Colborn’s Corner: Is it worth rocking the boat?
Change programmes and organisational change have become big business over the past decade or so. But what do these programmes set out to achieve and do they ever get there? There are few large organisations that haven’t been through some form of change programme in the last few years. The background to these vary; not […]
What’s the answer? Adultery: Grounds for constructive dismissal?
This week Nicholas Snowden, senior solicitor at Clarkslegal LLP and Stephanie Wootton, employment law expert at Browne Jacobson present their ideas on the law governing constructive dismissal. The question:“Due to a promotion opportunity, an employee is refusing to work with a fellow co-worker. The co-worker in question recently had an adulterous relationship with this employee’s […]
Opinion: The flaw of averages
We all know the simple truth that, when it comes to the value of their presence, employees are not all created equally. Yet most companies’ calculate their absence costs using crude averages that assume we are all the same. Employers should beware, however, of relying solely on their own or industry average cost data when […]
Employment law briefing: Sex, salaries and strikes
Ranjit Dhindsa, head of employment in the Midlands office of international law firm, Reed Smith guides HR Zone members through the legislation waters providing a digestible at-a-glance guide of the latest regulations. Sex:The 1st October 2005 will see further changes to existing employment legislation. The most significant will be in relation to sex discrimination. The […]
CSR and beyond: Time to integrate?
The workplace is a critical battlefield for the government if they are to advance their goal of multiculturalism; Leo Martin and Ranica Barua of the GoodCorporation look at whether managing equal opportunities is no more than just a form filling exercise for employers. Trevor Philips, head of the Commission for Racial Equality recently made a […]
Misconduct: A fair reason for dismissal?
See our latest employment law briefing which explains the statutory steps to fair dismissal. Misconduct on the part of an employee is one of the potentially fair reasons for dismissal set out in the Employment Rights Act. However, misconduct which does not amount to gross misconduct will not justify dismissal unless the employee is already […]
Member wire #119 – Bathroom breaks; How to manage the NMW hike
================================================================ HR Zone Members Newswire Issue 119 4 October 2005 http://www.hrzone.co.uk ================================================================ SITE HIGHLIGHTS **** SITE HIGHLIGHTS **** SITE HIGHLIGHTS **** 1. Bathroom breaks 2. What’s the answer? National Minimum Wage increase 3. The Couch?! Demands an SOS office makeover 4. News in Brief: CBI calls time on Tribunal reforms 5. Any Answers: Should I […]
Payroll Tip: Returning to work following maternity or adoption leave
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Question: What control do we have over when an employee can return to work following a period of maternity or adoption leave? Payroll Tip: When giving notice to take maternity or adoption leave, […]
Extracts of a Life Coach: A workout for the soul
Lee Walker, Lance Armstrong’s friend, mentor and ex-President of Dell computers once said, “Schedule is how we manifest our dreams to the world.” A saying and concept that is equally true of the TGROW model of coaching. When people ask me what I do as a life coach I use the analogy of being a […]
Review: Winning the knowledge game
Title: Winning the Knowledge Game: Smarter learning for business excellenceAuthor: Alastair RylattPublisher: Butterworth-Heinemann Price: £19.99 (from Amazon.UK) Soft back: 224 pagesISBN: 0750658096 Reviewer: Dr Jeff WoollerThis new book covers the issues in building business success, with a focus on human resource and knowledge management. It summarises key actions needed to bring about success in each […]
Are you ready for HR business partnering?
HR business partnering experts, Judith Strange and Shirley Dalziel present their readiness reckoner to help you decide whether it’s time to take the leap. Many organisations are thinking about or are in the process of embarking on an HR partnering programme. Whilst the transformation process brings real benefits, the transition is seldom easy and may […]
News in Brief: CBI calls time on Tribunal reforms
Catch up on the week in HR with our at-a-glance news round up including the end of the Gate Gourmet dispute, why the bosses’ group believes the tribunal reforms aren’t far reaching enough and what employers think of the statutory dispute regulations one year on. W/C 26/09/05Gate Gourmet dispute endsThe ongoing dispute of almost 700 […]
Review: Brilliant job hunter’s manual
Title: Brilliant job hunter’s manualAuthor: Fagan Angela Publisher: Prentice Hall ISBN 0-273-66315-1Price: £12.99Reviewer: Kevin IgoeThe job-hunting experience is one many of us have difficulty coming to terms with. Even employers can have difficulty with the recruitment process. Angela Fagan’s book sets out to make the process much easier by explaining the process in detail from […]
The Couch?! Demands an SOS office makeover
Adorable labradors aside; what office workers really want from their toilet roll is it for to be of the soft, long and very velvety variety with as little likeness to sandpaper as possible. A survey by North-West property developers MDA, found that cheap toilet roll was the most hated object of the office.Other bum deals […]
HR Practitioner’s Diary: Kat gets even
Kat takes her final bow and presses forward with a grievance while Sue reveals her top interviewing tips including her penchant for likening candidates to members of the animal kingdom. W/C: 19 September 2005It’s hard to believe it is almost the end of September, the year is fast disappearing! On the HR front it has […]
Opinion: Favouring the first born
Nick Hood, senior London partner at Begbies Traynor, the AIM-listed business recovery and turnaround specialist, warns companies of the dangers of creating a two-tier employment structure by preventing new recruits from contributing ideas on improving the business. The Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration has found that a family’s eldest child does better academically […]
What’s the answer? National Minimum Wage increase
This week Nicholas Snowden at Clarkslegal LLP and Stephanie Wootton, employment law expert at Browne Jacobson present their ideas on how to manage the impending hike in the National Minimum Wage. The question:This is the first time I have been ‘in charge’ of HR when the NMW has increased and I am looking for some […]
Opinion: Healthy rewards pay
No longer provided as simply an employee perk, employers are switching on to the business benefits of healthcare cash plans and how they can play a crucial role in improving the bottom line and defending against the many knock on costs associated with managing employees. The healthcare market has evolved considerably, especially in recent years, […]
Top tips for speed recruiting
HR Consultant Sandra Beale offers some great interview tips and suggested questions for recruiters hiring against the clock. Company/Job sellYou need to promote both your company and the job on offer in a positive light, focusing on the key message you would like to get across in a very short time scale.Preparation is the key […]
Offloading liabilities from defined benefit pension schemes
Most companies have closed their defined benefit (final salary) pension schemes to new members, but only 10% have closed the schemes to new accruals, according to the latest pension trends survey from the Association of Consulting Actuaries (ACA). Furthermore, most employers still have no exit strategy for these schemes, despite viewing them as unwanted burdens, […]
