Training needs analysis: A ‘spray’ and ‘pray’ exercise?
Training needs analysis (TNA) identifies skills gaps and performance improvement areas within organizations, but its effectiveness depends on asking the right questions and aligning training with business goals rather than treating it as a routine HR exercise.
“I wanna be strategic…”
HR professionals must balance strategic work with administrative responsibilities rather than pursuing an exclusively “strategic” role, argues Andrew Mayo. The obsession with the “strategic partner” label has created unrealistic expectations that undermine HR credibility and obscure the value the function can deliver across all areas.
Legislation update: Age discrimination – lessons to learn
Recent employment tribunal cases demonstrate key lessons on age discrimination laws introduced in 2006. Cases involving dismissals based on age, failure to follow proper procedures, and company cultures favoring younger employees have resulted in damages awards and established that employers face significant liability for age-based discrimination in hiring and dismissal decisions.
The seven myths about childcare vouchers
Childcare vouchers offer UK employers and employees significant tax benefits and workplace advantages, yet misconceptions prevent many organizations from adopting them. This guide debunks seven common myths, revealing that schemes benefit companies of all sizes and require minimal administrative burden when managed by experienced providers.
Language skills sees bosses lose out on business
A quarter of UK organisations have lost business due to staff lacking foreign language skills, with manufacturing and catering sectors most affected. Employers value multilingual workers, with 28 percent willing to pay more for language abilities.
HR tip: Reducing company car standard
Reducing company car standards requires careful attention to employment contracts. If the contract specifies a particular vehicle model, you must provide it or an equivalent replacement. For non-specific contracts, employees may expect similar standards upon replacement, so changes should be negotiated or may require terminating and re-offering contracts.
Employees to swap stilettos for slippers on Friday 1 February
UK employees will swap stilettos for slippers on 1 February to support Samaritans’ Stress Down Day, turning off email and raising awareness about workplace stress. Over 80% of workers hide their stress, while a third struggle with sleep anxiety, costing the economy £3.7 billion annually.
HR directors take centre stage on pension provision
HR directors play a central role in workplace pension decision-making, according to the latest NAPF survey. With the shift toward money purchase pensions and increasing employee reliance on HR for pension guidance, their importance in communicating benefits and strategy is growing significantly.
City bosses put ‘squeeze’ on office space regulations
Employers risk legal action for violating workplace space regulations, which require a minimum of 11 cubic meters per permanent employee. The Health and Safety Executive can issue 20-day improvement notices to non-compliant businesses, while experts recommend archiving old files and removing unused furniture to maximize office space utilization.
‘Blue’ Monday tipped as first in February
The first Monday in February is expected to see a surge in workplace absences due to hangovers, sleep deprivation, and low morale. Experts warn that taking sick days without genuine reasons can damage employee reputation and cost employers billions in lost productivity annually.
Human risk management: Are you in the know?
Employers must strengthen pre-employment screening to combat CV fraud and identity theft. HR professionals should align recruitment practices with organizational risk strategies, conducting appropriate background checks based on role sensitivity and implementing specialist screening processes separate from general hiring activities.
Spotlight: Simon Bion, HR director, BrightHouse
Simon Bion, HR director at BrightHouse, discusses how HR professionals must build business credibility to influence company strategy. With experience across retail giants like Barclays and Woolworths, Bion prioritizes recruitment, succession planning, and learning development for the 1,600-strong workforce.
CIPD fight conflict at work with new guide
The CIPD has released a new conflict management guide for line managers to help them address workplace disputes early and prevent escalation to formal procedures. The guide emphasizes key management behaviors and skills, as only 38% of employers currently train managers in conflict resolution despite its significant impact on organizational productivity and employee wellbeing.
Voice from the workplace: Consulting staff
Government organisations often implement new systems without consulting frontline staff, leading to ineffective rollouts. John Pope examines how a CRM system implementation failed due to inadequate planning, insufficient training, and lack of employee input, and explains how management should have involved staff from the beginning.
Case study: An analytical approach to managing talent
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council transformed its HR performance through systematic analysis of workforce data and talent management practices, turning from a low-performing organization into one achieving significant efficiencies and savings despite operating under strict public sector performance criteria.
Livingstone shames London with inequality film
London Mayor Ken Livingstone has launched a documentary exposing the capital’s gender inequality in the workplace, revealing the pay gap between men and women has widened from 13% to 23% in four years. The film accompanies a brochure showcasing companies successfully implementing workplace equality improvements.
HR shared service centres on the rise
HR shared service centres are experiencing growth, with 84% of organizations using them planning to expand their scope. While SSCs free HR from administrative tasks to focus on strategy, this shift has created an ‘us-versus-them’ culture that hinders efficiency and cost savings.
HR says line needs to be ‘better equipped’
An HR survey reveals that 81% of HR managers believe better-equipped line managers are key to improving HR effectiveness. The findings show that enhanced manager training could boost employee productivity, reduce employment disputes, and help HR teams focus on strategic work rather than administrative tasks.
Ask the expert: Handling a demotion
Experts advise on the legal risks of demoting an underperforming employee, recommending restructuring her role rather than formal demotion to avoid constructive dismissal claims. Proper procedures, consultation, and salary considerations are essential.
Love at work – it’s a corporate affair
Acas employment relations experts offer four essential rules for managing workplace romance successfully. Key advice includes keeping personal and professional lives separate, respecting confidentiality, ensuring fairness in management decisions, and handling breakups professionally to maintain workplace harmony.
