Wellbeing – the business strategy
Jamie-Natalie Cross explains why wellbeing is a business strategy and offers tips to help get your workforce in shape. Now it looks like spring has finally sprung, promising warmer temperatures and gently reminding us about that long-awaited summer holiday, employees may be more health conscious than they have been in recent months. With staff already […]
Equality bill gets washed up
The equality bill has been passed in the last days of the government in the ‘wash up’ period. Update – See an overview of the changes which came into effect on 1 October 2010 here The Press Association reported Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman’s flagship Equality Bill was sent for Royal Assent on […]
‘Time to Train’ is now in force
Employees working in organisations with 250 or more staff are, from 6 April, eligible to request time off under the Time to Train scheme, which will be extended to all employees from April 2011. Legal changes have come into effect from 6 April 2010, which give employees the right to request time for study […]
Can telecoms companies really help HR beyond phone networks?
Different providers are always vying to supply HR with business services – but can the telecoms industry really handle business services like IT as well as the phone networks? From a business perspective it is far easier to work with a partner that you can have a business conversation with because they understand your requirements […]
Election 2010 – your manifesto
What do you want to see the parties promising you this election? We’re putting together a manifesto wishlist to win the hearts of the HR community. Now that parliament has been dissolved, the campaigning really has officially begun. The parties have been delivering hints and statements on their policies for some time now, but we […]
Is your business ‘fit’ for Fit Notes?
With the introduction of the new “fit note” medical statement system on April 6 2010, both employers and employees have a range of a new considerations for all the stages of workplace absence, and it’s far better to proactively prepare to work with the new process than to learn solely by experience. One of […]
Public sector pensions must be more affordable, says CBI
The ‘final salary’ scheme is unsustainable and is causing a trillion pound black hole burden on the taxpayer, the CBI claims. Their research claims the financial ‘black hole’ for unfunded public sector pensions is £10bn every year. The total overall liability for these schemes has mushroomed to £1 trillion, or £40,400 for every UK household. […]
Cases in point – bitesize employment law April 2010
Suzanne Horne of Morrison and Foerster gives her legal round up of case law affecting human resource practitioners. 1. Tullett Prebon v BGC Brokers LP – Team Moves & Constructive Dismissal2. British Airways Plc v Williams and Others – Holiday Pay ruling may impact all aviation sectors3. Dunn v AAH Limited – Failure to […]
The HR business partner health check
The trend in recent years has been a move towards a decentralisation of the HR role out into local business and organisation units, exemplified by the role of HR Business Partners (HRBPs). In theory, the HRBP brings HR expertise closer to what is required and can therefore tailor service and advice to local business requirements. […]
Ask the expert: SOS – help with SOSR
How should you handle a re-engagement after dismissal of SOSR following a salary reduction? Martin Brewer and Esther Smith advise. The question: Due to a requirement to cut costs we need to introduce salary reductions (amongst other measures).Following consultation, it is likely that we will have a small number of individuals who […]
Negative body language ends in disappointment for job seekers
When it come to interviews, those who lack self-belief are being let down by their body language, according to global recruitment firm NES Global. Since the recession, competition for employment has meant that job hunters are experiencing continual knock backs, which is consequently shattering their confidence. To help seal the deal in an interview and […]
Mandelson: Business leaders ‘tricked’ by Tories
Lord Mandelson has claimed the Conservatives ‘tricked’ some of the UK’s biggest business names into signing a letter backing the Tory plan for National Insurance if they come to power. The Labour plans involve a 1% rise on NI for employers, sparking claims of a Labour ‘tax on jobs’, which the Tories say they would […]
Cheers! How a global brewery engaged their employees
Employee engagement has never been more discussed than it is currently. But how often do companies plan and implement engagement strategies with a very clear business goal? Molson Coors Brewing Company (UK) Ltd, the global family brewer, has just completed the first phase of a major new people engagement programme designed to do just […]
Easter egg hunt – Winner announced
This Easter you could win a delicious alternative Easter egg from Demijohn – an olive oil and fruit vinegar set, perfect for foodies. Just find the Easter egg on HRzone.co.uk! **********THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED************** The lucky winner is Beverley.kilbyfox.co.uk – congratulations and well done on finding the Easter egg! If you didn’t win […]
Fit notes – do they fit the bill?
Companies with an existing focus on health and wellbeing could reap the benefits of the change, says Rory Murphy, external affairs manager for Water Wellpoint. From 6 April 2010, the sick note will be replaced by the ‘fit note’ in a bid to reduce sickness absence across the UK. The Department for Work and […]
The fit note – friend or foe?
Rob Woollen from Rightway Employee Wellbeing Solutions examines the new Med-3. Unless you have been living under a rock for the last few months you will be aware that the new Med-3 form comes into play next week. Or does it? Some GPs are saying that whilst they have already ordered pads of the new […]
Essential HR skills (part 2): 12 things every HR programme manager should know
Starting a new project or programme can be exciting and challenging, but after the initial excitement it’s important to keep the momentum going. Keep these tips handy and stay on the straight and narrow! Develop a common vision of the goal/outcome of the programme – and makes sure everyone buys into it. The vision for […]
Tribunal ‘fast track’ scheme announced
The Ministry of Justice is implementing a new Employment Tribunal Fast Track Scheme in an attempt to clamp down on the huge four out of ten rogue employers that fail to pay staff awards. Research published by the MoJ last year indicated that some 39% of people granted awards by tribunals had not been paid […]
Government takes on long term unemployment
The government is guaranteeing to provide jobs or work placements for people on Jobseekers Allowance who have not worked for more than two years in a bid to prevent long-term unemployment from soaring. Under Labour’s new so-called “something for something” approach, however, claimants will be required to take up such positions or risk losing their […]
Manifesto for employment – what do you want to see?
After the UK election, any incoming government should focus on workforce flexibility rather than employee job security and on ensuring that further education is aligned with commercial requirements rather than promoting education for education’s sake. These are the key demands laid out in the UK’s largest recruitment consultants Hays’ new ‘Manifesto for Employment’, which calls […]