Ask the expert: Employee searches
If there has been an increase in the number of thefts at work, can an employer enforce the right to search employees’ cars? Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar, and Martin Brewer, partner at Mills & Reeve, advise. The question:We have a clause in our employment contracts relating to the right to search our employees […]
Boozy staff trips costing firms an arm and a leg
Team bonding days could cost employers more than a day out, as alcohol and dangerous activities increase the risk of accidents.Research by claims investigation and risk assessment firm Themis revealed that more corporate away days are turning into weekends, with popular activities including wine tasting, skiing, boating and horse riding.But even though corporate away days […]
Finalists announced for People Management Award
The shortlist for the 2008 People Management Award has been announced by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).The 16 finalists are up for an award which acknowledges outstanding practice in the management and development of people. This year’s award has four categories – employee engagement; learning and development; management of change; and talent […]
COA Solutions Exhibits on Stand H122 at HR Software Show
11 June 2008 – Leading UK business software provider, COA Solutions (formerly CedarOpenAccounts) is exhibiting its full range of human resource (HR), payroll, time and attendance and HR analytics systems on stand H122 at the HR Software Show (18 – 19 June at Olympia Conference Centre, London). COA Solutions’ recent acquisition of ASR Computers Ltd. […]
Lloyd Fraser Implements COA Solutions’ eBIS System to Replace Paper-based Procurement
June 2008 – The Lloyd Fraser Group, a leading logistics services company, is implementing an electronic procurement system from COA Solutions (formerly CedarOpenAccounts) to increase business efficiency and replace time-consuming paper-based procurement in line with its environmental agenda. The new system will go-live in late Summer 2008.Lloyd Fraser was keen to make use of electronic […]
Employees risk getting fired for lying on CV
Lying on your CV won’t get you that dream job or high salary, and could even result in you getting fired, experts have warned.The warning comes after Lee McQueen was crowned winner of ‘The Apprentice’ last night (Wednesday), despite it emerging that he had lied on his CV by stating that he had spent two […]
Sabbaticals: Rewarding employees with the gift of time
Taking time out is no longer an impossible quest, with more and more employers beginning to realise the benefits. Annie Hayes talks to retail giant John Lewis Partnership about the secrets of sabbatical success. Why offer a sabbatical?Paul Backhouse, head of employment strategy for the John Lewis Partnership (JLP), prefers to use the term ‘long […]
Online legal resource for HR is launched
An online legal resource for HR professionals, which enables users to create their own legally-compliant documents, has been launched in the UK.Using www.cleardocs.co.uk will allows employers and HR departments to create ready-to-print-and-sign employment documents, such as contracts and staff handbooks, from their PC which, the creators say, will reduce the costs normally associated with legal […]
Absenteeism: Communication is the best cure
With UK businesses asking what can be done to stamp out absenteeism, Dr Robert Willcox explores the solutions out there to ease employees back into the workplace. Employee absence can be extremely disruptive in terms of productivity, with UK businesses losing an estimated £13.2 billion each year as a result. The Confederation of British Industry […]
UK workers unhappy with their salary
A new survey has revealed that 70% of workers believe they will never earn their ideal salary in their current job.The research of 4,500 workers by online recruiters Jobsite.co.uk found that the country’s ideal salary is £38,000, with 41% of people saying they will keep moving jobs in order to achieve their ideal pay packet.In […]
HR tip: Reinstatement and re-engagement in tribunals
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:"If, as seems likely, we lose a case of unfair dismissal at an upcoming employment tribunal, and the tribunal requires us to take the employee back, are we obliged to do so? And […]
The evolution of change
Tracy Whybrow explains how to avoid failed change programmes, and instead help companies to evolve and develop. Companies around the world are required to evolve and undergo change faster than ever, whether it’s a re-branding exercise, the result of an acquisition or the appointment of a CEO with a new strategic vision. Classically, what happens […]
One-size-fits all approach puts retention in danger
Managers must shake off their one-size fits all approach to retaining their staff, says a new report.The ‘One Size Does Not Fit All’ study, published by employee engagement and retention specialist TalentDrain, has highlighted the need for managers to accept differences between employees with regards to gender, race, age and culture and has called for […]
Skills gap blamed on money and time
A new study by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) shows that a lack of time and money are the barriers standing in the way of learning new skills.More than a third of adults claimed time constraints are stopping them learning while 29% feel their finances hold them back; however, 13% admit to feeling too […]
Minister speaks out against working time ruling
Green party MEP Jean Lambert has condemned the decision to formalise the UK opt-out of the 48-hour working week.Yesterday, HRZone.co.uk reported on the landmark agreement by ministers allowing UK workers to continue to choose to work longer than 48 hours a week.Lambert said: “It is a huge disappointment that the working time opt-out has not […]
Jobless count climbs
The effects of the credit crunch are being felt in the jobs market as official figures show the claimant count has risen.Data released from the Office of National Statistics shows that unemployment rose for the fourth consecutive month in April, reaching 819,300.The release also shows that the ILO (International Labour Office) measure of unemployment increased […]
Looking for UK based HR bloggers!
I have been blogging for almost 2 years now. The benefits to my practice and my own personal development have been huge. Most bloggers spend a lot of time on other people’s blogs and the range of HR/leadership/management/personal development blogs out there is wide and varied.BUT – and here is a big problem for me […]
HR brings in crisis training to tackle credit crunch
A hike in crisis training is the result of HR bosses turning to media tactics as a way of dealing with the economic downturn.Ann Alexander of Alexander Macdonald, a media training consultancy, said: “There is a real paranoia in certain sectors that their firm’s failings will be highlighted in the media and they will be […]
Bosses fail to log on to benefits of Web 2.0
Employers are failing to boost the attraction and retention of key talent through the benefits of Web 2.0.These are the findings of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s (CIPD) recruitment, retention and turnover survey.According to the results, 80% of organisations do not currently use Web 2.0 online methods to attract or recruit employees, with […]
Post holiday blues: A look at the EU annual leave table
Our holiday entitlement may be amongst the lowest in Europe, but luckily we're tough enough to take it. However, whether UK business is tough enough to take further increases in statutory annual leave is a question that remains unanswered. Matt Henkes reports. It probably won't come as a surprise to anyone that the UK currently […]
