Is a new breed of HR director emerging?
The remit of senior HR people is widening along with their job titles, and a new breed of HR director is emerging. Jo Sellwood asks whether this is a good thing and what the impact will be. The global credit crunch may have thrown financial markets into turmoil but skills shortages and the need to […]
Boost morale with end-of-year awards
You may not want to admit it, but the time has come to start thinking about Christmas. OK, maybe not the shopping part of it, but now is certainly a good point to start planning Christmas awards for your staff, says Derrick Hardman. With just 12 weeks to go until Christmas, now is the time […]
Ask the expert: Return from maternity leave
Upon returning from maternity leave, an employee has been signed off sick for four weeks. Can the employer dismiss her? Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar, and Martin Brewer, partner at Mills & Reeve, advise. The question:We have a lady who has just come back from 12 months’ maternity leave. She only worked one day […]
Change: The never-ending story
The crash, bang, wallop of Lehman Brothers is a modern day reminder that we live in a constantly changing landscape in which certainty fails to hold much currency. Annie Hayes reports on how two HR practitioners led and supported their organisations through the change experience. It’s not just financial turmoil that can turn organisations on […]
Ethics in HR management: Is it all relative?
The field of ethics becomes particularly complex for international companies. What is acceptable in one location can be totally unacceptable in another. So Dr Jamie Ward asks, when and how should HR get involved? Ethics in organisations can be defined in a number of ways: it can be about the principle of treating others well […]
A week in HR: News round-up and commentary
This week, Annie Hayes reports on the fallout from the UK’s financial sector, an October hike in the minimum wage, a Lesbian soldier that scooped £400k at tribunal, and the plight of the illegal Lambeth traffic wardens. Whilst it may be ‘ho ho ho’ for Bradford and Bingley staff, saved by a further nationalisation round, […]
Stress: Do you get it or give it?
Management consultant John Pope examines the ongoing issue of stress at work, and asks whether most of us will inevitably feel stressed at some point in our working lives, and what we can do to prevent this. Stress in the newsI see regular articles in HRZone.co.uk and in the media on the subject of stress […]
Autumn Softworld 2008 – COA Solutions Launches Managed Services and Showcases Systems to Help Businesses Survive Economic Downtu
The leading provider of business management and information systems to the UK mid-market, COA Solutions, is exhibiting its portfolio of accounting, human resource (HR), payroll, document management and business intelligence systems on stands AF203 and HR204 at Autumn Softworld 2008 (14-15 October 2008, Olympia 2, London). ASR Computers, a COA Solutions Company, will also be […]
Motivating a workforce through EAPs and reward
When times are tough, trying to keep your workforce motivated and loyal can be difficult. Paul Avis and Michael Newstead suggest implementing tailored rewards and an employee assistance programme. In tough economic conditions, with added pressures to perform, motivating employees to give their best on behalf of an organisation can become even more challenging. With […]
COA Solutions is Multiple Finalist in Business Software Satisfaction Awards
COA Solutions, is a multiple finalist in the Business Software Satisfaction Awards 2008 after its human capital management (HCM) suite of products reached the final in three separate categories. COA Solutions is also a finalist in the Enterprise Software Package of the Year category with its OpenAccounts financial management system, completing an impressive line-up.HR Pro […]
HR tip: Entitlements on gross misconduct
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 we dismiss someone for gross misconduct, we stop their pay and do not give them anything for unused holiday entitlement or accrued bonus. We have been challenged on this. How do […]
Oracle OpenWorld Conference 2008
Stuart Lauchlan reports from the Oracle OpenWorld Conference 2008. Oracle OpenWorld 2008 will probably be best remembered as the conference at which Oracle became a hardware company with its new Database Machine, but before that market-changing announcement was made there was much traditional software business to be dealt with. “We are in three basic categories […]
Ethical Q&A: Office romance
The final article in her series on being an ethical employer sees Tor Goldfield tackle the delicate issue of office relationships. Question:I run a medium sized company and suspect that a couple of my employees are either already in a relationship or about to embark on one. While I don’t necessarily disapprove I am keen […]
Flexing the benefits of flexible workers
Securing the right person for the role is only the beginning of the journey. Shirley Soskin advises on how to get the best out of your flexible workers. There has been some recent coverage in the media stating that large organisations are reviewing their policies on flexible working as they seek greater outputs from a […]
Be prepared for when your HR service provider is acquired
When your service provider is acquired it may throw your business into flux. But Bill Thomas suggests if you’re already prepared you could turn the situation to your advantage. Your service provider is delivering the required service levels and more, the contract is robust and all is well with world. Then suddenly, your service provider […]
Ask the expert: Salary confidentiality
Can an employer include a clause in the contract stipulating that employees can’t disclose their salary details to other colleagues? Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar, and Martin Brewer, partner at Mills & Reeve, advise. The question:We currently have the following clause in our terms and conditions of employment:“You shall not, during or (without limitation […]
Boost your business value with succession planning
The time will inevitably arrive when managers of a successful business must pass on the responsibility to new management. It is a critical time, says Stephen Seymour, who explains that careful succession planning can minimise the risk of damage during the change and enhance the value of the business. Over time, all enterprises evolve and […]
Good vibrations: Energise your team
How often do you reflect on the impact of your energy on others? Did you energise your team today or leave them feeling drained? Paolo Moscuzza looks at how energy can impact our relationships at work and what HR can do to help positively charge their people. We can all think of people who leave […]
Safeguarding company information against whistleblowers
Having a clearly defined whistleblowing policy would safeguard any sensitive company information and make employees aware of the consequences of publicising any such data. Laura Mitchell outlines some key advice for keeping your data safe. A worker at Marks & Spencer who ‘blew the whistle’ on plans by the retailer to cut redundancy payments has […]
CIPD conference news: Sugary treats, survival lessons and sad goodbyes
Annie Hayes reports on the highlights from this year’s annual Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) conference. Exhibition goodies:The lack of ‘big name’ speakers of conferences past including Joe Simpson, Sven-Goran Eriksson, and Adrian Moorhouse was perhaps the biggest tie in with the CIPD’s theme of Surviving in Turbulent Times. While the CIPD pocket […]
