Margery, Heather and Sarah have now completed their races with Heather coming in the fastest time of 33 minutes. All three really enjoyed the experience and are proud of the £1.5K that they have collectively raised for Cancer Research. The business also sponsored a client in the Moon Walk, who successfully completed the through the night adventure in 6.5 hours. It is great to take part in these events and to give to such deserving causes.
Margery
Gravitate HR have been nominated as Scotland Finalists in the HSBC business start up stars awards. This has been a great boost to the team and a great PR story with existing and new clients. We are now working through our submission for the next round which is in July. In itself this is interesting as it has made me revisit the business plan, benchmark what we have achieved versus our goals and reflect on successes and less than successful activities in the last six months. This is a very salutary and informative process and has focused my mind on the need for targeted business development activity and sharpening our marketing activity around this.
So our fingers are crossed and if any one has some tips or helpful comments on award submissions that would be greatly appreciated.
Margery
Margery joins European HR Managers from Chevron for their annual One HR Conference in Edinburgh.
Margery was invited to present an interactive session as part of the skills development programme for the HR teams from across Europe during their annual conference. The session focused on the mechanisms and business requirements to demonstrate value of HR initiatives to the business. This was a wide topic delivered to a wide audience therefore focused on approaches to think about this and ways to adopt adding value to personal contribution to HR. The contrast of working with SME where there is a very short line of sight between HR input and outcomes and the value to the business provided a platform for individuals within a large and complex corporate setting to consider how personal and team based activities could be measured and communicated to influence business managers.
A very varied session with much discussion and interesting examples.
In light of the recent fuel price increases, HM Revenue & Customs have announced of increase fuel rates for Company Cars. It is the intention that these will be reviewed each year in January and July.
| Engine size | Petrol | Diesel | LPG |
| 1400cc or less | 12p | 13p | 7p |
| 1401cc to 2000cc | 15p | 13p | 9p |
| Over 2000cc | 21p | 17p | 13p |
The rates will apply when employers:
The rates will not apply where employees driving company cars are not entitled to use them to calculate a deduction if employers reimburse them at lower rates.
Please see
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cars/advisory_fuel_current.html for more information
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Corr V IBC Vehicles - Employer Negligence
A recent House of Lords Case has held that employer’s negligence, which subsequently led to the suicide of a member of staff, was reasonably foreseeable. The Widow of a man seriously injured in an industrial accident, which led to post traumatic stress disorder and ultimately his suicide, successfully brought a claim against the employer under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976. It was held that the outcome of suicide was foreseeable, and the admittance of negligence on the employer’s part clearly established that there was no other cause for his depression that drove him to suicide.
Levenes Solicitors V Dalley - Unfair dismissal
It was argued in this case that disciplinary action and ultimately dismissal against one employee for a reason that had not been actioned with another employee was FAIR.
This is a good outcome, as it looks at the merit and capabilities of individual employees.
James V London Borough of Greenwich - Agency Workers
This case is looking at the rights of agency workers, and is questioning whether there is an implied contract between the Company and the agency worker.
This issue has been through the tribunals before, and there has not been any clear decision on this. Depending on which way this goes, it could spell increased rights for agency workers.