City News August 2011

As promised in my last blog and following on our 'Winning Cards' theme, we're now looking at 'Harassed Helen'. Harassment is just one grievance that can affect any business - other common complaints include discrimination and bullying and I'll go into those in more detail next time. For now though, let's be clear about what exactly is classed as harassment.

Harassment is when a person is subject to any form of unwanted verbal, non-verbal or physical conduct. That conduct could be an underlying atmosphere of hostility, intimidation, humiliation or degradation or it could be much more visible, such as bullying, banter, direct abuse, name-calling or people making inappropriate jokes in the workplace. Whatever form the harassment takes, it's unwanted and unsolicited behaviour.

Being harassed is potentially a form of discrimination, for various reasons. If Harassed Helen for instance, works in a male-dominated environment, she could be vulnerable to sexual harassment. That could come in all forms, from calendars with topless women hanging on the walls to sexual innuendos. We've even had to deal with instances of inappropriate physical behaviour and women being put under pressure to go for drinks at lunchtime or after work - her boss might be making suggestions as to how she might get her next promotion or she might be put in a compromising position in the office. It sounds like these instances belong in an episode of 'Life of Mars' with DCI Gene Hunt in the starring role but forms of harassment do still occur and they could be occurring in your workplace without you even being aware.

That's why it's particularly important for you to a) make yourself aware of what's going on in your organisation, and b) have very clear policies and procedures in place to protect your staff - both male and female! [Read more]

Human Resources

• Retailers count the cost of City riots
  HR Managers are implementing disaster planning to assist employees in the retail businesses who have been hardest hit by the wave of riots and looting that has recently spread across our cities. [Read more]
• Are you ready for London 2012?
  With the Government predicting significant disruption to travel and communications, mobile networks and the internet during the period fo the Olympics it is essentiall that businesses use the fact that employees know the exact dates and times that they need to book holidays or request authorised absence in order to ensure that their business has the staff resources to continue to operate as normal. [Read more]
• 'In conversation with...'
  This month, we're talking to Kelly Halls, Park City's Sales & Marketing Coordinator [Read more]
• Next month, I'm 'in conversation with...' Doug Betts, one of Park City's HR Consultants. Watch this space...!

Health & Safety

• Judge, Jury and Chancellor of the Exchequer…?
  The Government is currently consulting on a scheme to implement cost recovery by the HSE and how it aims to implement the recovery. It is already the Government’s policy to extend cost recovery, so the consultation focuses on how it will work and not on whether it should be done. [Read more]
• Looking after your staff during troubled times
  We hope none of you have been adversely affected by the recent riots but are now mindful of the duty of care we, as employers, have to ensure the safety of our employees. With this is mind, we would like to share the following checklist with you. [Read more]

Training & Development

MOTIVATING WITHOUT MONEY - 2½-hour Practical Seminar - Friday 9 September 2011, 9.30am - 12.00pm.

FIRST TIME MANAGER - 3-hour Management Skills Training - Friday 16 September 2011, 9.30am - 1.00pm.

For bookings or further information on our HR Training Programme, please contact Kelly Halls on 01206 752100 or by email to [email protected]

Health & Safety Training

BASIC AWARENESS TRAINING IN MANUFACTURING - ½-day Training Course - Tuesday 23 August 2011, 9.30am - 12.00pm. Park City H&S Training Vouchers are redeemable against this course.

DSE ASSESSOR - ½-day Training Course - Tuesday 23 August 2011, 1.30 - 4.00pm. Park City H&S Training Vouchers are redeemable against this course.

For bookings or further information on our H&S Training Programme, please contact Laura Chambers on 01206 752100 or by email to [email protected]

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