Reported hate crime has risen 42% since our vote for BREXIT, presenting employers with perhaps their first tangible HR challenge since the historic decision to leave. The vote split the UK’s population in half, with 52 per cent of voters backing BREXIT and 48 per cent voting to remain. And in a frightening reaction to the vote, anti-Polish cards have been handed out in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, and a sharp rise in the number of people being told to ‘go back home’ – with chants such…
With a disruptive summer of sport ahead, managing employee absence as sports fans seek ways to watch their teams could be a real headache for business. Today is a big day for sport. We've got Andy Murray in the semi finals at Wimbledon (bravo). There's Lewis Hamilton revving up in qualifying for the British Grand Prix (zoom). And Yellow Jersey favourite Chris Froome is riding out with the other Brits in Team Sky on the seventh stage of the Tour de France (clip). Oh, and…
A 'reckless' restaurant owner has been jailed for six years for the manslaughter of a customer who suffered a fatal anaphylactic shock following an allergic reaction to a takeaway curry. The 52 year old businessman was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence when a customer with a severe peanut allergy died after eating a takeaway ordered from the restaurant – despite the diner insisting his meal must be nut-free. And in a judgement that should serve as a wake up call for other food…
YouTube is many things. Home of all cat videos. Handy DIY resource. And 21st century TV station (or the 21st century equivalent of Beadle's About at least). But one thing it is not renowned for is a repository of health and safety best practice. Search 'forklift' and the top three hits are: In many 'blue collar' industries – for example transport & storage, construction, or agriculture – workplace transport is a vital element, and specifically forklift trucks. So how do you keep your employees safe…
Employment Status Types can be complicated in the modern working environment. And they can cost business a lot of money too – HMRC collected £737m last year alone from non-compliance, predominantly from SMEs. So how do you protect your business? Tumble out of bed and stumble to the kitchen, pour myself a cup of ambition, and yawn, and stretch, and try to come to life… The opening lyrics there from Dolly Parton’s 1980 smash hit '9 to 5' and, like this picture, a reminder of…
Sporting tournaments engage the nation in a rare sense of communal endeavour, with football – the country's most-supported sport - generating the most interest. Bunting will be hung, songs will be sung. And while this is a (mostly) regular occurrence for England, this summer will see three of the four home nations competing, meaning 92% of Brits (sorry Scotland) will have skin in the game. This is the first time since 1986 that three of the home nations will be appearing together at a major…
“I’m not a woman. I’m not a man. I’m something that you’ll never understand” is a line from a Prince song back in 1984. Employers need to know what support their gender fluid employees need, and are entitled to, and with the recent death of Prince, there has been much talk about how he led the way in being gender fluid. So what is Gender Fluidity? Gender fluid people do not feel limited by the stereotypical expectations of men and women. They may feel genderless…
The European Court of Justice has ruled that employers need to treat employee's commuting time as work time, which will have an impact on every size company in the UK. This will affect sectors with large numbers of travelling workers, and require employers to look at the distance employees travel to clients/work sites. Employers cannot afford to ignore this ruling, as ignorance could cost money. What does this mean for employers? The decision from the European Court of Justice could impact on: Business prospects Job…
When conflicts occur in the workplace it is crucial that you manage them swiftly and appropriately. Whether as a result of an argument, a person taking offence on how instructions are given or even personality clashes, an unsettled workforce will bring productivity, and workplace moral, crashing down. Why should employers have mediators? It is crucial to diffuse a situation before it escalates into a more serious matter. Remember, early intervention will save you both time and money. Mediation in the work place can be an…
Everyone knows that a good reputation can take a lifetime to build, and a second to destroy. A good reputation will help to attract new business, and will also mean that the best people in the industry will want to work for your company. However, a case of discrimination in the workplace could not only cost you thousands of pounds in claims, but could also tarnish the reputation that your company has worked so hard to build up. What should employers be aware of? Not…
