The Employment Appeal Tribunal has held that an employment tribunal was wrong to rely on previously submitted tribunal claim forms as statements of grievance, when deciding whether or not it had jurisdiction to hear constructive dismissal claims.

DHL has successfully outsourced the way it delivers strategic messages to senior managers.

Thanks to digital technology, more and more job applicants are creating visual CVs, but they can pose legal risks to employers. 

Huw Cooke, associate, Burges Salmon, looks at whether short-time working is one way of cutting costs without making redundancies.

Roslyn James, solicitor, employment team, Maclay Murray and Spens, advises on the restrictions on employing foreign nationals.

The Employment Act 2008 received Royal Assent on 13 November 2008 and will come into force in stages.

Kent Police has developed a diversity strategy in response to legislative changes and business need. It has already exceeded its government-set target to employ 90 officers from black and minority ethnic backgrounds by 2010. 

IRS is conducting a survey that will allow you to compare your current employee referral scheme methods with those of other organisations.

In this week's topic of the week article, Sue Nickson of Hammonds LLP provides a checklist for retaining and motivating employees who remain after redundancies have been made. We have also compiled a selection from the material on XpertHR on redundancy and related topics. 

Somerset County Council's wide-ranging efforts to improve attendance and reduce stress at work have almost halved stress-related absences, saving it £0.5 million a year, and boosted employee motivation. 

Having won top place in the 2008 Times "Best Councils to Work For" awards, and second place in 2007, it is clear that Wychavon District Council has succeeded in winning staff loyalty.

The internet is now heavily used by employers to administer psychometric testing and, although only basic safeguards against fraud are usually in place, many employers still believe it compares favourably with other testing methods.

An employability training scheme to help marginalised groups in Leeds has seen 70% of participants find work in the NHS, helping to reduce recruitment difficulties and improve diversity, particularly of ethnic minorities. 

Progress towards closing the gender gap has stumbled over the past year, with the gap between men's and women's earnings widening to 12.8% over the year to April 2008, according to the latest official figures from the Office for National Statistics, published today.

The Chancellor will make his Pre-Budget Report speech to the House of Commons on 24 November 2008. Although there is much speculation that this year's report will include tax cuts, what is more certain is that the announcement will include new income tax rates and allowances, statutory sick pay and statutory maternity pay.

In this week's topic of the week article, Sue Nickson of Hammonds LLP looks at a number of alternatives to redundancy. In addition, we pull together some of the wealth of information on XpertHR on redundancy and related topics.

IRS is conducting a survey investigating what employers are doing about the challenge of managing stress, highlighting the stress-management measures that are proving particularly effective. Please take a few minutes to take part. 

In October 2008, the European Commission proposed changes to the maternity leave provisions of the 1992 EU Directive on pregnant workers. The minimum period of maternity leave would be increased from 14 weeks to 18 weeks and women on maternity leave would receive full pay, though member states could subject this to a ceiling, no lower than the rate of sick pay.

International specialists at IRS round up employment developments from across Europe, including: European Commission proposals to increase maternity leave rights across the EU; Europe-wide agreements on the employment of older and disabled workers at French retailer PPR; and the opening shots in the 2008 negotiations in German metalworking, probably Europe's most important bargaining round. 

The Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has approved the revised Acas code of practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures.

Agreeing flexible working arrangements, such as reduced hours, job sharing and term-time working with staff, can be a way of avoiding redundancies. Blair Adams and Caroline Stakim at Shepherd and Wedderburn examine the issues. 

Guy Guinan, employment partner, Halliwells, answers queries on the potential pitfalls of having a second income.

Jane Moorman, partner, and Melanie Smith, solicitor, both at Howard Kennedy, consider the options available to employers who want to switch staff to commission-only salaries.

XpertHR's policies and documents service has been enhanced by the addition of a model shift-swap policy and a shift-swap agreement form.