HR Practitioner’s Diary: Finding strength
“Feel the Love” – no, this is not about the men in my life, but the way people support and encourage one another through trying times. The events in London has brought human instinct to the fore and I have spent some time reflecting on this wonderful trait of humanity– giving as opposed to receiving. […]
Colborn’s Corner: Mind your Ps and Qs
Last Wednesday was National Kissing Day, a time to celebrate romance and love; Quentin Colborn reflects on relations between men and women at work and wonders just how far our political correctness should go. Recently I was asked to do a presentation on the rules of engagement between men and women at work. The audience […]
What’s the answer? Night shift working
This week Joanne Archer, Senior Solicitor at Clarkslegal LLP and Helen Badger, employment law expert, Browne Jacobson present their ideas on how to manage health obligations in relation to night shift workers. The question:“We have three employees who are outsourced, and they work a nightshift of 7:30pm – 7:40am. We have not provided them with […]
Opinion: The retirement brain drain
With an ageing population, Godfrey Parkin wonders why so many companies have no formal process for passing on the knowledge of their most experienced workers at retirement. In most Western countries, the baby boomer bubble is causing concern for those planning pension and social security services. It should also be worrying employers. A quarter of […]
How to: Win the war for talent
Issues and current trendsNo less then £12 billion was wasted on poor recruitment last year while the most recent Recruitment Employment Confederation (REC) 2005 jobs report shows that the number of unfilled vacancies is still climbing and has risen by 6.2% in the past year alone. The movement of labour is also having an impact […]
How to: Measure the value of HR
In this Expert Guide, Paul Kearns condenses 25 years of experience as a Practitioner and Consultant, draws on the lessons from his eight books, numerous articles and conference presentations to bring HRZone members the essence of HR measurement. HR measurement is not about measuring HRIt is about measuring performance. The first, most important and over-riding […]
How to: Facilitate a live e-learning session
Guidelines for running live e-learning/synchronous sessionsUsing a synchronous tool requires careful planning to ensure that all aspects of the design, scheduling, delivery and management of an event produce successful results. Even though many synchronous tools are easy to use, good preparation will result in a far more successful session, especially for those who are not […]
How to: Choose the right online collaborative learning tool
Online learning has come a long way in the last two years but for many professionals, these changes are experienced as confusing and difficult to understand. With more fast-moving changes due in the next couple of years, this Expert Guide explains how the internet now supports live interactive learning involving groups of people. Pre-packaged versus […]
How to: Avoid presentation and training disasters when using technology
Murphys Laws of Media If anything can go wrong it will Equipment knows when you are nervous No two plugs are compatible Slides are always upside down Computer files are always incompatible If it worked yesterday, it will not work today Ian Hart, University of Hong Kong It has happened to the best of trainers: […]
Applicant tracking software the US way
Around 10% of the FTSE 250 utilise applicant-tracking systems (ATS). Conversely, in the region of 90% of the Fortune 250 in the US use some form of ATS. Clearly, the benefits of this type of system have yet to be realised in the UK. In the competitive world of business, efficient recruitment processes are vital […]
How to: Take control of absence
The issueIf you have a job, you will be absent at some point, whether through illness or issues at home. This type of infrequent and genuine absence should not usually be a problem. When, however, absence becomes part of the corporate culture, or develops into habitual long-term sickness absence, it can have a profound impact […]
How to: Give and receive employment references
‘Do I really know this person well enough to trust them with confidential information, company assets and above all my reputation?’ This is a question that all organisations should be asking themselves before they open their doors to new employees. The Guardian recently revealed that 71% of businesses have been faced with CV liars; a […]
HR Tip: Failure to attend a disciplinary hearing
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Q: One of our employees was given a letter summoning him to a formal disciplinary hearing but he has not turned up for work since. What should we do? A: Write to the […]
Pedalling towards healthier employee benefits
The Government’s Green Travel Plan was introduced in an effort to reduce car usage and promote healthier methods of travelling to work. In line with this initiative a tax efficient benefit has been introduced allowing employers to lend or hire bicycles and cycle safety equipment to employees without incurring any costs for tax or National […]
Jargon buster: Garden leave
Alison Wallace, head of employment practice at Steptoe & Johnson solicitors looks at the legal considerations of garden leave and whether it is indeed a ‘powerful weapon’ for bosses looking to outplay the competition. For many employees the thought of being paid to stay at home and out of the office during the summer months […]
Editor’s Comment: Silencing the Levi ‘luvvies’
Productivity is bubbling over in an open necked shirt and a pair of 501s; latest findings suggest that the traditional armoury of the office, the suit is hampering our creative juices. Just as the handy blackberry has crept into the realms of the ordinary and acceptable so has ‘dress down’ day. The tradition of offices […]
News in Brief: The week in HR
To say it has been quite a week in news is an understatement, the joy and jubilations of an Olympic win, the G8 Summit and the terror and outrage of the Capital under siege by terrorist attacks; we bring you up to date on the latest HR news and the impact on your organisation. W/C […]
HR Practitioner’s Diary: Desert to Oasis
Lady luck is on Sue’s side this week, see how she got on with an eye-opening review process, a brewing contract and an oasis of single men. W/C 27 June 2005Review – the ‘main’ manMy client has some 33 staff and have been preparing to conduct a review process.The managers seemed quite keen to use […]
What’s the answer? Dangerous sports & employment
This week Nicholas Snowden, Senior Solicitor at Clarkslegal LLP and Andrew Smith, Employee Benefits Consultant, Towry Law present their ideas on how to handle employees that like to dabble in dangerous sports. The question:We have an employee who takes part in rally racing as a hobby. He injured his back last weekend whilst taking part […]
And the winner is …
Sharon Cooper, Director of Human Resources EMEA, IPC Information Systems is the lucky winner of the Open Golf Championship competition. Of her win, that will include accommodation in Edinburgh on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 July, full corporate hospitality at the event and of course the chance to watch the masters in full swing she […]
