The Couch?! Gets incentivised
The Couch?! explores Britain’s obsession with freebies and promotional incentives, revealing that 79% of people complete promotional competitions annually. The post shares bizarre examples of what people will do for free gifts and previews the upcoming CIPD exhibition in Harrogate.
Editor’s Comment: Did Adam and Eve have a point?
Women are increasingly delaying motherhood to pursue careers and mortgages, but medical experts warn this gamble with biological clocks carries reproductive risks. Yet for many, the decision isn’t a choice—economic pressures and inadequate maternity pay force dual incomes and postponed families.
News in Brief: The week in HR – Brown commits to skills
This week’s HR news roundup covers Chancellor Gordon Brown’s commitment to expanding skills training across Britain, rising joblessness figures despite strong overall employment levels, and key labor market trends affecting recruitment and wages.
HR Practitioner’s Diary: Much ado in Walford
An HR professional navigates workplace jealousy when a loyal PA’s engagement triggers her CEO boss’s insecurity, leading to inappropriate comments and tension at his birthday celebration.
Review: Assessment and Development Centres
This second edition of Assessment and Development Centres provides practical guidance on designing and running assessment centers, including technological improvements, quality control measures, and best practice guidelines from the British Psychological Society.
What’s the answer? Drugs and alcohol testing
Legal experts address whether employers must provide transport home for job applicants who fail alcohol tests. While there’s no legal obligation, experts recommend offering transport as a moral and ethical practice, especially for employees where health and safety duties apply.
Pension savings: Are employees losing interest?
Employee pension engagement is declining, with only 14% preferring pensions over ISAs or savings accounts for extra retirement funds. Research reveals widespread uncertainty about retirement income adequacy and poor understanding of pension schemes, particularly defined contribution plans, undermining motivation to save.
Restrictive covenants: worth the paper they’re written on?
Restrictive covenants are enforceable legal tools when properly drafted and based on legitimate business interests like protecting confidential information or customer relationships. Courts regularly enforce clauses preventing employee solicitation of customers, though employers must prove genuine business needs and be prepared for potentially expensive litigation.
Advertorial: Symposium Events
Symposium Events Ltd organizes high-level conferences for key opinion formers across public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. Their events bring together senior politicians, policymakers, academics, and business leaders to discuss strategic policy directions and implementation challenges, while offering suppliers targeted access to potential clients.
Review: The Facilitator’s Toolkit
The Facilitator’s Toolkit (Second Edition) offers a comprehensive collection of over 100 practical tools for new and experienced facilitators. Organized into four sections covering facilitation basics, specific techniques, real-world case studies, and summaries, this UK-focused guide provides clear, one-page resources for managing meetings, resolving conflicts, and facilitating brainstorming sessions.
Case Study: Leadership at the Legal Services Commission
The Legal Services Commission implemented a comprehensive leadership development program for its top 160 managers featuring 360-degree feedback, development centers, and workshops. The initiative’s success has led to plans for a similar program targeting high-potential middle managers to strengthen talent management.
Member wire #116 – Dyslexia: too many allowances? IVF: sick leave?
This HR Zone newsletter addresses key workplace issues including whether dyslexia accommodations remain justified and whether IVF treatment qualifies as sick leave, drawing on member debate and expert perspectives.
HR Tip: Care of employees’ property
Employers must take reasonable care of employees’ personal property at work, though liability depends on whether damage results from foreseeable risks. Employees should secure valuable items like computers overnight, and employers can post notices disclaiming responsibility for items left in common areas.
Hard(y) Law Talk: The new ET Rules – less litigation?
The new Employment Tribunal Rules, effective October 2004, aim to simplify procedures but introduce 63 rules compared to the previous 23. Key changes include ACAS conciliation limited to fixed periods of 7-13 weeks (except discrimination cases) to encourage earlier settlements and reduce tribunal hearings.
Extracts of a Life Coach: Starting out
Life coaching has evolved from a luxury for celebrities into an accessible resource for career-focused professionals. In this series, new life coach Emma Ranson Bellamy explores her journey into the field and shares insights from her training and early experiences helping clients make meaningful life changes.
The Couch?! Any volunteers?
SeaCode plans to house programmers on an ocean liner off Los Angeles to bypass US labor laws and reduce costs. The Couch?! team explores humorous alternative “offshoring” destinations, from tropical islands to spas, asking readers where they’d prefer to work remotely.
News in Brief: The week in HR – Unions make giant ‘equality’ steps
UK workers rank among Europe’s most ethical employees, with high approval of employer standards. A survey also reveals that retailers are keeping pay increases modest despite minimum wage rises, while councils report significantly declining absence and accident levels.
Editor’s Comment: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
The Ashes cricket tournament has boosted workplace morale across the UK, with 87% of employers allowing workers to follow the game and reporting improved productivity and reduced absenteeism. Employers increasingly recognize that permitting staff to enjoy sporting events creates positive workplace culture rather than causing disruption.
What’s the answer? TUPE transfers
TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment) Regulations may apply when transferring department activities overseas, depending on the location. If no existing staff wish to relocate, redundancy dismissals with proper consultation followed by hiring at the new location represent the straightforward approach, though constructive dismissal claims remain a potential risk.
HR Practitioner’s Diary: Cliffhangers
An HR practitioner explores workplace challenges including a failed executive hire, flexible work arrangements, and handling employment references—revealing how proper recruitment procedures and structured processes prevent costly personnel mistakes.
