Why did the Knicker Queen give up her throne…?
This article was written by Sofia Syed, employment solicitor at Mundays LLP. The UK’s so-called knicker queen Janie Schaffer has been in the news this week for taking legal action against her former employer Marks & Spencer for over £1 million in compensation after quitting her job after just three months. Janie, who launched lingerie chain Knickerbox, […]
Want to get your HR initiative agreed? How understanding the brain can help you
‘The goal of a presentation to your boss is not to get him to think you're smart, but to get him to think he's smart to support your idea’. This is a tweet (the new form of quote) from Tom Peters. It struck me as perfect for this article on how understanding the brain can […]
HR tips 2003
All our HR tips from 2003: click on the links to read any of the HR tips. December 2003 Deductions from wagesChildren on siteWorkplace affairsDisabled workers November 2003Attitude problemsRedundancy selectionCustom and practiceWorking Bank holidays October 2003Disciplinary and dismissal proceduresTime off work for funeralsReferencesTranslating rulesBanning smoking at work September 2003Burden of proofContracts of employment
Doing business in India – cultural considerations for HR
The second most populous country in the world, the Republic of India has gone through an economic transformation over the past 20 years to become one of the world’s fastest developing economies. India’s long and rich history has formed a strong cultural identity amongst an extraordinarily diverse group of people. However, whilst India is modernising […]
Workers unions and people-centric HR policies contribute to GDP
Countries where workers are protected by strong unions and good work and safety policies that acknowledge the importance of psychologically safe work environments have a higher GDP. This is according to new academic research which explores whether work-related stress factors can explain national differences in health and economic productivity, measured by GDP. The study, which […]
Get ready for the introduction of fees in the employment tribunal. It is happening!
This was written by Steven Eckett, employment lawyer at Bishop & Sewell LLP. Employment Tribunal fees are scheduled to commence from July 29th 2013, for the first time ever. There are going to be two types of claim attracting a minimum of two types of fee:- Firstly a ‘Type A’ claim for relatively straight-forward claims such […]
Talent spot: Claire Balmforth, operations director at Carpetright
When Claire Balmforth joined Carpetright, HR was not on the agenda. Despite it already being an established and successful high-street retail brand, Balmforth was the first HR person the company had ever hired. Until then, the growth had been so fast, that the company had not had the time – or the need – to […]
Reach & Teach: How to support women in leadership roles
This article was written by Geraldine Bown, who has spent 27 years working in the areas of women’s development, diversity and spirituality. A former President of the European Women's Management Development Network, she specialises in empowerment and leadership programmes for women. You can find out more about Geraldine at www.powerfulwoman.net. Introduction Organisations recognise the need to support […]
Interview: Emma Pinker, General Manager, London Vision Clinic, on employee engagement
Emma Pinker is General Manager of the London Vision Clinic, a laser eye surgery clinic. The company was recently included on the 2013 Best Workplaces List [PDF, 5.68MB] from Great Place to Work for their commitment to employee engagement. Download our academic-led employee engagement toolkit, produced in association with Great Place to Work. 1. What does […]
Legal advice: the need for collective consultation when making redundancies
This article was written by Christopher Graham, Head of Employment at Watson Burton LLP. Background Woolworths may have disappeared from the high street but in a surprising development, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has held that the duty to consult with a Trade Union of Employee Representatives applies whenever an employer is proposing more than 20 redundancies, […]
HR professionals struggle to ‘justify case for talent’
Close to two-thirds of HR professionals feel overwhelmed by the complexity of justifying investment in talent amid increasing pressure to show ROI, says new research. Almost four out of five (79 percent) HR leaders believe senior management in their organisation think talent is critical to the bottom line. Over half (54 percent) feel their organisation […]
Five rules for creating a high performance, ‘mist-free’ culture
This article was written by Andrew Sillitoe, author of ‘Managing the Mist,’ a new book on coaching, leadership development and change management. To achieve anything in life, whether it is personal or organisational, usually involves changing something. The problem with change for a lot of people is that is can cause discomfort, anxiety and in […]
SaaS and the impact on flexible working
The article was written by Nick John, MD of FCP Internet Limited, a supplier of recruitment software through recruitment solution evolve. The working environment is changing and flexible working is the next big thing. For a business, this is a way of meeting employees’ shifting needs by giving them the option to work from home on […]
Has the time come to abandon the idea that we need leaders?
Since leaders earn the lion’s share, and since they have disproportionate sway in an organisation’s direction, isn’t it time we admit they just don’t make very good decisions? In The Leaderless Revolution, Carne Ross points to a new world order in which “ordinary people will take power and change politics in the 21st century,” highlighting […]
Top tips for recruiting interim managers
Charles Russam, chairman of interim manager provider Russam GMS, discusses how to ensure best practice when recruiting an HR interim manager and his top tips for successful recruitment. Interim managers are board level independent business leaders or project managers who work in a range of disciplines and sectors. They are experts in their field; high-level performers […]
Reaching out: connecting businesses with schools to build a talent pipeline
This article was written by Kirsty Mackie, Head of Barclays LifeSkills, which provides businesses access to free resources to help them develop work experience frameworks. In their annual survey of employers on education and skills out last week, the CBI and Pearson have highlighted the challenges that businesses face recruiting young people who are ready for the […]
How do we boost the female talent pipeline?
This article was written by Jo-Ann Feely, Alexander Mann Solutions’ Head of Consulting. With just three female executives in the FTSE100, and the percentage of women joining boards standing at 17.3 percent, the challenge of how to increase gender diversity in the workplace has never been more pressing. But how should HR directors go about it? […]
How the Millennial Generation is transforming the workplace for the better
This article was written by Prithvi Shergill, Chief Human Resources Officer at HCL Technologies. Post, Pin, Tweet, Webinar, Video Conference, Tele-presence, Social – these are some of the new business terms that we are increasingly seeing heard in our workplace. Gone is the static, paper-based, boardroom-centric world of work. In its place, a new social, collaborative […]
Spotting the signs of musculoskeletal problems in your employees
This article was written by Dr Nick Kendall, medical advisory board member for Health & Case Management Ltd (HCML). Failure to spot crucial signs of musculoskeletal or mental health problems in employees is jeopardising recovery and the probability of returning to work. It is well known that the most common health problems affecting the UK workforce […]
Google: brainteaser questions are a ‘complete waste of time’
Google gained a reputation for its use of ‘creative’ questions in the interview process as a method of differentiating between candidates. How many ping pong balls can you fit in a Boeing 747? Why are manhole covers round? Now Laszlo Bock, Head of HR at the search engine giant, has told the New York Times […]
