The Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices, which was published this summer, was widely reported in the press for comments about the changing nature of the employer/employee relationship with the rise of the so-called ‘gig economy’. An aspect of the report that wasn’t so widely mentioned was the conclusion that “The shape and content of work,…
The dreaded appraisal
There has been some discussion in HR circles recently about dumping appraisal processes. I acknowledge that there are often problems with the way that appraisals are conducted which make them a less than positive experience for all concerned – but let’s not throw out the baby with the bath water! There are things that can…
Harness the energy of the Olympics
Who will ever forget the buzz, the excitement, the energy and the sheer joy created by the 2012 London Olympics! So with the 2016 Rio Olympics fast approaching, what can employers do to manage the engagement of their staff during this period? Here are a few questions you might like to consider over the next…
T is for trends in people management for 2016 – HR A-Z
It’s always good to think ahead and anticipate some of the things that we will need to focus on during the coming year. Fortunately People Management magazine, the leading publication for HR professionals, has helped us by doing some analysis for us. Here is the list that they have produced of key HR trends to…
The Mamas And The Papas
The past couple of years have seen a whole raft of employment law changes which have already, and continue to impact heavily on small businesses – pensions auto-enrolment, real time reporting and the right to request flexible working to mention just a few. But these almost pale into insignificance when compared with the complexities to…
Employed or self employed
I had a very worrying conversation recently about childcare settings that are contracting with their staff on a self employed basis and assume this is just a matter of choice. I have also come across this recently where childminders are expanding and taking on an assistant. The people I was speaking with were not aware that…
Plan to avoid TUPE restrictions
I’ve been supporting a client who is facing a TUPE situation as a result of changing the legal structure of her childcare business from a sole trader to a limited company. She was hoping to introduce a couple of clauses into staff contracts to allow for greater flexibility in the future and was disappointed when…
Delivering Challenging Feedback
Sometimes delivering feedback can be difficult. In this article, written for Appraisal360, I describe a case study involving a middle manager who was faced with some very challenging feedback in his Appraisal360 report. I share some tips on how best to support your staff when you need to deliver challenging feedback. You can read the…