Colborn’s corner: Keeping fit
Employers must comply with employment law, but debate continues over how much responsibility they should take for employee wellbeing beyond legal requirements. Should companies encourage fitness and healthy habits, or should personal health remain an employee’s individual responsibility?
HR tip: Resignations and references
Providing a positive reference for a poorly performing employee who offers to resign could expose your company to legal liability. References must accurately represent an employee’s performance; misleading information could lead to lawsuits from the new employer if the worker underperforms. Instead, address performance issues through proper management and disciplinary procedures.
Jobless figures show fall in number of claimants
Unemployment fell by 7,000 over the quarter, the largest decline since January 2005, with employment rising 41,000. While jobseeker’s allowance claims dropped and the UK maintains the highest G8 employment rate, job vacancies declined below 600,000 and economic inactivity increased.
Workplace injury leads to £3.5 million sex addiction claim
A man injured in a workplace fall from a gantry in 2002 is claiming £3.5 million from his former employers, arguing that the head injury caused sexual disinhibition that destroyed his marriage. The case centers on whether the neurological changes from his accident warrant compensation for loss of earnings and marital breakdown.
Work-life balance: lots of talk but little action
Public sector organizations have work-life balance policies on paper, but a Work Foundation report finds managers often block flexible working requests or grant them only to favored staff. Only half of surveyed employees felt they could make real choices about their working arrangements, revealing a significant gap between stated commitments and workplace reality.
EU to aim for greater mobility for workers
The EU is launching an action plan to increase worker mobility across member states by addressing legal, administrative, practical, and psychological barriers. The initiative aims to support workers and families through preparation, reintegration services, and career development opportunities.
Missions, values and policies – A waste of time?
Mission statements and company values can be effective tools for organizational alignment, but only when they’re developed with employee input, clearly defined, and genuinely lived by leadership. Many companies fail because they create vague policies that contradict actual workplace culture and lack authentic commitment from management to uphold them.
CBI calls for public sector reward reform
The CBI is calling for major reforms to public sector pay and reward systems, arguing that organizations should use market rates and performance incentives to improve service delivery rather than relying on outdated national pay structures.
Do Christmas bonuses work? By Sarah Fletcher
Christmas bonuses can motivate employees, but experts argue they’re ineffective without a healthy workplace culture, fair implementation, and sufficient monetary value. HR professionals debate whether small bonuses actually improve retention or satisfaction, with many suggesting alternative benefits like extra leave would prove more meaningful to staff.
Inconsistent treatment: a question of unfair dismissal?
An employment tribunal ruling clarifies that while inconsistent treatment of employees is relevant to unfair dismissal claims, it cannot override the statutory test of whether dismissal was reasonable in the specific circumstances. The decision emphasizes employers have discretion to treat individual cases differently based on their particular facts.
Dispute resolution review welcomed
The government’s dispute resolution process review has been welcomed by both the TUC and CBI, who cite concerns including overly complicated procedures, lack of access to justice, and loss of employer confidence in employment tribunals.
Employees fear flexible working will damage careers
Two-thirds of UK employees want flexible working, but half fear it will harm their careers, with many unaware of their legal rights. Barriers include outdated office culture, lack of technology, and employer resistance to change.
Ask the expert: Must we do upward appraisals?
Employees generally cannot refuse to participate in upward appraisals without risk of disciplinary action, as they have an implied contractual obligation to follow reasonable employer instructions. Employment law experts recommend approaching these appraisals constructively, focusing on constructive feedback rather than criticism.
Pension figures: early retirement coming later in life
ONS pension data shows workers are delaying early retirement, with the average withdrawal age reaching 64.2 years for men and 61.8 years for women in 2006—the highest levels since records began in 1984. Employment rates among older workers also rose to record highs, while defined benefit pension scheme membership continued declining.
The TUC rides to the rescue of festive spirit
The TUC has launched an online Secret Santa generator to help workplaces maintain festive cheer. The tool allows organizers to input email addresses, and the system automatically assigns gift recipients to participants, simplifying office Christmas celebrations without disrupting the workplace.
Dispute resolution review announced to cut £277,000 average cost
The UK government has launched a review of employment dispute resolution procedures following research showing tribunal cases cost an average of £277,000. Michael Gibbons will examine options for simplifying the system and encouraging earlier resolution to reduce costs and improve outcomes for both employers and employees.
Could workplace training become a statutory right?
The Leitch Report proposes making workplace training a statutory right if organizations fail to voluntarily increase employee skills investment by 2010. The report outlines recommendations to address the UK’s skills gap, including improved vocational funding, stronger employer engagement, and compulsory education or training up to age 18.
All present but not correct
Employees overwhelmingly prefer meaningful gifts like wine and genuine thanks over branded merchandise or gift vouchers. A survey reveals that thoughtful presents—even modest ones—boost staff loyalty and appreciation far more effectively than generic corporate gifts.
Avoiding a Christmas crisis
Employers can avoid Christmas party crises by reminding staff of workplace conduct expectations, enforcing disciplinary procedures for inappropriate behavior, and being cautious about statements that could create legal obligations. Clear communication about attendance standards and professional representation helps protect company reputation during festive events.
Leitch Report: Employers must make greater investment in skills
The Leitch Report emphasizes that employers must significantly increase investment in staff skills training to help Britain remain competitive and close persistent skills gaps. The report recommends making education compulsory until age 18 and calls for government spending on skills to double from 1% to 2% of GDP by 2020.
