The battle for equality is not over yet
Where do you think we are in the battle for equality? Ruth Spellman of the CMI warns it’s not yet over – not by a long chalk. The recent Queen’s speech included ideas which may see the Equalities bill become law. But Ruth Spellman warns that even if it does, all things will not be […]
Discovering the leaders of the future
Are we in an upturn or, as some financial analysts would say, ‘a dead cat bounce’? Whichever way the economy moves next, we in the HR community will be the main architects of talent systems and processes that deliver the right people to lead organisations. But will leaders of the future be the same as […]
US ER management firm takes HR into the Cloud
Schumacher Group’s CIO explains the decision to decentralise administration and leverage on demand HR services. The term ‘Cloud Computing’ may sound like a definition of using a laptop PC on a aeroplane, but it’s fast becoming one of the key IT trends. Essentially the use of IT applications and services over the internet, rather than […]
HR tip: Anonymous witness to incident
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: Goods have been pilfered from our canteen. We have a pretty good idea who is the culprit but the only witness refuses to give evidence for fear of reprisals. Can we do […]
Are MPs opening the floodgates for unfair dismissal claims?
Brian Rogers, head of compliance at law firm Lewis Hymanson Small, argues that the recent announcement that MPs can no longer have members of their family working for them will have far reaching implications for HR professionals and businesses across the UK. The proposals have not detailed how family members will be sacked and if […]
Britain is failing female leadership
The number of directorships held by women on the FTSE 100 corporate boards has remained at the same level of (12%) as 2008, a report has revealed. The 2009 Female FTSE report from Cranfield School of Management that details the number of women directors in the top 100 FTSE companies has revealed a discouraging […]
Unscrupulous employers take advantage of work experience ‘slaves’ to the tune of £214m
The desperation to gain work experience to become more employable in the midst of the worst youth unemployment since 1993 has led to many employers illegally taking advantage of students and young people. A study of nearly 2000 students has found that 16% have worked unpaid hours for an employer in the last year in […]
Ask the expert: Pregnant during a fixed term contract
This week, a contracted worker has announced pregnancy, but still expects to come back after maternity leave to finish the months she missed. Is this correct? Matthew Whelan and Ester Smith advise. The question: I have an employee who announced she was pregnant within one month of commencing a 12 month fixed term […]
HR has reponsibility outside the office
Historically employers might have been forgiven for thinking that, save where conduct took place ‘in the course of employment’, what an employee or worker did outside of work was a matter for them. The prosecution of an employer for failing to monitor employees’ working hours and the failure to take account of risk in circumstances […]
Views on HR news: CIPD special
Jon Ingham trawls the net to provide his round-up of the great and the good of HR thought and opinion, so you don’t have to. This month, he reviews the use of social media at the CIPD Conference. For the last eight months, I’ve been providing an irregular HR blogosphere bulletin to HR […]
10 new leader let downs
The so-called ‘new brooms’ in an organisation might bring new blood and enthusiasm, but they don’t always get it right. Sarah Lewis investigates common pitfalls – and how to avoid them. The pressure on new leaders or senior appointments to make an impact, and quickly, is tremendous. The organisation has spent time and money attracting, […]
Pensions update: Retirement planning for non-doms
New rules for non-domiciled individuals – avoid the minefield with Gillian Everell’s guide. As a result of the new rules for non-domiciled individuals the UK taxation treatment of certain investments (especially retirement planning vehicles such as personal or occupational pension arrangements) may prove a minefield for those who will for the first time be paying […]
We have the technology – aligning HR with business goals
Increase your bottom line, align your company around your strategic goals, raise the efficiency of your employees, achieve outstanding measurable business results all while your employees enjoy the experience…sound like Nirvana? Well, that’s the basic promise of Cloud Computing. Add to that the potential of Business Execution (BizX) software. We all agree that business applications […]
Yes we can – Barack Obama’s leadership lessons
Paul Brindle discusses the effect self belief and confidence can have on leadership – and what lessons HR leaders can learn from Barack Obama. The unipolar world of Bush was not something that could, or would, last forever. An autocratic stance and unilateral attitude when the Asian star was in the ascendant was perhaps unwise: […]
HR tip: Bad attitude at work?
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: One of our employees has a poor attitude to work. He makes mistakes and is frequently critical of management, especially in meetings. He has done nothing seriously wrong, so what can we […]
The fine line between managers and HR
Where is the line drawn between direct line managers and HR – and where can a balance between the two functions be found? Jo Radford investigates. A common issue for HR functions is how to ‘up-skill’ line managers to perform their role as people managers. In most cases, this translates into skills programmes focused on […]
Would you pass the leadership test?
Paul Kennedy, HR Director at sportswear company New Balance explains the test leaders should set themselves, and why it’s important to be honest when looking in the mirror… Since 1990 we have operated with a calm economy, successful organisations, low unemployment and generally a good warm feeling about everything that we do. In the last […]
Employing agency workers? Know their rights
Paul McQuade, senior solicitor in the employment team at Brodies LLP, explores the proposed new regulations and their ramifications. After a decade of deliberation in the EU, the 2008 Directive on Temporary Agency Work is due to be introduced as law into the United Kingdom. New rights for agency workers will be established before […]
Jobpartners launches mid-range ActiveRecruiter Business Edition
Recruitment and talent management software developer Jobpartners has released a new version of its ActiveRecruiter system. Designed as a web-based “on demand” application, the Business Edition of ActiveRecruiter handles every step of the recruitment process from defining a position and posting the vacancy to online job boards to hiring the candidate and managing their development. […]
Ask the expert: Office relocation
Does an employee qualify for redundancy pay even if they’re on a fixed-term contract? Martin Brewer and Esther Smith advise. The question: Our UK office may close and shift to a new city. It is just far enough away that two of the three staff may not want to shift. There is no issue […]
