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.
A week in HR: ‘Tis the season to be stressed
Royal Mail delivery workers face pressure over unrealistic delivery targets amid Post Office software system changes, raising employment law concerns. Meanwhile, retail and hospitality staff experience heightened Christmas stress, with work-related pressure causing significant productivity losses across sectors.
360 feedback in 3rd person?
Most 360 feedback reports use third-person language when recipients should read them, creating distance from the feedback. This common practice may soften criticism but feels impersonal when employees read assessments about themselves from colleagues they know well.
HR predictions 2009: Exclusive insight into the year ahead
HR experts predict 2009 will bring significant changes to the profession, with departments focusing on redundancy management, cost control, and core business objectives amid economic uncertainty. HR teams will become leaner and more targeted, moving away from recruitment-focused strategies toward handling restructuring and supporting employee wellbeing.
HR tip: Dealing with a poor performer
Address poor performance by first discussing performance gaps with the employee. Determine whether they lack capability or motivation, then follow appropriate steps: provide support and redeployment for capability issues, or apply disciplinary procedures for motivation problems.
Generating the magic: Putting the creativity back in business
During economic downturns, employees often prioritize job security over innovation, causing companies to lose their competitive edge. Learn how managers can foster creativity and encourage genuine innovative thinking through effective brainstorming strategies and workplace practices.
Colborn’s Corner: Managing redundancies
Redundancy announcements often affect not just those losing jobs, but surviving employees too. HR teams must address the needs of affected staff, remaining employees, and external stakeholders while managing survivors’ guilt and demonstrating fair treatment throughout the process.
Employee engagement… with what?
Chris Rodgers questions what we actually mean by the term ’employee engagement’ and suggests that the practice of engagement is getting ever more removed from reality. Raising ’employee engagement’ has become one of the taken-for-granted objectives of modern management practice – fuelled largely by the ready availability of a multitude of questionnaires, surveys and models […]
Age discrimination: Mandatory retirement
UK employment law prohibits age discrimination in hiring and the workplace under the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006. However, the regulations permit a default retirement age of 65, which has been challenged in court as potentially unlawful. A landmark legal decision was expected to clarify whether mandatory retirement provisions comply with anti-discrimination protections.
Ask the expert: Credit checks
Employers can carry out credit checks on employees, but they need to obtain consent first. This is particularly important for roles governed by FSA requirements. Expert legal advisors explain the process and implications for both employers and staff.
Ten tips for delivering bad news well
Learn how to deliver redundancy news with empathy and professionalism. These ten tips help managers communicate job losses effectively, manage emotional reactions, and support affected employees through careful preparation, clear messaging, and appropriate follow-up procedures.
Legislation update: Right to time off for family emergencies
The Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled that employees can take reasonable time off for unexpected disruptions to dependent care arrangements, even when advance notice is given. The decision broadens protections beyond immediate emergencies, requiring employers to assess necessity based on individual circumstances rather than strict timing rules.
When planning your career…choose your boss
Career planning requires three key steps: identifying your direction, acknowledging personal constraints, and evaluating how your next assignment advances your goals. However, the most critical factor in career success is choosing your boss—great managers empower you, provide learning opportunities, and genuinely care about your development.
A week in HR: Wrapping up the ‘bad’ news for staff
The TUC is calling for the national minimum wage to rise from £5.73 to over £6.10 per hour, a 6.4% increase. The government has announced a £10 million apprenticeship funding boost and new rights for employees to request training time off.
360 degree appraisal completion rates
A good 360-degree appraisal completion rate requires at least 7 responses (1 manager, 1 self, and 5 others) for rounded feedback. High-performing organizations regularly achieve 95%+ completion rates, indicating the feedback process is valued and integrated into broader HR development initiatives.
The great escape: Retaining talent in a recession
During recessions, HR must identify and retain top talent across all organizational levels through transparent communication about the company’s future, skills evaluation, and creative career development opportunities rather than relying on salary alone.
HR tip: Smoke breaks and unfairness on non-smokers
Address workplace fairness concerns over smoke breaks by setting clear limits—allow smokers designated breaks but require compensatory work time. Consider implementing a complete smoking ban during work hours as the most equitable solution for all employees.
The employee engagement dilemma
Employers face a critical challenge: implementing necessary workforce changes while maintaining employee engagement. Evidence shows engaged employees work 57% harder and perform 20% better, making retention of motivation essential during economic downturns. Strategic communication and balanced messaging about future opportunities can help organizations survive and emerge stronger.
Queen’s Speech: Equality, skills and flexible working
The Queen’s Speech announced the Equality Bill to combat workplace discrimination, welfare reforms requiring long-term unemployed to pursue training, and confirmation that flexible working rights will extend to parents of older children, amid government focus on economic stability during the global downturn.
Are you undermining your managers?
Managers lack authority and confidence when their superiors undermine them by bypassing the chain of command, reversing decisions, changing priorities without notice, and failing to back disciplinary actions. Learn how these common practices erode managerial effectiveness and workforce respect.
