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 […]
Graduates: Less is more
An HR body has called on the government to review its “over-promotion” of university education and to focus more on providing vocationally-based diplomas at a time when nearly six out of ten graduates are unable to find suitable employment. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has warned that government targets desiring 75% of […]
Why bother engaging?
Engagement might be widely backed up by research but how can you know what motivates your employees if you don’t know the level of engagement of your employees? “A happy worker is a productive worker.” We all know the saying, and it is backed up by mountains of research which proves that an engaged workforce […]
Survey: HR in the digital workplace
Understanding HR’s role in shaping the Digital Workplace. The proliferation of mobile devices and wireless internet access is creating the ‘always-on’ society. But is it affecting your business? Do you have workplace policies to deal with IT and social media usage? Take our anonymous survey. For organisations, the challenges are not just about which hardware […]
Ask the expert: Sickness in an SME
One of our employees has been off sick 22 times in the past year. Now she claims she has an underlying health condition. How should we handle it? Adam Partington and Esther Smith advise. The question: Sickness in an SME We are a very small company (two full time and one part time), and […]
Don’t drop the ball now – engage for recovery
Change and upheaval has been a feature of the past year. However as we look to the future, engagement will be a key differentiator. Is your organisation engaged and ready to play the game? We all know an engaged workforce is essential to an organisations health and wealth, particularly as we move out of the […]
