A carrot a day – keeps employee churn at bay
Charlie Duff interviews Chester Elton live at the HR Director’s Business Summit in Birmingham to find out why HR’s favourite colour should be orange. If you haven’t seen Chester Elton speak, perhaps you should. His motivation speeches are always funny and inspiring: his continual message is appreciate your people. Known for throwing things into/at his […]
Recession raising pension fund risks
While revived equity markets and higher gilt yields have recently led to falls in the UK’s pension fund deficit, the recession has led to a ‘marked rise’ in the long-term risk of pension schemes going bust. According to the annual ‘Purple Book’ published by the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) and the Pensions Regulator, which reviews […]
Poor negotiation skills undermining business performance
Employers’ failure to teach staff good contract negotiation skills and ensure that standard negotiation procedures are in place is costing them millions, according to a new report. The study among 124 Global 2000 organisations worldwide, undertaken by sales consultancy Huthwaite International, found that success today typically depended on an individual’s ability in the area rather […]
British Airways employee contests cross ban ruling
A British Airways check-in clerk suspended for wearing a crucifix at work is appealing against a ruling that cleared the airline of religious discrimination, claiming she has a right to equality and respect for her individual beliefs under the Human Rights Act. Nadia Eweida, who is aged 58 and from Twickenham, wants the Court of […]
HR sees green shoots of recovery
While 94% of HR professionals do not believe that the worst of the recession is over yet, two thirds expect to see an upturn in business over the next 12 months. As a result, according to a new online poll undertaken by management consultancy the Hay Group, nearly three fifths of respondents expect business performance […]
Ask the expert: Are lost payslips a legal minefield?
If my employer loses an employee’s pay slips are they in breach of ID theft or data protection? Matthew Whelan and Esther Smith advise. The question: A member of staff was away on leave and the payslips (two months worth) were given to the line manager while they were away. When this person asked […]
Mover and shaker: Raj Verma, Sodexo
Raj Verma, corporate HR director at Sodexo, will be leaving the UK to take up a role as HR director for the company’s business in Australia and New Zealand. Verma, who has been with Sodexo since 2007, took up his new post in January 2010. As corporate HR director in the UK and Ireland, Verma […]
Top tips for offering remote working to employees
Apart from severe weather there are likely to be lots of other reasons employees may request remote working. Chris Nunn gives his tips on what to consider. New year, new you or so we are led to believe. After the break many employees return to work fired up by recently-made new year resolutions. Having […]
Recruitment agencies and employers “work against each other”
More than three quarters of UK employers feel ripped off by their recruitment agencies and complain that they are not getting value for money, according to a study. A new poll of 250 HR professionals and business owners at 250 UK companies employing up to 750 staff, which was undertaken by researchers Vanson Bourne, indicated […]
HR increasingly influencing business planning and strategy
The HR function is starting to play an increasingly important role in helping UK organisations with corporate business planning and strategy, according to a study. A recent poll conducted among 550 senior HR managers in 17 countries by HR consultancy The Scala Group and the ACE Network found that 62% of UK companies now include […]
Blue Monday: go on, give us a smile!
How did you cope with Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year? Aaron Ross has five top tips for survivingthe winter blues. In 2010, ‘Blue Monday’ falls on Monday 18 January and thanks to a combination of depressing events in January – including wintry weather, credit card bills following the Christmas splurge, and […]
Make 2010 your year: Leadership, personal development and talent
New year means new you: personal development is never wasted, making you a better employee, manager and leader: with succession planning a key aim for many HR directors this year, now is the time to invest in you and be part of the plan. With the prospect of a better year and a brighter future […]
Employee databases a top target for e-discovery
Employee relationship management databases were one of the most common target for e-discovery-based information-gathering for litigation purposes last year, according to a report. The online poll, undertaken by researcher IDC among 115 litigation support and legal technology operations professionals working in large US enterprises, found that the number of respondents experiencing more than 100 law suits over […]
Tell your boss what you think to cut stress – report
Employers can help workers bust stress by encouraging them to tell their line managers what they think of them, according to psychologists. The research, which was jointly sponsored by the Health and Safety Executive, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and Investors in People, found that companies that enable their employees to rate […]
Three ways to enhance the value of psychometrics
UK organisations spend around £100 million a year on psychometric assessments… and then use them in the wrong way. You could get much greater value from your assessments if you focus on three key areas. 1. Focus on cultural fitAs part of their recruitment, many organisations only use verbal and numerical reasoning tests. These tests […]
HR tip: After lunch nap
Learn HR is a leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications, and is experienced in advising on common HR and payroll problems. A wide selection of tips and guidance can be seen below. HRzone.co.uk recommends that any tips are taken as a starting point for guidance only. This week: should […]
Are your employees in the office or volunteering today?
Many people volunteer in their own time. However, at BT staff can volunteer during work hours. Here the company explains why. One major employer – BT – is seeing benefits both to the charities and the communities its people are supporting and through the new skills and abilities its employees are developing. To date, BT’s […]
On the case: Sick employee runs her own business on our time
An employee is claiming sick pay but is running their own business on the side: what should the HR manager do? Layla Bunni lays down the law. An employee has been on long term sick leave for over six months due to a bad back. She claims that her back condition prevents her from driving […]
Growth in HR jobs outstrips all other sectors
According to the Monster Employment Index, the volume of HR posts being advertised online increased by 8% between November and December last year – faster than all other sectors. Growth in the number of available in-house HR jobs is now outstripping all other sectors, but the recession has seen demand for HR consultancy services drop […]
Move staff manuals online to save money and the environment
If HR managers were to move their print-based staff manuals online, it would save organisations across the UK a huge £297 million and the country more than 100,000 trees, according to a study. New research undertaken by online contact centre software provider Transversal, indicates that it costs on average £14 to print the average 40-page […]