Ask the expert: Dyslexia and reasonable adjustments
An employee with less than a year’s service was dismissed following an assessment which found she had mild dyslexia. Reasonable adjustments were suggested which the employer disregarded. Esther Smith and Matthew Whelan advise on whether the employer’s actions were justified. The question We have an employee, with less than 12 months’ service, who was under-performing and making errors […]
A business must manage stress or stress will manage the business
The current economic climate can mean an increasing number of employees feel unable to cope with tasks, find it difficult to manage others or feel frustrated about redundancies or reduced working days. Jo Ouston explains how to manage emotions in the workplace. A few years ago, a card on offer in the gift shops […]
Add value through recruitment process outsourcing
Recruitment process outsourcing can add value to your organisation, improve retention and save you money – what’s not to like? asks Nick Boothroyd. Recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) is one of those things that HR people are suddenly talking about. Companies still need to recruit but they need to make smart decisions to stay ahead of […]
Brown creates new Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
The prime minister has created a new Department for Business, Innovation and Skills after scrapping the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) just two years after it was formed. Friday’s Cabinet reshuffle saw the DIUS merge with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) to form the new Department for Business, Innovation and […]
Exclusive video: Philippa Hird interview
Former group HR director of ITV Philippa Hird talks exclusively to HRzone.co.uk about HR's role within a recession, how it can prepare for the eventual upturn, the role of leadership in driving engagement, and the challenges of working in HR within the television industry.
What do you think of your HR software solution?
The HR software community is biting its collective nails, as the countdown to the Software Satisfaction Awards 2009 continues. The voting closes at the end of June – have you completed the survey to ensure your voice is heard? Voting for this year’s Software Satisfaction Awards (SSAs) will close on 30 June; the die […]
Colborn’s Corner: Fraudulent expenses – it couldn’t happen here, could it?
The MPs expenses scandal has dominated our front pages for quite some time now. But what does it say to those of us in HR, apart from keeping a tight reign on the expenses policy? Quentin Colborn suggests there are many lessons to be learnt and we all have questions we have to ask ourselves. For the first […]
Opinion: The recruitment industry must change
As the recession continues to set new rules in the job market, there’s never been a greater need for a trusted, professional recruitment industry. Yet, many companies still view recruiters as a necessary evil. Neil Wilson explains why he thinks this must change. Make no doubt about it; recruitment is a huge part of […]
Seven ways to recession-proof your HR department
A recent report showed 82% of HR staff do not measure the return on investment of their own practices. Denis Barnard reveals seven questions you should be asking to ensure your HR department is recession-proof. It’s an unpalatable truth that some HR directors are failing to make business cases that resonate with their […]
HR tip: Appeal problem
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: I am the manager of a small UK operation of an American conglomerate and my boss is in America. I handle all disciplinary matters including giving warnings and dismissing. But what should […]
Office de-stressing exercises
When suffering from stress at work, tension can accumulate in the most vulnerable areas of the body such as the upper back, shoulders, neck and head, leading to an uncomfortable range of physiological grumbles, aches and pains. While gin or even a bit of shouting can both often be effective cathartic techniques, they are not […]
Patersons adds HR module for free, but at what cost?
Technology correspondent Jon Wilcox speaks to Patersons’ CEO about its new strategy, the increasing acceptance of ‘the cloud’, and news of an upcoming solution for SMEs. Global payroll provider Patersons has confirmed it’s giving away one free HR module with every purchase of its payroll solution. The announcement comes just weeks before the CIPD HR Software Show, […]
Recruiters must understand online job searching trends, says Google
Recruiters must keep up with the latest online jobseeking trends to avoid being left behind, according to the head of careers at Google. Speaking at the Onrec.com Online Recruitment Conference in London on Tuesday, Google’s Luke Mckend said: "As recruiters, the onus is on us to keep up with the candidates, as they are one […]
Ask the expert: Alcohol policy and religion
An employer would like to develop an alcohol policy that takes into account employees who cannot drink due to religious reasons. Esther Smith and Martin Brewer advise. The question: We have two scenarios :- A manager may invite their team out after work to celebrate a fundraising success. We may crack open a bottle of champagne in […]
Paternity leave plans put on hold
Proposals to let parents share a year of leave to help raise a child have been put on hold by business secretary Lord Mandelson, due to the economic crisis. Despite backing by Equality Minister Harriet Harman, the plans to extend paid maternity leave to 12 months and allow fathers to share up to six months […]
The Equality Bill: HR and employment-related implications
Debra Gers outlines why employers must ensure they are aware of the implications of the Equality Bill, which was published in April, including issues such as gender pay monitoring and positive action. The Equality Bill 2009 was published in April and attracted media interest and, it is fair to say, some controversy too. The purposes of the Equality […]
The impact of the recession on recruitment
Whether levels have dropped or increased, recruitment processes have definitely changed since we entered into the recession. Lucie Mitchell examines exactly what impact the downturn has had on recruitment and retention in UK organisations. The most obvious impact of the recession on organisations is that employers are recruiting less and making more redundancies. […]
Agresso Salary Review heading to HRSS
Agresso’s new module is to be unveiled at this month’s HR Software Show. Jon Wilcox reports. HR and payroll software specialist, Agresso, has announced it is to showcase its Salary Review module at the HR Software Show (HRSS), taking place at London’s Olympia Conference Centre on 17 and 18 June. According to Agresso, the module (a […]
Preparing your organisation for the upturn
The survivors of a redundancy process are the springboard for the future of the organisation, so employers must ensure they remain motivated and loyal to enable the business to come out on top when the upturn eventually arrives. Nick Golding reports. From politicians to journalists and from business leaders to academics, many have put forward their predictions, but no one […]
HR tip: Termination arrangement for struggling employee
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 long-serving employees is struggling to cope with work. We had no intention of dismissing him but he has said that he would like to leave and would do so […]
