Would you allow your workers to attend stop-smoking clinics during working hours without loss of pay?

NICE has issued this advice to firms ahead of the smoking ban in England http://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/pm/articles/firm...

Hi Will,

Again, it’s a symptom of this society – rewarding people with time off for bad behaviour (in this case having a bad habit). I have known a couple of my friends to give up smoking just like that, after smoking for years, and taking a hard two weeks to get through the craving, but after that, not smoking again.

Why can’t people just take responsibility for their own actions? There are some things we are not allowed to do in certain places – deal with it. Just wait until you have a lunch break or do it when you finish work. You are not going to die without a cigarette (but you might with one).

Thanks, Angela Walker, Marketing & Sales Manager, Skynet Applied Systems Limited

Employers must offer smokers help to quit the habit, including giving them time off to attend cessation clinics, leading health experts have said. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued this advice to firms ahead of the smoking ban in England, which comes into force on 1 July.

Failure to comply with the law could result in penalties of up to £2,500. A ban has already been introduced in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Caroline Flint MP, Labour's Public Health Minister discusses the introduction of England's smokefree zone. We ask why Labour bothered creating this viral - it gives out no extra information .. poor content.

"His handshake was akin to a near-death experience"

"His handshake was akin to a near-death experience"

Avoid these 12 gaffes that could cost you a job http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/2006/11...

What not to say at a job interview Brian made no eye contact. He inquired about being reimbursed for the £20 round-trip expense he incurred to visit our offices. He explained that he'd fallen into his profession (the same profession for which we were interviewing him) and wanted out. He gave rambling five-minute answers to questions that could have been answered with a simple yes or no. And his handshake was akin to a near-death experience.

If you want to land a job, here are a dozen things you should never say (or imply) at a job interview.....

1. This suit has been in my family for five generations. Fail to ace attire and grooming and you can sink your chances before you say a word.
2. You think this is disorganized. Wait till you see me on work projects. Neglecting to bring information required on the application, or bringing too few copies of your typo-free résumé, looks just plain careless.
3. I'd rather watch The Worst of C-Span than research your company. Bone up on recent new business the company has landed or write-ups about the firm in trade publications.
4. I expect you to provide the exact job I want on my terms -- now. Say too much about the job you want and you risk eliminating yourself.
5. I could care less -- but not much less. You don't want an awkward silence when asked if you have any questions. Speak up.
6. If you hire me, you'd better get your own résumé up to date. Come across as overly aggressive and you may scare the interviewer into rejecting you.
7. You might want to have security frisk me before I leave. Sharing confidential information about past or present employers will make the interviewer wonder if you can be trusted.
8. I think you're not playing with a full deck. If you're asked the "What are your weaknesses?" question, the interviewer wants a straight answer. Mention one noncritical area you'd like to polish.
9. I'm just going to go ahead and answer the question I wish you'd asked. Failing to answer the question that was actually posed will frustrate the interviewer.
10. I'll be a huge drain on company morale. A negative attitude regarding your current or past employers or colleagues will make your stock drop.
11. Ask not what I can do for you. What can you do for me? Asking questions about salary or benefits prior to getting a job offer is a major turnoff.
12. Why did we meet? Candidates who leave without underscoring their great interest in being hired are quickly forgotten.

Helping marketeers to get more proposals in place

Here is a winning business blog concept that is helping marketeers to get more proposals in place Remember lead generation is not an event – it is an ongoing process http://www.themarketingblog.co.uk/index000172283.c...

Here is an idea, which will give you quality leads, and build your database. It is a winner! As usual the best of ideas are simple and this one is straightforward – you benefit from dominating a whole issue of http://www.themarketingblog.co.uk

It is as simple as that and this concept appearing in http://newsweaver.ie/eletra/gow.cfm?z=themarketingblog%2C179227%2Cb3Frn691%2C1354604%2Cb9tGRShachieved over £500,000 of orders for Ipsos Mori – so it works

If you are looking to stop roaring at your prospects and start holding ‘deep’ conversations with them please call me – Will Corry 01784 434 412 your time will be well spent. I will sharpen the pencil and give you this ‘special guest issue’ exposure at a low cost. Please call me and we can talk it through.