Do Christmas bonuses work? By Sarah Fletcher
We all love a present once in a while (hint hint), but should your employer play santa and hand out Christmas gifts for good behaviour? HR Zone members discuss whether a festive bonus really motivates employees. By Sarah Fletcher It can’t mask company problemsSteve Watson, consultant:“Even the term ‘christmas’ may be offensive to some. However, […]
Inconsistent treatment: a question of unfair dismissal?
The employment appeal tribunal has handed down a useful decision on whether inconsistent treatment of employees can lead to a finding of unfair dismissal.The case, Levenes Solicitors v Dalley, concerned a solicitor who had missed a court deadline and was dismissed. A few years earlier another solicitor had made the same mistake but not been […]
Dispute resolution review welcomed
The government’s announcement that it is to review the dispute resolution process has been welcomed by the TUC and the CBI – albeit for different reasons.TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “The TUC is committed to the principle that all employers should have in place dispute resolution procedures and we welcome the DTI review. “The […]
Employees fear flexible working will damage careers
Two-thirds of UK employees aspire to flexible working – but half are worried it will damage their careers, according to research by Eclipse Internet.The research also found that a quarter of respondents thought that flexi-working was a taboo subject in their organisation.Mark Thomas, sales manager of Eclipse, said: “Companies risk alienating large parts of the […]
Ask the expert: Must we do upward appraisals?
Could an employee that refuses to appraise their manager face disciplinary action? Martin Brewer, partner and employment law specialist at Mills and Reeve, and Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar, explain. The question:I wonder if anyone can help me with this – can your boss force you to appraise them on an official form? I […]
Pension figures: early retirement coming later in life
Pension figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that people are waiting until later in life before taking early retirement.According to the ONS, the average age at which male and female workers withdraw from the labour force is rising. In 2006, it was 64.2 years for men, the highest level since 1984, […]
The TUC rides to the rescue of festive spirit
If colleagues at your workplace are saying ‘Bah humbug’ more often than Ebenezer Scrooge, then the TUC is riding to the rescue.It’s launched an online Secret Santa generator to keep the spirit of Christmas present (or maybe that should be the spirit of Christmas presents) alive at work.Instead of disrupting the office by putting everyone’s […]
Dispute resolution review announced to cut £277,000 average cost
The government has now made the official announcement that it is to review the dispute resolution procedures, as new research reveals that cases which reach tribunal cost an average of £277,000.Alistair Darling, the secretary of state for trade and industry, told parliament he has asked Michael Gibbons, a member of the Better Regulation Commission and […]
Could workplace training become a statutory right?
Organisations must invest in workplace training voluntarily by 2010 – or the government will need to legislate to make it a statutory right, says the Leitch Report, ‘Prosperity for all in the Global Economy: World Class Skills’.The report examines the UK’s long-term skills needs and sets out a reform agenda to meet ambitious goals by […]
All present but not correct
Planning to give Christmas gifts to employees this year? Then be careful not to get eggnog all over your face.In a slight twist on the traditional festive survey, Croner has asked staff what the naffest seasonal stocking fillers from the workplace are.And the resounding answer has been anything with the company logo on it or […]
Avoiding a Christmas crisis
As Christmas approaches, employers begin to feel the festive fear that staff will embarrass themselves, land the company in a tribunal and destroy relationships with clients by doing inappropriate things with the photocopier. Paula Matheson, Senior Employment Law Adviser at Empire HR, gives legal advice to help organisations avoid a Christmas crisis. Q1. How do […]
Leitch Report: Employers must make greater investment in skills
Employers should have greater input into training if Britain is to plug its skills gaps and remain competitive, a key report recommends.Lord Leitch’s report Prosperity for all in the Global Economy: World Class Skills paints a gloomy picture of current UK skills, and warns that even if current targets are met, the UK will still […]
A good year for babies? Maternity in 2006 and 2007. By Sarah Fletcher
What was most important for maternity in 2006 and what’s the plan for 2007? Read our exclusive guide by Sarah Fletcher. Ah babies. Small, squidgy and smelling faintly of soap, who couldn’t love them? Employers, apparently. Earlier this year HR Zone examined the attitude of HR professionals to maternity provisions and the results were bleak […]
Age laws challenge referred to Europe
Heyday’s challenge to the new age discrimination regulations has been referred by a high court judge to the European Court of Justice (ECJ).The move is not totally unsurprising – Heyday’s challenge related to the parent directive and whether it allowed mandatory retirement ages.Heyday’s legal team argued that the action would turn on the interpretation of […]
HR Tip: Different disciplinary offences
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Q: "An employee made offensive remarks to her supervisor and was given a formal warning. She has just broken an important health and safety rule. As this is a different type of offence, do […]
Disability Equality Duty – DRC will see you in court
The new Disability Equality Duty (DED) came into force for some 45,000 public bodies yesterday – and the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) has said that organisations which fail to meet the new requirements will be facing it in court.Publicly funded organisations with specific duties under the DED had until yesterday (4 December) to publish a […]
Lunch breaks: Myth v reality
If you feel tied to your desk and guilty for taking a lunch break then you’re not alone. Research from PruHealth indicates that half of the UK’s employees say they do not have the time to leave their desks at lunchtime.The lunchtime break might be part of their terms and conditions but 20 per cent […]
Workplace relations: ‘a marriage under stress’
The relationship between employer and employees has been likened to ‘a marriage under stress’ by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).Lack of communication, feeling taken for granted, little trust, feeling dissatisfied – and ultimately the rush towards the exit were all highlighted in the report: ‘Working Life: Employee Attitudes and Engagement 2006’, commissioned […]
Any Answers: IVF and cosmetic surgery
HR officer Alan Barry explains how to deal with an employee request to take time off work for either IVF treatment or cosmetic surgery. I am developing a policy on time off for IVF treatment and hope that the following thoughts will help you.Most medical treatment is ‘elective’ – we choose to go to our […]
Overtime: Just plain cruel. By Sarah Fletcher
At primary school it was all so simple. Three o’clock came around, the bell rang and we all rushed joyfully into the playground for our mummies to take us home and feed us biscuits. Home Time was clear, regular and there was no question of us staying late.But then, alas, we grew up and were […]
