On the 8th December The HR Dept will be celebrating National Plain English day. The use of plain English is something we feel strongly about, it’s part of who we are as a brand. So often employment contracts are incomprehensible and they really need not be.
National Plain English day was established by Chrissie Maher to mark the launch of Plain English Campaign. The campaign came to life on 29 July 1979 when Chrissie and a number of campaign supporters publically shredded stacks of jargon-filled government documents in the centre of Parliament Square, directly opposite the Houses of Parliament.
Plain English Campaign was born, with the right to ask for a clear explanation of any public information that could not be read, understood and dealt with in a single reading.
National Plain English Day is a reminder to;
· sign the People’s Plain English Charter at www.plainenglish.co.uk
· celebrate the global shredding of jargon at www.global-shred.com
· send poorly written public information back to the sender or to info@plainenglish.co.uk
· shred your own jargon
· start thinking clearly, writing and speaking clearly and getting a clearer understanding of good communications.
Plain English, it’s plain common sense.
Monday, 7 December 2009
Friday, 27 November 2009
On your bike!
If saving the environment or shedding a few pounds isn't reason enough to start pedalling, The Department for Transport is now promoting what it calls the "Cycle to Work Guarantee". Employers who sign up will enjoy certain tax exemptions, so long as they guarantee to provide, amongst other things, safe bike parking facilities and changing and locker facilities.
It seems that currently, more than 30 per cent of the staff of large urban employers live within a half an hour bike ride of their place of work, but only about 3 per cent currently cycle to work. The government aim is to double or treble that figure.
Since most of the employers currently participating are public sector, the tax benefits may need to be improved if private sector employers are to be persuaded to take part in significant numbers.
To qualify for the tax exemption, cycles and cyclists' safety equipment are loaned to staff by the employer. Details can be found on the website http://www.cycletoworkguarantee.org.uk/
It's worth considering that an employer's responsibility extends to include those employees required to cycle as part of their job. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents reminds us how important it is that adult cyclists are trained and that an employer has a duty of care.
This is precisely the thinking behind The Police Cycle Training Doctrine, a draft 93-page, two volume booklet which includes a diagram on "deployment into a junction" and advises constables to wear padded shorts for "in-saddle comfort". However, growing opposition to the manual from the Taxpayers' Alliance mean that Police chiefs will not be going ahead with the training booklet since it is estimated that it would cost thousands of pounds to produce.
It seems that currently, more than 30 per cent of the staff of large urban employers live within a half an hour bike ride of their place of work, but only about 3 per cent currently cycle to work. The government aim is to double or treble that figure.
Since most of the employers currently participating are public sector, the tax benefits may need to be improved if private sector employers are to be persuaded to take part in significant numbers.
To qualify for the tax exemption, cycles and cyclists' safety equipment are loaned to staff by the employer. Details can be found on the website http://www.cycletoworkguarantee.org.uk/
It's worth considering that an employer's responsibility extends to include those employees required to cycle as part of their job. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents reminds us how important it is that adult cyclists are trained and that an employer has a duty of care.
This is precisely the thinking behind The Police Cycle Training Doctrine, a draft 93-page, two volume booklet which includes a diagram on "deployment into a junction" and advises constables to wear padded shorts for "in-saddle comfort". However, growing opposition to the manual from the Taxpayers' Alliance mean that Police chiefs will not be going ahead with the training booklet since it is estimated that it would cost thousands of pounds to produce.
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Lying in a tribunal - not a good idea
We always say to all of our clients that paperwork is so important when dealing with employee issues, having the right piece of paper and ensuring you have a paper trail could mean you being able to defend what ever is thrown at you by an disgruntled employee..
However trying to 'invent' documents is not recommended as a Scottish employer found out recently. By trying to produce forged documents to get out of paying the worker some compensation they were due and by inventing a contract of employment and further letters in regards to their case, the employer ended up with a £29k award and for his ignorance a four month jail term...
However trying to 'invent' documents is not recommended as a Scottish employer found out recently. By trying to produce forged documents to get out of paying the worker some compensation they were due and by inventing a contract of employment and further letters in regards to their case, the employer ended up with a £29k award and for his ignorance a four month jail term...
Not recommended...
An employee should receive a written statement of their employment terms and conditions within 8 weeks from their start date...
Paper trail is vital in HR...
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Childcare Vouchers
From an equality point of view this seems to a bit of a bad idea...
From April 2011, employees who join a Company supported childcare voucher scheme will not get tax or NICs relief exemptions. Parents who are on existing voucher schemes (those who joined their employer scheme prior to April 2011) will continue to receive both tax and NICs relief and are not affected until April 2015 – when the voucher exemptions will be withdrawn completely. Instead of this, the Labour Party has announced plans to provide 10 hours of free childcare a week for 250,000 two-year olds for families who are on modest or middle incomes. Already, the proposed changes have caused public outrage, resulting in over 52,000 people having currently signed the official Downing Street petition.
The voucher scheme is both benefical for the employee and the employer so we genuinely believe this is going to meet quite a bit of opposition, expect the petition the grow..
