Snow pay: should you dock wages of snowed-in workers?
Although employers may have a legal right to withhold workers’ pay if they do not come into work because of the snow, such action could not only be challenged but could also hit morale. The legal lowdown stands as follows: staff members are legally obliged to get themselves to work and companies are entitled […]
Snow business: The winter survival kit for your organisation
Snowed under? Get some relief from the cold snap with this advice exploring creating extreme weather policy and making the most of technology. As waves of snow sweep into Britain from Siberia, civilisation as we know it appears to have broken down. With transport and infrastructure severely disrupted, up to 20% of workers […]
Snow business: 14% not in work, costing economy £0.5bn per day
Absence is at an all-time high as employees find themselves snowed under, according to FirstCare, who estimate it will cost business £0.5bn per day to cope with such high levels of absence. Is it quiet in the office? It seems likely as more employees are staying at home than ever seen before due to the […]
Are your employees snowed under? Severe weather and its impact on business
There’s no business like snow business: but even in severe weather conditions there are solutions employers can put in place for employees to keep disruption to a minimum, says the CIPD. The severe weather already affecting much of Britain and school closures affecting parts of the country do not necessarily have to mean major problems […]
Be aware of mental health in 2010, says Acas
Ed Sweeney, Acas Chair, considers the impact the recession has had on business and employees and what HR should focus on next year to avoid legal implications. 2009 has been a challenging year for businesses and employees. For many managers, this is the first time that they have encountered such challenging economic conditions. As a […]
Walk the talk with wellbeing
On National Stress Awareness Day, Rob Woollen asks if UK businesses are taking employee wellbeing seriously and considers the body of evidence suggesting that wellbeing directly affects the bottom line. Financial concerns top the list of barriers experienced by HR professionals keen to implement employee wellbeing schemes, according to a survey released this week by […]
Beat stress on National Stress Awareness Day
National Stress Awareness day is a chance for HR to show they care by helping their employees manage their stress. This year why not help your managers spot and deal with stress? Stress has become a major factor in many people's lives as the recession has increased employment and financial worries. It is reported that […]
Coping with cancer at work
The HR department of a large employer will see more new cancer diagnoses in a year than a GP. To address this, Macmillan has launched a pilot scheme with Nationwide and Ford to provide information and evidence on current practices and issues within the workplace. Dealing with cancer is hard not only for the person […]
FAQ: Long-term sickness absence
Dealing with long-term sickness can be daunting. We present everything you wanted to know about dealing with long-term sickness absence but were afraid to ask, from legal expert Rayner Jones. Coping with staff sickness absence can be a major headache for employers. Dismissal is always a last resort. But, sometimes, it is the only option […]
Protect your staff from swine flu – or risk being sued
Employers who are not seen to be adequately protecting staff from swine flu could be sued by angry employees, says Gary Tait, who advises on how you can protect both employees and the business. Being sued by an employee is a nightmare scenario for an HR team, but one which could possibly come true if […]
HR tip: Regular absenteeism
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 couple of our employees quite regularly are absent on Fridays and Mondays, claiming minor illnesses. One likes to spend time in his caravan and the other visits her mother miles away […]
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 […]
Sick or on holiday? Is it up to the employee now?
The ECJ in Pereda v Madrid Movilidad SA has held that if a worker becomes sick during a period of annual leave, they are entitled to delay their holiday and carry their annual leave forward. What does this mean for employers in terms of managing their employees and ensuring this right isn’t abused? The facts […]
Ask the expert: Long-term absence during probation
An employee has been on long-term sick leave for most of her probation period. Matthew Whelan and Esther Smith advise on the risks of dismissing her. The question We have an employee who started work with us in a management position. Her references were not great but we decided we would give her a […]
The key to creating a great place to work
Long hours, high workloads, out-of-date leadership style and cultures do little to retain staff. Flexibility and good leadership is key to a happy workforce, says Lynne Copp. In the UK we work 46% longer hours than our European neighbours and are 27% less productive. Long hours and high workloads do not create successful businesses […]
How to prevent stress in the workplace
The prevention of stress at work is a big problem in search of a big solution, yet is astonishingly easy to achieve, says Derek Mowbray. Stress is at the wrong end of the pressure-strain-stress continuum. Those who suffer from it badly may also suffer some of the most serious physical health problems […]
Workplace wellbeing: Alternative rules of engagement
Jeff Archer explains how wellbeing initiatives can be used in a variety of ways across all levels of a business to engage and motivate the whole workforce. When you’ve exhausted traditional methods of engaging staff, and employees have become immune to all the latest exciting initiatives you’ve introduced to help raise performance, how can you inject […]
HR tip: Children at work on weekends
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: Some of our employees come in on Saturdays to catch up with their work and I have noticed that some of them bring their children with them. I have taken up this […]
Managing absence: The critical role of technology
As the full scale of the absence problem becomes apparent in the UK, more and more organisations are looking to technology to help them tackle it cost-effectively, says Chris Berry. What happens when your employees are sick? Are they expected to call their line manager who should then record and monitor the absence? Do they […]
Swine flu: Top tips for employers
Amid warnings that employers who fail to protect their staff adequately from swine flu could face legal action, solicitor Rebecca Lake outlines what you need to know to prepare for and deal with swine flu in the workplace. Swine flu, also referred to as influenza A(H1N1), is becoming a regular feature across newspapers, television […]
