Colborn’s Corner: Is that a strike I see?
The recent news that the local authority workers’ strike over pensions was the biggest stoppage since the General Strike of 1926 may have come as something of a surprise to those who regularly keep watch over industrial relations. So how do we view strikes these days? Are they merely an anachronism from the bad old […]
What’s the answer? Pay during probation … continued
Martin Brewer, is a Partner with the employment team of Mills & ReeveThis is a wholly contractual issue. Unless you have a very carefully drafted contract which says something to the contrary, you must pay employees the wages you have set out in the contract. It would be possible to create a contract which enables […]
What’s the answer? Pay during probation
Rameni Caussy gets legal guidance this week from Helen Badger, employment law expert at Browne Jacobson and Martin Brewer, a Partner with the employment team of Mills & Reeve on the law regarding the obligation to pay an employee dismissed while in the early stages of their probationary period. The question:“We have a situation where […]
Opinion: HR’s role in change management … continued
1. HR should be involved in the initial discussions on the change objectives and processes. The change has to have a coherent, communicable vision. HR should buy into this, as they will be out there selling the vision along with the change agents. These discussions are at top level, involving the senior management team and […]
Opinion: HR’s role in change management
It is unbelievable that anyone, who has been working anywhere in the last fifty years, has escaped a succession of organisation change interventions. The rapid growth of international competition, the impact of IT and the rise of demanding mass consumerism have all fed this beast; Stephen Walker of Motivation Matters offers his opinion. To see […]
Member’s Tip: Time off for child related issues
In our latest member’s tip sourced from your excellent advice as profiled in Any Answers Parita Shah explains what is reasonable. You have a few options on how to deal with the employees who need to take time off for child related issues and whilst you want to remain as supportive as you possibly can, […]
Sickness absence: Too late for excuses
How long before we stop treating absence and sickness with amusing condescension and start to appreciate the crippling costs that we have created for our own industry? Peter A Hunter, author of Breaking the Mould turns absence on its head. When we accept responsibility for creating the conditions for our workforce that make them late […]
How Did I Get Here? Des Woods, Global Head of Learning and OD, Linklaters … continued
8. How do you prove the value of your department within your organisation?I think if you are ever in a situation where you are always having to ‘prove’ your value you are probably in a bad place and need to go and do something more useful with your life, because you are either working in […]
How Did I Get Here? Des Woods, Global Head of Learning and OD, Linklaters
Des Woods reveals how training priorities are established within a legal partnership and how Linklaters evaluates its training and development activities. 1. Please describe your role and responsibilities.I am Head of Learning and Organisation Development (OD) at Linklaters, one of a small group of very large global law firms who assist banks and large corporate […]
HR Zone Members Newswire #145 – How An HR Officer Dealt With Drugs At Work
================================================================ HR Zone Members Newswire Issue 145 11 April 2006 www.hrzone.co.uk ================================================================ *********************** Featured Sponsors ********************** A new way to tackle absenteeism http://www.hrzone.co.uk/redirects/medicashb.html Free ‘Notification of Forthcoming Retirement’ Letter http://www.hrzone.co.uk/redirects/croneri5b.html **************************************************************** Editor’s note ============= Managing drug abuse or handling employees under suspicion of it is tricky. Last week Jeannette McAlister was faced with this dilemma […]
Opinion: Training strategy must change … continued
Although some training departments conduct training needs analyses when new legislation is passed and they become aware of business changes, the results of these analyses are often not included in the training strategy, as the business is unwilling to pay for the additional development activities suggested.In order to be able to stand their ground and […]
Opinion: Training strategy must change
An organisation’s training strategy must take account of recent legislative changes and support mindset and behavioural change within the business, especially for line managers. To ensure that these issues are included in the training strategy, training departments must transform themselves from being suppliers of training courses to becoming proactive business partners. In addition, training strategy […]
HR Tip: Dismissal settlements
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 wish to dismiss an employee but do not want to go through a lengthy process. Neither does he. He will accept a sum of money that we have agreed. How can […]
How to: Make it to the top of the HR tree … continued
The value of networkingLastly, you should never underestimate the power of good old-fashioned networking. We are always keen to offer advice on how staff can develop inter and intrapersonal skills and point out how employees handle themselves and relate to their colleagues, clients and suppliers is critical for their own career progression and for the […]
How to: Make it to the top of the HR tree
Mark Carriban, Managing Director of HR recruitment outfit, Hudson offers some top tips. It has been said that working in Human Resources can be a thankless task. It is a challenging role often underappreciated by senior executives. But it is one of the most rewarding positions in business: there are few jobs more gratifying than […]
End procrastination: Top time management techniques
Jim Bird, founder and chief executive of time management organisation worklifebalance.com, outlines four ways to effectively organise your tasks to produce efficient and effective results including throwing away 'to do' lists. In today's ‘choice challenged’ environment, the absence of time management skills can leave you feeling overwhelmed in your everyday life. Your most vital […]
HR contract wins: March to May
Read on to find out who is scooping the major HR contracts this year. Hilton International chooses BrightwaveHilton University, the learning and development portal for Hilton International, has selected Brightwave to deliver e-learning modules. 8.5.06 Snowdrop wins Chartered Institute of Building contractThe Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has selected Snowdrop’s HR software to improve management […]
News in Brief: Employment Law Triggered … continued
Employers turn a blind eye to apprentice trainingThis is according to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) who say that some apprenticeships offer training that is either of poor quality or is non-existent. Apprentices under the age of 19 currently do not have to be paid the minimum wage, a policy that the TUC is urging […]
News in Brief: Employment law triggered
Catch up on the week in HR including first raft of new employment legislation, last call for Pensions Commission, D-day for A-day, CIPD move Harrogate conference, pay rises sink to three year low and mums take an average six months maternity leave. W/C 3/4/06April sees introduction of new employment legislationApril 6 marked the first trigger […]
Opinion: Learning from experience … continued
Sharing lessonsLessons learning can be applied in most organisational settings including the example of crisis management at DTE Energy. However, imagine a scenario where the team responsible for the launch of a new product or service had made its lessons available to others. It is quite possible that further new product development can be enhanced […]
