New laws to increase homeworkers’ pay
Up to 170,000 homeworkers could get more money under new minimum wage regulations.The changes will mean that home and piece workers will have to be paid at a rate that is linked to the National Minimum Wage. Homeworkers are employed by a wide range of companies in a variety of roles, including packing greeting cards, […]
2004 pay rises
Pay increases during 2004 are expected to be at an average of 3.4% (median 3.3%), according to research by consultants Watson Wyatt. Actual average pay rises during 2003 at the 118 companies included in Watson Wyatt’s 2004 Salary Budget Survey Report were also reported as 3.4%. These ranged from 3.8% for directors and senior managers […]
HR Tip – Fixing holidays
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: Are we entitled to fix holidays for our employees rather than let them take them when they choose? A: You certainly can fix as many of the holidays as you wish for […]
Softworld feature: Outsourcing HR processes – Q&As with Sharhabeel Lone
Sharhabeel, a SAKS Consulting Partner and visiting Fellow in Entrepreneurship and Business Leadership at the University of London, will be speaking at the free Softworld HR & Payroll seminar on outsourcing ROI based HR processes. In a preview to the seminar, Sharhabeel shares his views on the latest trends in outsourcing. HR Zone: Does HR […]
Softworld case study: Implementing a new HR system at the National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales recently replaced its existing HR system with a new one in order to allow its 4000 staff to maintain their own records online. Tony Bracey, who headed up the project team, shares his experiences with HR Zone members. Why did you need to implement a new HR system?Replacing the existing […]
Maximising the benefits and ROI of e-learning
Too many companies are missing the major benefits of e-learning through poor introduction and management, argues Steve Dineen, Chief Executive of fuel Group. The potential benefits of e-learning are now widely accepted. Training staff online has the potential to help companies create massive savings, gain far better value from their training budgets and even generate […]
Data Protection Act
How are HR professionals affected by the Data Protection Act and Part 4 of the Employment Practices Data Protection Code? Stewart Room, a data protection law specialist at Rowe Cohen Solicitors, takes a closer look. The work of HR professionals brings them into regular contact with the Data Protection Act 1998. To recap, the Act […]
Case study: Retention success at Mastercare
With an outstanding staff retention record – only one of the team of 35 has left in the last five years – Mastercare PC ServiceCall, part of the Dixons Group, are obviously doing something right. So what is their winning formula? HR Zone interviewed Neil Manchester, who heads up the IT Solutions Centre at Mastercare. […]
Parenting sabbaticals – how do you ensure staff remain skilled?
Recent research has shown that a quarter of companies now offer female executives extended leave or ‘parenting sabbaticals’ to avoid losing them permanently. But how can companies ensure that female executives remain fully skilled? Laura Kelly of Thomson NETg looks at one solution. Retention issues and the skills crisisIn successful organisations employees possess the knowledge […]
HR Tip – Holidays for temporary employees
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: Are we obliged to give holidays to temporary employees. If so, how much? A: If the temporary employees are supplied by an agency then they are not your employees and the responsibility […]
Softworld feature: Selecting and implementing HR software – Q&As with Paul Priddle
Paul Priddle, a SAKS Consulting Principal, is speaking at the forthcoming Softworld HR & Payroll event on ‘Selecting and implementing HR software for beneficial business change’. In a preview to the seminar, HR Zone quizzed Paul on planning processes, preparing a business case, key market trends and navigating the vendors. HR Zone: What is involved […]
Softworld feature: Payroll legislative changes
Adrian Hobbs, Payroll Author at Gee Publishing, will be speaking at the free Softworld HR & Payroll seminar ‘Review of recent & upcoming payroll legislative changes’ at 10.30am on 3 March. Here’s a snapshot of the key payroll changes he’ll be discussing… Mandatory electronic paymentsOne of the biggest changes to affect larger employers (those with […]
How Did I Get Here? Sue Matthews, Coventry City Council
Sue Matthews, HR Manager for Coventry City Council, is this week’s star of HR Zone’s regular ‘How Did I Get Here?’ feature. As a new member, Sue says she’s looking forward to seeing who she knows on HR Zone. What’s your current job role?I am currently HR Manager for Coventry City Council’s Social Services & […]
Case law: Injury to feelings awards
A new Court of Appeal decision could open the floodgates to more “injury to feelings” awards in unfair dismissal cases.In June 2003 the Employment Appeal Tribunal held that compensation for unfair dismissal claims is limited to economic loss only and does not extend to damages for injury to feelings or pride in the case of […]
Case study: Creating a culture of needs-based learning at Panasonic
Two years after Panasonic UK over-hauled its training and development process, Development Manager Graham Borley says the results have been an improvement of quality and a 40% reduction in costs. In the second of two articles, Graham explains the benefits of starting over. Around two years ago Panasonic UK undertook an in-depth review of its […]
Workers choose ‘more responsibility’ over cash
Three out of four workers promoted over the last five years said getting more responsibilities was more important than a pay rise, according to new research.When asked what one change in their working lives they most wanted from a promotion, the Reed survey of over 3700 workers revealed that directors were the least likely to […]
Study highlights executive remuneration practices
HR plays a technical rather than strategic role in executive remuneration but this is likely to change, claims a recent report exploring executive remuneration practices in over 60 major public companies.The research by Hewitt Associates found that in most cases, HR partners with the decision-making body to design the pay packages, although in 13% of […]
How can you widen your recruitment selection pool to increase diversity within your organisation?
Increasing diversity whilst recruiting has been one of the hot topics in the UK employment marketplace for the last couple of years. The debate has often been driven by the public sector which has been the source of much best practice, whilst in the corporate sector, legal compliance has been the primary driver behind most […]
Billions wasted on under-valued employee benefits
Around £5 billion per year is being wasted on under-valued employee benefits that could be better paid as salary to younger members of staff, claims Adrian Humphreys of employee benefits administrator, WPA Protocol. His observation follows a recent NOP World survey of 100 HR Directors/Managers amongst the top 1500 UK companies, which showed the majority […]
HR Tip – A redundancy problem
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: Since making a woman an offer of employment we have announced some redundancies and therefore no longer need her. She is due to join us in two weeks time. How do we […]
