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.
COA Solutions Signs-up to Major New Green IT Initiative
COA Solutions has signed up to BASDA’s Green Charter, committing to reduce its carbon footprint and enhance software solutions to help businesses become more carbon efficient. The initiative demonstrates the IT software industry’s role in supporting organizations toward a low-carbon economy.
People performance dynamics: How to make the intangible tangible
Apply systems thinking to understand how people management drives business performance. Rather than relying on fragmented data and anecdotes, organizations can identify lead indicators—the specific HR practices that create employee engagement and commitment, leading to measurable business outcomes.
Top tips on being an employer of choice
Learn key strategies to become an employer of choice, including career progression, honest communication, corporate social responsibility, staff engagement, and health and wellbeing initiatives that retain talent and attract quality candidates.
Christmas on a budget: The office party
Don’t play Scrooge this year and cancel the Christmas party just because funds are tight. In the current economic climate, it is crucial to ensure staff feel valued and are motivated, says Penny de Valk. At a time of financial uncertainty, managers may be considering cancelling their office or team Christmas party. However, this year […]
Profile: SSA winner – SuccessFactors
SuccessFactors won the Software Satisfaction Awards in talent management by prioritizing customer value and satisfaction. The company focuses on workforce performance optimization, helping businesses align employees with strategy, retain top performers, and implement pay-for-performance models through SaaS solutions.
Ask the expert: Depression and self-certification of absence
An employee on three days of self-certified stress and depression refuses medical documentation. Employers should note that medical certificates typically aren’t required for absences under seven days, and forcing the issue could worsen workplace tensions without legal advantage.
Forestry Commission Tracks Carbon Emissions with COA Solutions System
The Forestry Commission uses COA Solutions’ Employee Expense Management system to track and measure carbon emissions from staff travel, helping the government department comply with climate change legislation. The system captures emissions data from personal vehicles, taxis, buses, trains, and flights on a journey-by-journey basis, enabling targeted greenhouse gas reduction efforts.
