24 million workers guilty of employee theft
A staggering 82 per cent of employees have taken property from work or exaggerated expense claims.This is according to a new study by insurer Royal & SunAlliance (R&SA), which shows that 24 million workers are guilty of removing and keeping company laptops, whilst as many as one in seven exaggerate expense and overtime claims. Worryingly, […]
UK amongst countries with ‘shortest’ notice periods
Employees in the US, Mexico, Hong Kong, Ireland, Singapore and the UK have the shortest statutory notice period between resigning and leaving their place of work.This is according to data released by Mercer, the consulting outfit. The data, from Mercer’s Global HR Factbook, outlines the minimum legal requirements for notice periods for employees across 43 […]
Licence checks for all drivers may save bosses from the dock
Time is running out for slack bosses with new corporate manslaughter laws on the horizon, warns LicenceCheck, a driving licence verification provider.The new laws take effect in April this year. According to the regulations, in the event of a fatal incident involving an employee driving on company business, an employer may be required to provide […]
Do you check for illegal workers?
New laws tackling illegal migrant workers come into force on 29 February, which mean employers face higher penalties for taking on illegal workers. Under the regulations, firms face fines of up to £10,000 per staff member and a two-year prison sentence for knowingly employing illegal workers. Ahead of the new rules, we’re interested to know […]
Have breakfast with your staff to increase motivation
Breakfast meetings may be popular with executives but sitting down with your employees over a bowl cereal can also be a great way to boost staff motivation, a successful entrepreneur has claimed.Jennie Johnson, founder of childcare firm Kids Allowed, revealed that she meets with six of her employees every month, which means by the end […]
Employee referencing guide launched
A guide to employee referencing, which aims to helps businesses reduce costs and risk of legal action, has been launched this week.The Good Referencing Guide, by HR tecnology firm refero – and published in association with legal experts Field Seymour Parkes – informs all types of organisations on how to manage references efficiently and effectively […]
HR’s role in getting NHS healthy is under spotlight
There is no “one best way” of implementing good people management policies in the NHS, a new report has claimed.Improving health through HR management is based on research undertaken by Manchester Business School and funded by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Healthcare People Management Association (HPMA) and the Department of Health.According to […]
Training needs analysis: A ‘spray’ and ‘pray’ exercise?
Gaps, wide holes, dark chasms – the dark side of training needs analysis (TNA) is the skills gaps that are subsequently uncovered; but does TNA really work and how important is it? Annie Hayes reports. What is it?An internet search of ‘training needs analysis’ results in a mishmash of answers and it’s easy to see […]
“I wanna be strategic…”
In his new monthly column, Andrew Mayo offers his thoughts on HR business partnership, and how HR professionals must stop spending all their time trying to be ‘strategic’. Like most people in HR, I am a great admirer of Dave Ulrich. He has given HR a new sense of confidence, set out clear ways of […]
Legislation update: Age discrimination – lessons to learn
Richard White, specialist employment solicitor at Withy King, considers some recent cases on age discrimination. It has been nearly 18 months since the introduction of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006, which render unlawful any discrimination against employees on the grounds of their age. As with most new legislation, it takes a while for people […]
The seven myths about childcare vouchers
Andy Philpott presents some common misconceptions about childcare vouchers, which may prevent employers from providing this service, and provides the real facts in relation to each one. It’s now 18 years since the introduction of childcare vouchers in the UK. Since 2005, the vouchers have been tax and NI-exempt up to £55 per week, enabling […]
Language skills sees bosses lose out on business
A quarter of organisations in the UK have lost out on business because their staff cannot speak a foreign language.This is according to research by publisher ‘Teach Yourself Business Languages’ series. In good news for candidates who can speak more than one language, 28 per cent of employers said they would be willing to pay […]
HR tip: Reducing company car standard
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:"As part of a move to reduce operating costs, we intend to lower the standard of the cars that we provide for certain employees. Is this safe?" HR tip:That depends upon what is […]
Employees to swap stilettos for slippers on Friday 1 February
To support Samaritans’ ‘Stress Down Day’ on 1 February, employees across the UK will be turning off their email and wearing their slippers to work. Shockingly, over 80 per cent of workers said they would rather phone in sick with flu or another problem than admit they were stressed; a sign that the problem is […]
HR directors take centre stage on pension provision
The latest National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) annual survey reveals that HR directors are at the heart of company pension decision making.HR also sits as trustees on 25 per cent of occupational pension schemes. Around a third of private sector defined benefit (DB) schemes remain open to new members, much the same as in […]
City bosses put ‘squeeze’ on office space regulations
Employers are flouting regulations by failing to provide permanent employees with the required space to work in.By law, employees should be given a minimum 11 cubic meters in which to work. In a warning to bosses, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) can slap flouting employers with a 20-day improvement notice.“When you think that some […]
‘Blue’ Monday tipped as first in February
Experts warn that the first Monday in February will see absence rocket and gloom prevail.According to a survey by Sky Travel, hangovers, lack of sleep and retail therapy are the main reasons people will choose to stay away from the office on this day.Stephen Seymour, head of HR at training and recruitment consultancy The Urquhart […]
Human risk management: Are you in the know?
Facing CVs full of lies and rampant ID theft, employers are increasingly defensive and selective about whom they employ. David Chernick offers pre-employment screening tips to help HR professionals align their organisations’ recruitment and risk strategies. Organisations spend a fortune protecting themselves against external threats: thousands of security guards supervise doorways, sophisticated systems monitor electronic […]
Spotlight: Simon Bion, HR director, BrightHouse
Lucie Benson talks to Simon Bion about his role as HR director of multi-outlet retail business BrightHouse, and how he believes HR professionals need to have business credibility to become part of the company agenda. Vital stats: Company: BrightHouse The aim: To provide customers with the means to access household goods to improve their quality […]
CIPD fight conflict at work with new guide
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has launched a new conflict management guide for line managers.Managing Conflict Guide for Line Managers aims to help equip line managers with the skills and confidence to intervene at an early stage to prevent disputes from escalating to the point where the formal disciplinary or grievance procedures […]
