Fitzgerald Logo
GET A FREE CONSULTATION Call Us: 03302 235 253
GET A FREE CONSULTATION Call Us: 03302 235 253

5 pitfalls to avoid when hiring a new member of staff

Hiring a new member of staff

Hiring a new member of staff can be a lengthy and expensive process.  There’s the cost of placing the advert itself, the time it takes to sift through the CVs, interview candidates, draft contractual documentation and obtain references. Since you’ve invested this effort the last thing you want is to fall foul of any potential … Read more

Five tips to optimise your job adverts for Google for Jobs

Two candidates using google for jobs to search and apply for roles via google

What is Google for Jobs? Google for Jobs is a powerful tool that enables job seekers to find and apply for roles in a few clicks… all from the Google search bar. It works in a similar way to collated job boards such as Indeed, which pulls data and vacancies from across a multitude of … Read more

Monitoring Job Seekers’ Social Media Pages

A recruiter researching and monitoring job seekers’ social media

It seems that Facebook, Twitter and other social networking profiles are fair game in the 21st century recruitment process. According to a survey by recruiter Robert Walters, 64% of employers who responded said they had used professional social media to influence appointment decisions. Unsurprisingly, most job seekers thought it was unacceptable for companies to view … Read more

Four methods to enhance your recruitment this hiring season

Recruiter reviewing applicants who have applied within their organisation but also considering methods on how to enhance recruitment

KPMG and REC (Recruitment & Employment Confederation) regularly produce a UK Report on Jobs.  In the December 2019 press release, the findings suggested that there is a decline in permanent staff placements. The reason for this was because there is a reduced number of vacancies and less demand for staff. There are also fewer vacancies in … Read more

Gamification as a management tool

gamification

The development of technology such as the internet, smartphones and online gaming has significantly changed our lives. Now it seems that the generation who grew up with powerful consoles and sophisticated, multi-player, role-playing games is having an impact upon how businesses manage and develop their employees through gamification.

If you think that’s a bit far-fetched, consider the concept of game playing. It’s been around a lot longer than Angry Birds and World of Warcraft, and many managers and business people believe that game playing and office politics happen around them all of the time!

And game playing has many uses in the management, development and engagement of employees. For example, games can be so engaging that they bring out a range of qualities in those who play them, including desires to achieve, compete and work with others (as many games these days can be played online in teams).

These are qualities that companies value in their employees so it makes sense to encourage their continuance in the workplace through appropriate triggers and settings. Here are some suggestions on tactics that businesses can employ to produce results.

Read more

Technology and talent management solutions

An article in Human Resource Executive Online has highlighted the need for global businesses to embrace technology to win the war on attracting and retaining the best talent. While unemployment has risen around the world, many industries still find it difficult to secure skilled people due to a mismatch between what companies want and what … Read more

How to avoid discrimination in recruitment

How to avoid discrimination in recruitment

Some employers have a more casual attitude to recruitment procedures than they do to other people management practices such as discipline and grievance, or performance management. However, a recent case serves as a reminder that businesses must ensure that all of their recruitment activities comply with employment law to avoid being unable to defend the company against claims of discrimination in recruitment.

Case law

In Mohammed v Bloomsbury Bowling, the employer’s Head Chef asked Mr Mohammed to attend for interview after viewing his CV online. The CV in question did not include his date of birth or age. Mr Mohammed claimed that he was asked at the interview how old he was. When he replied that he was 40, the Head Chef said that he was under instruction by the General Manager to reject his application because he was too old.

Naturally, the company presented a different version of events. The Head Chef confirmed that he had interviewed Mr Mohammed but had doubts about his ability to work in a busy kitchen. He told Mr Mohammed at the end of the interview that he would not be offering him the job. The Head Chef admitted to making a joke about Mr Mohammed’s greying hair and the stress of working in kitchens but said that this was only to put him at ease. The company denied age discrimination.

In coming to a conclusion, the employment tribunal was not provided with documentary evidence in relation to the company’s recruitment procedures. It could not make a decision based on fact about whether the General Manager had or had not instructed the Head Chef not to appoint on the basis of age.

However, it did take note of the failure to provide a recruitment procedure, the comment about grey hair, the fact that the successful candidate was ten years younger and the contradictory evidence provided by the company. This moved the burden to the company to prove that discrimination in recruitment had not taken place.

Read more

Looking for an Outsourced Human Resources Services Company?

Let's have a friendly chat to see how we can help

Fitzgerald Logo

Fitzgerald is a full-service HR Consultancy. We help our clients create brilliant places to work so they can attract recruit, manage, develop, and retain, great people.

Fitzgerald-HR-People-Culture-Logo