Extracts of a Life Coach: Can bosses ignore ‘portfolio personalities?’
This week our fledgling life coach, Emma Ranson Bellamy looks at the dangers of ignoring employees’ portfolio personalities and ponders what the impact will be for organisations that intervene with coaching techniques to balance the books. Coaching has a foot in many camps: business, counselling, training, dare I say it spirituality. It cannot be shoved […]
Editor’s Comment: Bye, bye to difficult employees
Dismissing an obnoxious and surly employee used to be the stuff of dreams but thanks to a Court of Appeal decision it has become a reality; Editor’s Comment looks at the utopia of Pleasantville. Last month, a senior employee within an NHS Trust who was dismissed because of his ‘personality’ had his claim for unfair […]
News in Brief: The week in HR – Why say ‘pay’ on Wednesday
Catch up on the week in HR including: labour market figures are a mixed bag, why Wednesday’s boss is best, how ‘thank you’ goes a long way and what ((√T + 2W + 2) / (√D + MS)) + ((S + 3R) / (2 (CW * A + 1))) means for health. W/C 14/11/05Labour market […]
The Couch?! Writes its festive wish list
Wishing upon a star is not just for kids it seems as a new survey reveals that employees are not to be fobbed off with a bottle of wine and a box of choccies after all. According to the research by Theatre Tokens 85% of employees are less impressed with an ordinary bottle of plonk, […]
Colborn’s Corner – Who can you trust these days?
The recent conviction of Graham Price, the Halifax IOU fraudster has doubtless rung alarm bells amongst certain financial institutions, but what did it do for us in HR? For those not up to speed with the story, Graham Price was a financial consultant who also ran a small counter service for Halifax Bank. At Swansea […]
What’s the answer? Constructive dismissal?
This week Helen Badger, employment law expert, Browne Jacobson and Nicholas Snowden, senior solicitor at Clarkslegal LLP present their ideas on whether a case of ‘bumping’ justifies a constructive dismissal claim. The question:“A Director has recruited someone outside of the company to do a role already being done by two existing staff. This person is […]
Review: The Seven C’s of Coaching
Title: The Seven C’s of Coaching: The definitive guide to collaborative coaching Author: Mick Cope Publisher: Trans-Atlantic Pubns Prentice HallISBN: 0273681109Price:£18.99Reviewer: Stella Di PernaWhether you are a professional coach or a manager wishing to develop your coaching skills you will find this book invaluable in becoming a successful coach. Although I was unsure with the […]
Case Study: Bringing harmony to the workplace
Combining modern space planning techniques with a touch of the ancient art of feng shui has given the natural medicine company, Nelsonbach, a workplace design that fosters the well-being and productivity of its staff as well as the provision of an efficient and easy place to work in. The challenge:When Nelsonbach, manufacturers of Rescue Remedy, […]
HR Zone Competition: Win an executive stress remedy
With the party season almost upon us and end of year deadlines looming stress can take its toll; with this in mind HR Zone has joined forces with Tortue Rouge to offer ten lucky members an exclusive opportunity to win a bottle of Executive Stress from the Elixirs of Life Range as well as the […]
Pensions 2006 – are you ready?
A recent report suggests that only 12% of firms are ready for the new pension regime, to be introduced in April 2006 – known as A Day. One of the most important changes for those saving for their retirement will commence in April 2006. The changes have been planned for some time, and have been […]
HR Tip: Recovering relocation expenses
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 paid a major part of the removal and allied expenses of an employee whom we recruited from another part of the country. After just over a year with us he has […]
How to: Find great staff and … keep them
Recruitment is a two way street: your new employee needs to buy in to your organisation as much as they fulfil your requirements. Forget the old ways of recruiting bums on seats and make considered selections that will provide you with the right people for your openings. By effectively working to the following six point […]
The HR Business Partner: Panacea or impossible role?
Most large organisations have undergone HR transformation following the classic Ulrich model of HR shared services; however, practitioners who have implemented the structure often highlight teething problems and acknowledge they have some way to go before the role of HR Business Partner is operating as they would like within their organisation. The Ulrich model of […]
How Did I Get Here? Ted Johnson, HR Director, NYK Logistics
Ted Johnson explains why ‘ivory towers’ have no place in his HR vision and why he’d happily share a lunch table with political heavy-weights past and present. 1. How strategic is your current role and what does it involve?This response needs to be put into context. NYK Logistics (UK) provides third party warehousing and distribution […]
Extracts of a Life Coach: An intuitive answer to an age old debate
I am continually astounded by the generosity of the coaching movement and was overwhelmed by the response I received in relation to the question I posed in the latest edition of this column. To refresh your memories I asked you to tell me your thoughts and feelings towards age and whether or not it is […]
Hard(y) Law Talk: Party protocol – take note or yule be sorry!
Dr Stephen Hardy, Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Manchester and a Barrister specialising in employment and EU labour law takes a look at what can be expected in the silly season by way of litigious parties. Recently the EAT saw sense and decided that discussion of a pay increase during a Christmas […]
Editor’s Comment: Pack it up, pack it in, let me begin …
If only I could find the box I would try and think outside it; Editor’s Comment looks at why theorists are now asking us to turn the concept of the everyday receptacle and academics’ play toy on its head. Writing in Fast Company Douglas Rushkoff of New York University said: “In their endless rush to […]
News in Brief: The week in HR – Mind the pay gap
Catch up on the week in HR including the pay gap figures that make for grim reading, transsexual worker reaps payout award and why loud mouths win out in training ‘wants’. W/C 7/11/05Pay gap figures make for grim readingThe Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has warned that the gender pay gap will continue for another generation, […]
The Couch?! Presents not the usual suspects
Now nothing against Richard Branson, but even the PR savvy as the Virgin boss maybe getting a teeny-weeny bit fed up of topping “role model” type polls. The latest, sees Branson top an “achievers” poll, leaving the likes of Bill Gates, Anita Roddick and Henry Ford trailing.All very worthy, but it got us thinking of […]
What’s the answer? When does retirement officially start?
This week Stephanie Wootton, employment law expert, Browne Jacobson and Nicholas Snowden, senior solicitor at Clarkslegal LLP present their ideas on defining retirement dates. The question:“We have an employee who is 65 on 1 December and is retiring. He wants to know when his last day of work will be. Is it his actual birthday […]
