HR tip: Informal warnings
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: "The draft Code of Practice on discipline at work, in force from April, does not mention informal warnings. Does this mean that we will no longer need to give them?" HR tip: […]
The cycle of grief: The key to handling redundancy
Gareth Chick discusses the ‘cycle of grief’ that all employees go through when redundancy is taking place – both those who are leaving and those left behind – and says that when HR professionals understand this, it could help them to cope better in redundancy situations. Making staff redundant is probably the hardest element of […]
Age awareness when making redundancies
Age discrimination has been unlawful since 2006. Uncertainty has remained, however, with many employment tribunal claims stayed as a result of the Heyday challenge. Andrew Bayjou explains what employers can do to minimise the risk of age-related claims when making redundancies. Recessionary timesFaced with the current economic climate, some employees are uncertain about their future […]
A week in HR: Working parents’ rights and ‘Nap at Work’ week
From a change in immigration law, to salary cuts, snoozing at work and a review of working parents’ rights, Verity Gough reports on a busy week in HR. April kicks off with the implementation of a number of amendments to the existing employment laws. Firstly, the government is set to introduce the extension of the […]
How discretionary is a bonus?
If a bonus is labelled as ‘discretionary’ in an employment contract, can an employer refuse to pay it or is the employee legally entitled to the payment? Charles Price offers his advice. Whenever a recession digs its claws into the economy, politicians attack ‘fat cats’ and city bonuses. With the recent suggestion that much of […]
COA Solutions and inspHire Partnership Provides ‘Best of Breed’ Solutions to the Rental Industry
UK business management and information systems provider, COA Solutions (www.coasolutions.com), has announced a partnership with inspHire, the leading supplier of software solutions to the rental industry. This partnership sees the integration of inspHire’s rental and asset management solutions into COA Solutions’ financial management system, providing companies involved in construction, engineering, tool hire and audiovisual hire, […]
HR on a budget: Outsourcing in tough times and beyond
How can your employees help grow and develop your organisation to get in shape for when we emerge from the current recession? Partnering with a managed training service provider could be the answer, says Sean Craig. Preparation for when the economy turns for the better – and it will – should be a key part […]
Video: Unlocking women’s skills at work could add billions to economy
Recent research by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills has found that upskilling women in the workplace could add some £23 billion to the economy. The report was released as the Women in Work Sector Pathways initiative announced a further £5 million of funding to help women into male-dominated employment sectors. In 2009, two-thirds […]
Spotlight: Julia Claydon, HR director, Nando’s
With a love for the restaurant sector and a passion for training, Julia Claydon tells Verity Gough that the secret to Nando’s success is down to more than just great chicken; it’s all about the people. Vital stats: Company: Nando’s The aim: To always deliver a great Nando’s experience, internally and externally Number of staff: […]
Ask the expert: Smoking and recruitment law
When recruiting, can an employer list 'non-smoker' as a desirable attribute? Esther Smith and Matthew Whelan advise. The question: I am currently updating the 'person specs' for some of our vacancies, and was just wondering whether we would be able to list 'non-smoker' under desirable attributes? I am a bit […]
Web 2.0 and HR: Ignorance is not bliss
Like it or not, Web 2.0 is unleashed and a part of everyday life, but does HR really know what to do with it? Christiana Tollast examines how HR can harness this powerful beast, and use it to its own advantage. The CIPD’s 2008 Web 2.0 and HR discussion paper describes Web 2.0 as a […]
Success in a recession: Toughen up your mind
In the second in her series examining HR’s role in managing the human factor during a recession, Blaire Palmer discusses the importance of a positive mindset and explains that HR professionals have a large part to play in creating an organisational culture which has a ‘can do’ attitude. It is hard to avoid the doom […]
HR tip: Burden of proof
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 have every reason to believe that an employee has been stealing stock but not absolute proof. Does this prevent us from taking formal disciplinary action against him and sacking him?" HR […]
Opinion: Bonus should not be a dirty word in business
Stephen Archer examines how the bonus culture has affected UK companies, and how businesses can move forward and introduce alternative reward schemes that will motivate, engage and retain staff in the future. The furore over bankers’ bonuses continues. Recently US President Obama expressed his ‘outrage’ over the $450m paid in bonuses to staff at Insurers […]
Flex your muscles in April
On 6 April 2009, the right to request flexible working is being extended to parents of children aged 16 or under. In the current economic climate some employers see this as the last thing they need, whilst others embrace this change as an opportunity to improve their organisation, says Tim Holden. Requesting flexible working Last […]
Legislation update: Unfair dismissal compensation
In a recent case, a tribunal found that the claimant’s resignation from her job with the employer amounted to an unfair constructive dismissal. However, when assessing compensation, the tribunal did not reduce the amount by what the claimant had earned from other sources during her notice period. Richard White considers this case further. Stuart Peters […]
Managing the bereaved employee
Managing the bereaved in the workplace is an area in which there has been little change over the years and for which few organisations have formal policies. Yet it is vital that the employer handles the situation correctly and with sensitivity, says Caroline Attwood. When an employee is bereaved, in general we provide a fixed […]
What are candidates saying about your organisation?
When a zoo needs to fill 150 seasonal posts and ends up attracting over 3000 people to a recruitment day, you just know that things are a little tough in the job market at present. Whilst this has perhaps been the most widely publicised example of ‘recruitment-gone-mad’, in recent weeks there have been many other […]
Ask the expert: Refusing a medical investigation
An employee, who has many health problems that could be affecting his performance, has refused any medical investigations, and his employer is concerned about his fitness to work. Esther Smith and Martin Brewer advise on the next course of action. The question: I have a member of staff who, in the past 24 months, has […]
A week in HR: Job losses, consultant’s pay and holiday increases
This week, Lucie Mitchell reports on yet more job losses, a hike in consultant fee rates, the removal of the VAT staff hire concession, and the increase in holiday entitlement. More job losses were announced this week, this time at the Daily Mail, with 1,000 jobs to go at its regional newspapers. This number is […]