Employers back government’s minimum threshold on strike ballots proposal
Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Three quarters of employers back coalition government proposals to introduce a minimum threshold on strike ballots over fears that increased levels of industrial action following swingeing budget cuts could stifle the UK’s economic recovery. These are the findings of a study among 507 senior UK decision […]
Video: Marcus Buckingham, the strengths finder
Marcus Buckingham, developer of the Gallup Strengthsfinder system, on why we should be developing our strengths rather than focusing on weaknesses. Charlie Duff met Marcus at a Benchmark for Business event in Manchester. The next event is taking place in London on 17 November 2010. Titled Exceptional Talent, Extraordinary Teams, it will feature Sir Ken […]
Ask the expert: Extension of probation period
This week the experts, Martin Brewer and Esther Smith advise on how to deal with extending an employee’s probation period. The question: Should a meeting to extend an employee’s probationary period be treated as a disciplinary meeting, i.e. have the right to be accompanied etc. or does their lack of one year’s service preclude that? […]
Siemens: HR and IT work together 4Success
Siemens, the German electronics giant, is 18 months into what most observers agree is the world’s largest cloud HR implementation, with over 400,000 subscribers, across 80 countries and 20 languages. It’s an incredible feat but it only happened because HR acted within the business with other departments, from the board to IT to make a […]
Public sector workers not suitable for private sector jobs
Although 85% of the 600,000 public sector workers facing redundancy would consider working in the private sector, more than 90% of commercial employers believe that their background and experience is irrelevant. The situation is not helped by the fact that 87% of private sector bosses believe that public sector candidates need to better identify and communicate […]
Public sector workers say striking worth the public perception risk
Although just under three in five public sector workers understand that they risk losing public sympathy if they cause disruption through strike action, 49% believe that they must do what is necessary to protect their jobs. But according to a survey of 2,000 UK private and public sector workers undertaken by the Chartered Institute of […]
Should UK brace for winter of discontent?
With the spending review due to be announced this week and last week’s announcements of quangos to be closed down sparking talk of a ‘quango bonfire’, union action is expected over government cuts – but how soon and in which sectors remains to be seen. Tomorrow (Tuesday 10 October) the TUC will hold a rally […]
Measuring the effectiveness and gain of training
John Pope asks the tough questions and examines the tangible measurements of training. There have been several articles on measuring the gain from training and development and on the need to maintain investment in training. I also see articles showing fantastic financial benefits. Some of those claims for the benefits of training lead me to […]
The Digital Workplace: HR in focus
Our advisory arm, K2, has published some of the data collected in part on HRzone when it comes to the role digital media and devices have in the workplace. They have analysed the findings to uncover advice for HR professionals. Thank you to everyone who took part: this extract below draws on K2 Advisory’s research […]
Leadership styles – What can HR learn from The Apprentice?
Reflecting on the first episode of the 2010 series of The Apprentice, it’s somehow reminiscent of the David Brent scenes in The Office – only this time for real. The show had many cringe-worthy, toe curling moments; particularly when a certain character (Dan Harris) tried unsuccessfully to assert his authority in a desperate attempt to […]
Staff retention failures costing businesses £42bn a year
British business is losing £42bn a year through its failure to retain key staff, according to reseach from accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) PwC found nearly a quarter of UK employees are either actively looking or planning to look for a new job because of unhappiness about expected pay and conditions in the coming year. Around […]
Maternity leave: A practical guide
Maternity leave is a topic constantly being discussed on HRzone.co.uk. This handy guide is a first-stop-shop for reference – but experienced members and experts are always ready to answer your questions in detail over at Any Answers. This article deals with the statutory entitlement to maternity leave. Your business may have contractual or discretionary provisions […]
How to: Select a coach
Whether you are thinking about sourcing an external coach, or developing coaching in-house, the Association for Coaching UK offers some practical tips on what to look for in a coach. The value of coaching is recognised as a powerful tool for the development of people within an organisation and provides a ‘safe’ forum in which […]
Ask the expert: Notice period holiday
The experts, Neil Gill and Esther Smith advise on whether it can be made compulsory to take remaining holiday when serving notice. The question: Notice period holiday Can employers include a clause in their employment contracts which states that any outstanding holiday entitlement must be used up during notice periods? For example, if an […]
First time at an Unconference?
If you are thinking of joining us at the ConnectingHR unconference on 21 October and you haven't been to an event like this before, its understandable you'd be feeling a little unsure about what to expect. Use this list of tips to help you make the most out of the experience and make the unconference […]
Building a brand from within – the role of HR
It’s no secret in the industry that HR teams, like parents, do many jobs under one title. And, like parents, they are the go-to for good news and bad news, crises, problems and any major changes within the organisation. Everyone deals with the HR team; whether they work for a growing business or a multi-faceted, […]
The war for diverse talent
Let’s face it – diversity has become a pretty tired term in HR circles. By now, HR people should know that diversity is important. However, is there a genuine business case for diversity? Raj C. Tulsiani investigates. Are there distinct competitive advantages for organisations that manage to embed diversity? Could an HR Director stand in […]
Finance talent war rages on – and set to worsen
Although finding skilled finance, accounting and operational support professionals is already proving tricky for many employers, the skills shortage is only likely to worsen as business confidence starts to return. A survey undertaken among 6,300 financial leaders across 19 countries by specialist recruitment consultancy Robert Half revealed that, while the hiring market was still in […]
Equality Act: It’s recruitment, but not as we know it…?
We consider what changes will need to be made to recruitment in reality in the light of the equality act. Fergal Dowling, Partner in the Employment team at law firm Irwin Mitchell warns recruiting is tough enough as it is but now there are more things to look out for than ever before. The advice […]
Equality Act: What wasn’t enforced
There has been a lot of talk about what changes the Equality Act will bring to HR and recruitment professionals. However, there were a few items the coalition government held back on – and it is these more controversial elements that perhaps say more about the Act than what was enforced this time. One of […]