Non-smokers fuming over smokers’ breaks
Non-smokers at work are fuming over the additional breaks their smoking colleagues seem to be taking and are demanding additional breaks to compensate, according to Croner Consulting.Richard Smith, employment law expert at Croner Consulting says: “Employers often ask us if they should limit or stop smokers from having cigarette breaks, or if non-smokers should be […]
HR Zone competition: win a free advisory session!
Need advice on software solutions? Win a free advisory session with PA Consulting Group at Softworld.HR Zone has teamed up with PA Consulting Group and Softworld HR & Payroll to offer one HR Zone member the chance to win a free advisory session with Dr Mark Dorgan, a member of PA’s Management Group at this […]
Only one in 1300 employees applies for flexible working
Working parents who gained the new right to apply for flexible working that came into force in April, are failing to take hold of the chances given them, suggest new figures. The Klegal survey of 25 firms employing 125,000 people, claims that these employers only received 97 requests for flexible hours – suggesting that around […]
Reversing a flexible working arrangement
If a flexible working request is agreed, it operates as a permanent variation of an employee's contract. So what should you do if your employee wishes to revert to the pre-flexible working arrangement? Anthony Thompson, Head of the Employment Department at Webster Dixon and a member of The Law Society’s Equal Opportunities committee, considers the […]
How Did I Get Here? Jenny Kevan, Abbott Laboratories
Jenny Kevan, UK HR Manager for Abbott Laboratories, shares her experiences of working in HR to date. What’s your current job role?I am the UK HR Manager for Abbott Laboratories, MediSense Products, responsible for 2 sites – Abingdon and Witney. I have 9 HR staff, 3 Reception staff and 6 EHS staff. We currently have […]
Employers wary of exaggerated CV “Other Interests”
While skills and experience are the top selection criteria, 8 out of 10 employers say CV “other interests” influence their recruitment decisions, according to a survey of 900 recruiters by job site Reed.Candidates are most likely to be excluded from shortlists if they write too much or in too much detail, according to nearly one […]
Diversity management helps to raise bottom line
A more diverse workforce improves business performance, according to a new study of around 500 companies operating in the UK, the USA and the Continent.The study, by the London Central Learning and Skills Council and the London Human Resource Group, comprising 16 leading City institutions, claims that diversity has produced a number of business benefits, […]
Mental health issues are common in the workplace
Two-thirds of employees report that they, or a work colleague, have experienced a mental health problem and 70% of line managers have managed a member of staff with a diagnosed or suspected problem, yet most line managers are ill-equipped to deal with them, according to a study by mind out for mental health and The […]
HR Tip – do we need written contracts of employment?
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: We have never issued written contracts to our employees. How do we stand? A: You are not complying with the law if you fail to issue either a written contract or written […]
Unfair dismissal is still largest complaint
Of the 162,932 different complaints to tribunals, unfair dismissal continues to be the largest category of complaint – responsible for almost a third of applications to tribunals, followed by applications under the Wages Act (almost one quarter), according to new figures by Acas.The number of applications reaching employment tribunal has decreased for the third consecutive […]
Graduates seek companies offering ‘golden hellos’
Companies who offer to pay off graduate debts are becoming increasingly sought after by today’s new entrants to the job market, a new survey reveals. Over a quarter of employees in their twenties rate the provision of student debt assistance as an important factor when deciding whether to apply for a new job, according to […]
Companies increasingly make employees face the music
Large corporations increasingly use hip pop music to develop loyal, hard-working employees, and encourage workers, literally, to sing from the same hymn sheet, according to new research. Company songs, from IBM's rehash of a US fighting song to NCR's rendition of the Beatle's 'Back in the USSR', are being used to reinforce corporate culture and […]
HSE publishes consultation on first aid at work
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is seeking opinions on the regulation of first aid at work. Every employer and every self-employed person has a duty to make provision for first aid in their workplace, the duties are currently contained in The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 and Approved Code of Practice and Guidance, […]
Technology solutions for flexible benefits delivery
Flexible benefits schemes are gaining increasing interest from many organisations. David Wicken and Jon Tye of Mercer Human Resource Consulting look at technology solutions for flexible benefits delivery. The systems technology supplier market is very aware of the current level of interest in flexible benefits (flex) and over the last couple of years there has […]
How Did I Get Here? William Martin, Telewest Broadband
William Martin, HR Manager for Telewest Broadband’s Customer Operations, shares his experiences of working in HR to date. What’s your current job role?I’m National HR Manager for Telewest Broadband’s Customer Operations.What did you do before this job?I was HR Manager in the Customer Services division of BSkyB. In the early days of my career, I […]
Firms call for help on new age discrimination laws
UK managers are still unclear about the government's plans to introduce new age discrimination laws, according to a survey published by recruitment specialists Kelly Services and the Employers Forum on Age (EFA). Only 9% of UK managers are fully aware of the government's plans for age discrimination legislation. Managers are calling on the Government to […]
EU regulations threaten overtime and pensions
Business leaders have issued a strong warning that threatened EU regulation would slash the chances of work and overtime for thousands of people in the UK. The warnings come in a wide-ranging annual assessment of trends in the world of work, published by the CBI with employment agency Pertemps. Warnings show: 45% of employers would […]
Firms risk breaching data protection for equal pay
Employers seeking to protect themselves against claims for sex discrimination by completing equal pay questionnaires submitted by employees risk breaching the Data Protection Act, says Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC). Employees who suspect that they may have a claim under the Equal Pay Act 1970 can now submit a questionnaire to their employer requesting information on […]
Feature: Work-life balance – equality for all?
Flexible working should be offered to all staff – not just those with children, says Karen Charlesworth, Head of Research at the Chartered Management Institute. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy – a phrase we are all familiar with – but what about John and Mary and Sue? Do they […]
Feature: workplace childcare
With more and more parents going out to work, often out of necessity rather than choice, affordable and more importantly, reliable and safe childcare is becoming an increasingly important issue. Rachael Squire, Workplace Consultant at Principio, the workplace solutions company, looks at the options available and the benefits and considerations of implementing a workplace childcare […]
