Networking without the hangups
The dreaded conference coffee break can, for some people, present a nerve wracking period of forced conversation, uncomfortable silences and custard creams. Networking at these events can be tricky, but with clear aims and a set strategy, business psychologist Robert Myatt says you can abolish the stress and come away with some useful contacts. Managing […]
HR agenda critical to UK economic success
HR’s role in the effort to keep the UK economy afloat during the recession should not be under estimated, was the key message from the Acas and CIPD ‘Resilience Through Recession’ conference held today in London. Keynote speakers, including Lord Young, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Business, Innovation and Skills; Ed Sweeney, chair […]
HR tip: Unfair versus wrongful dismissal
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: What, if any, is the difference between unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal? Answer: They reflect the why and how of dismissal respectively. Dismissal is unfair if it is for reasons other […]
Seven office gadgets from the future
While genetically modified chimpanzees that are able to make sales calls, prepare tea and send emails are yet to be invented, there are plenty of other futuristic gizmos and inventions on the market that could give your office that hi-tech feel. Here are seven gadgets for your office, straight from the set of Star Trek. […]
Leaders urged to take their five-a-day in people management
Acas and the CIPD have teamed up to publish a ‘five-a-day’ manual in a bid to encourage business leaders to take a stand against poor people management – a significant factor in the UK’s productivity gap. The joint guidance covers management fundamentals developed from CIPD and Acas research and offers practical experience of management development grouped […]
Recruitment 2.0
With jobseekers turning to Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to find work, how can HR make the most of social networking and unearth the talent? Verity Gough logs on to find out how best to harness the power of Web 2.0. There is a strange revolution going on in the world of recruitment. What was once […]
Equality in the city: Women in charge?
Equalities minister Harriet Harman was recently criticised for suggesting that the Equality Bill could be used to appoint more women to senior positions in the City. Alex Denny and Christabel Oh discuss the issues concerning ‘positive action’, one of the new measures contained in the Bill. The Equality Bill has been hailed as an important move […]
Top tips on managing your company expenses
As political leaders scramble to introduce radical new measures for better governance over the MP expenses system, organisations also need to review their business expense processes, says Tim Hardcastle. Despite the fact we’re at the tail-end of a recession, businesses are still mismanaging their operational expenses, with expense spend up to 40% higher than it […]
Facebook-style talent management software
Talent management software provider SuccessFactors used its SuccessConnect event in San Francisco to claim the biggest ever enterprise application deployment, and to move talent management software closer to social networking functionality. In his keynote address at SuccessConnect, CEO Lars Dalgaard hailed what he claimed is not just the largest Cloud Computing contract ever, […]
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 […]
