Time for a change? Think proactive HR
In a time of increasing legislation and the widening UK skills gap, is it time for HR to rethink its goals? Paul Norman probes into a time-old tradition of HR being reactive and cries out: it’s time for a revolution and for HR and get proactive. No-one ever likes to think of themselves as not […]
Colborn’s Corner – HR transformation: Are we there yet?
Is HR up to transformation and transition to alternative approaches to business, such as e-HR? Quentin Colborn questions how many HR professionals are willing to engage in transformation, and examines how effective these top tips are. Go into many large organisations and speak to the HR team and ask them who manages change the best […]
Benefit claimant count hits 15-year high as jobless count surges
The number of people claiming unemployment benefit rose by 15,500 in June, the fastest rise in over 15 years.According to official figures from the Office of National Statistics the claimant count was 840,000 in June 2008 whilst the unemployment rate reached 5.2% over the quarter.Despite a swell in numbers claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance benefit the Chartered […]
Salary details cloaked in secrecy
Half of workers (53%) keep their salary details a secret from family.These are the findings of a survey released today by Ceridian, a human resource services provider. Despite the findings, almost five in ten admit they would like to know what their colleagues earn. Younger workers aged 18-24 years old were most interested in snooping […]
Mayor announces hike in London Living Wage
Mayor of London Boris Johnson is increasing the Living Wage for London to £7.45 per hour.The new pay level is almost 35% higher than the national minimum wage set by Government which currently stands at £5.52 an hour for workers aged 22 years or over, falling to £4.60 for 18 to 21-year-olds and £3.40 for […]
Increasing employee engagement with their development
Jan Hills outlines some techniques to encourage your employees’ receptiveness to development and increase their engagement. Over the last few months, we have looked at ways to ensure that your development is ongoing, and motivating yourself to make sure that you capitalise fully on an event. All of this is reliant on your staff engaging […]
Managing performance: The right approach
In the first of two articles examining performance, John Pope looks at how to take the right approach and overcome any barriers to effective performance management. There must be many ways of getting high performance in an organisation. Excluding slavery and overseers with whips, I believe that there are two aspects which are important – […]
Women hampered by maternity leave, says head of equality
The head of the equality watchdog has stirred up controversy over her remarks that women risk damaging their careers with the further extension to maternity leave.Nicola Brewer, chief executive of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission said that the extension of paid leave from six to nine months presented an ‘inconvenient truth’ which meant that […]
Total rewards: All about the team
Employers need to offer more than basic remuneration these days if they’re going to compete in the talent drought; staff need to feel loved. Matt Henkes looks how total rewards can add that missing value. Shifting market forces and changing workforce demographics have put increasing pressure on firms to be more creative in the benefits […]
Ask the expert: Social networking sites
What should an employer do about an employee who has made unfavourable and unfounded comments about the company on a social networking site? Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar, and Martin Brewer, partner at Mills & Reeve, advise. The question:We held a disciplinary meeting with a member of staff. After the meeting, this member of […]
An holistic approach to talent management
Will Mitchell explains how organisations can develop employees who are not identified as ‘high potentials’. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that young people find it hard to recover when they are labelled as outside the top group. This is why the 11+ was abolished in the 1970s as many later developers were penalised by […]
Powernap calls shakes nine to five
The Sleep Council has suggested that businesses may get more out of their employees if they allow staff an afternoon ‘power nap’.The comments arose following a survey by Crampex which found that a quarter of British workers admit to taking days off due to exhaustion.Jessica Alexander from the Sleep Council said: “I think what would […]
Twelve million injured at work
Over the last 12 months 11.8 million people in the UK have suffered from an illness or injury as a direct result of their job.This is according to research by insurer RSA which showed that 36 million working days were lost in 2006 and 2007 due to sickness or injury caused in the workplace. A […]
Over 100,000 HR jobs at risk as recession looms
A global consultancy has estimated that over 100,000 jobs in the UK’s HR industry could go as a result of the economic downturn.VaLUENTis has warned that around 50,000 jobs related to internal HR functions and the rest in the HR supply industry including recruitment, coaching, training and consultancy could be axed. If the figures are […]
BBC HR chief’s earnings exposed
It has been revealed that Stephen Kelly, director of BBC People, earned £431,000 in 2007-08. The figures were announced as part of the corporation’s annual report. Kelly, who sits on the BBC’s executive board, joined the corporation from BT in October 2006. He has responsibility for developing and implementing global HR strategies at both operational […]
HR wouldn’t wish the profession on their children
A quarter of HR professionals are so dissatisfied with the job they wouldn’t want their children following in their footsteps, a new survey has shown.According to recruitment and talent management consultancy Hudson, 32% of those surveyed cited better opportunities in other professions as the main reason for their reluctance, and one in four believed their […]
Sunburn and sexual harassment: The office summer party
Salmonella sausages, sun stroke at midday, an ET claim for sexual harassment slapped on your desk. Annie Hayes reports on how to survive the office summer party. When, where and how? How to ensure acceptable conduct at office parties Be aware that employers can be held vicariously liable for the actions of their employees at […]
HR takes pole position in race for business growth
HR is being called upon now more than ever to ensure its recruitment and retention strategies are as effective as possible. Grant Crow discusses what the future has in store for HR professionals and whether they hold the key to business growth. Stories of global talent battles and skills shortages have saturated the media lately, […]
HR tip: Problems of confidentiality
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: "I agreed to listen to an employee in confidence but in the course of the subsequent conversation it became apparent that he was cheating the company. What can I do? By doing […]
Can feng shui help your organisation?
Is bad chi stifling your creative juices? Enter our feng shui competition to win a free online consultation from one of the UK’s leading masters and see if he can get your office environment attuned. There are some buildings and office complexes that are host to failed company after failed company. Many people would simply […]
