Two case studies in this issue provide further evidence that HR has an important role to play in achieving business objectives. One involves the carefully structured people strategy at Buckinghamshire County Council, which is directly related to the authority's corporate goals. The other examines how a competence-based training programme at O2 has helped this telecoms company achieve its aim of moving from third to first place in its market.

The O2 initiative proved an award winner, as did BT's policies for its older workers, which we also profile in this issue. Meanwhile, we show how HR's input into improved absence management at the Northern Ireland Housing Executive led to a saving of 4,250 days a year through better attendance, and was a runner-up at a recent awards ceremony.

Also in this newsletter, we highlight:

• a rise in the value of pay increases;
• a ruling on length of service as a redundancy criterion; and
• Working Time Regulations 1998 rulings on holiday pay rights and rest breaks.

Our employment law section explains the provision of the Employment Act 2008, which has just received royal assent. This repeals the statutory disciplinary and grievance procedures, and the secretary of state has recently approved consequent revisions to the Acas code of practice.

Neil Rankin,
Section Editor,
Employment Review

Case study: Buckinghamshire's talent management strategy

Buckinghamshire County Council has developed a people strategy directly linked to its corporate goals, which aims to ensure it attracts and maintains the best talent. Progress in achieving its objectives is measured by a series of metrics displayed on a “people dashboard”.

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Improving human capital performance at Co-operative Financial Services

Features

Health and safety law update

The latest twice-yearly update on new and forthcoming heath and safety legislation and related developments.

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Pensions law update

Information about recent pensions Regulations and case law, together with the progress of forthcoming legislation.

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News

Employment Act 2008 receives royal assent

BERR approves revised Acas discipline and grievance code of practice

Consultation on tips and the minimum wage launched

ECJ rules on German age discrimination transposition

Casenotes

Working time: The Corps of Commissionaires Management Ltd v Hughes

The EAT holds that the entitlement under the Working Time Regulations 1998 to a 20-minute rest break where the working day exceeds six hours is an entitlement to a single rest break and not a rest break for every six hours worked.

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Employment status: Redrow Homes (Yorkshire) Ltd v Buckborough and another

The EAT holds that the real intention behind a contract between Redrow Homes and bricklayers was that the bricklayers would personally perform the work. The provision that there was no personal obligation was a sham. Accordingly, they were "workers" and entitled to holiday pay.

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Age discrimination: Rolls-Royce v Unite

The High Court holds that two collective agreements involving redundancy selection that awarded points for length of service were lawful under the age discrimination legislation.

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Model policies and documents

Redundancy selection scoring form

Use this model form as a guide to assessing employees' value to the organisation when considering making redundancies from a pool of employees. [Full XpertHR subscription required]

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Benefits provision during additional maternity leave

XpertHR provides a set of worked examples giving guidance on the rules on provision of benefits during additional maternity leave. These changed for employees with an expected week of childbirth on or after 5 October 2008.

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RELATED ARTICLES ON XPERTHR

Legal timetable

Forthcoming law

Statutory rates

Quick reference

This week on the XpertHR/IRS blog

The economic crisis is uppermost in the minds of our staff, as indicated by their recent posts:

• 'tis time to get redundancy consultation in order;
• Pre-Budget Report: the chancellor's speech;
• what will negative RPI inflation mean for pay awards?; and
• staff motivation matters during difficult times.

Taking part in our IRS surveys provides a fast, free and easy way to benchmark your HR policies and practices against competitors and other employers. In return, you'll receive a complimentary copy of the relevant survey's findings. We are currently researching:

• succession planning;
• filling vacancies through employee referral schemes - closes Thursday 4 December;
• the national minimum wage: its impact and employers' views - closes Friday 5 December; and
• pay awards.

The IRS surveys website gives details of our benchmarking projects, a link to CELRE salary surveys, and a registration facility. This ensures you'll be invited to take part in surveys in your areas of interest.

Today’s tip: XpertHR launches good practice service

XpertHR's new good practice guides provide clear, simply written guidance on good practice in HR and people management. They examine and explain the progressive people-management policies and practices used by high-performing organisations to engage their people, deliver business objectives and outperform the competition.

• Good practice guides homepage Browse our launch selection of guides, covering topics including attendance, absence, discipline, grievance, redundancy and work-life balance. Watch out for more guides over the coming weeks and months.
• XpertHR user guide: good practice Read more about our good practice service in the user guide.

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