News in Brief: The Week in HR – HR puts Thursday brakes on
HR professionals report lowest productivity on Thursdays, with just 4% being productive that day, according to a Robert Half survey. The week in HR also covers research on the strategic link between training and profitability, showing that companies improving workforce skills report better productivity outcomes.
The Couch?! Gives your job to the baby
McDonald’s new policy allowing family members to swap shifts without management approval could catch on, but employment law experts warn of significant risks including inadequate training, complicated recruitment screening, and potential service quality issues.
HR & IT: A marriage made in heaven?
HR and IT departments must partner to implement mobile working solutions that improve work-life balance, employee satisfaction, and productivity. Technologies like BlackBerrys and laptops with wireless connectivity enable employees to work flexibly, manage workloads efficiently, and reduce stress while maintaining productivity outside the office.
Management development – The business imperative
Management development must be strategically aligned with business needs and owned by the board, not left solely to L&D departments. Effective evaluation requires measuring real workplace impact and behavioral change, not just participant satisfaction, to justify training as a business investment.
What’s the answer: Can they do that?
During an HR shared services transition involving a TUPE transfer, employees retain the right to apply directly to the outsourced consultancy despite employer restrictions. Employers cannot prevent job applications without valid restraint clauses, and disclosing employee application details may violate data protection laws.
Spotlight: The Turner report
The Turner report recommends reforming UK pensions through state pension reform, gradually raising retirement ages to 66 by 2030, and creating a National Pension Savings Scheme to encourage private savings. These changes aim to address the £57 billion annual retirement funding gap.
What can HR learn from: Employment Tribunals?
Employment Tribunals reveal critical lessons for HR professionals, particularly the importance of adhering to proper procedures and maintaining comprehensive documentation. HR must stand firm when advising managers about legal risks, especially in redundancy and misconduct cases, to protect the organization from costly settlements and reputational damage.
Clawing back training costs: The truth
Clawing back training costs damages employee morale and increases turnover. Research shows that conditional training policies send messages of distrust to workers, making them feel undervalued and more likely to leave. Effective management relies on respect, trust, and support—not restrictive financial conditions.
HR Tip: Lateness caused by industrial action
When industrial action affects transport, employees must take reasonable steps to arrange alternative travel to work. Employers should not penalize lateness if employees make genuine efforts to arrive on time, but can do so if they fail to explore available options. Consider individual circumstances like age, fitness, and transport availability when assessing reasonable expectations.
Top HR tips to beat the workplace January blues
Help your HR team combat January workplace blues with practical strategies including welcoming staff back, recognizing extra efforts, fostering communication through company events, and monitoring absenteeism trends. Engage employees with business plans and offer stress management support to boost motivation during the post-holiday period.
Civil partnerships and your employee benefits package
Civil partnerships granted same-sex couples similar rights to married couples under UK law from December 2005, including implications for employee benefits. Employers must extend any benefits provided to married employees to civil partners, particularly affecting pension schemes and requiring updates to plan documentation and policies.
HR Zone Members Newswire #134 Commute more, work less?
HR Zone Members Newswire #134 covers commute time policies, employee benefits during maternity leave, sickness absence procedures, and legal guidance on contacting long-term sick employees. The newsletter includes expert answers to HR challenges from industry professionals.
HR Zone talks to: Don Rhodes about HR life down under
Don Rhodes, a 22-year HR veteran in New Zealand, discusses how HR struggles to secure a seat at the strategic decision-making table and is often perceived as handling problems other managers avoid, while poorly constructed employment legislation creates opportunities for legal advisers.
Life Coach at Large: HR gets loaded and happy
An HR professional confronts his 20-year aversion to sales when his company role changes after acquisition, forcing him to develop new business skills. With the help of a coach, Andrew faces his fears about selling and discovers unexpected abilities within himself.
The HR interview: Tips from Frazer Jones
HR professionals interviewing for new roles should thoroughly research the organization, prepare for common questions, and know their CV inside-out. Success also depends on demonstrating cultural fit through confident body language, asking thoughtful questions, and staying informed about current employment legislation and industry trends.
News in Brief: The Week in HR – Jobless count climbs
UK unemployment has climbed to 1.53 million, rising 111,000 over the quarter, while employment rates fall and Jobseeker’s allowance claims hit an eleven-month high, signaling weaker labor market activity and reduced hiring across the economy.
The Couch?! Takes time out
Over a quarter of British workers now eat breakfast at their desks due to time pressure, according to a survey of 2,000 employees. The Couch?! team offers tongue-in-cheek time-saving tips to help improve work-life balance, from showering at work to applying makeup on the commute.
HR Practitioner’s Diary: The revival of Jurassic Park
HR consultant Sue Kingston shares real workplace challenges, including handling a questionable long-term sickness claim and addressing workplace misconduct, while offering insights into HR management during business difficulties.
What’s the answer: Contacting absent employees
Employers dealing with long-term absent employees who refuse contact can consider stopping occupational sick pay if the employment contract requires employees to maintain communication and cooperate with absence management. However, dismissal may be unreasonable while medical certificates continue, and refusal to meet could constitute misconduct only if not related to their medical condition.
Colborn’s Corner: Who remembers final salary pension schemes?
Many businesses are closing final salary pension schemes due to financial pressures from declining equity values and longer life expectancies, raising questions about employee relations and whether HR should play a larger role in these decisions beyond managing the fallout.
