HRD Video Vox Pops: How to engage an increasingly diverse workforce
At the CIPD's HRD learning and development conference in London Olympia last week, we asked a number of experts what their top tip for engaging an increasingly diverse workforce was. And here's what they told us:
Talent Spot: Community blogger, Tara Daynes
As a freelance HR professional, employment law consultant and corporate trainer, Tara Daynes needs to be confident presenting to large groups as well as on a one-to-one basis. Luckily, she learned the art of presenting early on as she went to stage school. “I was all singing and dancing”, she remembers. Media success came […]
News: Temp hiring on the up as employers continue to shed permanent jobs
Despite the UK moving into double-dip recession, a report suggests that there has been a healthy upswing in temporary hiring among organisations in the financial services, commerce and industry and public sectors. The 33% jump in the first quarter of this year compared with the latter quarter of 2011 was caused by businesses shedding permanent staff […]
News: UK’s long-term unemployment levels could ‘trigger social unrest’
The UK’s high levels of long-term unemployment could lead to widespread social unrest as people become progressively alienated from society, according to a study. Therefore, the research entitled ‘World of Work Report 2012’, which was undertaken by the United Nation’s International Labour Organisation, warned that the coalition government should prepare for a repeat of scenes […]
Blog: Four tips for handling a difficult boss
It’s a fact that the main reason why most people are unhappy with their job is poor management. At one point or another, chances are you will have to deal with a difficult, grumpy or (hopefully) unwittingly disparaging boss. You know the type: they get angry for no apparent reason, they completely ignore your questions […]
Blog: Cultivating your personal brand
It maybe unjust to judge a book by its cover, but its still what we do – nearly all of the time. Today it is much easier to be confused about what to wear in the workplace. There seems to be much advice on the internet about what you can and cannot wear in […]
Analysis: Oracle’s future product roadmap for Taleo
In part one of this two-part news analysis, Oracle’s senior executives explained the shifting nature of the human capital management applications marketplace and the vendor’s rationale for acquiring Software-as-a-Service-based recruitment and talent management systems supplier, Taleo. In part two, Jason Blessing, the man in charge of Taleo’s product line, explains what the merger is likely […]
Social Media Guide Part 1: How to get started with Twitter
Just in case you don’t know, Twitter is a social communication tool, which people use to broadcast short messages. These messages, called ‘tweets,’ are limited to 140 characters in length and can be sent directly from your own account on www.twitter.com. It’s possible to include links to web pages, images, and other media in a […]
Breaking down HR silos to boost efficiency
UK employers are continuing to face economic uncertainty, with many looking for new ways to cut costs and cement long-term survival. But such uncertainty inevitably generates a number of business pressures, from which HR directors are far from immune. Among other things, a key imperative is to ensure that the department is working at […]
News: 75p/hr P&O staff to lose tips unless they hit performance targets
The crew of P&O Cruises’ ships, who are paid a basic wage of only 75 pence an hour, face losing tips from passengers if they fail to hit new performance targets. David Dingle, the chief executive of Carnival UK which owns the P&O brand, told the Guardian that the move was part of a package […]
News: KPMG HR blunder #3: Failing to pay staff salaries
If HM Revenue & Customs didn’t have such a knack for mishaps, KPMG’s embarrassment might be more acute after it was revealed that the Big Four firm failed to pay its staff as expected on Friday 29 April. KPMG staffers are usually paid on the 29th of each month, and if that date falls on […]
Blog: How to hold on to good employees – Part 2
In my last HRZone blog entry I set out the five main reasons why employees leave their companies. Today I’m going to describe some corresponding employee retention strategies: 1. Create and maintain a working environment that attracts, retains and nourishes good people The issues you need to attend to include developing a corporate […]
Blog: Will pensions auto-enrolment hit the spot?
With pension auto enrolment due to come into effect towards the end of this year, businesses need to start planning now if they want to get themselves in order ahead of the big switch. If planned correctly the impact on resources for your business required to put the workplace pension scheme into place can be […]
The value of flexible benefits
Recent figures have shown a considerable rise in the take-up of flexible benefits packages lately. In part, this situation can be attributed to factors such as the difficult economic climate and changing employee demographics. Add to these issues the HR community’s growing interest in the subject and it is likely that we will see flexible […]
Ask the Expert: Can a sacked employee with less than a year’s service claim discrimination?
The question If an employee with less than one year’s service (six months) is instantly dismissed for breaching company policy, is there any legal obligation to hear their side of the story? Other members of staff have been breaching the same rule (use of company vehicles), but have not yet been disciplined – they […]
News: Male air steward loses BA lawsuit over colleague calling him ‘darling’
A male air steward who sued British Airways because a female colleague called him “darling” has had his case dismissed by an employment tribunal. Rothstein Williams, who is 42 years old and a Seventh Day Adventist, sued the airline for discrimination on religious grounds. According to the Daily Telegraph, during a pre-hearing review of […]
News: Social networking site unveiled to connect volunteers with charities
A dedicated third sector social network to connect volunteers to charities, each other and local projects has just been unveiled. Ivo is a follow-on to an 18-month pilot project entitled i-volunteer, which was set up to more effectively connect “people and organisations who want to change their world”. The site’s founder and chief executive, […]
News: Kate Bleasdale v Healthcare Locums case turns dirty
The former chairman of Healthcare Locums, Alan Walker, has denied “sexual impropriety” with dismissed chief executive Kate Bleasdale amid allegations of accounting irregularities at the company. Bleasdale, who is representing herself at the London employment tribunal, is suing Walker – and HCL’s board members – for sexual discrimination and unfair dismissal. The medical staffing […]
Film Review: Headhunters
The plot The recently released film ‘Headhunters’ is a fast-moving thriller adapted from a novel by Jo Nesbo, the Norwegian crime writer who is giving Swedish author, Stieg Larsson, a run for his money. Headhunters is narrated by the suave, secretive and vertically-challenged business executive, Roger Brown, whose physical shortcomings have driven him to […]
Analysis: Oracle – Why we bought Taleo
The cloud human capital management application wars are set to be one of the prevailing technology topics of 2012 and beyond. SAP’s acquisition of SuccessFactors, Oracle’s purchase of talent management and recruitment firm Taleo, which completed last month, and Workday’s forthcoming stock market flotation all bear testimony to the importance of the HR marketplace to […]