HR tip: Appeal problem
When employees appeal disciplinary decisions, UK managers have two options: find an external arbitrator acceptable to both parties, or handle the appeal yourself after a delay by reviewing whether procedures were followed fairly and objectively.
Office de-stressing exercises
Learn simple desk exercises to relieve work-related stress and tension in your shoulders, neck, and head. The Stress Management Society recommends these quick techniques you can perform while sitting, designed to release tension, reduce stress, and restore energy for productive work.
Patersons adds HR module for free, but at what cost?
Payroll provider Paterson is offering a free HR module with its payroll solution to shake up the market. The company’s CEO says the feature has already closed four significant contracts in three weeks and maintains the module is enterprise-grade, rivaling SAP and Oracle. Cloud adoption among businesses is accelerating due to cost pressures and data management needs.
Recruiters must understand online job searching trends, says Google
Recruiters must keep pace with evolving online job search trends and candidate behaviors to remain competitive, according to Google’s head of careers. Personal branding, diverse communication channels, and broader search patterns are reshaping recruitment, requiring organizations to build stronger employer brands and engage candidates more effectively.
Ask the expert: Alcohol policy and religion
Employers developing alcohol policies must balance workplace celebrations with religious and personal beliefs. Experts advise ensuring non-drinkers aren’t pressured or excluded, while treating all employees equally regardless of alcohol consumption choices.
Paternity leave plans put on hold
Parental leave sharing proposals have been suspended by Business Secretary Lord Mandelson due to economic concerns, despite support from the Equality Minister. Business leaders warned the plans to extend maternity leave and allow fathers to share parental time would increase costs and administrative burden during a recession.
The Equality Bill: HR and employment-related implications
The Equality Bill 2009 simplifies discrimination law and introduces new equality measures, including gender pay monitoring, public sector duties, and positive action requirements. Employers must understand key implications such as pay reporting obligations and strengthened employment tribunal powers, with most provisions taking effect in autumn 2010.
The impact of the recession on recruitment
During the recession, UK recruitment has declined significantly, with employers making more redundancies than hires and many implementing recruitment freezes. According to CIPD/KPMG data, all economic sectors face negative employment intentions for the first time since 2004, while organizations struggle to identify quality candidates from larger pools of redundant workers.
Agresso Salary Review heading to HRSS
Agresso is unveiling its new Salary Review module at the HR Software Show in London on June 17-18. The fully-integrated online solution streamlines salary negotiation and setting processes while ensuring fair, consistent employee treatment across organizations.
Preparing your organisation for the upturn
After redundancies, organisations must prepare for recovery by clearly defining job roles, rebuilding employee trust through open communication, and retaining top performers. Research shows many employees lack clarity on how their work supports business success.
HR tip: Termination arrangement for struggling employee
A compromise agreement is the legally secure way to settle an employee’s departure with a financial settlement. This document, signed by an independent solicitor, prevents the employee from pursuing unfair dismissal claims against the employer.
The consequences of failing in health and safety
Employers must comply with strict health and safety laws under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, facing significant fines and imprisonment for failures. Key obligations include risk assessments, written policies for organizations with over five employees, employee training, and appointing competent persons to implement safety measures.
Essential free apps for your BlackBerry
BlackBerry users can enhance their devices with free apps like WorldMate Live for travel planning, Viigo for customizable news and content aggregation, and Salesforce Mobile for CRM access. Download these utilities through BlackBerry App World to boost productivity and stay organized on the move.
Jaded jobseeker pledges to work 365 jobs in 365 days
A 30-year-old unemployed father from Lancashire is working 365 different jobs in 365 days to discover his ideal career. Jamie Dodd’s Project-365 challenge involves working one new job daily across the UK for an entire year without holidays or sick leave, supported by recruitment resource Monster.co.uk.
Emails you wish you hadn’t sent
We’ve all experienced the panic of sending an email we instantly regret. From angry replies and reply-all disasters to forwarded conversations with embarrassing comments, email blunders can cause real damage. While Gmail’s unsend feature offers a brief window to catch mistakes, the best defense remains careful attention and composure before hitting send.
Legislation update: Stress at work – ignore at your peril
Employers cannot rely solely on the existence of support services to avoid liability for workplace stress. A recent court ruling emphasizes that employers must actively assess and deploy available support when an employee shows signs of psychiatric risk, rather than merely offering services without engagement.
Ask the expert: Garden leave
Garden leave clauses typically prohibit employees from working elsewhere during their notice period. Breaches can result in injunctions, damages, and potential dismissal, though costs may be prohibitive. Bonus entitlements during garden leave depend on contract terms and must be carefully managed to avoid losing other contractual protections.
Meetings…yawn!
Learn how to transform boring meetings into productive, engaging forums by building trust, encouraging healthy conflict, and ensuring clear communication. Discover four essential meeting types that strengthen teamwork and give your organization a competitive advantage.
The war for talent: Fiercer now than before?
During economic downturns, organisations must reassess talent management strategies, focusing on retaining and developing existing employees while strategically recruiting specialists. A CIPD report reveals 26% of companies have changed their approach, shifting from an employee-driven to employer-driven market.
Danone scoops top spot in UK’s best place to work list
Danone UK has been named the best place to work in the UK by the Great Place to Work Institute, beating major companies like Cadbury, British Gas, and Coca-Cola. The dairy company’s win was driven by strong employee trust, social responsibility, and comprehensive health benefits including free medical insurance and wellness programs.
