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 […]
Government pension plans could lead to ‘crisis’
The government’s proposals to solve the pensions time bomb could lead to a ‘pensions crisis’ according to new research by Deloitte, co-sponsored by Scottish Widows.According to the research, the key problem is the National Pensions Savings Scheme’s personal account – not only is it expected that many people will opt out but in addition it […]
Firms fail staff returning from international assignments
Organisations that send staff on international assignments are failing to benefit through failure to invest in repatriation and professional development, according to research by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Cranfield School of Management.‘Measuring the Value of International Assignments’ is based on tracking 3,450 expatriates over an average of three years. It finds that an average of 15 […]
Get by with a little HELP from Royal Mail
If its employees need a ‘HELPing’ hand then Royal Mail is poised to deliver after launching a new employee assistance scheme.HELP is a free, confidential service covering Health and emotional wellbeing, Employment advice, Legal services and Practical assistance – and it’s available round-the-clock for employees and their immediate family.Topics it covers range from money problems, […]
Preparations for smoking ban a hot topic
Nearly half of employers plan to change their smoking policies to comply with new legislation coming into force in summer 2007.The survey of 173 organisations found that 45 per cent expect to have to alter their current approach when a ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces takes effect in England and Wales next year. […]
DTI announces legal ‘carer’ definition
From 6 April carers will have the right to request flexible working under the Work and Families Act.The DTI has now announced the definition of carer under the act which, it estimates, covers around 80 per cent of actual carers.Under the act a carer is: an employee who is or expects to be caring for […]
Placements make good compatibility tests
Forget compatibility tests on internet dating sites –work placements could ensure compatibility between employer and employee, according to City & Guilds.One in five employees in the UK have left or are considering leaving a job because they want a change in career. A new report from City & Guilds ‘Mutually Compatible – Effective Work Placements’ […]
Ask the expert: Double disciplinary
Can two unrelated incidents be covered in one disciplinary hearing or does each complaint require a separate procedure? Martin Brewer, partner and employment law specialist at Mills and Reeve, and Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar, explain. The question:“An employee is currently on suspension following a racist remark being repeated [to other members of staff]. […]
New employees more likely to quit
According to a new survey from the US, twice as many employees with less than two years’ service voluntarily leave an organisation compared to those with longer service.The findings, from Sirota Survey Intelligence’s study of worker attrition rates which covered 47,000 employees, indicate that of all staff who leave in any given year, almost 60 […]
Bullying on the increase says TUC
Bullying is steadily increasing in UK workplaces according to figures released by the TUC to coincide with this week’s ban bullying at work day.Fifteen per cent of the union safety reps questioned in the latest TUC bi-annual survey of union safety reps said bullying was a major problem in their workplace. Two years ago, 12 […]
EU fails to agree working time opt-out – again
For the fifth time, EU member states have failed to agree amended provisions for the opt-out from the Working Time Directive – but this time it leaves 23 countries facing court action.The UK’s opt-out of a maximum 48-hour working week has been a source of discontent among other member states for years and after talks […]
10% fall in female directors
Despite making up 46 per cent of the UK workforce the number of female directors in FTSE companies has fallen by 10 per cent over the past year.The 2006 Female FTSE report from Cranfield School of Management reveals that only 53 companies in the FTSE 100 have women on their executive committees, 30 have all-male […]
Dismissal Q&A
Dismissing an employee is never an easy task and it is vital that employers ensure they take the necessary steps to stay on the right side of the law. Paula Matheson, Senior Employment Law Advisor of Empire HR, provides advice to employers on how to deal with this potentially sticky situation. Q: I […]
Chasing sickness: Getting the return to work interview right
As businesses try to combat the damaging effects of rising rates of employee absenteeism, return to work interviews are taking a prominent place in the process. Training consultant Nik Kellingley explains how to make this work for your organisation. Does the rising tide of absenteeism threaten to wash away the humble British business? Probably not, […]
Case study: Training management at CORGI. By John Stokdyk
This HR Zone case study sets out to throw some light on how training management software can help organisations gain better control of their training and development spend by maintaining accurate, up-to-date records of employee qualifications and courses attended. The subject for this report will be the gas appliance fitters’ inspectorate, CORGI, where automated training […]
