HR Zone Members Newswire #127 Cancelling Time Off for Religious Attendance
An employee was refused time off to attend his religious pilgrimage due to staff shortages, while other requests received more favorable treatment. His resignation raises questions about potential constructive unfair dismissal claims based on inconsistent leave approval practices.
Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh: The hazards of seasonal giving
Seasonal gift-giving in the workplace carries hidden risks, from unwanted rewards that offend employee values to bonus structures that fail to motivate. Employers should vary their gifts, ensure bonuses align with performance, and avoid predictable gestures that breed comparison and resentment rather than gratitude.
Opinion: A checklist for leadership
Leadership development requires intentional focus and strategy, not natural progression. Claudine McClean offers her perspective on what makes effective leaders: having a clear point of view, providing hope, bridging middle management gaps, maintaining personal stability, taking risks, influencing across boundaries, and using power responsibly.
HR Tip: Publishing discipline and grievance procedures
Employers must include discipline and grievance procedures in employment contracts or easily accessible handbooks, specifying appeal contacts and processes. Display these procedures on notice boards and ensure all managers understand and properly apply them to avoid costly compliance errors.
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.
