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HR Zone Members Newswire Issue 67
28 September 2004
http://www.hrzone.co.uk
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SITE HIGHLIGHTS ***** SITE HIGHLIGHTS ***** SITE HIGHLIGHTS
1. Editor’s Comment: HR – ‘Big hat no cattle?’
2. How Did I Get Here? Irene Burwin, HMG Paint
3. HR Charter: Part 10 – Where does HR go after outsourcing?
4. HR Tip: Employing EU-nationals?
5. Any Answers: Wheel clamping, WTD, rest rooms
SITE HIGHLIGHTS ***** SITE HIGHLIGHTS ***** SITE HIGHLIGHTS
Editor’s note
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Editor’s Comment and the New HR Charter debate the future for the
HR professional this week. Can the function survive the
outsourcing onslaught? Is their the will to embrace strategic HRM
and the HR business partner role? So sit back and take it all in
or get on your soap box and make yourself heard by posting a
comment. Remember if you’re shy you can use the ‘anonymous’
function.
*Coming soon* Softworld HR & Payroll zone. The event will be
taking place on 20-21 October 2004 Hall 12, NEC, Birmingham. As
sponsors of the event, HR Zone will be publishing a range of
updates and news from the event before, during and after it takes
place.
Register now at
http://www.softworld.co.uk/hrp/register.html
Regards,
Annie Hayes
Editor
mailto:editor@hrzone.co.uk
Palgrave Macmillan Publishers
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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:
Acas; John Pimblett & Sons Ltd; The Aziz Corporation; Paget
Roberts Associates; The Sammons Group; UK Debt Management Office;
Business Link; RBS; Capita Hr & Payroll Services; Sainsburys;
London Probation; Persona Partnership; The People Tree;
Intellect; Belfast Institute for Further & Higher Education; DTI;
Information Technology Communications; Accenture HR Services; The
Hyde Group; Speyside Timber Products; The Actuarial Profession;
Vizual Business Tools; People Success Solutions; Mortgage Trust;
Otmoor Ironworks; CSG International Ltd; Buckinghamshire
Chilterns University College; Herbert Smith
Lex FreeChoice StaffSelect
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member of your workforce, regardless of their position in your
organisation.
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Editor’s Comment: HR – ‘Big hat no cattle?’
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HR academic, Skinner once said that the personnel function was
just a ‘big hat and no cattle’ purporting the view that the HR
function makes a minor impact on organisations; Editor’s Comment
takes stock of the criticisms and examines what the future may
hold for the HR professional.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/131212
How Did I Get Here? Irene Burwin, HMG Paint
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This week ‘How Did I Get Here?’ talks to HMG Paint’s Irene
Burwin.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/131093
HR Charter: Part 10 – Where does HR go after outsourcing?
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In Part 10 of the HR Charter series Paul Kearns looks at the
progress and success of outsourcing.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/130954
HR Tip: Employing EU-nationals?
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This week’s tip looks at employing EU nationals.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/130993
Employers prepare to party at Christmas
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Scrooge bosses will be outnumbered this year as latest findings
show that 72% plan to throw a Christmas party.
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/131194
Minimum wage increase triggers fierce debate
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The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has lashed out at the CBI for
being stuck in a National Minimum Wage ‘Groundhog Day’; the
condemnation comes ahead of the rate rise for workers over 22
years to Pounds 4.85 up from Pounds 4.50 this Friday (1
October).
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/131239
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Featured Any Answers question: Wheel clamping
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Q: We are looking to introduce wheel clamping in car parks at our
Leisure Centres and give responsibility for this to our Duty
Managers for dealing with angry members of the public paying to
release their vehicles. Would this have implications if added to
their job descriptions?
Sharon Plumridge
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/131201
Members’ responses
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(Edited comments appear – see the site for full details)
There are clearly some steps you will need to go through to do
this “legally” and this will depend on what is in your
contracts/job descriptions already. For instance you may have a
clause that requires people to do any other tasks that management
deem fit etc.
However if I were you I would turn more closely to two other issues;
1) Effect on retention / morale of doing this.
2) Effect on Customers
Card barriers can be used to prevent unauthorised entry.
Alternatively if you have to go through with this I would use an
external firm of legit clampers. This at least would take the
pressure off your staff and divert a little bit of the bad PR to
someone else.
Keith Luxon
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I think you will need to provide conflict management training to
the staff so they are given the skills to deal with angry members
of the public.
Sandra Beale
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Read the full responses to this question – and add your own – at
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/131201
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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:
Julie Windass is concerned that a possible extension of the
Working Time Regulations to Road Transport will ruin her
business. Have you any suggestions?
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/131272
Dispute resolution amended procedures – can anyone share these?
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/130881
Any Answers answered: Rest room rules
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Q – What should a rest room contain by law? Also, any other
ideas in connection with staff welfare?
Karin Younger
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A – I previously worked for a forward thinking company who made
staff welfare a very high priority. They decided that one of
their key targets was to keep staff happy and well at work, so
the following were introduced:
Osteopathy, physiotherapy, aromatherapy and reflexology available
free of charge to staff.
A chill out room where staff could go for a sleep or rest during
their breaks. You could read or sleep, but no chatting or
disturbing others, or eating either!
Basically, this was a big contributing factor to a happy, chilled
and above all productive work force!
Lisa Hodge
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http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/131158
If you have a question – or can offer an answer – go to
http://www.hrzone.co.uk/anyanswers/
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