Employers failing to evaluate management development
The UK is falling behind in developing managers, according to new research suggesting there is a lack of acceptance and action when it comes to evaluating management development.The two-year study by the Chartered Management Institute which questioned 1400 HR managers and line managers found that UK organisations spend less than their European counterparts on training […]
HR Tip – Searching employees
HRD & Payroll Solutions continues to bring HR Zone members a range of HR tips. This week’s tip looks at searching employees. Q: Stock is being pinched. Can we insist on searching people at random? A: Emphatically no. To do so against the employee’s wishes would be assault. If you know the identity of the […]
Men struggling to strike right work-life balance
Seven in ten men think that their performance at work is damaged by a lack of work-life balance, according to a new survey published today. A quarter of the 4000 men surveyed by Men’s Health magazine in association with the DTI admitted that they are still struggling to strike the right balance between their work […]
Guidance notes on disciplinary procedures
The DTI’s Guidance Notes to the forthcoming mandatory disciplinary and grievance procedures are now available on the DTI website. Statutory Dispute Resolution – DTI Guidance The legislation comes into force on 1 October 2004.
“Protect and promote occupational pensions”, urges union
The GMB, Britain’s General Union, has today demanded Government action to promote and protect final salary pension schemes.This follows the publication of the Pension Policy Institute (PPI) report ‘Property or Pensions?’ and new evidence which highlights growing concern about the future of pensions, with the decline in final salary schemes leading many people to conclude […]
Review: Managing Information: Core Management
Title: Managing Information: Core ManagementPrice: £19.99ISBN: 0 7506 5828 2The stated intention of this new work is to produce three books in one but at an introductory level designed to cover the syllabuses of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development:Information systems: Contribution of information systems/information technology to organisations, systems concepts and attributes, planning, reviewing […]
Opinion: Bridget Biggar on performance management
Employers would be massively more productive if management spent more time recognising employees’ strengths rather than putting massive effort into forcing them to address their weaknesses, says Bridget Biggar, MD of Life Orientations Limited. The difficult young man who doesn’t do his time sheets? That could well be the next Phillip Green or Bernie Ecclestone.British […]
Advertorial: An open and shut case for Home Computing Initiatives
There’s never been a better time for your organisation to take advantage of Home Computing Initiatives (HCI schemes) thanks to a comprehensive support framework that makes implementation straightforward and cost-effective. Most HR professionals are aware of the government legislation that supports Home Computing Initiatives (HCI). Announced in the 1999 budget, it enables organisations to take […]
Line managers failing to communicate effectively
Only one in nine HR professionals rate line manager communication in their organisation as “good” or “very good”. According to Melcrum’s global survey of 712 HR and corporate communication practitioners, the biggest problem areas are felt to be: managers’ skills at communicating upwards the views and concerns of their team (51%); managers not acting as […]
Managing absence: Group Income Protection
Paul Avis of Employ-Mend Ltd explores the Group Income Protection contract as a way to manage both long-term absence strategy and support disabled employees back into the workplace. He also highlights its weaknesses. Whilst Group Income Protection (GIP) cover is provided for only 6-7% of UK employees, it is my preferred long-term absence management strategy. […]
Sample email policy
This is an example of an email policy, provided by Charles Price, barrister, Pendragon Chambers, Swansea. Charles was formerly Head of Employment Law at both Sheffield and Bristol City Councils. The Data Protection Act 1998 and The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (RIP) Act 2000 have an important influence when drafting such policies but organisations should […]
New fire regulations place more responsibility on employers
Employers are being urged not to penny pinch when it comes to new fire regulations soon to be introduced.Plans to improve fire safety for businesses, aimed at simplifying the law while placing a greater focus on fire prevention, were laid before Parliament earlier this month. The new proposals will place the responsibility for fire safety […]
Health and safety FAQs
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has updated its top 20 frequently asked questions (FAQs) for businesses. The questions, such as whether a person can be left alone in their place of work, and how to carry out a risk assessment, are backed up with comprehensive answers and free downloads.Health and safety FAQs for business
HR Tip – Misconduct or incapability?
HRD & Payroll Solutions continues to bring HR Zone members a range of HR tips. This week’s tip looks at misconduct and incapability. Q: When should I treat poor performance as a disciplinary matter and when as incapability? A: Only when you have thoroughly examined the evidence, which must include a discussion with the employee. […]
How Did I Get Here? Laurence Collins, Ceridian HR Consulting
The Director at Ceridian HR Consulting, Laurence Collins, spills the beans on his career to date. All the previous career profiles can also be seen in the special How Did I Get Here? page. Current job titleHR Consulting Director at Ceridian HR ConsultingDescribe your initial training within the professionOriginally trained as a professional services marketer […]
Tesco trials sick pay ban to reduce ‘sickies’
Tesco is trying to discourage workers from “throwing a sickie” by banning sick pay for the first three days of any illness, regardless of whether it is genuine or not. The pilot scheme, supported by the shopworkers union, Usdaw, is one of a range of different trials aimed at encouraging staff to use planned absence […]
Citizens Advice launches campaign to stamp out bullying
A campaign to wipe out bullying and discrimination at work because of a person's sexuality has been launched by Citizens Advice. The campaign aims to raise awareness of new laws that give protection against discrimination, harassment or victimisation by bosses or colleagues in the workplace because a person is gay, lesbian or bi-sexual. The laws […]
Union pushes for tougher health and safety laws
The GMB, Britain’s General Union, has challenged the Health and Safety Commission and Executive to support a new right for trade unions that would allow private prosecutions of employers who fail to protect their workforce from health and safety risks.Speaking after the latest sessions of the House of Commons Select Committee Inquiry on the work […]
Pensions are a ‘top concern’ for workers
Employers that retain a commitment to decent pension provision will find it easier to attract the right people and to keep them, warns Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary.Speaking today at the National Association of Pension Funds conference he said: “Pensions have shot up the union agenda. This is not because they have suddenly become of […]
Opinion: Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary – on the pensions crisis
“Staff will no longer meekly accept pension cuts”, warned Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary, at the National Association of Pension Funds conference today.“Once pensions were seen as dull by unions – suitable only for those with an excessive interest in rainwear and the need to get a life.Now pensions have shot up our agenda. This […]
