We reported this week a statistic from 2012 that suggested asbestos was considered likely to be present in 85% of schools in Wales: representing over 1,500 schools in total.   The reason that particular statistic resurfaced this week is because of a call by campaigners in Wales to take more radical action on asbestos in schools, as asbestos-related deaths continue to rise both in the education sector and across the wider population. Such claims echo those of the NUT, whose 2014 report identified around 75% of Britain’s 29,000 schools as ... Continue reading

The GP fit note was introduced in April 2010 to a very mixed reaction. The concept was fairly straight forward: to allow better communication and choice for patients, GPs and employers. Previously GPs had one option where people were ailing for any reason, which was to provide a medical certificate keeping the patient from work for a specific period. The fit note introduced further options, and a chance for GPs and employers to communicate with each other, even if still with some restrictions. The fit note now enables GPs to recommend adaptio... Continue reading

When searching for a new job, some candidates may be less than scrupulous at recording their achievements. From fibbing about past positions, to exaggerating qualifications, there are many ways in which a CV can be embellished or fabricated for personal gain. If you are managing the hiring process, this may present a challenge for you - when faced with a mountain of CVs how can you tell what is fact from fiction? The top 10 CV frauds are: Stretching their working dates: People often stretch their working dates to increase their span of exper... Continue reading

Many of us will have seen the report this week about two researchers who managed to hack into the systems of new cars made by Fiat Chrysler and, through the cars’ entertainment systems, take control of various systems including the GPS and brakes.With the advent of the 'internet of things' - where all aspects of the home and workplace are interconnected - a single breach or point of failure can prove very costly.For building managers, it poses the question - who is responsible for the cyber security of those ‘things’? . The question is... Continue reading

Today’s markets are competitive. To keep up with and overtake the competition, you have to have not only a great product, but a capable and energised team eager to go to bat for you. The need to attract and retain the very best people for the job has companies large and small taking another look at how they relate to employees and their wellbeing. Employee engagement, job satisfaction, and manager-employee communication are at the forefront of HR innovation, and for good reason. A lot of the practices that traditional companies have relied on... Continue reading