Talking away stress. By Annie Lawler
In the second of a new series on stress in the workplace, Annie Lawler looks at how poor communication affects staff stress levels. One of the key causes of stress in the workplace is poor communication; not only in terms of communication between management and employees, but also between colleagues. The culture of a company […]
Smoking away your salary. By Sarah Fletcher
Being practically perfect, a bit like Mary Poppins, I don't smoke. However, I lovingly accept my smoker friends. In fact, I don't even throw rubbish at them in the street. Unfortunately the Italian Association of Personnel Managers doesn't feel so benevolent and has asked its members to consider slashing smokers' salaries for their cigarette breaks. […]
Ask the expert: Bonus payment
If an employee feels entitled to an annual bonus which the company then removes, what can they do? Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar, and Martin Brewer, partner and employment law specialist at Mills and Reeve, offer legal advice. The question:I have worked for my current employer for six months. On joining the company I […]
Pensions compensation case returns to UK
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that the UK has failed to meet EU standards for protecting workers from losing their pensions if their employer goes bankrupt – but has stopped short of ordering the government to pay compensation.Instead, the ECJ has returned the case to the high court for a final ruling […]
Flexibility key to success
Flexible working is the key employee benefit you can offer according to new research – and it’s as popular with men as it is with women.According to a new study by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), Working outside the box, 52 per cent of men and 48 per cent of women say they want to […]
What can HR professionals learn from the BA dispute?
As BA and the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) enter another day of talks to avoid this week’s scheduled two-day strike by cabin crew, HR consultants are already keen to work out what can be learned from the dispute.Along with issues specific to BA, two general problems are apparent: the first is the absence […]
The importance of disciplinary procedures
A tribunal case in which a driver was awarded more than £17,000 has highlighted the importance of carrying out disciplinary procedures properly.The BBC reports that Paul Hill, of East Kilbride, who worked as a driver delivering Coca-Cola containers, was dismissed after a client said his breath smelled of alcohol.Bond Retail Services Ltd had denied that […]
Backdated age discrimination bill could top £69 million
The bill for backdated claims under the age discrimination legislation is likely to top £69 million, insurer AXA has warned.HR Zone has previously reported on the case brought by Heyday against the British government over its implementation of the age discrimination regulations. The government has set a retirement age of 65 which, Heyday argues, breaches […]
Sacking by fax costs council £130,000
Walsall Council has paid almost £130,000 in compensation to a worker who received a fax sacking her while she was on sick leave.The case between the council and Elizabeth McDonald was settled during tribunal proceedings in which she was claiming £500,000 for unfair dismissal and disability discrimination. The figure was based on an estimate of […]
Work-life: Assisting the balancing act. By Matt Henkes
Employees in today’s busy world can often feel like they are struggling to juggle their career and social life. However, there are ways to help them attain the balance they need to perform at their best. Matt Henkes reports. While there is as yet no clear consensus on the exact definition of Work Life Balance […]
HR Tip: Confidential witness statements from colleagues
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: "We have been told by two of our employees that one of their colleagues committed a serious breach of our strict health and safety regulations, which put the safety, and perhaps even […]
Using subliminal influence in interviews – intelligent dressing
In job interviews many of us plan for the types of questions we might get asked, many plan the types of questions we want to ask. However, do we do all the things necessary to give us an advantage? This includes subliminal messages given by our choice of clothes and our mental state when we […]
Diversity counts: An answer to ‘the needy and the greedy’
A recent article by consultant Denis Barnard argued that diversity programmes encouraged promotion of ‘the needy and the greedy’. In answer to this feature, Lauren Chesney, an HR professional working in Toronto for a top-five Canadian bank, argues that diversity is crucial for all organisations. Racism. Prejudice. Ignorance. Those are three big dirty words that […]
Employers to drive skills development
Following the changes proposed in the Leitch Report, the government has launched a consultation on changes to further education – proposing that employers should be in the driving seat.The proposals include: Enabling employers to determine the content of qualifications and advise on curriculum design Allowing employers to choose their preferred further education providers Learner accounts […]
Strikes: Best avoided. By Matt Henkes
In an industrial dispute, the threat of a strike is the trade unions’ trump card, and one which they will tell you that they are loath to pull. The ramifications of such stoppages are far reaching, and affect everyone, from shareholders, management and executives, to customers, employees and their families.The topic has proved to be […]
UK health and safety law passes first hurdle of EU court case
The EU Commission’s decision to launch a court case against the UK over the way it implements EU health and safety rules looks to have backfired.In the first stage of the ruling, Advocate General Paolo Mengozzi has said that the main plank of UK health and safety legislation – the Health and Safety at Work […]
Religious dress row set to resume?
According to press reports, Aishah Azmi, the woman at the centre of last year’s religious dress row, has filed papers with the Employment Appeals Tribunal.Ms Azmi was sacked from her job as a classroom assistant by Kirklees Council after insisting on wearing the niqab – the veil which covers the face leaving just a slit […]
Talent management: why rewards work
The top talent in many UK companies is not happy and these employees are voting with their feet, recent research shows. This is despite the fact that many of them are highly paid, earning on average £325,000 per annum and receiving a bonus of around £100,000. This just goes to show that money does not […]
Ask the expert: Repayment of course fees
Can an organisation force an ex-employee to repay their training fees? Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar, and Martin Brewer, partner and employment law specialist at Mills and Reeve, offer legal advice. The question:Having just left an organisation to take up a new role, I have been asked by my old company to repay the […]
How bosses can be good for workers’ health
New research has discovered a range of behaviours that bosses can use to prevent and reduce stress among their team members.Although the research has identified 19 key ‘stress management behaviours’ it’s so new that the relative importance of each has yet to be determined.Key behaviours include: managing workload and resources, having a friendly style, good […]
