Softworld interview: Outsourcing
Sharhabeel Lone of SAKS Consulting will be speaking at the masterclass ‘Strategic Outsourcing: Hype or Reality?’ at the forthcoming Softworld HR & Payroll event. HR Zone: Is outsourcing suitable for all organisations? Sharhabeel: The short answer is No. The need to analyse benefits and risks is paramount to a successful business strategy. The ‘me too’ […]
Opinion: Age discrimination
The hottest subject of conversation in HR networking should be age discrimination legislation by far, argues Phillip Walker, Chairman of the Campaign Against Age Discrimination in Employment and the CAADE Centre Charity. Legislation on age discrimination in employment will be the biggest regulatory change to hit the profession in 20 years. Bigger by far than […]
Online consultation on statutory dispute resolution
The Government has produced a full consultation paper which can be completed online on statutory dispute resolution It should take no more than half an hour to complete in full, but the online consultation has been designed to use even if you can only spare a few minutes. Consultation closes on 29 October 2003. The DTI […]
Call for employer action to boost pension take-up
Over 8 in 10 employer-sponsored stakeholder pension schemes remain ‘empty boxes’ with no pensions yet active, according to new research.The report, Stakeholder pensions – time for change, by the Association of British Insurers, calls for more action to help employers promote pensions take-up. Currently, 350,000 employers have designated a scheme but 82% remain ‘empty boxes’ […]
“Absence has grown from an HR issue to a business problem”
The UK average absence level has just risen, for the first time in six years, to 7 days per worker, according to new research.While 89% of absences are short term, long-term episodes account for 56% of days lost and up to 70% of costs, claims the report, Attendance Management, by The Work Foundation.Although two in […]
Free seminar on implementing workplace childcare solutions
If you’re based near Bristol, you may be interested in attending a FREE seminar on workplace childcare issues.Bristol-based workplace solutions company, Principio, has announced a free breakfast seminar aimed at providing practical advice to businesses on implementing workplace childcare strategies. Principio has partnered with the Children’s Information Service for Bristol, South Gloucestershire Children’s Information Service, […]
E-mail harassment costs employer £10,000
A woman who discovered nine of her colleagues had circulated obscene e-mails about her has received £10,000 compensation after settling her sexual harassment case against her former employer.The Sales Support Administrator and Personal Assistant discovered the e-mails inadvertently after she was given access to a colleague’s e-mail folders while he was on extended leave. After […]
Community feature: Introducing…
We put the spotlight on HR Zone member Nick Heap. What’s your current job role?I am an independent facilitator of change and development. I use counselling, consulting and facilitating skills to help managers (mainly) solve people problems and develop themselves and their staff. I do a lot of work one to one, helping people think […]
Softworld preview – seminars
We take a look at the breakfast briefings and masterclasses available at Softworld HR & Payroll. These are free to attend. Day One – Wednesday 24 September Breakfast Briefing – BB1A 09.00 – 10.00Choosing a new HR system, why companies should always keep an open mind– Trends in the market– What options are available– Why […]
Disciplinary procedures and stress
Annabel Mackay of Charles Russell solicitors outlines the steps employers can take to reduce the likelihood of unfair dismissal claims. Most employers are familiar with the situation: no sooner has the disciplinary process been launched then the employee produces a sick note indicating that he or she is suffering from stress.The employer is in a […]
HR still an isolated department
HR is still a stand alone department because many businesses are failing to integrate it with other functions, according to Softworld research conducted on 229 HR and payroll professionals last month.It found that only 44% of companies questioned have linked their HR systems with other applications, such as finance and payroll systems, However, research conducted […]
Settling workplace disputes – review published
Acas has published a research report on the dynamics of public sector disputes and the role of third parties in resolving them. The report, by Susan Corby of the University of Greenwich, analyses different approaches to settling public sector disputes and looks at how these might develop in future. It also compares approaches used in […]
Employers plan gay worker monitoring to avoid discrimination
According to a report in the Independent, some UK firms are planning to carry out gay and lesbian audits of their staff in the hope of avoiding compensation claims for discrimination brought under new sexual orientation laws that take effect this December. Guidance published by Acas, has apparently led to a surge of inquiries from […]
Businesses warned ‘cash in lieu’ of holidays is invalid
The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has been in holiday mood or to be precise, taking a closer look at 'rolled-up' holiday pay issues. Every employer should become familiar with their conclusions, says Alan Lewis, an employment law specialist at Manchester's George Davies Solicitors. His plain language interpretation of their decision is as follows: The court […]
UK workers back in top City banking jobs
Renewed demand for trading skills and experience means that UK workers are once again claiming the top City banking jobs – compared to two years ago when their European counterparts could expect to earn salary packages up to 25% higher. A survey of almost 16,000 candidates by City headhunters, Napier Scott, shows the average UK […]
Flexible benefits improve employee retention
Over 60% of companies report that the introduction of flexible benefits increases employee commitment and retention, according to the 10th annual Flexible Benefits Survey. The survey of 400 organisations conducted by Hewitt Bacon & Woodrow, also found that 2002 saw the largest increase in organisations implementing flexible benefits for the past decade. The research reveals […]
Firms lack formal policies on age discrimination
Four in 10 employers have no formal or informal policy on age diversity or age discrimination, new research claims.The IRS survey on employers’ attitudes to the new age discrimination law reveals that employers appear to have done very little development work on age diversity policy and practice. Responses from 83 HR departments across the private […]
Community feature: Introducing…
HR Zone puts the spotlight on Martin Stockton, a guest speaker at the forthcoming Softworld HR & Payroll event and new member of HR Zone. What’s your current job role?HR Transformation Leader at Towers Perrin.What did you do before this job?Worked for IBM as HR Transformation leader for EMEA, prior to that worked in HR […]
Firms look to alternative ways of reducing pensions costs
Final salary scheme closures are slowing, as firms consider alternative ways of reducing the costs and risk of running a pension scheme, new research claims.Less than a quarter of firms reviewing their pensions plans have decided to close their final salary schemes to new members and offer instead a defined contribution (money purchase) plan.Although the […]
Firms extend car or cash choices
UK companies are offering employees increasing choice in the make and model of the company car they drive, according to research by consultants Watson Wyatt.Data summarised from over 200 UK companies for Watson Wyatt’s UK Compensation Report 2003, found that only 1 in 10 sales executives and field service engineers have no choice over make […]
