Analysis: Govt’s response to Frost sickness absence review “disappointing”
Experts have branded the government’s response to the Frost review of workplace sickness absence as “disappointing”, warning that it did not go far enough. The 2011 review was originally led by Dame Carol Black, the government’s national director for health and work and a former president of the Royal College of Physicians, and David Frost, […]
Blog: Driver licensing changes – Pushing eyecare up the HR agenda
Employee eyecare. It’s the benefit that always seems to sit at middle or even the bottom of many to do lists. This week’s changes to driver licencing, which mean regular medical certification for lorry and bus drivers, will have pushed eyecare up the agenda for employers whose business involves these vehicles. But for most organisations, eyecare policy […]
Blog: What’s your communication style?
You communicate in your own particular way – we all do. Over the years you’ve developed your own natural communication style. To come across confidently and to look as though you’re in control, it helps if you’re aware of this style. People with good communication skills already know what’s good and what’s bad about their […]
News: What to do when it snows?
After a wet Christmas and mild New Year, a cold snap is hitting the country once more, with temperatures predicted to reach as low as -10 and snow forecast to fall in most areas of the UK. Inevitably, this situation will result in travel disruption and employees who are unable, or unwilling, to get into […]
Information security: The role of HR
In 2004, Royal Bank of Scotland found itself and its email policy under scrutiny when an employment tribunal found in favour of an ex-employee. The individual concerned had been dismissed after an investigation into several staff members who had been using the company email system to send pornographic images. Around 30 employees were identified […]
Blog: Why are annual performance appraisals so stressful?
Recognise This! – The 5 top drivers of stress in the annual performance appraisal process are easily overcome through crowdsourcing with social recognition. Why does the traditional annual performance review continue to fail as both a performance measurement and management device? There are a litany of reasons but by far the greatest, most overriding […]
Blog: How to live long and prosper
After the indulgences of the festive period, it is worth considering the findings from a 60 year study into what makes us happy and healthy or sick and sad. It shows that we have a lot more influence over our long term health and well-being than previously thought…Your life and happiness are in your hands. […]
Four easy steps to plan for career change
Of course skills, qualifications and abilities are vital, but when I am coaching people who want to change career, it often transpires that they have not stopped to consider what they really want. It’s natural to some extent to want to just move on quickly, but this research and reflection time will be time very […]
News: Low income NHS staff “not paid properly” since transfer to outsourcer
Low income, non-medical staff at a hospital in Brighton have not been paid properly since they were transferred to a private outsourcing company, according to a union. The GMB told the BBC that the workers who include cleaners, porters and caterers at the Royal Sussex County Hospital have experienced payment problems since being taken on […]
Blog: What to do when 2012 anxieties becomes 2013 stress
2013 is now well and truly underway. The Christmas trees are down, New Year’s resolutions have already been broken, and employees are back at work. But, after the hype of the festive season, and when faced with hundreds of emails to sift through, it can be difficult for employees to settle back in – particularly […]
Ask the Expert: Should we allow a sick employee to return to work?
The question One of our sales staff has recently returned to work after an operation on their ankle. Pins were removed and they were told that they could drive after one week. Three weeks later, however, they were still unable to do so as it was too painful. We advised them to go back […]
Blog: Boosting employee energy for 2013
"Managing your energy is more important than managing your time." (AG Lafley, former CEO of Procter & Gamble). Whilst a great many organisations now run excellent health and wellbeing programmes for their staff, the elephant slumped in the corner of the room is employee energy. The simple fact is that after four tough years, […]
Talent Spot: Community blogger, Will Mitchell
Lifelong learning and development is something that Will Mitchell, director of consulting at talent management specialists, A&DC, wholeheartedly believes in. His love of learning was developed on taking a gap year after graduation, when he went to Australia with the Outward Bound Trust, an educational charity that focuses on learning out-of-doors. Mitchell loved it […]
Legal Insight: When the (Christmas) party’s over…
As the festive season takes hold, workplaces around the country have been hanging up the tinsel, sending out corporate Christmas cards and thinking about the end of year knees-up. But both HR departments and the wider workforce should be aware that, just because a Christmas party takes place outside of work hours and in rented […]
News: Christmas party hangovers to cost employers £740m this year
Hungover staff will cost employers a huge £740 million in lost productivity this year, with seven out of 10 expecting to party for at least two nights over the next 10 days. According to a survey among 2,000 workers conducted by hotel chain, Travelodge, three times more UK companies (75%) plan to host a […]
Blog: Four tips to help stressed out HR pros relax
Stress is common in the workplace and it negatively impacts the performance of employees. HR managers of small businesses often wear many hats and are placed in the position of recruiter, benefits administrator, payroll processor and more. Stress in the workplace makes a big impact. In fact, stress was the most common cause of […]
Blog: How to avoid a Christmas bust-up
It’s official now, the Christmas season has started. The city is decorated, sparkling and illuminated. It is chilly, people have started sipping mulled wine, and pulling and wearing paper hats at Christmas parties. One of my colleagues is even planning her Christmas-tree decoration using a new app on her iPad. So, what’s the spirit […]
Blog: The rising challenge of presenteeism
The recent Chartered Management Institute/Simplyhealth report, “The Quality of Working Life 2012” surveyed over 1,000 managers in 2007 and 2012 and showed the impact of the recession on UK workplaces. In 2012, managers are now working longer hours due to larger workloads; increasingly they are suffering from ill health including stress and depression; and they […]
Blog: Workers to burn out unless something gives soon…
HR professionals will have seen more than anyone the ongoing challenges being faced by both employers and workers as the seemingly never-ending economic crisis rolls on. Some may be claiming that the green shoots of recovery are now visible but others are telling us to prepare for a triple dip recession. Whatever future difficulties […]
News: Starbucks’ move to cut staff benefits sparks fresh concern
Starbucks’ decision to cut paid lunch breaks, sick leave and maternity benefits has sparked concern among staff that they are being forced to help subsidise the coffee chain’s potential tax bill increase. According to the Guardian, on the same day last week that the House of Commons’ public accounts committee branded the firm’s tax avoidance […]