Soundbite: Minimum W-ageism
UK age discrimination laws coming in October 2006 protect younger workers too, but exempt age-based minimum wage rates. Employers can legally pay younger workers less than older colleagues for the same work, provided they follow national minimum wage bands by age group.
Extracts of a Life Coach: Raising the bar on self esteem
Discover what self-esteem truly is and how it shapes your life. This expert guide explores the origins of low and high self-esteem, reveals how to recognize it in others, and provides practical steps to boost your self-worth when needed.
Hard(y) Law Talk: Illegal workers
Employers must conduct proper right-to-work checks and maintain documentation to comply with UK law. Failing to verify employee eligibility is a criminal offense, and illegal employment contracts have no legal standing in court or employment tribunals.
News in Brief: The week in HR – It’s s’no’w fun for workers
This week in HR: apprenticeship numbers surged 16.7% above target, but two-thirds of UK staff lack training opportunities. Meanwhile, Gordon Brown rejected Adair Turner’s pension reform plan, sparking controversy over the long-awaited proposal.
Editor’s Comment: This calls for some genuinely expensive fancy dress
M&S spent £10 million on a motivational training programme featuring inspirational dancing and fancy dress for 60,000 workers, but sales and market share declined following its implementation. The article questions whether such unconventional motivation tactics deliver real business results compared to more practical investments.
The Couch?! Takes a shower
Shower time can spark creativity, according to ATP Solutions president Alex Hart. This article explores why hot water boosts inspiration and shares a curated playlist of ten brain-enhancing songs to sing while brainstorming in the bathroom.
Case Study: Driving productivity with mobile working
The Commission for Rural Communities implemented mobile email technology to enable staff traveling across remote rural regions to access messages on the move, eliminating downtime and improving productivity. The solution allowed employees to respond to urgent emails and access meeting updates without returning to offices to clear email backlogs.
Communicate, communicate, communicate – but how?
HR professionals must select the right communication method to deliver sensitive information effectively. Face-to-face and phone calls work well for non-confidential messages, while email and intranet systems are ideal for secure, documented company-wide communication that employees can reference later.
What’s the answer? Seasonal excesses
Employers should take preventive measures to manage employment law risks at Christmas parties, including regular equal opportunities training and clear behavioral policies. Alcohol-fueled incidents can lead to discrimination claims, harassment allegations, and disciplinary issues that disrupt workplaces long after the festivities end.
Man Friday wanted: Managing the recruitment game
UK recruitment advertising must comply with strict employment law protecting against discrimination based on race, sex, disability, age, and other protected characteristics. Before advertising, employers should evaluate whether replacement is necessary and consider alternative staffing options, then develop clear job descriptions and personnel specifications that don’t indirectly discriminate.
CSR and beyond: When I’m 65 or will that be 67?
UK employers face new age discrimination legislation taking effect October 2006, yet most corporate responsibility reports largely ignore age diversity issues despite an aging workforce. While some companies like Nationwide and Sainsbury’s are implementing flexible retirement policies, practical support for older workers remains rare across the sector.
Review: Impro Learning
Impro Learning draws on performance and improvisation techniques to help trainers design and deliver engaging learning events. Author Paul Jackson provides practical exercises and ice breakers organized chronologically from planning through delivery. This book is best suited for experienced trainers seeking fresh inspiration rather than beginners.
HR Zone Members Newswire #126 Innocent? Handling Reaction to An Employee On Bail
HR Zone Members Newswire #126 explores key employment issues including how to handle an employee on bail awaiting trial, managing witness staff discomfort, changing bank holidays, and data protection on application forms.
Ambitious living: Bouncing back
Learn how to bounce back from life’s crises by choosing resilience over self-pity. Discover practical steps for navigating adversity and finding valuable lessons in difficult experiences to build strength for future challenges.
Employers and tax credits – The end of the story – almost
Employers must stop paying tax credits by April 5, 2006, ending months of administrative responsibility. HMRC has issued stop notices and employers must notify employees of the change, though the transition has created complications for some businesses handling final reconciliations and new claims.
HR Tip: Banning alcohol in the workplace
Employers can ban alcohol from the workplace by establishing and publishing a clear policy, though they should consider exceptions for situations like on-site canteens, business lunches with visitors, and personal items in lockers before implementing the rule.
Feature: How to avoid burn-out
Trainers face significant burnout risk, with 43% reporting burnout and 86% experiencing increased stress. Expert strategies include priority management, maintaining work-life balance, seeking feedback, and building peer support networks to stay motivated and prevent delegate apathy.
Bite-size learning: Age discrimination
Age discrimination legislation made it unlawful to discriminate against employees based on age starting October 1, 2006. Employers must avoid language in job advertisements that suggests preference for a particular age group, such as describing a “young friendly team,” as this can constitute discrimination even without explicitly mentioning age requirements.
Extracts of a Life Coach: Can bosses ignore ‘portfolio personalities?’
Coaches must recognize employees’ portfolio personalities—their complete selves across work and personal life—to prevent turnover and organizational costs. Ignoring how personal challenges affect professional performance risks creating unresolved internal conflicts that undermine both career success and employee wellbeing.
Editor’s Comment: Bye, bye to difficult employees
A Court of Appeal decision has made it easier for employers to dismiss difficult employees based on personality and conduct, even without specific rule violations or prior warnings. The ruling allows dismissal when an employee’s negative attitude and refusal to cooperate significantly impacts workplace harmony and colleague relations.
