Snakes on a workplace blog
A 3-foot ball python escaped at Google’s New York office, causing confusion among staff who initially thought it was an April Fool’s joke. The snake was eventually found behind a cabinet and returned to its owner.
TUC urges English employers to beat the smoking ban
The TUC urges English employers to prepare for the July 1 smoking ban in workplaces by involving staff and unions. Around 700 workers die annually from second-hand smoke exposure at work, making smoke-free policies essential for employee health and safety.
The onus on the bonus: managing team rewards. By Rob Lewis
Explore how organizations can improve team performance through collective reward systems. This article examines why many businesses struggle to communicate rewards effectively and examines case studies like Currys, which shifted from individual commissions to team-based rewards to foster collaboration and improve customer service outcomes.
Ask the expert: absence management and salary review
Linking sickness absence to pay rises and disciplinary action can create legal risks, particularly regarding disability discrimination. While employers can implement absence policies, they must follow proper procedures and consider whether such systems violate employment law protections.
Are we unmoved and apathetic?
HR practitioners on HR Zone read challenging content but rarely comment or engage in discussion, raising questions about why professionals hesitate to share opinions publicly despite holding strong views offline.
Death of the lunch break spells health and safety issues
A new survey reveals 73% of UK office workers regularly skip lunch, citing being too busy. Experts warn that skipping breaks damages productivity, health, and cognitive function, despite the misconception that working through lunch boosts output.
Lack of skills a barrier to HR profession
Pan-European research shows that HR professionals lack critical skills needed for effective business transformation, including technology deployment, project management, customer service improvement, and financial understanding, despite strengths in traditional HR functions.
Legislation update: Restrictive covenants
A Court of Appeal decision upheld the enforceability of a 12-month restrictive covenant for a senior insurance broker, establishing that narrowly tailored non-compete clauses protecting specific business information can be reasonable. The ruling provides employers with guidance on drafting enforceable restrictive covenants that limit competition only to relevant sectors and protect legitimate business interests like pricing data and customer relationships.
HRD and HR Zone: L&D highlights
Discover five key L&D events at the CIPD’s HRD show (17-19 April) covering workplace conflict resolution, leadership development, learning inspiration, change management, and talent identification. Industry experts including Greg Dyke and George Kohlrieser lead interactive sessions designed to enhance organizational performance.
Could the dispute resolution regulations be abolished?
The government is consulting on abolishing the 2004 Dispute Resolution Regulations, following the Gibbons Report’s recommendation. The regulations, intended to simplify dispute resolution, have had unintended consequences including increased formal procedures and premature legal advice-seeking, leading to more costly employment tribunal cases.
Women face the glass cliff
Women leaders increasingly face the “glass cliff,” where organizations appoint them to senior positions primarily during company crises or poor performance. This hidden discrimination sets female executives up to fail more often than their male counterparts, perpetuating myths about women’s leadership capability.
Fangs for the benefit
More organizations are offering dental insurance as an employee benefit, with adoption expected to rise 57 percent this year according to CIPD research. The trend reflects growing difficulty accessing NHS dentists and employers’ efforts to attract and retain talent while reducing work absences.
When a stranger calls: should you be worried about interim management? By Rob Lewis
Interim managers, once rare in corporate settings, are now increasingly common as businesses seek temporary expertise to fill senior vacancies. While they can provide valuable skills and quick solutions, interim appointments also carry risks including potential lack of long-term accountability and internal political tensions.
Can the ICE regulations be warmed up? By Louise Birkett
The Information and Consultation of Employees (ICE) regulations have received a chilly reception since their introduction, with low adoption rates due to their voluntary nature, complexity, and lack of union support. As the regulations extend to larger organizations, employers must understand their obligations and the emerging case law around pre-existing agreements.
HR Tip: Making notes in disciplinary hearings
Managing note-taking during disciplinary hearings can be challenging, but you can listen effectively by pausing periodically to write down key points rather than attempting both simultaneously. If using a note-taker, ensure they remain neutral and provide copies to all parties involved.
Change management: Making it work. By Lucie Benson
HR professionals need practical skills to manage organizational change effectively, which is increasingly central to their role. Research shows only half of reorganizations meet their objectives, with success depending on senior management support, comprehensive planning, active HR involvement, and sustained employee communication throughout the change process.
Workers give up on retirement funds
A quarter of workers are not saving for retirement despite concerns about inadequate government pensions. Research shows 85% of employees doubt government support, yet many cannot afford to save or haven’t started.
Employers struggle to find skilled staff
Employers are struggling to fill positions with skilled workers, particularly in sales, administration, engineering, and manual trades, according to a Manpower survey of over 1,800 businesses. The research shows demand is highest for electricians, plumbers, engineers, and administrative staff, prompting employers to consider flexible hiring strategies including temporary workers and non-traditional candidates.
Workers with HIV still facing discrimination
HIV-positive workers continue facing workplace discrimination due to employer misconceptions about health impacts and time off, despite legal protections. The National Aids Trust has released guidance to help employers recruit fairly and comply with anti-discrimination laws.
Poor literacy spells disaster for job hunters
Poor literacy skills are costing job hunters opportunities, with over half of employers reporting spelling and grammar mistakes on applications, yet many prioritize dress code violations over basic writing competency.
