The CIPD’s role in regulating the profession has been questioned by HR professionals in the wake of the BNP membership list scandal.
Last week the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development said it would take no action against a member named as a British National Party activist.
But comments left on various HR networking forums hit out at the institute’s stance.
One said: “When is a professional body not a professional body? When it fails to enforce its own code of conduct.”
Another added: “The CIPD code of conduct hasn’t got any teeth, so however much we debate [the issue] I sincerely doubt it will do anything.”
However, one comment on Personnel Today’s networking forum HR Space backed the CIPD, saying: “HR practitioners of all people should understand the principle of innocent until proved guilty.”
A CIPD spokesman said: “All CIPD members are required to sign up to a code of professional conduct. The code makes clear the range of sanctions following a breach, which can ultimately include expulsion from membership.”
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However, he refused to disclose the number of complaints received under the code, how many disciplinary panels convened in the past three years or their outcome.
Join the debate on HR Space.
