Ask the expert: Does a fixed contract negate redundancy?
Does an employee qualify for redundancy pay even if they’re on a fixed-term contract? Matthew Whelan and Esther Smith advise. The question: If a three-year fixed-term contract is not renewed and the employee dismissed in the absence of other work, do they qualify for a redundancy payment? Legal advice: Matthew Whelan, solicitor, Speechly Bircham The […]
The importance of hope
Chris Howe explores the damage a feeling of hopelessness can do to a workforce and how you can inspire your employees with hope. If people lack hope, they simply give up. In the workplace this means that people stop trying, they lose creativity and will potentially leave the organisation. This is the very […]
Bonus question – what is the answer?
With the news this week that RBS, the failed bank at the heart of the banking crisis, is to be heavily reinvested in by the Government to the tune of £39m, there remains much speculation over the future of bonuses. Stephen Overell of The Work Foundation spoke to Charlie Duff about the situation. Money has […]
Defining an engaging leader
Andy Lowe provides an exploration of the kind of qualities HR need to cultivate to harvest a crop of great leaders of the future. When it comes to leadership, there are so many questions to be answered. Test yourself: what criteria do you use to decide how to you invest in tomorrow’s leaders? Do you […]
HR tip: Dishonest academic claims on CV
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Question: We took on a woman recently who said that she had a degree in marketing but we have since discovered that she merely did a correspondence course in the subject and has […]
Colborn’s Corner: What do you believe?
This month Quentin Colborn turns his attention to two recent law cases which highlight the dilemma faced when work and personal morals clash. This week has seen two newsworthy employment law cases in the press. Both relate to the legislation that protects employees from discrimination on the grounds of a deeply held religious or philosophical […]
Pick out a printer
HR can be a paper-intensive activity, so HRZone members might be interested in finding out which are the best printers and scanners for the job in the Business Buyer’s Guide to Printers. Produced in association with other online communities run by our parent company Sift Media, the downloadable guide comes in four editions and draws […]
Walk the talk with wellbeing
On National Stress Awareness Day, Rob Woollen asks if UK businesses are taking employee wellbeing seriously and considers the body of evidence suggesting that wellbeing directly affects the bottom line. Financial concerns top the list of barriers experienced by HR professionals keen to implement employee wellbeing schemes, according to a survey released this week by […]
Beat stress on National Stress Awareness Day
National Stress Awareness day is a chance for HR to show they care by helping their employees manage their stress. This year why not help your managers spot and deal with stress? Stress has become a major factor in many people's lives as the recession has increased employment and financial worries. It is reported that […]
The employer’s guide to: Immigration
Get your head around the Points Based System, sponsoring a non-EEA national and prepare for further future changes with this guide. The UK Points Based System (PBS) forms a major element in the most comprehensive overhaul of UK immigration legislation in the last 30 years. In November 2008, Tier 2 of PBS replaced the Work […]
Ask the expert: Paternity leave starts…now
If a worker is a birthing partner at a prolonged labour, where do the employers stand? Martin Brewer and Esther Smith advise on when and how paternity leave comes into effect. The question: When a woman goes into labour but does not have the baby until the following day can an […]
Make sure your business is ready for ID cards
British businesses need to prepare now to handle the UK identity cards which will be launched later this year. Two new identity cards will shortly begin to be issued, starting in the Greater Manchester area. There is already an identity card for Foreign Nationals. The new cards are the National Identity Card for British citizens […]
How leadership can help the economic recovery
Leadership will be a key aspect when business seeks to recover from the recession. Experts in leadership including Ken Blanchard and Tom Peters share their thoughts. Whether it is representing the brand’s values or inspiring and engaging staff, the role of leader has never been so important as it will be in 2010. The present […]
Jobcentre Plus gets a plus with improved services
With the help of HR and behavioural change specialists, Jobcentre Plus has begun work to offer business a better recruitment option. The pilot programme, which took place in Greenwich, focused on addressing the additonal pressure on the nationwide service because of the recession. No longer is the jobcentre dealing with typical jobseekers alone: the recently […]
Going postal – the role of HR in a strike
The industrial dispute which has engulfed Royal Mail in recent weeks has led many commentators to predict another 'winter of discontent'. Kevin Dougall explores the role of HR and how to avoid bitter disputes in the first place. Many younger HR workers will not remember the strikes which blighted the 1970s and 80s, but recently […]
Happiness more important than money, claim employees
Getting the right work-life balance, up-skilling and family time is now more important to workers than achieving a high salary, according to new research. According a survey conducted by a travel company, the recession has made employees rethink their priorities and most now would choose time at home with their families over direct monetary benefits. […]
Home grown leaders preferred, say UK employees
When hiring your next CEO or director, bear this in mind: research has revealed that ‘growing your own’ creates better perceived, more highly regarded leaders than hiring externally. A majority of UK employees have more respect for leaders who have worked their way up through an organisation. Two thirds of the employees surveyed considered ‘home-grown’ […]
Are your employees at risk?
The pitfalls of not understanding business insurance were laid open by research from the British Chamber of Commerce and AXA in a survey which revealed many businesses were cutting back their cover and leaving themselves and employees vulnerable. During 2009, 36,200 businesses are predicted to fail, but having appropriate insurance can help protect a business […]
Caption competition 6 October 2009
Thank you for all your funny entries: the winner is 'Adhna' with: "Finger of blame: David despaired – no matter how much he wriggled the finger of blame always seemed to be pointing at him." Congratulations Adhna, you have won this months' prize, outlined below. Kevin will be in touch with you to talk through […]
Ask the expert: Can we dictate when he takes leave?
This week an apprentice cannot be trusted. Can they be forced to take their annual leave when the boss is away? Esther Smith and Matthew Whelan advise. The question My friend employs an apprentice, who, when recently working on a job on his own, managed to cause a lot of damage, lost […]