Role and Skills of a Valuable HR Assistant

Course overview

What is this seminar about

An effective HR assistant plays a key role in the efficient running of an HR department. The daily pressures are demanding, employment law procedures are constantly evolving and you have to handle sensitive employee issues on a very regular basis. It is vital to ensure you are up-to-date on key employment law issues and best practice skills and can handle employee issues and problems effectively as they arise, and ensure you avoid costly errors.

What are the key objectives of this interactive programme

This well established and highly popular programme has been designed to provide the HR assistant with the legal and administrative knowledge they need for the wide range of tasks they undertake every day. The aim, is for those who attend, to increase their knowledge and skills to a point which will enable them to take on more responsibility in their work for the HR function.

Develop your knowledge and skills in employment law and HR best practice:

• MASTER the steps in successful recruitment and making job offers
• UNDERSTAND what must be included in a contract of employment by law and how employers can add to this to protect their particular interests or needs
• LEARN how to vary contract terms
• APPRECIATE employee entitlement and employers' responsibilities in different types of leave including pregnancy, maternity, paternity and parental leave
• EXAMINE the details of discrimination law to ensure that you are providing equality of opportunity and to avoid costly mistakes
• GET-TO-GRIPS with discipline and grievance procedures to feel more confident when involved in employee disputes
• ENSURE you know what 'fair' dismissals are and how employers are expected to be 'reasonable' in the manner of dismissal

Practical case study based learning

A unique case study has been developed specifically for this programme. Throughout the course participants will work in groups on exercises based around a pseudo organisation. They will examine and resolve specific HR issues that are present within the company and reflect real-life scenarios. This will give the group the opportunity to apply the knowledge they have learnt in a practical context during the programme and receive structured feedback and guidance from the expert trainer.

Who should attend?

• New and existing HR staff looking for more training
• Experienced HR staff looking for an update in employment law procedures
• Staff assigned to HR duties and responsibilities

Programme

During each session the trainer will define, examine and discuss the specific role and responsibilities of a HR Assistant connected with that topic.

1 INTRODUCTION: THE IMPORTANCE OF HR

• The contribution of HR to the business
• HR roles and responsibilities
• The essential role of the HR Administrator
• Arriving at employment policies and procedures
• Responsibility for making HR policies effective
• Internal relationships

2 THE IMPORTANCE OF EMPLOYMENT LAW

• The range of current legislation
• Statutory v occupational rights
• Frequency of changes

3 THE RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PROCESS

CASE STUDY – EXERCISE 1
Participants will work in groups to develop a recruitment process for a senior post

Seven stages of an effective recruitment process

• The business case
• Identifying the job
• Defining the person
• Attracting candidates
• Assessing candidates
• Making the selection decision
• Follow up

HR Procedures

• Issuing a conditional job offer
• Checking the right to work in the UK
• Checking essential qualifications
• Checking criminal convictions
• References
• Medical examinations/questionnaires
• Unconditional job offers

4 TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

CASE STUDY – EXERCISE 2
Participants will work in groups to suggest terms and conditions of employment for the post

• Types of contract
• Agency staff
• The right of an employee to written terms and conditions
  • What must be included by law
  • Other possible terms and conditions
• Statutory rights
• Issuing the contract
• Varying the terms of contract
• Remedies for breach of contract
• Clarifying the terms where there is no written statement
• Best practice
• The role of the HR Assistant

5 'FAMILY FRIENDLY' RIGHTS

CASE STUDY – EXERCISE 3
Participants will work in groups to 'advise' the new post on key rights issues they are facing in the team

• Maternity leave and pay
• Paternity leave and pay
• Leave and pay for adoptive parents
• Parental leave
• Flexible working rights
• The role of the HR Assistant

6 DISCRIMINATION LAW

CASE STUDY – EXERCISE 1
Participants will work in groups to 'advise' the new post on potential discrimination issues they are facing in the team

• Discrimination legislation
• Definitions of discrimination
• Sex and marital status
• Race
• Disability
• Sexual orientation
• Religion or belief
• Age
• Trade union membership
• Remedies for unlawful discrimination
• Institutions
• The role of the HR Assistant

7 DISCIPLINE AND DISMISSAL

CASE STUDY – EXERCISE 5
Participants will work in groups to advise the new post on a disciplinary issue they are facing

• The ACAS Code of Practice
• The organisation's own disciplinary procedure
• The right to be accompanied
• The right of appeal
• Effective records
• Carrying out disciplinary interviews
• 'Fair' reasons for dismissal
  • Capability or qualifications
  • Conduct
  • Redundancy
  • Some other statutory enactment
  • Some other substantial reason
  • Retirement
• Constructive dismissal
• Wrongful dismissal
• Making a claim for unfair dismissal
• The role of the HR Assistant