll System from COA Solutions for Improved Reporting and Closer Monitoring of HR issues
TACT UK, a national charity that supports adults with learning difficulties, is implementing OpenPeople, an integrated human resource (HR) and payroll software system from www.coasolutions.com. This system, which will be launched in late 2008, will improve efficiencies in management reporting, significantly reduce manual data entry and enable closer monitoring of HR issues such as staff […]
In sickness and occupational health: Absence management
We all want a healthy and happy workforce, so how can occupational health work with HR to help manage employee absence? Louise Druce investigates. It seems the credit crunch is being blamed for everything these days, including days off work. Absence management company FirstCare, which monitors the likes of Coca Cola and the NHS, claims […]
HR tip: Paying for employee to learn Chinese
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 are planning to do a bit of business in China, though it will be handled by a specialist marketing organisation. However one of our employees has asked us to sponsor him […]
Driver eyecare and the law: Understanding your responsibilities
Andrew Adams advises all employers to be aware of the laws surrounding the eyecare of employees who drive on company business, especially since the introduction of the corporate manslaughter legislation earlier this year. Employers are increasingly becoming more accountable for the health and wellbeing of their employees. The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations, […]
Legislation update: Age discrimination in job advert
When the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 were first introduced, there was much speculation as to whether job adverts, which seek a specific number of years experience, could be discriminatory on grounds of age. Richard White considers a recent case on this issue. Rainbow v Milton Keynes CouncilMs Rainbow was employed by Milton Keynes Council […]
Recruitment: Do looks matter?
Hot Potato of 2008Organisations are shooting themselves in the foot by choosing the best-looking job candidates, instead of the best skilled. By succumbing to our celebrity-obsessed society, everyone will loose out, says Gemma Middleton. Over the past few months, two stories have caught my eye; the first being that in a survey which asked 2,266 […]
Ask the expert: Asking employees to reduce salary
In addition to the redundancy process, an organisation is considering reducing the salaries of senior staff not at risk of redundancy. Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar, and Martin Brewer, partner at Mills & Reeve, advise on whether this is both fair and acceptable. The question:Our company has recently lost a large percentage of its […]
Getting strategic: Does talent management software work?
Best Technology Feature 2008With talent management now being viewed as one of the most important HR strategies, more firms than ever are investing in software solutions to help simplify the process. But can it really make that much difference? Verity Gough gets technical. With HR’s broadening remit comes the challenge of managing masses of employee […]
HR tip: Tired employee that makes mistakes
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: "One of our employees always appears tired and makes more mistakes than other people. What should we do?" HR tip: Wake them up, call them to a meeting, explain your observations and […]
Boost morale with end-of-year awards
You may not want to admit it, but the time has come to start thinking about Christmas. OK, maybe not the shopping part of it, but now is certainly a good point to start planning Christmas awards for your staff, says Derrick Hardman. With just 12 weeks to go until Christmas, now is the time […]
Ask the expert: Return from maternity leave
Upon returning from maternity leave, an employee has been signed off sick for four weeks. Can the employer dismiss her? Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar, and Martin Brewer, partner at Mills & Reeve, advise. The question:We have a lady who has just come back from 12 months’ maternity leave. She only worked one day […]
Ethics in HR management: Is it all relative?
The field of ethics becomes particularly complex for international companies. What is acceptable in one location can be totally unacceptable in another. So Dr Jamie Ward asks, when and how should HR get involved? Ethics in organisations can be defined in a number of ways: it can be about the principle of treating others well […]