Got something to say? Your community needs you
Share your HR expertise with HRZone.co.uk’s community through blogs, videos, podcasts, opinion articles, or reviews. Multiple contribution formats are available, from 500-word debate pieces to longer opinion articles, with opportunities to become a community advocate for deeper involvement.
When is incapacity not incapacity?
A landmark tribunal ruling allows unfairly dismissed employees to claim compensation for lost earnings during periods they received incapacity benefits, even though they were deemed incapable of work. The decision clarifies that incapacity benefit eligibility doesn’t definitively prove an employee couldn’t have worked if not dismissed.
Credit crunch or global growth: What business structures are needed?
Organizations must reassess their structures, recruitment processes, and talent development strategies to navigate economic uncertainty and position for future growth. HR leaders should evaluate whether current designs support rapid change, ensure recruitment practices attract the right talent for evolving roles, and identify skill gaps that need development for long-term success.
HR in America: Diary of an exchange visit
HR manager Lynn Starsmore shares insights from her month-long exchange visit to Southern California, organized by the Rotary Club. She explores differences and similarities in HR practices between the US and UK, visits a Native American school, and discovers American workplaces’ strong emphasis on customer service culture.
Ask the expert: Inappropriate behaviour at a Christmas party
A manager’s inappropriate behavior at an office Christmas party—including lewd comments and table dancing while intoxicated—requires a formal investigation before determining disciplinary action. Legal experts advise conducting an unbiased inquiry to establish reasonable belief of wrongdoing before deciding on appropriate consequences.
Who needs training in 360 degree feedback
Training recipients, respondents, and managers significantly improves 360 degree feedback effectiveness. Organizations benefit from workshops and clear communication plans that help participants provide quality feedback and understand the process, ultimately increasing engagement and conversion rates.
A week in HR: Gloom predictors brace workers for a difficult 2009
As 2009 begins, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development predicts the worst job market in two decades, with 600,000 expected job losses. A new study reveals 92% of employees experience workplace stress, with 44% losing sleep over redundancy fears and uncertain economic conditions.
No Irish need Apply
Irish immigrants faced severe discrimination in Britain and America, including exclusionary signs, dangerous working conditions, housing denial, and employment barriers. This discrimination persisted through modern practices involving security clearance restrictions and ethnic quota systems, often remaining invisible to public scrutiny.
Poor pay expected in 2009
UK employees face grim pay prospects for 2009, with 28% expecting no salary increase and 26% anticipating raises below last year’s levels, according to a CIPD survey of over 2,600 workers. The report warns that job losses could reach 600,000 as employers struggle through economic uncertainty.
Credit crunch gives workers their ‘bah humbug’
More than a third of UK workers will work through Christmas due to job security concerns and staffing needs, with 13% missing out on holiday entitlement entirely. Food and beverage workers face the longest hours, while healthcare and emergency services staff lose the most annual leave days.
HRZone.co.uk’s Christmas Gadget Countdown
HRZone.co.uk’s 2008 Christmas gadget countdown showcases the year’s top tech picks, from gaming consoles like Guitar Hero and Rock Band to mobile phones and the new iPod nano. The countdown features expert recommendations and reader votes across Sift Media communities.
HR tips 2008
Explore comprehensive HR guidance from 2008 covering employment law, disciplinary procedures, redundancy, discrimination, and workplace conduct. This archive provides practical tips on handling common HR challenges like poor performance, dismissal procedures, and employee entitlements.
We were warned!
Charles Handy, a renowned Irish management guru, warned in 1990 that Anglo-American business culture prioritized short-term speculation over wealth creation, potentially driving companies toward asset trading rather than sustainable development—a prediction that proved prescient during the 2008 financial crisis.
The Christmas party: You simply can’t please everyone
An HR director navigates the challenge of planning an inclusive office Christmas party, discovering that accommodating everyone’s diverse needs and beliefs creates an impossible balancing act of conflicting requests and compromises.
Writing great 360 degree feedback
Writing clear, evidence-based feedback is essential for effective 360-degree reviews. Good feedback should illuminate scores with specific examples, remain dispassionate and timely, and stay concise to avoid losing your message. Using first-person language and the “when you…it results in” format helps respondents understand the impact of their behavior.
Dear Santa: HR’s Christmas wish list
HR experts share their Christmas wishes for 2009, including better candidate treatment, output-based working, and stronger government support. They emphasize that HR must focus on performance management and demonstrate its value during the economic downturn through honest communication and strategic planning.
How to deal with inappropriate social behaviour amongst staff
Employers should establish clear policies addressing staff conduct at social events and include reputation protection clauses in service agreements. While courts recognize mitigating factors like alcohol consumption, inappropriate behavior at company-sponsored events can justify dismissal if it damages employer reputation.
Counting the cost of Christmas: The absence headache
Christmas absenteeism costs organizations significantly, with employees taking an average of eight days annually and costing £666 per employee. Employers can reduce these expenses and operational disruptions by implementing effective absence monitoring systems and management practices.
European Parliament votes to scrap working time opt-out
The European Parliament voted to eliminate the UK’s opt-out from the Working Time Directive, which would cap the average working week at 48 hours. The decision passed 421-273, with the UK government now set to negotiate with EU ministers on implementation. Business groups expressed concern that scrapping the opt-out would reduce workplace flexibility.
Jobless claimant count reaches 1m
Jobless claimant count reaches 1.07 million in November, marking the largest monthly increase since March 1991. Unemployment has risen to 1.86 million, the highest level in over a decade, signaling a deepening recession in the UK labor market.
