HR Tip – Behaviour outside work
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: An employee was recently thrown out of a pub having, we understand, caused a lot of damage. Can we fire him? A: Probably not. What the person did was in his own […]
Pay gap widens
Whilst overall temporary and permanent pay rose across most job types in 2003, the gap widened significantly between those earning top rates and those at the lower end of the scale, according to new salary research by Kelly Services. National resultsOn average, temporary staff on the lower end of the scale (across the 16 job […]
Government proposes automatic entry to occupational pension schemes
The Government has set out a series of initiatives to increase pension saving, working in partnership with employers, individuals, the financial services industry, trade unions and the voluntary sector.Andrew Smith, together with Pensions Minister, Malcolm Wicks, yesterday unveiled the publication: ‘Simplicity, security and choice: Informed choices for working and saving’. Read a summary of the […]
New report provides insights into employing disabled people
Employers’ awareness of the current provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) is patchy, claims a new report by The Department for Work and Pensions.The new report, ‘Disability and Business: Employers’ and Service Providers’ responses to the DDA in 2003 and preparation for 2004 changes’, based on responses from around 2000 telephone interviews, is summarised […]
How Did I Get Here? Alison Lewis, Oxfam
HR Zone member Alison Lewis is Corporate Learning & Development Manager for Oxfam. Here, in our regular 'How Did I Get Here?' feature, she spills the beans on her HR career to date. What's your current job role?Corporate Learning & Development Manager for Oxfam – which I do 3 days a week. The other 2 […]
What makes an employee stay with an organisation?
How can HR take advantage of the changing ‘psychological contract’ between employer and employee to retain staff? Tim Osborn-Jones looks at the issue of retention by drawing on research from Henley Management College. The talent warThe challenge of managing talent from the viewpoint of the employee, and the employer, critically dubbed as the ‘talent war’ […]
Toshiba demystifies pensions with online information service
Toshiba Information Systems (TIU), one of the UK’s largest electronics firms, has launched an innovative service that gives members of its DC[1] pension scheme new levels of transparency and control over the present and future direction of their pension contributions. The online pension service, one of the first of its kind in the UK, is […]
Public sector most likely to use online recruitment
Almost nine in 10 public sector employers use online recruitment to find new staff compared with just over three in four manufacturing and production companies, according to new research.The IRS survey of 208 UK employers found that online recruitment is less popular among small organisations (fewer than 250 people), where three in four use this […]
Softworld feature article: Implementing an effective e-recruitment strategy
What are the key points to consider when deciding whether to implement an e-recruitment strategy? Bill Shipton, Chairman of the Association of Online Recruiters looks at the benefits of the Internet as a “must have” candidate attraction strategy and highlights examples of organisations that have made significant time and cost savings through managing the recruitment […]
Removal of retirement age will increase health costs
Over half of all firms who provide health insurance to staff feel that any increase or removal of the retirement age would result in greater costs to their business in the form of higher premiums, claims a new survey. The research published today by Manpower also suggests that the proposed changes to employment regulations that […]
HR using job evaluation to deal with equal pay audits
Employers are turning to the tried and tested technique of job evaluation as a way of dealing with pressure to conduct equal pay audits, new research claims.Though critics have claimed the technique is bureaucratic and a “bogus science”, the IRS research shows that it has taken on a new lease of life – particularly in […]
Pay settlements remain stable
With the busy New Year pay round just getting under way, early indications are that basic pay settlements will remain around the 3% mark. In the final three months of last year, the median basic pay award – the midpoint in the range – was 3% according to the independent IRS Pay Databank. This was […]
Ensure staff are warm in ‘big freeze’, employers warned
With Britain enduring its ‘big freeze’, retail trade union Usdaw is reminding employers of their obligations to ensure staff are warm.Employers have a duty, under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, to maintain a “reasonable temperature” in the workplace. Although it doesn’t specify temperatures, the Code of Practice says 16ºC, or 13ºC for […]
Softworld HR & Payroll preview – Educational programme
Softworld HR & Payroll will be taking place on 20-21 October 2004 Hall 12, NEC, Birmingham. As sponsors of the event, HR Zone will be publishing a range of updates and news from the event before, during and after it takes place. Take a look at the breakfast briefings and masterclasses available at Softworld HR […]
HR Tip – Suspension from work
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: In what circumstances are we entitled to suspend employees from work, with or without pay? A: You may suspend someone from work for a reasonable period at any time provided you continue […]
Northgate acquires Rebus HR
The acquisition of Rebus HR Group by Northgate Information Solutions has transformed the company into the market leader in the £700m UK HR and payroll market. Northgate will continue to support both companies existing product lines under the Northgate name. Chris Stone, Chief Executive of Northgate Information Solutions, said: "Although this is a sizeable acquisition, […]
Any Answers questions on employment law
To tie in with the launch of HR Zone's new employment law zone, we've highlighted a selection of useful employment law questions that have been answered in the Any Answers area of the site. Does anyone know if equal pay law covers two people doing exactly the same job in different NHS trusts?Helen MathewsRead the […]
Overworked employees and stress claims
There have been some interesting developments in the area of stress claims. The latest decisions highlight the numerous difficulties for individuals in pursuing such claims. Matthew Gingell of Webster Dixon examines the current legal position and assesses the implications from the employer’s perspective. Court claims Claims in negligenceAll employees have a duty to take reasonable […]
HR Zone Review of Regulations
2003 was a busy year for HR professionals as a number of new employment law developments emerged. This handy reminder, drawn from content which appeared on HR Zone in the last few months, will help you comply with the key regulations. For very recent and forthcoming employment law developments, take a look at the news […]
New employment tribunal compensation levels
Under the Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2003, from 1 February 2004 there will be increased levels of compensation available in the employment tribunal.The most notable increases are: Maximum amount of “a week’s pay” for thepurpose of calculating a basic or additional award of compensation for unfair dismissal or redundancy payments will rise from […]
