Legislation update: Continuity of employment with a company in administration
Richard White considers a recent appeal in which an employee challenged the decision not to allow him to claim for unfair dismissal after his employer went into administration. In recent months, there have been many reports of companies going into administration. Employees can suddenly find themselves unemployed with no comeback, as they are deemed not […]
David Fairhurst interview: Managing the workforce in a recession
Lucie Mitchell talks to David Fairhurst, HR chief at McDonald’s, about his views on the importance of employee engagement and talent management during the current downturn. David Fairhurst, senior vice president, chief people officer at McDonald’s Northern Europe, knows a thing or two about human resources. Recently voted as HR’s most influential […]
Seven deadly wins in employee motivation
Lucie Mitchell speaks to seven HR experts to find out their top tips on ensuring your employees are engaged, productive and motivated in the current economic climate. Retention of your key talent is vital in a recession, which means that HR professionals need to ensure that those employees who have survived redundancy remain engaged, […]
Hold a coffee morning to engage employees
The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, a fundraising event organised by Macmillan Cancer Support, is being seen as an excellent tool for team building and boosting staff morale. As one of the biggest fundraising events in the UK, Macmillan is encouraging employers to hold a coffee morning in the workplace on Friday 25 September 2009, to […]
MacLeod Review: What the experts said
Some worthy recommendations came out of the MacLeod Review this week, so HRzone.co.uk has gathered opinion from a range of HR experts to find out what they think of the review and what business should be doing to ensure employee engagement remains at the top of the agenda. The MacLeod Review of employee engagement, launched on Thursday, has […]
Driving employee engagement higher
How does an organisation increase employee engagement? Jack Wiley identifies four ‘pillars’ of engagement which need to be addressed, and outlines the significant role played by managers. Research has shown that employee engagement is linked to improved productivity and commitment, higher levels of employee retention and reduced absenteeism, not to mention enhancements […]
Employee engagement is key to future business success, finds MacLeod Review
The MacLeod Review of employee engagement, launched today, has recommended that employers must fully involve their staff in the future of the business if they are to innovate and secure new opportunities. The review also highlighted the need for more government support and more cooperation by UK organisations to ensure the employer-employee relationship is central […]
Employee engagement and motivation: What not to do
Tim Holden examines the approaches businesses should definitely not be taking if they want their employees to remain motivated, loyal and engaged throughout the recession and beyond. Keeping levels of employee engagement at a satisfactory level is one of the biggest challenges employers face in the UK at present. Pay cuts, pay freezes, […]
Keeping your survivors engaged
Despite firms wanting to retain their key talent, up to 10% of the workforce can leave a company after keeping their jobs through the redundancy programme. Chris Philips explains how best to engage – and keep – talent. Recent weeks have seen optimistic predictions that the worst of the recession is over and that the […]
Colborn’s Corner: Pay and benefits – will they ever be the same again?
This month Quentin Colborn addresses the issue of the employee relations legacy that is being built for the future. In the news this week, we read of BA staff apparently rejecting a deal that would have resulted in pay cuts as part of the plan to get BA onto a firmer financial footing. They are […]
Rewarding the recession-weary
During these tough times the question around how to keep the troops motivated is on everyone’s mind. The HayGroup’s latest study reveals how rewards can boost engagement. The latest study: World at Work has given some great insights into the reward practices companies are planning in the future. Of the 763 organisations surveyed in 66 […]
New redundancy alternative announced
A controversial move to quell the numbers of redundant workers has this week been proposed by business leaders. The CBI has called for a shake-up in the way companies deal with redundancy by proposing the “Alternative to Redundancy” (ATR) scheme. Workers would receive about £130 a week, paid equally by the government and the employer […]
New Look launches job magazine
Fashion brand New Look has announced the launch of a new internal magazine to help bolster employee engagement and motivation. The magazine has been created to promote the company’s overall strategy, branding and thinking to its team with the style, content and language being carefully selected to appeal to New Look’s workforce. Aimed squarely at […]
Managing the redundancy survivors: A constant challenge
The impact of redundancy can be felt for quite some time afterwards, and it is HR’s job to successfully manage those who remain, as they are key to your success, says Judith Leary-Joyce. When redundancy hits, everyone is affected. There are no winners, no smiling faces. A little relief maybe – ‘thank heaven it wasn’t me’ […]
Are they being served?
With HR’s attention well and truly focused on managing redundancies and pay cuts, has it taken its eye of the ball when it comes to employee engagement? HR certainly has its hands full at the moment. If it’s not calming the waters post redundancy it’s pacifying those who may have pay, benefits or training cuts. […]
The war for talent: Fiercer now than before?
The recession is an ideal opportunity to revisit your talent management strategies, but how should organisations be fighting the war on talent in this climate? Becky Midgley speaks to the CIPD’s Claire McCartney to find out. There isn’t one business out there at the moment that isn’t having to change the way it does […]
Can the private life of an employee affect their employment?
Widespread use of the internet and social networking sites have made the ‘personal’ potentially ‘public’, and this blurring of the boundaries can present HR professionals with some tricky situations, says Steven Thomas. Only last month, an insurance worker was dismissed after surfing Facebook while off sick. Not such a bad thing, you may think, until […]
HR tip: Changing terms of employment after TUPE
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Question: "A month ago a group of employees was transferred to our company under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE). We would like to bring their terms and conditions of […]
HR tip: Reinstatement and re-engagement in tribunals
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Question:"If, as seems likely, we lose a case of unfair dismissal at an upcoming employment tribunal, and the tribunal requires us to take the employee back, are we obliged to do so? And […]
Friday feeling costs businesses £50m
Employees who slack off on a Friday afternoon are costing UK businesses more than £50 million a year. Top 10 Friday Feeling excuses 1. Business lunch was longer than expected2. I have a meeting on the way home3. Doctor's appointment4. I can work from home as my computer is down5. I am doing some […]