Agile Working for Managers

Did you know that failing to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people could mean that you are acting unlawfully? This could result in a court case, a fine and negative publicity for your business. This short e-learning guide will explain when and why adjustments are sometimes necessary (and why they’re sometimes not). It will help you to provide the best possible service to customers with disabilities, and at the same time ensure that your business is fully compliant with the latest legislation.

Agile working is becoming a common feature of the modern workplace, with professionals increasingly undertaking much of their work away from the traditional confines of the office. Our e-learning module will demonstrate how agile working can reduce costs, improve productivity and provide employees with a better work-life balance.

This Core Skills module serves as a best practice guide to chairing a disciplinary meeting. You'll learn how a hearing fits into the broader formal disciplinary procedure and, by the end of the course, you'll be able to manage a hearing effectively and apply the appropriate sanctions where necessary. This comprehensive module will cover everything from the varying roles of the meeting’s participants through to reaching and delivering your decision. An example of a disciplinary toolkit is included as a download.

The second module in our Change Management series looks at the impact that change can have on the individuals within an organisation. We look at the different ways in which employees engage with change, and examine the motivation behind these behaviours. The module also identifies four key ‘change roles’ which individuals can adopt to help facilitate the process, and features regular knowledge checks designed to test the learner’s understanding.

The fourth and final module of our Change Management suite, Change Tools is a useful overview of the different models and theories at the disposal of the modern manager.

Part one in a series of four modules on the subject of change management, this title serves as an introduction to organisational change and how it can be best navigated from a managerial position. The concept of workplace change, and the common reasons behind it, is examined using established models, and we look at the effect that organisational culture can have on the change process.

This is the third of four modules on the subject of change management, and this time we focus on the change process itself. Each stage is examined, from seeing the need for change, through initiating the change and then fostering involvement and commitment. We'll explore how to create and communicate a compelling vision, and how to use a participative approach to engage and involve your colleagues.

Coaching is a critical leadership skill, and when used effectively it can be the difference between acceptable levels of performance and exemplary levels. This comprehensive module serves as a toolkit, enabling you as a manager to coax the best out of your team. The Coaching unit will enable you to describe the purpose and benefits of coaching, identify the needs of the people you are coaching, deliver effective coaching and give and receive effective feedback. Practical case studies and interactive exercises will keep you engaged throughout.

A job application is not simply a matter of providing information to a potential employer. It is essentially an opportunity for you to persuade an employer you are the person they are looking for. This e-learning module will explain the various sections of a job application in more detail, giving you plenty of useful hints and tips along the way.

Conflict is an inevitable ingredient in any workplace, but it can actually be regarded as a good thing sometimes – it can show that people are engaged and committed, and it may help to drive positive change. The most effective and efficient workplaces are not necessarily those where conflict doesn’t arise, but those where conflict is handled constructively. This module will look at the causes and types of conflict that can arise in the workplace. We'll demonstrate best practice approaches to resolving issues, and show everyday measures that can help to prevent future disharmony.

Exposure to hazardous substances at work is a serious health risk for many workers, and the COSHH Regulations were introduced in 2002 to ensure that all businesses are aware of their responsibilities in protecting their employees from risk. COSHH applies to almost all substances in the workplace which are known to be toxic, harmful or irritant. Our Core Skills module will help you to understand the legal regulations and identify workers who may be at risk, as well as providing useful tips and advice for reducing the risk of accidents. Also included is a five-step process that demonstrates how to ensure your business remains COSHH-compliant.

Cyber crime is an offence which is committed, in full or in part, via a computer, network or other computer-enabled device. This module is the first of two modules on online crime, security and protection. It will look at cyber crime throughout the UK, the types of crimes and how they occur.

Cyber Security is the second of two modules about online crime, security and protection. It will look at how you can protect yourself from online threat and will examine password security, safe clicking and firewalls . We'll look at what action to take if you are a victim of cyber crime and the support that is available for those affected.

All organisations hold and process personal data on their staff, clients and/or suppliers, and the 1998 Data Protection Act seeks to regulate how this information is handled. A data breach can result in the public losing trust in your organisation, while the Information Commissioner’s Office can impose a maximum fine of ?2 million (or 2% of a company’s global annual turnover) for serious violations. This module outlines the requirements of the Data Protection Act and explains what you and your business need to do to comply with the legislation. The subject is brought to life with interactive case studies and a look at the eight principles of data protection.

Bullying and harassment in the workplace can, in addition to creating an unhappy and unproductive environment, carry legal implications for employers. Our Dignity at Work module will demonstrate how managers can help create a positive working environment in which everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We examine the factors which contribute to team culture and outline the differences between firm management, healthy conflict and bullying. Employee rights is covered, as are dealing with a complaint and how to conduct both a formal and informal enquiry.

Surveys of office workers, conducted by the Health and Safety Executive, have revealed that many employees experience pain and discomfort following extended periods of working with display screen equipment (DSE). This can result in long-term health issues and the loss of a significant number of working days each year. Our e-learning module is designed to give the learner a thorough overview of good DSE practice, instructing them as to how to set up their workstation and adjust their immediate environment to minimise the risk of injury and distress.

