Managing large-scale redundancies in a fast-changing world
If there is one thing we can all learn from the current economic climate, it’s that nothing is ever certain. If redundancy is on the cards at your organisation, David Ludlow warns HR to ignore the statutory procedures at its peril. It is a sign of the times that when I was invited to write […]
Leading Logistics Company Improves Efficiency and Reduces Environmental Impact with COA Solutions’ Electronic Payslips
GAC Logistics (UK) Ltd, a leading logistics services provider and part of the global GAC Group, has significantly improved business efficiency and is reducing its environmental impact as a result of implementing COA Solutions’ Electronic Payslip system. This system, which went live in June 2008, is tightly integrated into the company’s COA Solutions OpenPeople payroll […]
Managing the star performer
We all want amazing talent within our organisations, but, once there, does the star performer need to be managed differently to the rest of the team, and if so, what approach is the best one to take? John Pope has some answers. Some people call them the ‘rain makers’, apparently bringing what is needed to […]
Tribunals: Winning is only the first step
Often a claimant’s employment tribunal victory can be rendered meaningless when compensation rules mean that the award is reduced to nil. Charles Price explains. The Employment Rights Act (ERA) 1996 states that the employer must show that the dismissal was for one of five potentially fair reasons such as misconduct, capability or redundancy and that […]
Talent management: The secret of success
Many organisations seek to develop their ‘top talent’ only, yet Steve Short argues that HR must ensure every employee maximises their contribution to their organisation if the business is to maintain a competitive advantage. In the current climate of financial uncertainty and with the risk of recession in the UK, the ability of all employees […]
A week in HR: Flexible working extension pulled
The big story this week is the government’s plan to delay the extension to flexible working, which has angered several commentators. Elsewhere, Unite has won a landmark ruling on age discrimination. Annie Hayes reports. Peter Mandelson, the Secretary of State for Business, has requested that plans to allow 4.5 million parents to work flexibly are […]
Ask the expert: Discrimination in interview
A candidate from a ‘minority group’ didn’t pass an interview process and has now claimed the interview was unfair due to questions on diversity that made him feel uncomfortable. Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar, and Martin Brewer, partner at Mills & Reeve, advise whether there is a strong claim for discrimination. The question:A client […]
Caption competition: And the winner is…
A recent news round-up on the site reported that there has been an immigration check amongst traffic wardens in the London Borough of Lambeth, which resulted in over half of them quitting or losing their jobs, with several found to be using forged passports. Therefore, this month’s caption competition shows a traffic warden getting his […]
Whistleblowing
It is ten years since Britain passed a law giving protection to whistleblowers… employees who felt something was wrong in their workplace and told the bosses about it. However given the revelations of malpractice which have emerged with the current Banking Crisis the question may reasonably be asked “Where were the whistleblowers?”The Public Interest Disclosure […]
Employer branding: Biting through the candy floss
The credit crunch has put many employer brands to the test with some notable businesses falling at the first hurdle. Annie Hayes fights through the sugar-coated offerings to find out what it means to have a brand with teeth. What is an employer brand?Many household names owe their success to the strength of their employer […]
How to lead staff during an economic downturn
With the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the takeover of HBOS, everyone is focusing on how businesses can cut costs and streamline operations. Stephen Archer explains how to address and lead staff during these times to increase retention as well as commercial effectiveness. The current turmoil in the financial markets has meant that the media […]
Colborn’s Corner: A change of culture?
Some people may have given a wry smile at the thought of many financial services workers losing their reputedly high bonus payments, with a perception in the media that the ‘fat cats deserved it’. But is this fair? Are we adding to the hysteria? Quentin Colborn examines the issues of bonuses and the much larger […]
HR tip: Misuse of redundancy because a person isn’t good at her job
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: "We want to let a person go who is not very good at her job, so propose to make her redundant. Any problems with this?" HR tip: Yes indeed. You may make […]
A week in HR: News round-up and commentary
This week, Annie Hayes reports on the end of the bonus culture, managers behaving badly in the downturn, HR turning their backs on business jargon and the lesbian couple that were allegedly told to put up and shut up because they would “never suffer in the way that the Jews did”. ***As four bank chiefs […]
Human capital management: The next generation
Somewhere tucked away in Oracle’s portfolio of acquired software companies is what used to be HCM champion PeopleSoft. But while CRM and database engines grabbed the headlines at Oracle OpenWorld, the firm was also keen to demonstrate that its HCM and talent management strategies are alive and well and gearing up to tackle Oracle’s vision […]
Can you keep your head when all around you are losing theirs?
Claire Logan, Rhonda James and Jacky Simmonds discuss the uncertainty of today’s constantly changing business landscape and explain how to keep the focus on business delivery, citing a merger at TUI Travel as an example. Uncertainty is now the only constant. The current economic climate has made us all acutely aware that we are living […]
Making change stick
Organisations often need to make effective change and create innovation but, in many cases, the change happens initially and then reverts back to old habits. Iain Davidson suggests creating a ‘bubble’ of change, which contains hard and soft dimensions allowing creativity and innovation to take place. Organisations often need to effect change within a particular […]
Do you need a dose of vitality?
We all want to feel on top of our game – but how can we achieve it? Anthony Landale looks at the energies that people need to bring to their work and how HR professionals can prompt people to get back in touch with their vitality. There's a new word […]
Ask the expert: Misconduct or not?
An employee is constantly off sick and refuses to supply a medical certificate or sick note from his doctor. Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar, and Martin Brewer, partner at Mills & Reeve, advise on whether it is grounds for misconduct. The question:We have an employee who has been with the company for nearly four […]
How To… Make Redundancies
In the current economic climate it seems as though daily we read in the press about another company making redundancies and shedding their workforces. Given the need to cut costs it’s not surprising that companies look to their most expensive resource, their employees, in order to streamline the business. However redundancy should be a last […]
