Case study: Handling large-scale redundancies

Countless organisations have had to make job cuts in the last few months, making HR’s job a particularly tough one. Nick Golding talks to Buckinghamshire County Council to find out how they are handling their large-scale redundancy process. Back in January this year, the 14,000-strong workforce at Buckinghamshire County Council was confronted with the news […]

Ask the expert: Dismissal process with less than one year’s service

An employee, with just five month’s service, is not performing well and the employer wants to dismiss him. Esther Smith and Matthew Whelan advise on the correct process to follow. The question: If a member of staff has less than one year’s service (only five months in fact), can we dismiss him without following a […]

HR tip: Proof of drunkenness

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: "One of our supervisors sent a man home for turning up to work drunk. However when we held a disciplinary meeting, the man insisted that he was not drunk and that we […]

HR tip: Workplace affairs

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: "Can we stop people having affairs at work? We think that one of our supervisors is having an affair with a married woman." HR tip: Generally speaking you should not moralise but […]

HR tip: Pin-ups in the machine shop

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: "The lads in our packing department have some quite racy pin-ups on the walls. A female member of staff, who works in another department and never needs to go into packing, nevertheless […]

The Christmas party: You simply can’t please everyone

Here's a tongue-in-cheek look at the problems an HR director experienced whilst trying to accommodate the needs of the organisation's diverse workforce when planning the office Christmas party. You've got to feel sorry for her… FROM: Pauline, Human Resources DirectorTO: All EmployeesDATE: 21st October 2008RE: Christmas Party I'm happy to inform you that the company […]

Dear Santa: HR’s Christmas wish list

With gloomy economic predictions and the prospect of job losses for many in 2009, HRZone.co.uk spreads some Christmas cheer and asks the experts what's on their HR wish list. Verity Gough reports. What would you like to see change next year, to make your working life easier? "I would like to see candidates being treated […]

The employee engagement dilemma

In today's rapidly changing economic climate, many employers are facing an acute dilemma – how do they make the necessary people changes to improve performance and profitability, whilst maintaining employee motivation and engagement? Ben Thornton has some answers.       There is a wealth of evidence linking business performance and employee behaviour. A recent […]

HR tip: Gross misconduct v misconduct

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: "When does misconduct become gross misconduct?" HR tip: Gross misconduct is any action that strikes at the heart of the employment relationship and makes its continuation impracticable. You should give examples in […]

HR tip: Misuse of redundancy because a person isn’t good at her job

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: "We want to let a person go who is not very good at her job, so propose to make her redundant. Any problems with this?" HR tip: Yes indeed. You may make […]

HR tip: Obtaining redundancy form from Government discreetly

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: "We will shortly be announcing some redundancies and understand that we will have to submit an official form to a government department. We wish to get this form in advance and in […]

HR tip: Sexual harassment claim from ex-employee

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 woman who recently left our employment has now written to complain that, during her time with us, her boss sexually harassed her. As she has left, do we need to do […]

HR tip: Time off for redundant employees

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:"We have made some employees redundant and they are now demanding that we let them have time off to seek other work. How do we and they stand?" HR tip:Employees who have two […]

HR tip: Mobile phone use at 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. Question:"Are we entitled to restrict the use of personal mobile phones at work?" HR tip:Indeed you are. If used for private calls during work hours, the employee is being paid for being unproductive […]

HR tip: Redundancy – bumping

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:"We do not have many visitors so we are getting rid of the receptionist post and leaving a list of telephone extensions for visitors to ring, in the reception area. The receptionist has […]

HR tip: Affair at 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. Question: "One of our female accounts clerks is having an affair with a married colleague. They are often both absent from the section at the same time. We are not happy about this […]

HR tip: Enforcing rest breaks and 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:"Many of my employees, especially managers, do not take their rest breaks and holidays. I do not force them to do so. Should I?" HR Tip:If you do not, you may well be […]

HR tip: Notifying the JobCentre of redundancies

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: "Do I have to notify the JobCentre if I make someone redundant?" HR Tip:It is not necessary to do so but much better if you do because it gives the JobCentre opportunity to […]

HR tip: Helping redundant employees

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: "How can I help redundant employees without spending a lot of money?" HR Tip: First you could do your best to put them in touch with local vacancies by contacting the JobCentre, staff agencies, […]

Acas updates guidance

Acas has updated its guidance on smoking at work and redundancy payments.