Snow days: how to cope as a business and deal with employees
When severe weather strikes, employers must decide whether to pay absent employees. While employers can generally withhold pay for snow days unless contractually obligated otherwise, consistency in policy and consideration of employee morale are important to avoid discrimination claims and maintain workplace goodwill.
Transforming leadership
Effective modern HR leadership requires understanding both your business and the people you lead. Leaders who grasp employee motivation and state of mind—combined with insights from behavioral economics—will create sustainable competitive advantage as traditional process improvements reach diminishing returns.
Bonuses – a balancing act
Employers must balance competitive compensation with regulatory compliance when designing bonus structures. Effective remuneration packages should align with organizational strategy and risk tolerance, combining fixed pay with carefully calibrated performance incentives that avoid rewarding failure.
Harmonising HR and payroll – how technology can help
HR and payroll departments are increasingly integrating with the help of evolving technology to streamline operations. Organizations must choose solutions tailored to their specific needs rather than generic off-the-shelf packages that may not align with existing policies and processes.
The worst HR jargon – beat the buzzwords
HR professionals and executives regularly use overused buzzwords like “leverage,” “reach out,” and “circle back” that can confuse rather than clarify workplace communication. A recent survey identified the most annoying corporate jargon, while avoiding these clichés helps professionals communicate more effectively.
Jobs, skills, growth? Not likely this year, say Unions
Union research shows pay freezes accelerated in 2010, with one-third of wage deals frozen and union negotiators pessimistic about settlements. Despite inflation rising 2.4 percent, employers facing weak order books and pension deficits prioritized job preservation over pay increases.
Workplace bullying on the rise – take control
Workplace bullying has doubled over the past decade, with more than one in three employees experiencing intimidation. Experts recommend five self-defense tactics including strategic silence, setting compliance conditions, and shifting conversations to help employees counter aggressive workplace behavior.
New unlimited fines for corporate manslaughter
Employers convicted of corporate manslaughter now face unlimited fines under new sentencing guidelines, with penalties typically exceeding £500,000 and potentially reaching millions. The Sentencing Council aims to make fines sufficiently punitive to impact defendants and reflect public concern that historical penalties have been too low.
75% leave employees without guidance on social networking
Three-quarters of UK organisations lack formal policies on employee social media use, despite recognizing that guidelines could protect intellectual property and prevent sensitive data leaks. Only 22% have implemented social networking usage guidelines, though companies with such policies report improved productivity and stronger corporate reputation protection.
HMRC computer glitch causes double the trouble for taxpayers
An HMRC computer glitch is sending incorrect tax codes to employers, potentially causing millions of taxpayers to overpay income tax by up to £1,250 annually. Those who changed jobs recently are particularly vulnerable, as the system incorrectly splits personal allowances across multiple positions. The department must fix the issue by April to prevent widespread tax errors.
Graduates could cause HR headache
University graduates are planning to accept multiple job offers and make final decisions at the last minute, creating significant challenges for HR professionals. According to a survey of over 300 graduates and undergraduates, nearly two-thirds plan to hedge their bets by formally accepting more than one position before deciding which to join.
Industry View: Trouble at the rumour mill
During company restructuring and layoffs, managing internal communications is critical to prevent rumors and protect confidential information. Unsecured emails and social media can rapidly spread sensitive details globally, damaging morale and productivity while risking data breaches and reputation harm.
Krafty job cuts at Cadbury?
Kraft’s takeover of Cadbury raises job security concerns for 4,500 UK employees, with the company’s Uxbridge head office already set to close. Kraft has signaled “meaningful cost savings” through restructuring, potentially moving operations to cheaper labor markets, mirroring its previous closure of Terry’s factory in York.
Navigating the new learning map
The CIPD has restructured its HR qualifications to reflect the modern role of human resources professionals, introducing more practical, flexible courses that better prepare students for contemporary business challenges and strategic decision-making in the workplace.
Ask the expert: Bonuses for all?
TUPE-transferred employees retain their original bonus entitlements unless both parties agree to changes, even if bonuses aren’t explicitly written in contracts. Employers can pay discretionary bonuses to any employee, but established bonus practices may create implied contractual rights.
The benefits of hi-tech, hi-touch mentoring
Combining mentoring with technology can significantly boost organizational effectiveness and ROI. Software solutions streamline mentor-mentee matching, increase administrative efficiency, and enable better tracking of mentoring outcomes, making large-scale initiatives more scalable and impactful.
SuccessFactors acquires Inform
SuccessFactors has acquired Inform, an Australian workforce analytics and planning firm, to strengthen its business execution strategy. The acquisition gives SuccessFactors customers access to predictive analytics combining general ledger, sales, and workforce data to bridge strategy and execution decisions across enterprises and SMEs.
Select HR bought by Access
Select HR, an independent UK HR software provider, has been acquired by Essex-based Access. The company will operate as Access Select and integrate its web-based HR suite with Access’s accounting products to offer combined HR, payroll, and recruitment solutions.
When Twitter goes bad – Vodafone apologises
Vodafone UK apologized after a suspended employee posted an obscene message on its official Twitter account used for customer service. The company deleted the tweet within minutes and issued individual apologies, confirming the account was not hacked but rather a “severe breach of rules by staff.”
Public sector job cuts crossroads on road to recovery
The UK jobs market is recovering with increased permanent placements and vacancies, but public sector redundancies are expected to impact hiring over the next 12 to 18 months, according to recruitment experts.
