Paying for Redundancy
Hopefully, as the green shoots of recovery gradually appear during 2010, British employers will need to make fewer redundancies and avoid the trauma and resource constraints that can result.
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How was it for you?
How heart-warming and refreshing it would be to review the L&D year without a single mention of the ‘E’ word. The economic ‘insert-theeuphemism-of-your-choice’ has dominated, nay monopolised, every facet of the news agenda over the past 12 months.
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No Surprises
Appraisals can end up as battlegrounds where employer and employee have very different expectations of the outcome. Tim Holden’s guide to effective, robust appraisals should help you avoid some of the more common pitfalls.
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TO INCLUDE OR TO EXCLUDE, THAT IS THE QUESTION...
Tim Holden, Managing Director of the British human resources and training consultancy Fluid looks at the importance of inclusivity and its impact on innovation, productivity and profit.
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Cream of the crop?
In these turbulent economic times, high-performing sales people can be the difference in survival of an organisation or its untimely demise.Where skills shortages exist this is a particular concern, and the problems faced by employers in this regard are mirrored...
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Catch 'em and keep 'em
In the current climate, you might be forgiven for thinking that staff retention is the least of a company's concerns.

After all, the perception is that people are clinging on to their jobs for all they're worth and not moving...
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The balancing act
In July 2009 I met with the head of human resources for a potential new client, listed as one of the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For. Recently he had visited a location where an awards ceremony was taking place, and the recipient was praised...
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Seminar at Burnholme Community College explains how blogging can smooth career path
THE increasing relevance of blogs and social networking sites in the job-seeking market has been highlighted at a number of seminars at a York school.
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ICFDS Help Young People On The Road To Employment
Members of an international soccer school based in Leeds have been finding out how to stay on the ball when being interviewed for a job, thanks to a local HR consultant.
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Staying upbeat!
It’s important to remain an employer of choice despite the downturn, according to Tim Holden. While it sounds strange, it does make sense: no one is likely to be checking out the jobs pages of companies that continue to slash staff numbers. Discover more…
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Hard Times 2009: Part 1, The Workplace
Only bereavement and divorce can match the misery of sudden unemployment. Paul Vallely learns how the recession is reshaping real lives
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Could the recession be tarnishing your employer brand?
How can organisations ensure they maintain their employer brand in a recession? Tim Holden explains how to keep brand values visible throughout any change process, and how HR can ensure the brand is protected during a redundancy process.
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Stretching Out
The term flexibility can be used in a variety of different contexts with respect to work. These include the concept of flexible labour market adapting to peaks and troughs...
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Training sessions make for smoother running for lubrications firm
GROUP training sessions have been used to help get working practices up to speed at a growing lubrication firm.
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Advice for the rookie trainer
With training budgets being slashed, organisations are now looking at DIY tuition with individuals being thrown in at the deep-end as they become the designated in-house trainer. Tim Holden offers advice on how to avoid those pitfalls that can be all-too-common in the early days.
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Flex your muscles in April
On 6 April 2009, the right to request flexible working is being extended to parents of children aged 16 or under. In the current economic climate some employers see this as the last thing they need, whilst others embrace this change as an opportunity to improve their organisation, says Tim Holden.
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I won't be in the office today – I'm working from home
The current economic downturn has added a new twist to home working.
Some organisations are not in a position to provide a pay rise, and in recent weeks headlines about pay freezes and reduced hours have become commonplace.
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No pay rises please, we're British
Examining the effect of reward on performance, the benefits and downsides of rewarding employees, and how - especially in this current climate - reward can be used to motivate staff.
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Retaining skills in an economic downturn – encourage people to volunteer!
Skills shortages still exist in a number of sectors despite the economic climate. It isn’t hard to get a job in some areas where skills are short or the individual is highly talented. This means that employers must look at new and innovative ways of retaining valued employees. Volunteering is one means.
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Top tips on tackling absence
Every year, darker mornings and colder weather lead to an increase in both the frequency of lateness and unauthorised absence. Some may expect these figures to reduce in today's economic climate, with many people concerned about keeping their jobs, yet this doesn't appear to be the case...
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Diversity: It's not just about avoiding discrimination
Tim Holden outlines a few ideas to ensure you benefit from a diverse workforce, thereby strengthening your brand and helping you to become an employer of choice...
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Stress at work: Ignore at your peril
Work-related stress regularly tops the charts when the root causes of sickness absence are identified, and in the current economic slowdown, many employees are expected to work harder and longer for less. Tim Holden reveals the true cost of stress on your employees...
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Home working: Making it work for everyone
An increase in the use of broadband, laptops and PDAs mean that working from home has never been easier. Tim Holden explains about the policies and procedures that need to be in place to ensure that the arrangement works well for both employer and employee...
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