From April 2011, employees who join a Company supported childcare voucher scheme will not get tax or NICs relief exemptions. Parents who are on existing voucher schemes (those who joined their employer scheme prior to April 2011) will continue to receive both tax and NICs relief and are not affected until April 2015 – when the voucher exemptions will be withdrawn completely. Instead of this, the Labour Party has announced plans to provide 10 hours of free childcare a week for 250,000 two-year olds for families who are on modest or middle incomes. Already, the proposed changes have caused public outrage, resulting in over 52,000 people having currently signed the official Downing Street petition.
The voucher scheme is both benefical for the employee and the employer so we genuinely believe this is going to meet quite a bit of opposition, expect the petition the grow..
Monday, 24 August 2009
Graduate Recruitment
It is a shame to see BT pulling its graduate training programme, I hope this is not a sign of things to come in larger organisations. Though it takes only 130 graduates on a year I think this sends out a message to the recent graduates and people about to go to university that they will struggle to find work on completion of their degree. The recession affects everyone but apparently the under 25's suffer more than any other demographic... http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/aug/24/bt-axes-graduate-recruitment
It must be a daunting prospect leaving uni at the moment, what you have to hope is that this doesn't damage the talent train further on in the future because of a lack of graduate placements and people's desires to go to university. In reality there could be a lost generation. http://www.economicsuk.com/blog/000964.html
It must be a daunting prospect leaving uni at the moment, what you have to hope is that this doesn't damage the talent train further on in the future because of a lack of graduate placements and people's desires to go to university. In reality there could be a lost generation. http://www.economicsuk.com/blog/000964.html
Monday, 3 August 2009
Hands up, I confess, it was over ten days since my last Twitter post, over a month since I have done anything on Linked In and well this is my 2nd blog so I have been the equivalent of a boring person, obviously!
It is totally fascinating that we now have so many tools at our disposal to connect to people, I actually ditched Facebook a while because it got silly, 'No, I do not want to battle you in an online poll for control of the galaxy, I am not even sure I know you!'. I wonder how many businesses are actually utilising all these tools though? Are they relevant? What time is actually devoted to putting meaningful information onto the super Internet highway these days?
With all of these forms of online networking and information sharing, it always worries me that a post or a message is misconstrued, it is fine face to face and to a certain degree on the phone because you can gauge a reaction or emphasis a point... I guess that is why LOL was developed (I believe it stands for Laugh Out Loud)... But it does worry me, the wrong wording could offend someone!
In our own field of HR, communication between employers and staff has never been more important, in a small business environment it is critical, the left hand must know what the right hand is doing. Now whether this is management speak or the reality is that even in a small team of 10, if you don't talk or communicate the right information things can wrong, feeds like Twitter and Linked In have the power to really take away that rapport or relationship built up by face to face or phone contact which aids any communication process... So call me old fashioned but I think I will still plug away at the Twitters etc.. But always ring The HR Dept if you fancy a chat, otherwise I will start ending emails with LOL to be on the safe side!
Promise to myself, I will blog and tweet more...
Stay positive!
It is totally fascinating that we now have so many tools at our disposal to connect to people, I actually ditched Facebook a while because it got silly, 'No, I do not want to battle you in an online poll for control of the galaxy, I am not even sure I know you!'. I wonder how many businesses are actually utilising all these tools though? Are they relevant? What time is actually devoted to putting meaningful information onto the super Internet highway these days?
With all of these forms of online networking and information sharing, it always worries me that a post or a message is misconstrued, it is fine face to face and to a certain degree on the phone because you can gauge a reaction or emphasis a point... I guess that is why LOL was developed (I believe it stands for Laugh Out Loud)... But it does worry me, the wrong wording could offend someone!
In our own field of HR, communication between employers and staff has never been more important, in a small business environment it is critical, the left hand must know what the right hand is doing. Now whether this is management speak or the reality is that even in a small team of 10, if you don't talk or communicate the right information things can wrong, feeds like Twitter and Linked In have the power to really take away that rapport or relationship built up by face to face or phone contact which aids any communication process... So call me old fashioned but I think I will still plug away at the Twitters etc.. But always ring The HR Dept if you fancy a chat, otherwise I will start ending emails with LOL to be on the safe side!
Promise to myself, I will blog and tweet more...
Stay positive!
Friday, 29 May 2009
1000 Degrees
Despite it being extremely hot in the HR Dept office at the moment due to the excellent weather we are experiencing, we often get asked 'is there a maximum temperature that a worker can be forced to work in?' Bit more health and safety but a common question in the summer time on our advice line for employers...
If you see someone melting then that is usually a good indication, but in reality there is no maximum temperature but you have to take into account the health and well being of your staff. Simple things like being allowed to take off a tie or providing fans can easily cool hot people and make the working environment more bearable... Extended or more frequent breaks can often help too…
We all do it as well, pray for the summer and when the hot weather comes we moan it is too hot! I think it is just because we are not outside playing in the sunshine and going a slight shade of lobster that gets under peoples skin
I thought the other day with more and more news about skin cancer linked with the strength of the sun I wondered if construction businesses will be providing their often shirtless workers with sun tan lotion and shaded umbrella's...!
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