Up in smoke: An employee’s attempt to quit the cigarettes
As part of our health and wellbeing theme in April, Becky Midgley will be keeping us up-to-date with her efforts to stop smoking through an eight-week programme set up by her employer. This week, she attends her first session and isn’t too impressed. Several weeks ago our HR manager sent a group email to everyone […]
Ask the expert: Off sick or working from home?
An employee has called in sick, yet is still working from home and his line manager is discussing work via email. Esther Smith and Martin Brewer advise on the employer’s duty of care in this instance. The question: Last week a member of staff called in sick, then sent an email telling us he was […]
Restructure for success, not just for recession
Stuart Lindenfield explains why now is the ideal time for organisations to adopt a more efficient business structure and optimise their employee deployment philosophy. A lean, efficient business structure and an approach that continually seeks to make best use of employees’ talents will give an organisation a much better chance of surviving this recession. The […]
HR blogosphere bulletin: 10 of the best
Jon Ingham highlights 10 of his favourite posts from the HR blogs that he’s read this week so that he can bring a few more great blogs and bloggers to your attention. 1. Asperger syndrome and employmentI’ve posted previously on the need to think differently about autism, and I thought this post from James Richards […]
A week in HR: Employment law changes and cost-cutting
Lucie Mitchell reports on the employment legislation regulations that come into force this week, the extent of cost-cutting going on in UK businesses, and the worrying statistics that reveal that chronic disease will pose a serious threat to UK businesses in the next 20 years. The main news this week is the new raft of […]
What the experts said: Flexible working and the new Acas Code
Today, 6 April, sees two major employment law amendments come into force – the extension to the right to request flexible working and the new Acas Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures. The changes have got many experts talking and this is what they said. Extension to the right to request flexible working […]
Employee wellbeing: Is it at the top of your agenda?
In an economic downturn, ensuring the health and wellbeing of your staff is more important than ever; yet in a bid to cut costs, some organisations may choose to axe some initiatives. Lucie Mitchell discovers that this is the last thing you should be doing. We are not experiencing good times at the moment. The […]
HR blunder of the month: Walking CV lands job
These days, we’ve been hearing a lot of stories about crazy stunts job seekers are pulling to find employment. Well, here’s one that actually worked. Five months ago, Manchester-based Jason Fruen lost his job as a mechanical maintenance engineer. After sending his CV to companies and having no luck, he adopted a different strategy – […]
HR tip: Informal warnings
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: "The draft Code of Practice on discipline at work, in force from April, does not mention informal warnings. Does this mean that we will no longer need to give them?" HR tip: […]
The cycle of grief: The key to handling redundancy
Gareth Chick discusses the ‘cycle of grief’ that all employees go through when redundancy is taking place – both those who are leaving and those left behind – and says that when HR professionals understand this, it could help them to cope better in redundancy situations. Making staff redundant is probably the hardest element of […]
Age awareness when making redundancies
Age discrimination has been unlawful since 2006. Uncertainty has remained, however, with many employment tribunal claims stayed as a result of the Heyday challenge. Andrew Bayjou explains what employers can do to minimise the risk of age-related claims when making redundancies. Recessionary timesFaced with the current economic climate, some employees are uncertain about their future […]
How discretionary is a bonus?
If a bonus is labelled as ‘discretionary’ in an employment contract, can an employer refuse to pay it or is the employee legally entitled to the payment? Charles Price offers his advice. Whenever a recession digs its claws into the economy, politicians attack ‘fat cats’ and city bonuses. With the recent suggestion that much of […]
COA Solutions and inspHire Partnership Provides ‘Best of Breed’ Solutions to the Rental Industry
UK business management and information systems provider, COA Solutions (www.coasolutions.com), has announced a partnership with inspHire, the leading supplier of software solutions to the rental industry. This partnership sees the integration of inspHire’s rental and asset management solutions into COA Solutions’ financial management system, providing companies involved in construction, engineering, tool hire and audiovisual hire, […]
HR on a budget: Outsourcing in tough times and beyond
How can your employees help grow and develop your organisation to get in shape for when we emerge from the current recession? Partnering with a managed training service provider could be the answer, says Sean Craig. Preparation for when the economy turns for the better – and it will – should be a key part […]
Video: Unlocking women’s skills at work could add billions to economy
Recent research by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills has found that upskilling women in the workplace could add some £23 billion to the economy. The report was released as the Women in Work Sector Pathways initiative announced a further £5 million of funding to help women into male-dominated employment sectors. In 2009, two-thirds […]
Spotlight: Julia Claydon, HR director, Nando’s
With a love for the restaurant sector and a passion for training, Julia Claydon tells Verity Gough that the secret to Nando’s success is down to more than just great chicken; it’s all about the people. Vital stats: Company: Nando’s The aim: To always deliver a great Nando’s experience, internally and externally Number of staff: […]
Web 2.0 and HR: Ignorance is not bliss
Like it or not, Web 2.0 is unleashed and a part of everyday life, but does HR really know what to do with it? Christiana Tollast examines how HR can harness this powerful beast, and use it to its own advantage. The CIPD’s 2008 Web 2.0 and HR discussion paper describes Web 2.0 as a […]
Success in a recession: Toughen up your mind
In the second in her series examining HR’s role in managing the human factor during a recession, Blaire Palmer discusses the importance of a positive mindset and explains that HR professionals have a large part to play in creating an organisational culture which has a ‘can do’ attitude. It is hard to avoid the doom […]
HR tip: Burden of proof
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 every reason to believe that an employee has been stealing stock but not absolute proof. Does this prevent us from taking formal disciplinary action against him and sacking him?" HR […]
Opinion: Bonus should not be a dirty word in business
Stephen Archer examines how the bonus culture has affected UK companies, and how businesses can move forward and introduce alternative reward schemes that will motivate, engage and retain staff in the future. The furore over bankers’ bonuses continues. Recently US President Obama expressed his ‘outrage’ over the $450m paid in bonuses to staff at Insurers […]