Do your managers have tantrums?
We all get angry and frustrated sometimes, but how do you handle managers who constantly throw their toys out of the pram? John Pope offers some advice. A long time ago I was working in an oil refinery and ran a plant where we had to take samples of some very heavy oils, almost tar, […]
Managing your talent to secure a successful future
Managing your future talent is not a new concept, but it is becoming an even more vital component of the HR strategy. Alyson Pellowe has some top tips on how to be ready for the future success of your organisation. Talent management and succession planning aren’t new crazes. Good companies have always been able to […]
Discrimination law skirts around transvestite issue
Barrister Charles Price examines a recent case in Australia involving alleged discrimination against a transvestite, and looks at the equivalent law in the UK in an employment context. Luck certainly wasn’t a lady for transvestite Paul Hurst recently, when he was rejected from a casino for being dressed ‘inappropriately’. Last month, The Age reported from […]
No bones about the ban say workers
A year on from the introduction of the smoking ban, research suggests that employees feel it has had a positive effect on their working environment. Almost two thirds of workers told the employment website Monster that the ban had improved working conditions, though one in three complained that time was being wasted through colleagues leaving […]
Credit crunch leads to increase in county court judgments
County court judgments have risen by 500% over the past two years, signalling further corporate distress in the UK and a rise in company insolvencies. According to the latest Business Credit Index, published by the Credit Management Research Centre (CMRC) at Leeds University Business School, the early signs of financial stress in the corporate sector […]
UK employers look abroad to address talent shortage
Talent shortages are forcing UK employers to recruit foreign workers, research has shown.The global survey of almost 30,000 workers and 28,000 employers, carried out by employment services firm Manpower, found that 20% of employers are looking overseas for talent to address the skills shortage; whilst 53% of UK workers have admitted they would consider moving […]
Ask the expert: Volunteers – does employment law apply?
If someone who volunteers in a charity shop is summarily dismissed, can this person bring an unfair dismissal case? Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar, and Martin Brewer, partner at Mills & Reeve, advise. The question:A friend of mine is a volunteer manager in a charity shop, managing volunteer workers in the shop. She summarily […]
Lack of ‘social capital’ impedes performance
Barriers to the development of ‘social capital’ in the workplace mean that half of UK employees feel that their work is not appreciated by their employer, research from the Workplace Intelligence Unit (WUI) has found. The survey also discovered that many employees do not believe that their employer acts in their best interests, while 40% […]
Employers named and shamed over illegal immigrants
The details of UK employers that have been fined under the immigration legislation have been published on a government website.Following the introduction of legislation in February that imposed fines and even a prison sentence for employing illegal workers, the Home Office today revealed the names of 35 businesses which have flouted the law. The majority […]
Staff wellbeing key to war on talent
Companies that fail to address workplace health and wellbeing issues need to take action or risk losing their competitive edge, Business in the Community (BITC) has warned. Employee health and wellbeing is becoming increasingly important in the battle for talent. In a recent survey, six out of 10 workers said they would consider quitting if […]
Office workers see less sunshine than miners
Given the British weather, it might be difficult to spot the sun this summer but a new survey claims office workers chained to their desks now see less sunshine than coal miners.According to BT, ‘chain-desking’ is responsible for the majority of city workers enjoying less than an hour’s sunlight per day, with nearly a quarter […]
What makes a good boss?
Best HR Strategy Feature 2008Trying to define what makes a good boss is a bit like asking about the meaning of life – there are millions of theories, views and opinions on both. So, Lucie Benson sets about asking those in the know about what they think makes an outstanding manager. OK, so asking what […]
Helping employees play to their strengths
Whilst there has been much focus on implementing a US-style ‘strengths approach’ in the workplace, there is very little advice out there as to how it may be used. Dr Paul Brewerton explains how HR can encourage staff to play to their strengths. Much has been made of positive psychology and the so called ‘strengths […]
HR tip: Making notes in disciplinary hearings
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:"In a disciplinary hearing I find it difficult to listen, think, and make notes, all at the same time. Any suggestions please?" HR tip:Don't do them all at the same time. Listen until […]
Lifelong learning: Jump on the bandwagon
Continuing with her series exploring the findings from the five components of the Adecco Institute’s ‘Demographic Fitness Survey’, this month, Donna Murphy examines lifelong learning. “We live in a world where change is the only constant.” Change comes at us at a furious pace – from technological change packaged as a new software product or […]
Microsoft wins employer award
Microsoft has won the ‘Employer of the Future Award’ at a ceremony at No. 11 Downing Street this week.The awards, organised by webzine mother@work, are now in its fourth year. Theresa McHenry, head of leadership and development at Microsoft, was presented the award by Fiona Cannon, head of equality and diversity for the Lloyds TSB […]
Elearning available on iPhone
Software provider Mohive has announced that it is the first company in Europe to offer elearning on the Apple iPhone.Mohive CEO Lars Unneberg said: “The introduction of Apples’ iPhone has dramatically boosted the potential for mobile learning in the markets we operate in. Traditional barriers to effective mobile learning, like low quality video or clunky, […]
ASR Puts Spotlight on .NET Workflow at HR Software Show
13 June 2008 – ASR Computers Ltd. is exhibiting a comprehensive portfolio of human resource (HR) systems, including the recently launched .NET Workflow, on stand H180 at this year’s HR Software Show (18 – 19 June at Olympia Conference Centre, London). Following its acquisition in March 2008, ASR exhibits as a COA Solutions company and […]
Racial discrimination still rife
Racial discrimination is still so rife that firms are missing out on key talent, according to a new report. The study, published by the Chartered Management Institute, Department for Work and Pensions and the Institute for Employment Studies, examined the career aspirations and job-search methods of a range of diverse groups. It found discrimination and […]
Colborn’s Corner: Building staff satisfaction
Quentin Colborn examines the topic of staff satisfaction and considers routes to building improvements that last. ‘Turning Europe Orange’ was not a political initiative designed to coincide with the debate on the Lisbon Treaty, but a project within EasyJet designed to create a European airline, rather than one that is seen as being solely UK-based. […]