HR Essentials

Course Overview

This course is aimed at staff within organisations who possess very little formal knowledge of personnel management but have a level of responsibility for it. The course is intended to raise awareness and understanding of the main areas of involvement.

The workshops are designed to be highly interactive using a combination of discussion, exercises and quizzes, examples of best practice and recent case law to help participants apply the techniques to their every-day work and problems.

It greatly enhances the relevance and understanding of the course if reference can be made to existing policies, procedures and problems experienced within the workplace.

Prerequisites

• • No previous knowledge is required.

Course Content

• Recruitment, Selection & Interviewing Skills

  The Recruitment Process
  Selection Techniques and Interviewing Skills
  Current Legislation, including Discrimination and Data Protection

• Contracts, References & Effective Induction

  Different types of contracts
  Essential contents
  How to vary a contract of employment
  References - good, bad or indifferent
  Successful induction techniques
  Staying legal - what you can and can't do!
  

• Policies, Procedures & Record Keeping

  Policies and procedures make good practice
  The essential policies
  Communication, application and amendment
  Links between Contracts and Employee Handbooks
  Keeping records
  Data Protection
  Sickness and absence records

• Identifying & Analysing Training Needs

  The Training Cycle
  How training needs arise / possible symptoms
  Training needs analysis
  Collecting data

• Managing Absence

  The difference between sickness and absence
  Monitoring and recording absence
  Obtaining medical evidence
  The differences between handling long and short term sickness absence
  Return to work interviews

• Managing Performance & Staff Appraisal Systems

  Elements of a Performance Management System
  Performance expectations and support
  Reviewing and appraising performance
  Staff morale and motivation
  SMART Objectives
  What if it all goes wrong? – How to handle poor performers legally

• Disciplinary & Grievance Handling and Dismissal

  The essential aspects of applying discipline at work
  The difference between performance improvement, discipline and grievances
  Applying the law with respect to handling discipline and dismissals
  Statutory requirements
  Gathering evidence
  Misconduct and gross misconduct
  Grounds for dismissal
  Discrimination
  Fair or unfair dismissal?

Included with this course

• • Lunch and refreshments when training is delivered at our training venues
  • Comprehensive course materials and exercises