School curriculum aims to meet employers’ needs
Proposals to revamp the curriculum for 11-14 year-olds (key stage three) will place more emphasis on developing skills such as initiative, enterprise and independent learning – skills which, the government says are particularly valued by employers.As well as traditional texts such as Shakespeare and Dickens, greater attention will be paid to spoken English. Schools will […]
Colborn’s corner: Who’s watching?
The past few weeks have seen many fixated on Big Brother and accusations of racism and bullying. This week Quentin takes a look at whether this offers a lesson for the workplace. Let me start with a disclaimer – I don’t watch Big Brother. Sad maybe, but I have better things to do with my […]
Don’t let Valentine’s Day turn into a nightmare
Traditionally it’s the day when birds choose their mate and when cards and flowers are sent by secret admirers.Unfortunately, it can also be a day when the office stalker strikes, when rude Valentine’s messages cause all kinds of disruption and those in coupledom attempt to out-bouquet each other.What many employers – 80 per cent, according […]
Useless middle management costs UK plc £220 billion a year
Underperforming middle managers are cutting the productivity of British business by a whopping £220 billion per year.The figure comes from research by management consultancy Hay Group, which also found that 38 per cent of UK directors believe their organisation is ‘paralysed’ by ineffective middle management.In fact, 40 per cent of British directors claim their middle […]
Benefits measurement essential to justify spend
The failure by many organisations to measure the real contribution pay and benefits packages can add to business is leaving many HR and reward professionals unable to justify fully increased spend or changes.That’s according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s Annual Reward Survey 2007, which also reveals that two-fifths of organisation plan to […]
Ask the expert: Email monitoring
Internal information is being leaked outside the company to ex-employees by a current member of staff. With a strict email policy, can the company check employees’ emails to discover the culprit? Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar, and Martin Brewer, partner and employment law specialist at Mills and Reeve, offer legal advice. The question:We have […]
Dealing with persistent short term absences. By Charles Price
Barrister Charles Price explains how to deal with short term absences without facing claims for discrimination or unfair dismissal. We have all experienced working in an office where morale has suffered due to the same few culprits always taking ‘sickies’, but the financial costs to business of absenteeism is of far greater concern. A recent […]
Beneficial contractual change rules in TUPE transfers enforceable
The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has handed down a decision relating to changes of contract under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE).The question was whether it was possible for an employee to enforce a change to his terms and conditions that had been made following a TUPE transfer. His employer claimed it […]
Workplace deaths: coroners to get greater powers
The government has announced that it plans to give coroners greater powers to make sure lessons are learned from workplace deaths.At the moment coroners have the power to make reports to public or private sector organisations about what preventative actions could help avoid repeat incidents.But the draft Coroners Bill includes new powers which will enable: […]
The HR Zone/IT Zone guide to payroll services and software. By John Stokdyk
CONTENTSIntroductionHMRC resourcesKey issue: Carter 2Corporate HR & payroll outsourcersEnterprise software incorporating payrollIntegrated HR/Payroll software developersNew wave online payroll as a service providersSME accounting software incorporating payrollSME payroll software developersPayroll bureaux that develop and sell softwarePayroll outsourcers/bureaux IntroductionThanks to the provision of £250 yearly incentives for small and medium size businesses that voluntarily switch to filing […]
Can you have a Global Payroll System?
As the world becomes more and more a global village organisations are having a greater presence in countries worldwide and where there are people there will always be a need to pay them and the systems to support this.And as we move to this global village state organisations are looking for global solutions and so […]
Interview SOS – Involving staff in the recruitment process
Consultant Mike Morrison explains how to involve employees in the recruitment process and why this benefits an organisation. Many organisations are starting to explore a new approach to improving retention through participative selection. There is a belief that when staff are involved in the recruitment decision they are more likely to support the new staff […]
Managing international assignments
Up to 40 percent of assignments where experienced managers are sent abroad fail to deliver the results expected by corporate headquarters. Jeff Toms, director of marketing and client services at Farnham Castle, explains why cross-cultural training is crucial in managing international projects. Understanding and working with people from different cultures is not always easy or […]
Call for equal rights for agency workers
Trade unions have launched a campaign to get the backing of 100 MPs to secure the passage of a private member’s bill which calls for equal rights for agency workers.The Temporary Agency Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Bill is being brought by Paul Farrelly, the Labour MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme. It aims to give agency […]
Slippers hide a serious problem
How many of your employees wore slippers to work yesterday as they took part in the Samaritans’ Stress Down Day?But underneath all the frivolity, there’s a serious message. Research carried out on the Samaritans’ behalf revealed that 17 per cent of people are stressed out every day.In addition, 32 per cent of people admitted they […]
Google: Recruiting and developing top talent. By Sarah Fletcher
Google's HR director Liane Hornsey spoke at the HR Directors' Summit this week on attracting and developing talent and why a strong recruitment strategy is crucial. Sarah Fletcher reports. Unless you've been living like a hermit on a remote island with no access to the world beyond, you'll be aware of Google's meteoric rise […]
HR Tip: Persistent absenteeism
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: "A small hardcore of our employees is absent regularly on Mondays, Fridays and the days before and after holidays. However they always have a plausible reason, usually sickness, which we are unable […]
Case study: Integrating payroll and HR at Anglian Windows
The impetus that prompted Anglian Windows to overhaul its HR and payroll systems in 2004 was simple. If it did not replace the incumbent system PS 2000, it would not be able to pay its employees.“The supplier was pulling the plug on our old system, so had no choice,” says group payroll manager Irene Stannard. […]
Performance management: Achieving results. By Dan Martin
Performance management is simply about managing the way employees perform, isn’t it? If you answered yes, you’d be wrong. The process is actually more complex than the phrase suggests and as a result many organisations struggle to successfully embrace it. Dan Martin examines the true meaning of performance management and how to achieve results. What’s […]
Workers still want to retire early
The government might want to raise the retirement age to 68 but new research reveals that the majority of UK workers still plan to retire before 65.Aon Consulting’s findings pinpoint the average planned retirement age at 63.1 for men and 62.1 for women.Although the choice of retirement age is governed by government policy for 14 […]
