Employment law briefing: Sex, salaries and strikes
Employment law regulations effective October 2005 introduce significant changes including new sex discrimination provisions aligned with EU directives, increased National Minimum Wage rates, and amendments to industrial action ballots and whistleblowing procedures.
CSR and beyond: Time to integrate?
Managing equal opportunities in the workplace is often reduced to compliance box-ticking rather than creating genuinely integrated multicultural environments. While legislation prevents discrimination, research suggests this approach fails to foster the equitable co-existence needed for true multiculturalism to succeed.
Misconduct: A fair reason for dismissal?
Misconduct can be a fair reason for dismissal under employment law, but only gross misconduct typically justifies immediate termination. Regular misconduct requires a final warning first, while obvious acts like theft or assault usually qualify as gross misconduct if properly investigated and heard.
Member wire #119 – Bathroom breaks; How to manage the NMW hike
HR Zone’s Member Newswire #119 covers key workplace issues including managing bathroom break policies, handling the National Minimum Wage increase, and addressing employee concerns about office facilities and working conditions.
Payroll Tip: Returning to work following maternity or adoption leave
Employers cannot force an early return from maternity or adoption leave. Once notice is given and the employer confirms the leave end date, employees have full control over when to return, whether at the end of their entitlement or earlier. Employers may offer incentives for earlier return but cannot compel it.
Extracts of a Life Coach: A workout for the soul
A life coach acts as a personal trainer for the soul, using the TGROW coaching model to help clients achieve goals like better work-life balance. Like a personal trainer, a coach assesses where you are, creates targeted exercises, and supports you through every milestone without judgment or comparison to others.
Review: Winning the knowledge game
Alastair Rylatt’s “Winning the Knowledge Game” explores business success through knowledge management and human resources, covering strategy, collaboration, talent retention, and competitive advantage. While well-researched, the book is primarily focused on the Australian market and may be dated for current business practices.
Are you ready for HR business partnering?
Assess your organization’s readiness for HR business partnering with this expert guide covering timing, senior management buy-in, line manager capability, and HR team preparation to ensure successful transformation.
News in Brief: CBI calls time on Tribunal reforms
The CBI has concluded that employment tribunal reforms introduced to streamline workplace dispute resolution are overly complicated and ineffective. Despite falling case numbers, businesses report rising costs, excessive red tape, and weak claims persisting, with many firms settling cases they believe they would win.
Review: Brilliant job hunter’s manual
Angela Fagan’s “Brilliant Job Hunter’s Manual” offers comprehensive guidance on navigating the recruitment process from both job seeker and employer perspectives. Packed with practical tips covering CVs, applications, interviews, and job offers, this well-written guide provides valuable insights that can boost confidence and potentially save time and money.
The Couch?! Demands an SOS office makeover
Office workers despise cheap, scratchy toilet roll more than any other workplace grievance, according to a survey by property developers MDA. Other major frustrations include faulty air conditioning, mismatched furniture, patterned carpets, and vending machine coffee—making office environment quality crucial when Brits spend 44 hours weekly at work.
HR Practitioner’s Diary: Kat gets even
Kat files a formal grievance against colleagues for offensive behavior and receives apologies, while HR practitioner Sue shares her unconventional animal-themed interview technique that has proven revealing over five years of use.
Opinion: Favouring the first born
Established managers risk harming their companies by resisting ideas from new recruits, warns a business recovery expert. Drawing parallels to how firstborns dominate family dynamics, he argues that long-serving staff must accept that new employees bring valuable perspectives and should contribute to organizational improvement.
What’s the answer? National Minimum Wage increase
The National Minimum Wage increases annually on October 1st. While legally you only need to ensure employees earn at least the minimum rate, strategically consider paying above it to attract quality staff and remain competitive in your market.
Opinion: Healthy rewards pay
Employers are increasingly adopting healthcare cash plans as a strategic business tool rather than just employee perks, recognizing their role in reducing sickness absence costs and improving productivity. These flexible plans provide cash towards everyday healthcare needs like dental and optical care, helping organizations improve employee well-being and defend against the significant costs associated with health-related absences.
Top tips for speed recruiting
Learn speed recruiting best practices from HR consultant Sandra Beale, including structured interview techniques, essential questions to ask candidates, and strategies for effectively promoting your company and role during time-constrained hiring processes.
Offloading liabilities from defined benefit pension schemes
Most companies have closed defined benefit pension schemes to new members but lack clear exit strategies, viewing them as unwanted financial burdens. Without proper planning, companies risk higher costs and lower investment returns, potentially impacting shareholder value significantly.
Member wire #118 – Stuck in an HR rut? Should I fire fighting employees?
Get advice on dismissing employees for fighting, flexible working policies, and career transitions from HR to training and development in this HR Zone members newsletter covering workplace issues.
HR Tip: Holiday pay for long-term sick absentees
Employees on long-term sick leave generally don’t need to be paid for unused holiday, as rest is the purpose of holiday entitlement. However, check employment contracts for more generous provisions and clarify absence policies in writing to avoid disputes.
How to: Motivate through reward
While pay alone doesn’t motivate employees, organizations can boost productivity by up to 30% through strategic reward programs that combine tangible benefits with intangible elements like career development and workplace culture. Effective reward strategies require understanding individual workforce preferences and tailoring offerings accordingly.
