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Winter e-newsletter 2012

Branch update
CIPD Gloucestershire branch e-newsletter
Winter 2012
 
 

Welcome to your Gloucestershire branch Winter E-Newsletter


This issue’s theme is Change, from the changes we in the Committee are making to enhance your experience as a Gloucestershire member, to the major changes proposed by Vince Cable which will have an impact on nearly everything we, as HR and development professionals, do.

Much has already changed since the Committee got together last June to agree an action plan for 2011/2012. Graham Rosam, our Chair, has written about the plans we set ourselves and are putting into practice.

Ian Pettifer has waded on our behalf through reams of source documentation to write a summary of Vince Cable’s proposed changes to employment law. His comment, on sending it to me, was that ‘this was difficult to summarise and difficult to keep interesting’ (one of Vince Cable’s speeches literally did send him to sleep) and I applaud his dedication. Oh, and it IS interesting!

We have made a change to the way we provide documentation from events, including presentations and handouts. Hopefully this will make the material more accessible to all members and not just those of you who were able to be there.

Some things don’t change, like our regular feature introducing our committee and a round-up of past and upcoming events. But we do have a new way of letting you know about our events, and other things we think might interest you – by tweet. So why not follow us on Twitter to keep up to date with all changes as they happen?

We have some fun answers to the question “How many HR people does it take to change a light bulb?”

And lastly, if you would like to make changes yourself, why not use the link at the bottom right to have your say in the next newsletter?

Unless I change my mind...

Jenny

 
I love it when a Plan comes together
 

The Committee’s programme for the current year combines some new activities with continuing those which have served us well in the past. The key underlying theme for both areas is the constant aim of improving engagement with you, our members, which reflects CIPD head office’s major priority for all branches. Indeed, branches are required to submit these proposals to Wimbledon in a business plan as one of the conditions for receiving the annual funding allocation which forms 60% of our planned income. Click here to read more about the Branch Activity Plan.

Our initiative to strengthen relationships with other branches and institutes aims to provide you, our members, with a broadened range of options for engagement with professional development. To this end, I’m pleased to announce two exciting new initiatives.

Firstly, the Gloucestershire's Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) was launched at the end of June. I will keep you informed as this new organisation develops. In the mean time, click on this link to read more about the LEP’s four key priorities.

Secondly, please keep Tuesday 27 MARCH in your diary for the 2012 Growing Gloucestershire Conference - ‘local business, global reach’ - a one day conference for all business people in Gloucestershire. We are very proud that the Key Note speaker at this event will be John Philpott, Chief Economist at CIPD.

Graham Rosam and Jill Lang

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Legal issues - Hire and Fire
 

Hire and Fire? The “Most Radical Reform to Employment Law” is Unveiled

On 24th November, the Government announced “the most radical reform to the employment law system in decades.” In his speech Vince Cable denied that the plans favour flexibility over fairness and said the reforms are not about introducing a hire and fire culture.

There are implications for the management of performance, grievances, workplace mediation, whistle-blowing, staff transfers and mergers, redundancies, sick pay, sickness absence, parental leave, flexible working, agency workers, pay, recruitment, and changes in the Employment Tribunal system.

Some changes are definite, and will be happening in April 2012.

  • The unfair dismissal qualifying period will be increased from one to two years.
  • Employment Tribunal procedures will change.

Further changes are either planned or under consideration including:

  • Fees for Employment Tribunal claims
  • A penalty of up to £5,000 for Employers who lose at tribunal
  • Workplace mediation to resolve disputes
  • “Compensated no-fault dismissals” for “micro firms” (with 10 or fewer employees)
  • “Radically slimming down existing dismissal processes”
  • Changes to sickness absence procedures

This is possibly the most bewildering time yet, to be trying to keep up to date with the law regulating the workplace.

Ian Pettifer, Tayntons LLP
ian.pettifer@tayntons.co.uk


If you would like to learn about these proposals in greater depth, click here to read Ian’s more detailed account.

