Having a Quiet Word

Making the considerable financial investment to recruit, train and then hold onto talented workers is an even more time consuming activity during unstable economic times, but thoroughly worth it in the long run. Your brand will only grow if you have committed employees talking positively and proudly about your product or service.

This week has seen proposals for sacking lazy workers, a report leaked in The Daily Telegraph about abolishing unfair dismissal rights and the idea of being able to ‘have a quiet word’ in an under performing employees’ ears without repercussion. This has totally shifted the focus that good management standards and leadership are a vital force in being able to motivate and manage a workforce for success.

Any reduction in red tape is always going to be welcomed whether in large or small businesses; however they aren’t really that helpful. Any amendment or abolishment to any employment law takes time, and will always throw up other issues. In the case of the three proposals above, this will lead to an increase in discrimination, whistle-blowing and health and safety claims at employment tribunals. These types are often the most expensive claims to deal with in terms of actually getting to a tribunal to defend a case.

The reality is (and we know this because we speak to SME business owners everyday) a claim by a disgruntled employee is an employers biggest fear, because even if there isn’t a legal basis to the claim, they have to spend money defending it robustly and their time is taken up dealing with it, not focused on growing their business.

HR rant over – onwards and upwards