Legal Insight: Dealing with workplace sexual harassment
Workplace sexual harassment is unwanted conduct that violates dignity or creates a hostile environment, legally defined under the Equality Act 2010. Employers must recognize that harassment ranges from direct behavior like unwelcome touching and insulting comments to indirect tactics such as spreading malicious rumors, and implement preventive measures to protect employees.
News: Microsoft’s Yammer enables HR to monitor staff emotions
Microsoft’s Yammer has integrated with emotion analysis company Kanjoya to allow HR teams to monitor employee sentiment through workplace social network posts. The Crane analytics dashboard analyzes Yammer communications to help organizations gauge staff reactions to company announcements and changes in real time.
News: Clear link between HR effectiveness and financial growth – study
A Boston Consulting Group study of over 4,200 managers across 100+ countries found that organisations with effective HR functions generate revenues up to 3.5 times higher and profits 2.1 times greater than competitors. The highest performers excelled in integrated leadership development, talent management, and performance management practices.
Case Studies: UBS and Elizabeth Arden remain loyal to Oracle
UBS and Elizabeth Arden, both longtime PeopleSoft customers, have chosen Oracle Fusion HCM to modernize their HR operations. The selections highlight Oracle’s efforts to retain existing customers as aging PeopleSoft systems reach renewal cycles amid competition from rivals like Workday.
Blog: Four considerations when learning to manage upwards
Managing up—building an effective relationship with your boss—is a critical skill not taught in school but essential for career success. This deliberate effort to connect with your manager, regardless of personality differences, directly impacts productivity and organizational results.
Blog: Danny Boyle’s secret to enabling creativity on an Olympic scale
Danny Boyle’s approach to fostering creativity during the Olympic opening ceremony involved two key steps: first, eliminating barriers to allow team members to freely explore ideas across disciplines, then reinstating structure and specialization to deliver results. This balance between open innovation and focused execution proved essential to managing thousands of volunteers and creating a world-class spectacle.
Ask the Expert: What should I include in an absence management policy?
A comprehensive absence management policy should include reporting procedures, self-certification and fit note requirements, sick pay details, occupational health provisions, and return-to-work processes. The Bradford Factor can be used as a trigger for discussions about attendance issues, but not as an automatic disciplinary sanction. Policies should address different absence types fairly and consistently.
News: Tower Hamlets implements ‘Smarter Working’ initiative
Tower Hamlets Council implemented a ‘Smarter Working’ initiative enabling 4,000+ staff to work remotely using Citrix virtualization technology. The move aims to reduce carbon emissions by over 300 tons annually, cut annual overhead costs by £7 million, and achieve full return on investment in under two years.
News: Fraud leaps as employees struggle to make ends meet
Employee fraud is surging as financial hardship forces workers to lie on CVs and steal from their employers. A UK fraud prevention service reported a 450% rise in successful job application fraud and a 52% jump in internal employee theft, while nearly 40% of workers struggle to afford basic living costs. Experts warn employers must provide financial support and better fraud prevention measures.
News: Mother loses dead son’s disability discrimination case against Amazon
A mother has lost her disability discrimination case against Amazon on behalf of her late son, a former warehouse worker who was sent home without pay due to back pain. Though the employment judge found Amazon not guilty of discrimination, he criticized the company’s handling of the situation. The son died of cancer before the case could proceed to court.
Blog: A recruiter’s response to HMRC’s £390m industry probe
HMRC has launched a £390m probe into recruitment industry tax avoidance schemes. A recruiter argues the sector’s non-compliance stems from unclear HMRC guidelines, inconsistent enforcement, and unsustainably low profit margins that incentivize tax-dodging schemes.
How to accommodate disabled workers in a post-Remploy world
Following Remploy factory closures, employers can support disabled workers through tailored accommodations and creative job restructuring. Minor workplace adjustments and role customization often enable disabled employees to perform excellently while bringing dedication and loyalty to their positions.
Book Review: Diversity in the workplace – Multi-disciplinary and international perspectives
This edited volume explores workplace diversity from multi-disciplinary and international perspectives, covering theoretical frameworks, diversity management strategies, and country-specific contexts. Aimed primarily at academics and researchers, it offers practical insights for global organizations while maintaining academic rigor across its comprehensive chapters.
News: Asian postman gets £100,000 payout for exposing racism
An Asian postman won a £100,000 payout after exposing endemic racism at his Royal Mail workplace, where colleagues called him and other Asian workers “cockroaches” and “vermin.” Abdul Musa was unfairly dismissed in 2007 after complaining about the abuse, though an employment tribunal ruled he was racially victimized and Royal Mail’s investigation was “shambolic.”
News: Doctor shadowing scheme introduced to cut NHS ‘killing season’
The NHS has introduced a shadowing scheme requiring junior doctors to work alongside senior colleagues for at least four days starting in late July to reduce patient deaths during the annual “killing season” in August, when mortality rates spike as new graduates begin their roles.
Talent Spot: Community blogger, Dianne Bown-Wilson
Dianne Bown-Wilson founded in my prime, a consultancy providing age management advice and strategic guidance to employers, policy makers, and older workers. Her diverse career spanning marketing, PR, copywriting, and HR informed her expertise in helping people adapt skills for career transitions and navigate longer working lives.
Blog: Do you have an employee value proposition?
An Employee Value Proposition defines “the deal” between employers and employees—encompassing compensation, benefits, and workplace culture. With many organizations experiencing significant changes to employee benefits post-recession, HR leaders and communicators should formally define their EVP to attract and retain talent effectively.
Blog: More cost for employers – Sick workers and annual leave
A UK Court of Appeal ruling confirms that workers continue to accrue annual leave while off sick and are entitled to carry it forward or receive payment upon termination, even without requesting it. This decision removes previous employer defenses and exposes businesses to substantial back-pay claims dating back to 1998.
Is it worth bothering with a CIPD qualification?
A CIPD qualification is well-respected and can open doors in HR roles, particularly when transitioning from other business functions. While not always required, employers value it alongside practical experience and demonstrated soft skills like communication and leadership.
News: Racial victimisation ruling for black footballer to be contested
Mark McCammon, a former Gillingham striker, became the first black footballer to win a racial victimisation and unfair dismissal claim against a professional football club. Gillingham plans to contest the tribunal’s ruling, maintaining it is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate.