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Events round-up

Re-connecting you with your career

We introduced the popular Career Connect events series in October. The aim of this series is to help with career development – both for those in the profession already and also those who are entering or re-entering the market. Click here to read about the Career Connect series so far and to find out more about the final date in January. We hope to re-run event 2 in our 2012 season so please keep an eye out.

Coaching Network

On the 15th November 2011 the Gloucestershire Coaching Network (GCN) hosted the annual Key Note Speaker event at Adey Professional Heating Solutions offices in Gloucester Road Cheltenham. The 20 plus members who attended enjoyed an entertaining and informative exploration of the topic “The coach’s experience – relevant input or dangerous distraction?” with Dr Mark McKergow from The Centre for Solutions Focus at Work.  Mark’s depth of knowledge and expertise in his subject along with his ability to engage with and entertain his audience created a wonderful and memorable experience for everyone who attended.

GCN membership is open to all coaches with any level of experience. For more information about joining the group and future events contact ian@ianbanyard.com or visit the about us page on the Branch website. The next GCN event will be on 10 January 2012 on the subject of Exploring the why, what, how & so what of coaching supervision.

Missed an event?

We are often asked for copies of presentations or handouts from events. In the past, we have sent these by email to attendees but we are aware that there are other members who would have liked to have attended but could not come on the day. We have therefore agreed that, with the Speaker’s permission, pdf copies will be made available on the website, updated on a monthly basis.

The paperwork will be stored with the original event details.  You can check the Past Events list (in the left hand menu of our events page, just under the Upcoming Events menu item) and events with documentation available will be highlighted. Past events are held on the website for 12 months.

More events

Along with the events already mentioned above, you can sign up now for two more events to be held in the new year:

• Equal pay audit – what risk is your organisation unaware of? - 23 February 2012
• Employment Law Update - 08 March 2012

 
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Meet our members

Fiona Chatham

A Chartered Member of the CIPD I have worked in HR for the last 15 years, making a career change after 10 years in Financial Management. I am an HR & people development consultant and am passionate about developing both individuals and organisations. I deliver the Certificate in HR Practice via distance learning and am keen to support individuals in their long term HR career aspirations.

I have joined the committee in order to support the local branch, having enjoyed the benefits of the excellent events over many years. I am currently supporting the Events team and am keen to support branch members in their CIPD membership journey.

Jenny Nixon

I joined the CIPD in about 1990 when it was the IPM and became involved with the Committee when I moved to the Gloucestershire area five years ago, partly to help give something back to the Institute which has helped so much with my career, and partly to meet HR people and build a local network.

With a degree in occupational psychology, I am an FCIPD qualified freelance Organisation Development Consultant and my passion is in helping to ensure employees have the best possible relationships with their employer.

In my spare time, I act in plays, create art work with stained and fused glass and run a household with three children, a dog, a cat, three ex-battery chickens and two very stupid ducks. Oh, and I also edit this newsletter!

Talk back

In our last newsletter I set you the challenge to complete the joke ‘How many HR people does it take to change a light bulb?...’

Viv Salmon’s answer impressed me with its comprehensiveness and attention to detail (and left me wondering whether it’s drawn from bitter experience?)

1. The person who blew the bulb in the first place
2. The person who reported it to HR
3. The HR person who took the report
4. The HR Manager who reported it to H&S
5. The H&S Manager who reported it to maintenance
6. The Maintenance Manager who told someone to do it
7. The person who held the ladder
8. The person who changed the bulb

Rob Lang suggested:
None because they’re good at working in the dark

And Jill Lang offered:
None – they’ll get someone whose job description is changing light bulbs

Three great replies which all deserved a mention. Thanks to all of you.


It would be great if this section of the newsletter could continue to be interactive. If you have any things you want to get in touch about, maybe to give feedback on the newsletter or to make suggestions to the committee, you can have your say here. Just email me or contact me through the Branch's contact us page.

And don’t forget you can also contact me through the above routes if you wish to use this section to advertise HR-related services.

 
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