How to: Be confident in recruiting disabled workers
Learn how to confidently recruit disabled workers by overcoming common anxieties through disability awareness training, implementing flexible recruitment processes, and making reasonable adjustments. With 6.8 million disabled people in the UK workforce, effective talent recruitment strategies help organizations attract the best candidates regardless of disability status.
HR Tip: Proof of drunkenness
Employers don’t need definitive proof of employee drunkenness to take action—a well-founded belief is sufficient grounds for discipline. If an employee shows signs like slurred speech, unsteady walking, or alcohol smell, send them home immediately and conduct an interview later. Document findings with two assessors for objectivity.
Book review: Change Management: a Critical Perspective
Mark Hughes’ “Change Management: a Critical Perspective” is a comprehensive textbook offering practical insights for HR professionals managing organizational change. Featuring discussion topics, detailed case studies, and extensive research, it’s ideal for business students and HR generalists navigating communication challenges and resistance to change.
Book review: Talent on Tap
John Pope reviews Emma Brierly’s “Talent on Tap,” praising its excellent guidance on contracting with freelancers, interim managers, and consultants. However, he notes the book overlooks consultancy’s collaborative problem-solving aspect and lacks depth on client-consultant relationships.
Pensions – the changes
The government confirmed the state pension age will rise to 68 by 2046, with increases to 66 by 2026 and 67 by 2036. The reforms include restoring the link between pensions and earnings from 2012 and introducing a National Pensions Savings Scheme with automatic enrollment and employer contributions.
Colborn’s Corner: Does absence really make the heart grow fonder?
The CBI reports UK sick days fell to a 20-year low in 2005, but Quentin Colborn questions the accuracy of these figures, examining whether improved absence management or better reporting systems are responsible for the decline, and explores differences between public and private sector absence rates.
What’s the answer? Grievance raised after a redundancy
Employees made redundant can raise grievances about the redundancy process, even if matters were addressed during consultations. Employers should treat these grievances seriously and follow appropriate procedures, as they may precede tribunal claims.
Book review: Take Control of your Career
This career planning guide helps readers at all stages take control of their professional development through self-analysis tools, checklists, and practical strategies. Written by John Lees, it encourages balancing what matters with defining realistic career possibilities, making it ideal for anyone seeking structured career planning or considering a career change.
Fixed-term employees: the changing laws
The Fixed Term Employee Regulations, effective from July 10, 2006, limit successive fixed-term contracts to four years unless employers justify renewal on objective grounds. After this period, employees may claim permanent status and can request written confirmation from their employer.
Pergamon Flexible Learning Launches new Training Series
Pergamon Flexible Learning has launched the Trainer’s Workshop Series, a practical training resource featuring five workbooks with exercises, handouts, assessments, and ready-to-use presentations on customer service, leadership, change management, employee orientation, and supervisor training.
Member’s Tip: Dubious sickness and DDA
When an employee takes extended sickness absence for anxiety, employers must balance dismissal with Disability Discrimination Act protections. Documentation, due process, and reasonable adjustments are essential to avoid unfair dismissal claims and tribunal penalties.
Off the record: What can I do to manage stress in the workplace?
Workplace stress can cause or worsen serious health conditions like depression and heart disease. Employers have legal obligations under health and safety regulations to manage workplace stress, including reviewing workloads, complying with working time limits, and providing employee support services.
HR Zone Members Newswire #151 – Your Legal Questions Answered
HR Zone Members Newswire #151 features expert legal advice on employment issues, including guidance on workplace nursery webcam access, verbal agreements, aptitude testing, and managing sickness during holidays.
HR Tip: Carrying over holidays
Employers can enforce that the four weeks of statutory holiday under Working Time Regulations must be taken annually, not carried over. However, holiday entitlements exceeding four weeks can be carried forward by agreement. Implementing a holiday rota and monitoring bookings helps prevent excessive carryover at year-end.
Maximise Your Training Budget
Learn cost-effective strategies to maximize training impact despite budget constraints. Identify genuine training needs, secure leadership support, streamline administrative processes, and leverage provider purchasing power to deliver better results with fewer resources.
What happened next? Pregnant maternity cover. By Sarah Fletcher
When a maternity cover employee announces she’s also pregnant, employers face unexpected legal obligations. This case explores how one company navigated statutory maternity pay eligibility, health and safety assessments, and the need for additional temporary cover while managing surprised directors and amused colleagues.
E-Learning case study: Implementing a management skills project
The European Enhancement of Early Years Management Skills Project developed an innovative e-learning approach for higher education professionals in early years management. Using problem-based learning, virtual collaboration, and flexible content delivery across European universities, the program delivered university-level teaching with robust online support equivalent to in-person study.
Avian Flu: Protecting Against a Pandemic … continued
Companies can reduce pandemic risks by developing preparedness plans with clear triggers, maintaining accurate health information, and updating workplace policies. Proactive measures including employee health education, quarantine procedures, and flexible sick leave policies help protect workers and enable business continuity during an avian flu outbreak.
Avian Flu: Protecting Against a Pandemic
Businesses face significant risks from avian flu pandemic, with experts emphasizing the need for comprehensive preparedness plans. Over 80% of multinational companies consider pandemics critical, yet only 36% have developed formal plans. Effective preparation requires cross-functional teams spanning health, HR, operations, and finance to address unprecedented global disruption.
Reviewer profile: Jo Lamb-White
Jo Lamb-White is a learning and organisational development consultant specialising in public sector work. She provides business writing solutions and has reviewed “How to Find Work When You’re Over 50” by Jackie Sherman.
