Feeling lazy? Blame it on the office. By Sarah Fletcher
Is your office killing your ability to work? If you have a tendency to gaze vacantly out of the window for hours, forget to reply to emails and be distracted by your colleagues discussing last night's tv, don't feel guilty; it turns out it's not your fault after all. Apparently we're suffering from a condition […]
Any Answers: Managing rebellious staff
“Staff who persistently challenge and undermine their employer’s authority and do so publicly need to be taken through the disciplinary procedure,” argues HR Zone member Jane Thompson. How do you manage staff who rebel against the values of the business? Lynn Smith, a training manager working in the voluntary sector, suggests an employer who wishes […]
Case study: Risk management
Risk management is a crucial part of any organisation’s strategy. Dan Martin, HR Zone business editor, reports on the experiences of eye care firm Vision Service Plan (VSR), which improved its methods for risk identification and management. In the modern world, businesses are exposed to a range of risks, both internally and externally. Patricia Cochran, […]
Dispute resolution regulations – questions of timings and beards
Technical questions surrounding ‘normal time limits’ and the point at which someone engaged in the statutory grievance procedure runs out of time to bring a case before a tribunal have been addressed in two cases before the Employment Appeal Tribunal.Broadly, the answer is that time starts to run when events lead to dismissal rather than […]
Pay growth dips below cost of living
Pay rises are failing to keep up with the cost of living as migrants and older workers boost labour supply, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and KPMG’s quarterly ‘Labour Market Outlook’ survey report.As a result, pay pressures are likely to remain subdued during the winter pay round.The results are backed […]
Transsexual woman launches two discrimination cases
In a highly unusual and potentially record-breaking case, a transsexual woman has launched discrimination claims on both sides of the Atlantic.Jessica Bussert alleges she was demoted after informing her employer, Hitachi Data Systems, of her planned transition and that she was subjected to retaliatory actions after filing a claim with a British tribunal.The British hearing […]
Ask the expert: Refusal to prove absence is genuine
What action should be taken if an employee with a poor absence record refuses to attend an Occupational Health Unit? Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar, and Martin Brewer, partner and employment law specialist at Mills and Reeve, share their legal advice. The question:"We have an employee that has well met the trigger […]
Pensions bill already under fire
It’s not expected to be published until next month but already the pensions bill is coming under fire for not going far enough.Restoring the link between the basic state pension and earnings and making it easier for women to build up a pension – by reducing the number of qualifying years and reforming the system […]
New sector guidance to combat sex discrimination
After 39 successful sex discrimination cases in five years, including a £50,000 payout, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) decided the pub and brewing industry needed help.So, it’s launched new guidelines to help pubs and breweries avoid discriminating against their staff. The EOC has worked closely with trade bodies across the sector in drafting the guidelines, […]
2007 Maternity legislation: A step forward? By Sarah Fletcher
Changes to maternity legislation on 1 April 2007 include an increase in statutory paid leave from six to nine months, optional ‘keeping in touch’ days and an extension of the notice female staff must give to their employer when they wish to return from maternity leave. Sarah Fletcher asked HR professionals and industry experts how […]
Colborn’s Corner – How do we address executive pay?
Recent press comment on the relationship of pay in the executive sector to front line employees brings into focus the issue of relativities and fairness in pay. This week Quentin addresses what HR can do in trying to bring an understanding to a workforce of the need to pay high salaries. In The Times of […]
Unemployment hits a seven-year high
The number of people looking for work has reached 1.71 million – the highest for seven years.Figures released today cover the three months to September and reveal that the number of unemployed is up 27,000 on the quarter and by 263,000 on the year.The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance – the claimant count – […]
HR tip: Staff appraisals
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: "We hold regular staff appraisals, but what is the point of appraising a man who is going nowhere?" A: Why do you appraise staff? Presumably to let them know how they are doing, […]
Reform of pensions and tribunals on the cards
Reform of the tribunal system and the long-term reform of pensions both featured in the Queen’s speech at today’s state opening of parliament.Early calculations indicate that, in a hefty legislative programme, the government is planning to introduce more than 40 pieces of legislation including 29 bills during the next session – although two are carried […]
Recruiting talent: Practical advice
Management consultant John Pope gives some practical tips for managing and developing talent within your organisation. So you want more talented people? The sort that make things happen better, make new things happen, get your organisation to stand out from your competitors? Where do you start? Recruit new staff who have something other […]
Women make better interviewers
When it comes to interviewing job candidates, women are rated as being more skilful than their male counterparts, according to research commissioned by HR consultants Water for Fish.With women rated higher by 56 per cent of the poll, the research suggests that women are better equipped to choose the candidates best suited for vacancies.The research, […]
Disappointment over ‘carer’ definition
Both the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) and leading charity Carers UK have expressed disappointment with the government’s legal definition of ‘carer’ and are urging companies to go beyond the legal requirements.The legislation, which forms part of the Work and Families Act, does not come into force until April 2007 but is set to benefit 2.6 […]
Protecting your business from bloggers. By Sarah Fletcher
With one new blog being published online every second, companies are feeling the damaging effects of employees with a little too much to say. From the Microsoft worker who published a photo of Apple Macs being delivered to the company, to the Delta Airlines employee whose ‘revealing’ photos of herself got her fired for gross […]
Any Answers: Getting keys cut without the boss’s knowledge
Caroline Miles gives guidance on how to discipline an employee for misconduct.View the original post The purpose of the investigation and the disciplinary hearing is to decide what, if any, disciplinary action is appropriate given the circumstances.If following the investigation there is no justifiable reason they got the keys cut and you are suspicious of […]
Amendments to age discrimination laws go before parliament
Amending regulations have been put before parliament in a bid to sort out the problems the new age discrimination regulations have caused pension schemes.Although the age discrimination legislation came into force on 1 October, it was realised the aspects relating to pensions were particularly problematic and their implementation was postponed until 1 December. Under EU […]
