Holiday accrual on sick leave: What you need to know
A recent ECJ ruling means employees now have the right to accrue annual leave during long-term sickness absence. Howard Lewis-Nunn explains what financial ramifications this will have on employers, especially in the current economic climate. The question of whether workers have a right to accrue annual leave during long-term sickness absence has finally made it […]
Charity website links employers and disabled jobseekers
Leonard Cheshire Disability is calling on employers to post their jobs on a new online resource called Suitability launched today (16 February) which matches disabled jobseekers with the skills that employers need. Firms can post their vacancies for free, recruit great candidates and network with other companies through the Suitability Forum and sign up to […]
And they say romance is dead
This Saturday is Valentine’s Day, which means love is quite possibly in the air con. But how can HR ensure hearts and flowers do not give way to accusations of favouritism, atmospheres you could cut with a knife, and sexual harassment claims? Christiana Tollast finds out. In today’s long hours work culture, are office romances […]
COA Solutions Launches New HCM Portal for its HR Pro Human Resource System
COA Solutions (www.coasolutions.com), a leading provider of business management and information systems to the UK mid-market, announces the launch of its new HCM Portal. The HCM Portal, which is designed to work with COA Solutions’ HR Pro human resource (HR) system, is a user-friendly process driven system which allows authorised line managers across the organisation […]
Health and safety laws: Avoiding a prison sentence
Forgotten to clean up that spillage? Perhaps two years at Her Majesty’s pleasure will jog your memory next time. David Foster warns employers about the serious implications of the Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008 that came into force last month. During the year 2007/8, 229 people were killed at work. Construction and agriculture had […]
Show me the rewards
Recognition and rewards are key to attracting and retaining employees, says Donna Sizemore, who asserts that an effective rewards programme is the missing piece in the puzzle of employee retention and motivation. It was a dark and stormy night. Or, more likely, it’s a normal workday in your company, and management is mystified about why […]
Colborn’s Corner: What life is there outside work?
HR professionals admit to searching social networking sites to gain a deeper insight into potential employees. Does this tell us that HR staff have time on their hands to go fishing, or is this the new reality of recruitment? Quentin Colborn discusses what is fair game in recruitment and selection. A recent survey of almost […]
HR tip: Help for redundant employees
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 had to make a few people redundant because we are short of orders and therefore cash. Also, we are unable to extend our overdraft. In these limited circumstances is there […]
Developing your managers in a downturn
Now, more than ever, organisations need tough and determined managers, who are driven and motivated to see the business through the hard times. But how can employers ensure their managers are up to the job? John Pope has some advice. In case you hadn't heard, the world has changed. Most businesses are feeling the pinch […]
A week in HR: A winter of discontent?
It’s been another week of outrage at the UK banking sector, with Gordon Brown reported as “very angry” and even a suggestion that HR is partly to blame for the current bonus rows. With more depressing figures on the state of the UK job market, Christiana Tollast reports that there is however a silver grey […]
The HR information system: The heartbeat of the organisation
The IT system within HR departments forms the lifeblood of any business, says Caroline Attwood, who has some tips for HR on how to choose the right system for your organisation. The HR information system (HRIS) is the most important application in any organisation. You may think this is a bold statement, but if you […]
Opinion: The trouble with HR
These tough economic conditions can be challenging for HR professionals, with cut backs and redundancies top of the agenda at the moment. But who looks after the wellbeing of HR during these difficult times? Wendy Reeves provides some coaching advice for the weary HR executive. As a former HR manager, and latterly in my employment […]
Ask the expert: Ignored on maternity
Whilst on maternity leave, an employee was not kept informed about new job vacancies, despite asking her employer on numerous occasions to ensure she was kept in the loop. Esther Smith and Martin Brewer advise on raising a grievance in this instance. The question:I am now 11 months into my maternity leave, due to return […]
Caption competition: And the winner is…
This month’s competition was inspired by the amount of snow that fell earlier this month.It was tough deciding on a winner this time, but there was one caption that really did raise a laugh, and that was submitted by Lee Clayburn. His winning entry was: It quickly became evident that the new anti dandruff shampoo […]
ASR Computers (a COA Solutions Company) Showcases New Human Capital Management System for SMEs at Softworld North 2009
Leading UK provider of human capital management (HCM) systems, ASR Computers (a COA Solutions company), is showcasing its new HCM system for small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs), on stand 30 at Softworld HR and Payroll North 2009 (10 February 2009, Reebok Stadium, Bolton). This new HCM system – OpenPeople Lite – is an ‘out […]
Cost-effective employee engagement
Employee engagement is absolutely crucial during a recession, yet when HR budgets are being cut and the business landscape is becoming ever more competitive, how can HR ensure staff are engaged, motivated and loyal during a downturn? Nick Golding talks to the experts. As the recession continues to bite, organisations are becoming increasingly reliant on […]
HR tip: Pin-ups in the machine shop
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 lads in our packing department have some quite racy pin-ups on the walls. A female member of staff, who works in another department and never needs to go into packing, nevertheless […]
The role of HR in turbulent times
How is HR faring as a strategic business partner during the downturn? Mark Barlow reveals the results of a recently published report on this topic, which examined the efficiency and effectiveness of HR during these tough economic conditions. The Role of HR in Turbulent Times is a newly published report from Qikker Solutions. Launched at […]
HR admits to spying on potential recruits online
HR professionals have admitted to searching online profiles of potential applicants for further information on them during the recruitment process, a new study has found.In a survey of almost 1,000 HR practitioners and business managers by people search website www.yasni.co.uk, it was found that one-third admit to searching social networking sites such as Facebook and […]
No pay rises please, we’re British
Tim Holden examines the effect of reward on performance, the benefits and downsides of rewarding employees, and how – especially in this current climate – reward can be used to motivate staff. With an increased emphasis on no-cost benefits such as praise, recognition and flexible working, a growing number of employers are seeking to compensate […]