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Calibre HR Services and HR Consultancy

Calibre HR & Training provides HR services to small and medium-sized organisations without their own HR resource. Based in Boughton Aluph, near Ashford, Kent, we also deliver bespoke training programmes to large public and private sector organisations nationwide.

Calibre HR & Training Newslette

Spring 2008 Issue

Employee consultation regulations extended

If you employ 50 to 100 people, from April 6, 2008 you face new rules about how you consult with staff. But it doesn’t have to be daunting.

Download our FREE factsheet for simple and practical advice on the Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations (2004)

Better briefings – 10 top tips

Whether part of a formal consultation process or not, briefings are a vital exercise in any organisation. As well as giving information to staff, effective briefings should allow people to air concerns, make suggestions and ask questions.

  • Remember your audience – anticipate the impact of your message and deliver it accordingly.
  • Keep it simple – use plain, direct language and keep briefings short and to the point.
  • Reinforce your message – repeat messages in different ways, re-emphasise important points where necessary.
  • Check understanding – seek regular feedback checking people have the whole message, not just part of it.
  • Make it two-way – invite contributions and be prepared to clarify points.
  • Encourage contributions – invite questions and give honest answers (if you do not know, say so and follow up).
  • Listen – pay attention to contributions and modify your message if appropriate.
  • Explain what comes next – be clear what action is going to be taken next.
  • Keep to your word – do what you say you are going to – broken promises damage trust.
  • Keep in touch – update people on progress.

Inductions – keep new staff longer

Some 64 per cent of the SMEs we spoke to at the Kent Business Show are increasing staff numbers in 2008. But less than a quarter rate their prospects of finding the right person as very good. So when you find the right candidate, how do you help them settle in?

  • Smile – new staff and those returning from sick or maternity leave are entitled to a good reception so let colleagues know they are expected.
  • Explain the job – new joiners need time with their manager on the first day to understand what is expected of them and how they fit in, but the induction can be spread over days or weeks.
  • Make introductions – as well as introducing key colleagues, help joiners settle in socially with a buddy system (it also relieves pressure on managers).
  • Remember people are different – some new staff will need special attention, for instance school and college leavers, those returning from a career break or anyone with a disability.
  • Keep a record – at the post-probation review meeting ask employees to sign to confirm they have had all necessary training and read any relevant policies.

What’s worrying you?

Small business owners and managers we spoke to at the Kent Business Show in February were pretty split over what constitutes their biggest people problem this year. However, there was more consensus about their future prospects with nearly 70 per cent planning to increase staff numbers this year. As for the headaches:

Kent 2020 Vision – Thursday, April 3, 2008 (Kent Showground, Detling)

Meet the team from Calibre HR & Training. Register online at www.kent2020.co.uk.