IR35 legislation: what HR teams needs to know
IR35 is coming to the private sector, and from April 2020 will change the face of contracting as we know it. This legislation has the potential to disrupt how contractors are used if firms fail to prepare adequately. Tax legislation IR35 was announced in a slightly different capacity than was expected, with small firms exempt for now, […]
10 ways to unleash the potential of dyslexic employees
Supporting employees with dyslexia not only requires offering emotional and practical support to those affected, but also educating other members of staff so everyone benefits. Dyslexia is predicted to affect approximately 10% of the British population, according to the British Dyslexia Association (BDA). Subsequently, around 2.9 million workers are living with this learning difficulty, meaning it’s […]
What 2019 holds for diversity and inclusion in the workplace
In 2018, the gender pay gap reporting, continued growth of the #Metoo movement and rise of the D&I officer were just a few signs of progress for workplace diversity and inclusion. But how can HR continue to make headway in 2019? Creating a collaborative environment that is open to different ideas, perspectives and styles of thinking should […]
How to solve the diversity crisis in local government leadership
There is a leadership gulf in local government when it comes to BAME representation – a problem caused by institutions and society as a whole. If there were more role models then individuals would be empowered to reach outside their perceived boundaries. In October, the Prime Minister announced that public services, including the NHS, armed forces, schools and the police force will […]
What are the legal implications of managing mental health in the workplace?
With an increasing number of organisations implementing initiatives to support employee mental health and wellbeing, what are the legal implications to be aware of? Recent tribunals have queried the actions of a ‘reasonable employer’, putting management and often named individuals at risk of legal action. Mental health is the largest single cause of absence in […]
Standing desks: 5 ways HR can facilitate change
The case in favour of employees standing at desks rather than sitting is a strong one. Countless studies have been conducted into how much more happy, productive and healthy employees are if they spend less time sitting and more time standing. The University of Loughborough has just produced a study which was covered by the BBC; […]
The gig economy: how has the Government responded?
The rise of the gig economy has radically changed the modern labour market, so how should employers respond to changes proposed by the Government? With the promise of flexible hours and fast money, it’s easy to see why the so-called ‘gig economy’ has boomed in the UK in the last few years. In fact, the […]
Why HR needs to get to grips with the gig economy
We spoke with Stuart Chamberlain, senior employment law specialist and author at Croner-i Limited, to get up to speed with the latest developments concerning the gig economy. What exactly is the gig economy? There is no single agreed definition. The term is usually used to refer to a range of different types and models of […]
Workplace technology: is BYOD worth the risk?
BYOD (bring your own device) is a rapidly growing trend in modern workplaces, but there are inherent challenges for employers to overcome to make it work. With today’s consumerisation of IT products, it’s no surprise that potential talent is now gravitating towards organisations permitting the use of personal electronic devices for work. This movement, dubbed […]
The secret about disciplinary investigations that HR professionals won’t tell you
No names, no job titles, no companies. HR After Dark features totally anonymised opinion pieces from HR professionals, consultants and industry commentators. No holds barred, no censorship, nothing but raw opinions on issues that matter to HR. OK so here it is. Are you listening? Are you prepared to (maybe) be a little bit shocked […]
Global mobility: how to ensure your short-term international assignments are a success
In the first of a two-part series, Professor Michael Dickmann, explores the findings from The RES Forum’s latest research on short-term assignments and offers five recommendations for ensuring the success of this form of global work. The rise in popularity of the ‘short term assignment/assignee’ (STA) – typically defined as an overseas posting lasting less […]
Global mobility: it’s time to stop neglecting your approach to extended business travel assignments
In the first of this two part article series, Professor Dickmann looked at the issues around ensuring the success of the short-term assignment (STA) in global mobility. In this second part, he looks at the much neglected topic of extended business travel assignments/assignees (EBT). Frequent business flying and extended business travel (EBT) – usually for […]
Six ways HR teams can prepare for Brexit
The terms of Brexit may be uncertain but one thing we do know is that HR teams need to anticipate workforce changes. Steve Smith from Sterling Talent Solutions, outlines the key ways to ensure a smooth transition. With just six months to go until the UK is set to leave the EU, it’s still unclear […]
The Pimlico Plumbers case: tipping the balance in favour of gig economy workers
Philip Richardson, Head of Employment Law at Stephensons, examines how the recent Pimlico Plumbers ruling will impact the rights of gig economy workers in the future. The recent decision by the Supreme Court in the case of Pimlico Plumbers vs Smith has been heralded as spelling the end of the gig economy and the casual […]
HR calibration: how to make your HR teams work in sync
By applying the method of calibration to HR, policies can be implemented more effectively and teams can find harmony. Find out how to get started… HR policies, like employment law, can sometimes be ambiguous – this is not through poor writing or lack of clarity. It’s due to allowing scope for sensible and professional interpretation […]
Social media and the workplace in the #MeToo era
Quickly following on from the Harvey Weinstein scandal, the #MeToo hashtag went viral across all forms of social media. After it first appeared on Twitter, the hashtag was used 850,000 times within the first 48 hours. Since then, #MeToo has been posted on Twitter and elsewhere tens of millions of times, often accompanied by a […]
How compliance standards help organisations attract and retain talent
Have you ever considered the role that corporate compliance standards play in attracting new talent, as well as retaining current employees? At first glance, this may seem like an odd question. Compliance programmes are hardly the first thing employees look for when exploring a new job opportunity. After all, isn’t compliance just about following the […]
The Good Work plan: has any real action been taken to improve employment rights?
The HR Dept has been calling for a long time for a simplification of employment status, to protect rights and ensure that business owners do not fall foul of legislation due to ignorance, confusion or bad business advice, giving evidence to a Parliamentary Select Committee last year. Like many, we have witnessed the blatant circumnavigation of […]
Do your HR policies and processes support employees with cancer?
The workforce comprises increasing numbers of people living with a cancer diagnosis. One in two of us will now face a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime with almost 340,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with cancer every year. Furthermore, in 2012 Macmillan Cancer Support estimated that there were over 750,000 people of working age with […]
Do we need more HR support for SMEs?
We were delighted to welcome Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the Royal Society of Arts, and the author of “Good work: the Taylor review of modern working practices”, to The HR Dept’s annual conference last month. Mr Taylor is advising the Government with recommendations on how UK law can develop to make a fairer system […]
