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HR Zone Members Newswire Issue 60
10 August 2004
http://www.hrzone.co.uk
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SITE HIGHLIGHTS ***** SITE HIGHLIGHTS ***** SITE HIGHLIGHTS
1. Developing and managing a virtual team
2. First class service for Royal Mail staff
3. Discrimination claims may soar
4. HR Tip – Custom and Practice
5. Training solutions – members’ experiences
SITE HIGHLIGHTS ***** SITE HIGHLIGHTS ***** SITE HIGHLIGHTS
Editor’s note
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The link between performance and reward is often debated but
rarely is it associated with good attendance. In a revolutionary
scheme Royal Mail are to reward staff with exemplary attendance
records in an attempt to cut the levels of unplanned absences.
Scroll down to see the full story below and use the comments box
to share your views on this type of incentive with other
members. See the hot debate at the bottom of this newswire, in
‘Any Answers answered’ that looks at your experiences of
attendance bonuses.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/129361
We have a New Editor! Annie Ward is the former Managing Editor
of Investors in People, SME publication YourPeopleManager.com.
She has published numerous features, case studies and how to
guides that touch on employment law issues and HR matters.
Annie looks forward to building on the good work already in
place and moving HRZone on to the next phase of development,
improving the service and making it more active and attractive
for users.
Regards,
Dawn-Marie Dart
mailto:editor@hrzone.co.uk
Simply facts – Is sickness absence a concern in your industry?
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Therefore, recruitment, retention and sickness absence issues
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Member’s news
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Welcome new members
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This week, HR Zone welcomes members from the following
organisations, among others, to the site:
Mid Devon District Council; Adecco UK Limited; Vermillion Group;
ANZ Bank; Agilent Technologies; KPMG; Peterborough City Council;
Express & Echo Publications; The Beech Consultancy; Benfield
Motor Group; WKH Chartered Accountants; Nortel Networks; Focus
DIY; Curona Design Limited; Endsleigh Insurance; Henley
Management College; Allen and Overy; Healthcare at Home;
Unilever UK Ltd; Mercer HR Consulting; Vodafone Ireland; Emap
Conferences; Reflect; Volvo Group.
Developing and managing a virtual team
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Laura Kelly, International Marketing Manager of Thomson NETg
looks at the skills required to manage a virtual team.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/129413
First class service for Royal Mail staff
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Soaring absenteeism levels has forced Royal Mail to invent new
incentive schemes to promote motivation levels among workers.
Rewards including cars and weekend breaks are up for grabs.
What’s your view? Will dangling the carrot, help turnaround
absenteeism levels at Royal Mail? Share your views.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/129361
Discrimination claims may soar
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Employers are under the spotlight this summer as recruiters take
on migrant workers and fail to implement proper checks.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/129246
HR Tip – Custom and Practice
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Do you understand how to vary a term that has been incorporated
through long term, continuous usage? See our latest HR tip to
find out more.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/129433
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Featured Any Answers question: Training solutions
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Q: I have been tasked with trying to make training more
accessible to the whole of the business, a multi site cleaning
and FM company. Our employees are based on a client site all
over the country. I have to research and identify cost effective
training tools to ensure that training is accessible and can be
delivered throughout the business.
Any suggestions would be gratefully received.
Regards
Lissa Goswell
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/129268
Members’ responses
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(Edited comments appear – see the site for full details)
What about setting up an internal network of trainers? Use
supervisors or others who are respected and can motivate. Train
them to be trainers and agree the % of their time they must be
available for training. Run courses, in regional “hubs”. The
problem with e-learning is that many won’t be IT literate.
Carole
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Unless you are required to provide training in-house, in which
case cost effectiveness will be difficult, I’d hire regional
providers. If you outsource relevant training to qualified,
competent training providers within the regions where your
organisation has staff, it should satisfy your requirements.
There are risks of course with quality control, standardisation
etc, but these can be overcome with a properly worded memo of
understanding or contract and periodic evaluation.
Click below for the full answer…
Robin Henry
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Read the full responses to this question – and add your own – at
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/129268
Anthony Robbins – Unleash The Power Within
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If you do today exactly what you did yesterday then you can
expect tomorrow to be as disappointing as today was or maybe you
could change your life forever. See Anthony Robbins live. Click
here for a special offer for HR Zone members
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/redirects/robbins.html
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Any Answers
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Any Answers is the place to go to share your professional
experiences with others. A selection of new Any Answers
questions posted this week:
Sharon Paterson looks for advice on training strategies and
policies. Find out more at:
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/129406
Nicole Fairfield seeks advice on incentive packages for staff
at her manufacturing company (an SME) – get further details at:
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/129383
Mobile phone and laptop policies: can anyone share some
experiences and/or examples – asks Gemma Dykins.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/129356
Zero hours – Kay Brown looks at how to include this in a
contract of employment.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/129329
Access the full list of questions – and add your own – at:
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/anyanswers
Progressive Resources
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Progressive Resources has been delivering cutting edge events
for 15 years. The company is based in the South of England but
works throughout the UK and Europe. Last year Progressive
Resources put the finishing touches on more than 500 events.
Events range from Treasure Hunts and Activity Days through to
innovative themes.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/redirects/progressive.html
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Any Answers answered
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Q – Has anyone introduced an attendance bonus scheme for
manufacturing workers? Our current system is not working and
non-attendance is going up rather than down.
Cara Rees
A – Don’t do it! All the evidence suggests that they only have
a short term benefit.
Peter Stanway
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/129297
A – Some would say that employees are paid to come to work so
why pay them twice if they come all the time!
Quentin Colborn
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/129297
If you have a question – or can offer an answer – go to
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/anyanswers/
Subscription Information
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