Going postal – the role of HR in a strike

The industrial dispute which has engulfed Royal Mail in recent weeks has led many commentators to predict another 'winter of discontent'. Kevin Dougall explores the role of HR and how to avoid bitter disputes in the first place.  Many younger HR workers will not remember the strikes which blighted the 1970s and 80s, but recently […]

Redundancy: sink or swim

Heidi Blakey finds that when undertaking redundancy, determining the correct selection pool is a key issue in avoiding legal challenges.   Dismissal on grounds of redundancy has arguably become simpler to justify in view of the economic downturn. Not only is it easier in these recessionary times to demonstrate that a redundancy is genuine, but […]

HR tip: Making rules work

Learn HR is a leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications, and is experienced in advising on common HR and payroll problems. A wide selection of tips and guidance can be seen below. HRzone.co.uk recommends that any tips are taken as a starting point for guidance only.   The question:Our […]

Does the Pereda ruling make you feel ill?

Alison Norris, an HR expert with Employment Law Specialists & Health and Safety Advisors mhl Support, suggests a remedy – and indulges in a little bird watching… In September we had (yet) another decision from Europe that shook us to the core. The ruling related to one Francesco Pereda, a council worker from Madrid, and […]

Disciplinary and grievances in the aftermath of redundancy

Dealing with redundancies for businesses can be tough, but staff who remain pose challenges of their own. Laura Livingstone and Christopher DelaMare examine the correct procedures for dealing with employees using the ACAS Code.     For many employees, job security seems like a thing of the past. Staff may be demoralised or fearful of […]

Employment law round-up: Changes in October

HR professionals need to be aware of a few legislation changes coming into force today. Craig Havard explains what you need to know. There are only a few pieces of employment legislation coming into force on 1 October this year. These are summarised below.   1. National minimum wage: Tips   The effect of tips (and other gratuities), […]

Tribunal report shows redundancy claims up

The report from the Employment Appeals Tribunal into claims made between 2008 and 2009 showed that a failure to inform and consult on redundancy led to a rise in those types of Tribunal claims, despite cases falling overall. Key findings from the EAT report into tribunals from 2008-2009 revealed an overall decrease in claims accepted […]

Ask the expert: Holiday during probation period

Can an employer, in a small business, prevent new employees taking annual leave during their probation period? Martin Brewer and Esther Smith advise.       The question: We currently have a six-month probation period. We are a small firm and I have six new employees which makes up a third of the staff. Are […]

Colborn’s Corner: The end of civil service redundancy cheques?

There are plans to cut generous redundancy payments for the 500,000 civil servants in Britain. Quentin Colborn examines the issue and questions what employers are trying to achieve by such payments.   If one topic has been on the lips of HR people over the last year then ‘redundancy’ has to be close to being top of […]

Ask the expert: Employee’s wife harassing female staff

The wife of a male manager has been harassing two female employees. Can HR do anything to stop this from happening? Matthew Whelan and Esther Smith advise.       The question   Two female staff have complained that they have received nasty calls and texts from their male manager’s wife, accusing them of sleeping with […]

A summer of strikes?

The strike at the Lindsay Oil Refinery was a highly-publicised one. Since then, a number of other strikes have taken place with others being threatened. Pam Loch explains what HR professionals can do to avoid industrial action. The Lindsay dispute – the unofficial angle      Unlike other disputes the Lindsay dispute was different in that it involved […]

HR tip: Types of holiday – statutory, bank and public 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. Question: I have been looking through the contracts of employment of several of our employees and find reference to statutory, bank and public holidays. There appears to be no consistency. What exactly are […]

Ask the expert: Alternative positions after redundancy

Can an employer offer a more junior role to a potentially redundant employee and is it obligatory that it is offered? Martin Brewer and Esther Smith advise. The question: We may make a role redundant within our organisation in order to reduce costs. A new position with a new focus will be created if we did […]

Caption competition: And the winner is…

Think of a true British summer and you probably think of rain and cancelled barbecues. But nobody could fail to be cheered up by Cliff Richard’s dulcet tones in the 1963 hit film, Summer Holiday. This month’s caption competition was designed to lift those spirits and reminisce about the good old days and hot summers gone by. […]

How to… manage redundancies

Announcing redundancies is a difficult task for any manager, but there are ways to cushion the blow and ensure that those exiting the business do so with dignity. It’s also important to take care of those who remain behind, says Richard Chiumento. It is clear that organisations and managers need to minimise the need for redundancies, […]

Legislation update: Employee dismissals

Many employers assume that once they have sent a letter of dismissal to an employee, the dismissal will be immediately effective. Yet a recent case shows that employers need to be careful when making those assumptions. Richard White explains.     Gisda Cyf v Barratt case: The facts   Miss Barratt worked for Gisda Cyf. She attended a disciplinary meeting on […]

Ask the expert: Trade union representative

Where does an employer stand if an employee wants to bring a trade union representative into a disciplinary meeting, rather than a colleague? Gillie Scoular and Esther Smith advise.       The question:  We do not have any trade union on site, but a member of staff pays a union fee and wants to bring a […]

Tips on investigating employee misconduct

When dismissing an employee for misconduct, many employers stumble at the investigation stage. Martin Brewer examines the common pitfalls and how best to avoid them.       The dismissal of an employee for misconduct will almost certainly lead to a claim for unfair dismissal. In assessing the fairness of a dismissal, an employment tribunal will be […]

Ask the expert: Redundancy and restructuring

An employer plans to make redundancies and is considering making their part-time worker redundant, rather than the full-time employees. Martin Brewer and Esther Smith advise on following a fair procedure.       The question:  We are looking at restructuring our field staff. We currently have two full-time and one part-time staff covering all of the UK. […]

Building trust and confidence in a recession

Trust amongst the workforce can be shaken when redundancies are made, so Lorne Armstrong explains how businesses can ensure confidence is not lost and trust remains intact during a downturn. Everyone has experienced the change and uncertainty the recession has brought, and we’ve witnessed first-hand the dramatic loss of trust in business leaders and government.   […]