Recently, two black men arrived early to a business meeting at a Starbucks Coffee Shop in Philadelphia. One man asked to use the bathroom without making a purchase, then calmly joined his friend at a table, whereupon the police arrived, arrested them and escorted them out. The businessmen had been waiting for an associate to arrive and had asked to use …
All EU Need is Love: Musical Musings on Brexit
“We all live in a yellow submarine Yellow submarine, yellow submarine” – Ringo Starr (Brexit enthusiast), Yellow Submarine There’s a popular saying in the world of music criticism that “writing about music is like dancing about architecture”, meaning it is futile and a pointless exercise. How can you adequately critique the sounds on Let It Be, or Thriller, or The …
It is Easier to Change your Office Design Than your Workforce!
Who do you spend the most time with? Your first thought is probably a loved one: your immediate family; a better half. But if you work in a traditional office setup, your colleagues could be the people you spend most of your waking hours with. If you work over 40 hours per week, you may be sitting on your …
Would your employee benefits package survive the Dragons?
The eighth series of Dragon’s Den is finishing soon on RTE, making the Irish edition the second longest-running version of the popular format, after the UK. Applications are open for the next series! Would you and your company be able to survive the scrutiny of the Dragons? On a recent episode of the British version, one charismatic CEO showed how …
Would a Puppy at Work Really Make Your Employees Happier?
This time of the year marks a time of renewal and change. Outside, flowers are coming into bloom, while inside a winter’s worth of dust is efficiently exterminated. Increased footfall turns GAA pitches from green to muddy brown, while preliminary heats start in the search for a new Rose of Tralee. It is also a time for reflection; a time …
Is HR Outsourcing or Interim HR Management Right for Your Business?
There are a number of reasons why an organisation might consider outsourcing its HR function – or at least certain aspects of it. The organisation might have no in-house HR expertise. Or it might be growing and have HR demands placed on it – demands that exceed the capability of its in-house HR function. Or it might believe that its …
Walking a Tightrope: Fair Selection for Redundancy
Redundancy occurs when employees are dismissed from their jobs for one or more reasons which are not directly related to the performance or behaviour of the individual. If an employee is dismissed due to redundancy the dismissal will not be deemed to be unfair provided that (1) there are substantial grounds justifying the dismissal (2) the selection process is fair, …
Target Express Missed the Point
The situation at Target Express is most unfortunate, especially for the 360 workers who find themselves suddenly thrown into a state of high stress and frustration – panic even. Although it is not clear exactly what led to the Revenue’s decision to freeze the bank accounts of Target Express, effectively shutting them down, we feel that its effects could well …