Are you undermining your managers?
All organisations want managers who are in control, can effectively manage their team, and can take the initiative. But this isn’t always what you get, says John Pope, who suggests that perhaps it is because your managers are being undermined. You want managers who are tough, who can make good decisions in your absence, handle […]
Profile: SSA winner – Octopus
Chris Beaumont, sales director at Octopus HR, speaks to Lucie Mitchell about success at the Software Satisfaction Awards this year, and how the business keeps its customers satisfied. When Octopus picked up the mid-range HR software gong at the Software Satisfaction Awards in October, it was a culmination of three years’ hard work, says the […]
Redundancy: The elephant in your boardroom?
Roger Tynan examines how businesses can work with staff to avoid making redundancies, through other agreed cost-cutting measures. As unemployment continues to rise and many sectors feel the pinch of the global financial downturn, employers and employees alike are acutely sensitive to the possibility of redundancies in the difficult months ahead. But, as unpalatable as […]
Addressing core health and safety issues in a financial crisis
Current health and safety figures hide the losses to people and employers, says Lawrence Waterman, who warns that the new statistics show a worrying plateau of injuries. At first glance, the most recent data on ill health, injuries and working days lost from work look reassuring. Fatalities are down, injuries are at about the same […]
Ask the expert: Internet monitoring
How can an employer allow managers to monitor internet usage, without breaching any data protection principles? Esther Smith and Martin Brewer provide some legal advice. The question:We have been asked whether the IT department can make available to managers access to internet monitoring within the workplace, therefore allowing them to view internet usage by their […]
A week in HR: Matters of the heart blamed on bad bosses
The traditional ‘sick note’ is being ditched in favour of a ‘fit note’; whilst a separate study reveals that bad bosses are contributing to heart problems. And in news from the dock, a lesbian soldier has scooped £187,000 for sexual harassment. Annie Hayes reports. The ‘sick note’ is being ditched in a bid to get […]
Vote in the Best of HRZone.co.uk 2008 awards
There’s been frenzied voting so far in the Best of HRZone.co.uk 2008 awards: “Men in HR” is making a strong comeback in the Hot Potato category, nipping at the heels of “Do Looks Matter?”Have your say in the final result by casting your votes in the ‘Best Of’ categories. If you vote for a winner, […]
Yule be redundant: Crisis at Christmas
Having to make people redundant just before Christmas is especially hard, but is it best to play Scrooge on Christmas Eve or wait until the new year to impart the ill tidings? Annie Hayes talks to the experts. SensitivityRedundancy is obviously big news at the moment, especially during the current economic climate, so how can […]
Performance management: How appraisals can add business value
Performance management should be a central part of any organisation’s HR process, particularly in a downturn when talent needs to be maximised. The appraisal process plays a key role in this, says Richard Doherty. Creating and maintaining a comprehensive and uniform performance management programme enables HR departments to align line managers and employees with the […]
HR tip: Qualifying to claim unfair 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: "Following a full investigation and properly conducted disciplinary interview, we dismissed a man for gross misconduct. At that point, he was actually one week short of one year's service. He has told […]
Using people development to prove HR’s worth
Natalie Benjamin explains how HR can prove its value in tough economic times and become an essential asset to any organisation, through effective investment in its workforce. 2008 has been a tough year and with the credit crunch and its consequences looking likely to rumble on into 2009, there is unquestionably more challenge ahead on […]
HR management in a recession
Don’t get bogged down with the bleak outlook of these challenging economic times and risk making hasty HR decisions, says Sandra Beale, who points out some of the other options available instead. The buzz words of 2008 are ‘credit crunch’ and ‘recession’. In the media it is all doom and gloom with several years of […]
The new disciplinary and grievance procedures: A simple success
The new draft statutory disciplinary and grievance procedures are due to come into effect in April 2009, with a promise of being far more simple and far less time-consuming. Charles Price examines whether this is indeed the case and what HR professionals need to know about the new Acas code. The new Acas Code to […]
Ask the expert: Pestering and unwanted admirers
A female employee has complained to HR about another member of staff who, she claims, is pestering her with unwanted attention. Esther Smith and Martin Brewer advise on the next steps to take. The question:I have been approached by a member of staff, E, who claims that she is being pestered by a male member […]
Development centres: How to get the most from them
When HR is working its way though transition towards becoming fully strategic, development and assessment centres can play a pivotal role in helping with that change. Jan Hills discusses the advantages that these centres can bring. Assessment and development centres are not actually physical centres but events, which range from half a day to half […]
A week in HR: Income tax hike for high earners
Monday’s Pre-Budget Report included an announcement of a hike in income tax for high earners. In other news, a turkey shortage is warned as meat inspectors vote for strike action and there is a call for no further delays to the flexible working proposals. Annie Hayes reports. The big news of the week is Monday’s […]
Taking a measured approach to Christmas spirit
With a potentially explosive mix of office politics and alcohol to contend with, holding the office Christmas party can seem like a risky business. Christiana Tollast examines how employers can ensure staff behaviour does not descend into something resembling closing time at the Queen Vic. So what is the biggest […]
Caption competition: And the winner is…
November’s caption competition photo featured Russell Brand appearing on the Jonathan Ross show earlier this year. There were some very amusing entries this month, with many a chuckle raised here at HRZone.co.uk, so it was a really tough one to call. However, there could only be one winner, and that was Alan Barry. His winning […]
HR tip: Employment end date – garden leave question
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: "When does employment actually end when we give people pay in lieu of notice or put them on garden leave?" HR tip: Garden leave means that you continue to employ and pay […]
Making incentives work for improved staff performance
Motivating staff performance through incentives is a critical part of successful talent management and HR strategies. Do it well and employees are aligned with corporate objectives, benefiting the whole organisation. Mess it up, warns Bill Schuh, and you encourage behaviour that will damage your business. We are currently seeing the fallout from incentives that rewarded […]