The HR Dept Weekly Roundup - 4th Edition

Police Chief Fired for Lying About Military Service

Nick Adderley, the chief constable of Northamptonshire Police, was given his marching orders for gross misconduct after an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found he exaggerated his naval rank, length of service, and achievements to create a tall tale about his military background. The IOPC determined that Adderley breached standards of "honesty and integrity" and engaged in discreditable behaviour. He audaciously claimed on his CV and application form that he had served in the Navy for 10 years, when in reality, he had only served for two, in his bid to become chief constable in 2018. Read more here .

What are your employees’ financial wellbeing like?

The latest episode of the Preventing People Problems Podcast , hosted by our very own Tracey Hudson , invited John and Justine Piercy from FinWell to discuss the crucial topic of financial wellbeing for employees. With many important topics covered in this podcast, such as signs of financial distress, the role of employers and support available to them, you don’t want to miss this. Watch the video here .

AI Outsmarts Real Students in University Exams, Study Finds

A University of Reading study revealed that AI-generated fake students often outperformed real students in exams and went mostly undetected. Researchers used ChatGPT to "write" the answers for 33 fictitious students in undergraduate psychology exams. The AI students' results were half a grade higher on average, showing that bots hit the books better than their human counterparts. Remarkably, 94% of their essays flew under the radar of markers. The study, published in PLOS One, suggests AI is acing the art of cheating, leaving educators needing to grade up their game to keep academic integrity intact. Read more here .

Should you ban political discussions at work?

Conflict between employees can be a huge time drain, like throwing sand in the gears of workplace relationships. The upcoming UK election is adding to the friction, as political views become hot topics around the water cooler. Byrne Dean has noticed that workforces are mirroring society's polarisation, with less tolerance and more conflict over differing viewpoints.

To curb this, companies like Google, Meta, and Coinbase have banned political discussions, aiming to boost productivity. While understandable, given the time wasted on political debates, enforcing a no-politics rule is easier said than done. Read more here .

P.S. We can help if you want guidance on this. Get in touch !

Could a “Back in your day” comment constitute age discrimination?

In Couperthwaite v Hilton Nursing Partners Ltd, an employee in her early 60s claimed that her younger colleague, Kelsey Ford, made an ageist remark: “Well, back in your day it probably was free, but I would not get it free now…” The claimant alleged this comment amounted to harassment based on age but provided no specific date or context for the remark.

The claimant mentioned a vague discussion about elective surgery but was reluctant to elaborate. Ford denied making the remark, discussing the surgery, or considering it. The tribunal found Ford's evidence credible and rejected the claim, concluding that the alleged conversation never occurred. Read more here .

Thank you for reading this week’s edition of the HR Weekly Roundup. We hope you continue to gain valuable knowledge and resources from the HR world with us. If you ever need help with your HR headaches, give us a call on 01926 353131 or email us at [email protected] .