News in Brief: The week in HR – Workers do it for free
Workers in Britain are putting in significant unpaid overtime, with nearly 4.8 million employees clocking up an extra day per week without pay in 2005, according to TUC data. The report also highlights a 200-year wait for gender equality in senior positions and reveals how workplace culture continues to impact work-life balance across the UK.
Employment law: Case round-up
Recent employment law cases clarify key workplace issues including the enforceability of salary promises made at social events, the circumstances under which suspension constitutes dismissal, and limits on disciplinary procedures. A promise made at a Christmas party was unenforceable due to vagueness rather than its informal setting, while suspension alone doesn’t automatically breach the duty of mutual trust and confidence.
What’s the answer? Re-employment following dismissal
Employers can legally re-employ someone dismissed for gross misconduct years earlier, but should carefully weigh the risks. Legal experts advise considering the nature of the original breach, potential workplace impact, and whether circumstances have genuinely changed before deciding to rehire.
Colborn’s Corner: Should HR make New Year resolutions?
HR consultant Quentin Colborn argues that HR teams should avoid making vague New Year resolutions focused on specific metrics they cannot fully control. Instead, he recommends resolutions centered on strengthening relationships with line management and defining service excellence based on business needs rather than predetermined commitments made under pressure.
HR Zone Briefing #277 – The HR Detox
HR Zone Briefing #277 features expert guidance on HR resolutions and the annual HR detox, plus predictions for the year ahead. Coverage includes age discrimination challenges, HR business partnering strategies, and insights into sickness absence management and training outsourcing trends.
HR Zone Briefing #277 – The HR Detox
HR Zone Briefing #277 brings the first 2006 edition with a special focus on HR resolutions and predictions. Featured articles include an HR detox guide from consultant Quentin Colborn, insights on age discrimination, and advice on achieving HR business partnership roles.
Opinion: Beyond psychometrics
Internet technology is transforming psychometric testing from specialized expertise into user-friendly tools, similar to how computers evolved from impenetrable systems to household commodities. As the field transitions to accessibility and clarity, expect new assessment products that deliver practical insights in workplace language while maintaining rigorous scientific standards.
How to: Get a seat at the top table
Learn how to build HR credibility and gain influence at the senior leadership table. Discover expert strategies for transitioning from HR specialist to strategic business partner, including demonstrating expertise, understanding business agendas, and delivering measurable value.
HR Predictions 2006
HR in 2006 is becoming increasingly strategic as organizations recognize that great talent drives competitive advantage. Key trends include closer marketing and HR partnerships for employee engagement and brand alignment, plus the widespread adoption of HR shared service models to improve efficiency and customer relationships.
HR sleuthing: Detecting bogus sickness claims
HR managers face a growing challenge distinguishing genuine long-term sickness claims from fraudulent ones. Private investigation agencies employ trained detectives to conduct surveillance and gather evidence, helping employers and insurers expose false claims while protecting honest employees from suspicion.
HR Tip: Right to car parking spaces
Employers must provide car parking only if specified in employment contracts. Without such terms, staff have no legal right to parking spaces, though employers should help find alternatives like carpooling or nearby facilities.
Hard(y) Law Talk: ‘Annual’ greetings 2006
The UK government introduced age discrimination regulations set to take effect October 1, 2006, prohibiting unjustified age discrimination in employment and raising the default retirement age to 65. Key changes include removing age limits for statutory pay benefits, requiring employers to justify retirement ages below 65, and extending unfair dismissal and redundancy rights to older workers.
HR Zone Members Newswire #131 Secrets of Keeping Staff in 2006
HR Zone Members Newswire explores staff retention strategies for 2006, questioning whether salary alone keeps employees engaged. The newsletter features community Q&A discussions, popular 2005 features, and insights on managing workplace challenges.
How to beat the New Year blues
Combat post-holiday stress and rekindle your work motivation with these ten practical tips, from daily self-care and learning to networking and stepping outside your comfort zone. Research shows 76% of employees experience high stress levels within a week of returning to work after holidays.
Review: The Complete Feedback Skills Training Books
Sue Bishop’s comprehensive guide covers feedback principles and practical applications for managers and trainers. The book includes exercises, case studies, and role-plays designed to develop feedback skills across various workplace situations from appraisals to team communication.
Favourite HR Zone features 2005
HR Zone’s 2005 features included opinion articles on workplace absence and HR leadership challenges, transformation guides for HR functions, profiles of top HR professionals, and practical tips addressing employment issues like CV dishonesty and recruitment problems.
Feature: The rising status of training
Organizations are increasingly recognizing training as a priority rather than an expendable expense. According to a Capita Learning & Development survey, over 75% of HR experts believe training receives appropriate attention, with 80% of UK organizations planning to increase or maintain training budgets in 2006.
The 12 gadgets of Christmas
Discover AccountingWEB’s top 12 must-have gadgets for executives, featuring the Apple iPod, Sony PSP, and other innovative devices. Find out which tech toys made the cut and could qualify as business expenses.
Life Coach at Large: A new chapter
Emma Ranson Bellamy helps a lawyer stuck in a 17-year career rut break through his fears and discover that starting his own business is achievable. Through coaching, Rory challenges his assumptions about risk and realizes his dream of becoming his own boss is within reach.
News in Brief: The week in HR – No cure for office party hangover
A survey reveals 42% of British workers will check emails during the Christmas holiday, with London workers most likely to stay connected. Meanwhile, the TUC reports employers displaying “Scrooge-like” behavior by cutting heating costs, forcing staff to use annual leave for bank holidays, and reducing pay during festive closures.