Of the increasing number of vehicles on Britain’s roads each year, many are being driven for business purposes. The road safety problems associated with this group of drivers are correspondingly high – business drivers are a third more likely to have a collision than private drivers, and road accidents are the biggest cause of work-related accidental death, killing more than 800 people each year. The Driving Safety module outlines the risks and responsibilities of the business driver, including practical hints and tips on staying safe. We also look at what goes into a typical corporate motor policy.

An estimated 2 million people in the UK have an addiction to some form of substance, and it’s estimated that alcohol alone costs the country ?21 billion. This module aims to raise your awareness of drugs and alcohol. We'll take a look at the recommended guidelines for alcohol consumption and view some useful tips for cutting back, as well as examining the more common drug types and their side effects and symptoms. We will also provide sources of support for individuals and employers, including a guide to spotting the early warning signs of substance misuse.

This module looks at how you can write good minutes for your meetings in an easy-to-read style, describing how agendas and minutes are related and demonstrating appropriate formats and templates. The module can be used in conjunction with the modules on Meeting Skills and Effective Writing which can also be found in the Learning Pool Core Skills range.

Most business people would not put being able to write well at the top of their key skills list – and yet writing is still the primary communication medium in most organisations. Being able to write effectively saves time, effort and frustration. Over the course of this module, the learner will be instructed as to how to write effective letters, briefs and emails, and we'll demonstrate the power that good writing has to persuade and influence others. We'll cover the areas of clarity, structure, punctuation and etiquette, and look at which situations are best suited to either a letter, email or phone call.

Email has changed the way that we do business, but lately we've been hearing more about the problems of email stress and overcrowded inboxes. This module explores aspects of email stress and offers practical advice to help you use email more effectively. Upon completion of the course, the learner will have the confidence to manage email more comfortably and thus help to reduce stress levels across their organisation.

The Civil Contingencies Act defines an emergency as an event or situation which threatens serious damage to human welfare in a place in the UK, the environment of a place in the UK, or war, or terrorism, which threatens serious damage to the security of the UK. It’s a classification that can take in everything from floods and gas leaks to a flu pandemic, but it’s clear that a well-organised business should have a broad plan in place should such situations occur. This module will help the learner to understand what emergency planning is, and how emergency plans are implemented. It will also look at how business continuity management helps to ensure that an organisation’s core services are maintained during an emergency or incident.

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability of individuals to recognise their own and others' emotions, to discriminate between different feelings and to use this information to guide thinking and actions. Studies have shown that people with high levels of emotional intelligence have greater mental health, exemplary job performance and more potent leadership skills. By the end of our Emotional Intelligence module, the learner will understand how EI can increase their self-awareness, help them to work with others and improve their professional performance.

Every forward-thinking organisation now aims to be a good employer, and to be a business that delivers accessible and high-quality customer service. This includes ensuring equality of access and tackling unfair discrimination in the workplace, in line with the statutory obligations under the Equality Act 2010. Our e-learning module will guide both employees and managers through their responsibilities, identifying protected characteristics, highlighting key concepts of discrimination and underlining the benefits of equality. Advice is given on areas such as using respectful language and avoiding making assumptions, and the module features several real-life case studies and an accompanying knowledge check section.

Facilitation is the term that we use to describe tasks that are assisted, or any activity which makes tasks for others easy, and it’s become a key feature of the modern workplace. The facilitator requires a very specialist skill set with which to guide a group through a process, keeping things on track to achieve the agreed objective. The Facilitation Skills module will help you to develop these skills, which include identifying when facilitation is appropriate, developing working agreements and managing the dynamics of a group discussion.

Every year, the fire service attends hundreds of thousands of fires around the UK, a significant portion of which occur in the workplace. The threat to safety is obvious, and both employers and staff have legal responsibilities to ensure that procedures are followed and all due care is taken. Our module, set in a typical office environment, is designed to provide a detailed overview of good fire safety practice. We look at identifying potential risks, what to do in the event of a blaze and how to utilise different types of fire-fighting equipment. Fire Safety includes practical case-studies and a 12-question knowledge check section.

Recent studies have revealed that UK business loses over ?98 billion each year to fraud, and it’s a danger that every organisation should take steps to guard against. Managers need to ensure that controls are in place, whilst employees should be made aware of the warning signs of fraud. The Fraud Prevention module provides an introduction to the topic and a look at the different types of fraud, before going on to examine bribery, corruption and money laundering in more detail. We've also included a best practice guide for employees who suspect wrongdoing.

An introduction to GDPR and an overview of the other modules within the GDPR suite.

How data should be handled in line with GDPR legislation.

The responsibilities of organisations and their staff surrounding GDPR.

How organisations and business should go about handling and reporting data breaches.

An opportunity for the learner to test everything they have learned with some scenario based questions about GDPR.