Employee feedback: your secret weapon for business success
I’ve always been perplexed that companies are willing to invest millions on the result of a customer satisfaction survey, but so often ignore data in a staff survey – it doesn’t make sense. I understand why consumer-facing businesses pump millions into developing their brands and customer loyalty, but I also have to question who really […]
Diversity and inclusion: why data doesn’t always tell the full story
HR is placing increasing emphasis on monitoring diversity and inclusion but in the race to gather data, many people are missing the point entirely. Developing a diverse and inclusive workplace is a vital aspect of people management. Organisations need to value everyone as an individual to be able to gain the many benefits that […]
UK productivity: HR need to be praised for the boost
The latest economic figures show that productivity has risen at its fastest rate for the past six years, but what is really behind this jump? Gary Cattermole, Director, The Survey Initiative, believes that it’s thanks to HRs and it’s about time they got a well -deserved pat on the back. He explains… I read with […]
Are you as good as your job ads?
HRs are tasked at attracting the best brains, talent and skill to ensure their organisation can compete against the finest companies in the world. However, are HRs in danger of overselling a role to entice top talent? It’s a common problem, a company’s board demand top talent to fulfil its positions and naturally assign their […]
How can you become a billionaire? The Sunday Times’ Rich List says to ditch emails
The Sunday Times has recently launched its latest Rich List: aside from the mega fortunes and increasing rise of the nation’s billionaires, interestingly it also claims that many of the UK’s top entrepreneurs are ditching their inbox in favour of chatting to move their business forward. Can you imagine going on Dragon’s Den and telling […]
Is your dress code fit for 2017?
Recently the media has been full of reports about MPs calling for tougher laws on dress code discrimination. Gary Cattermole, Director of award-winning employee engagement and employee research provider, The Survey Initiative, discusses why the issue is so vital and provides advice on how to create an inclusive dress code in your organisation. I think […]
Can you disconnect from the workplace in 2017?
It’s the first part of the new year, a time of fresh promises to improve wellbeing – leave the office on time, spend more quality time with the family and not get so stressed. However, does your boss continue to email you 24/7? Do you find it tricky to ignore work emails out of hours? Do […]
Workplace hygge: how to embrace it
The Danish art of Hygge has become the latest buzz word in wellbeing. Health and fitness magazines are bursting with stories on how Hygge – pronounced ‘Hooga’ can revitalise your mind and body whilst the world of fashion and interiors is full of features on how to embrace Hygge-style. So, what is Hygge? And, can […]
Why we should embrace the six-hour working day
Gary Cattermole, Director, The Survey Initiative, discusses how some companies in Scandinavia are introducing a six-hour day to boost levels of employee engagement and how this could really benefit businesses in the UK too. No doubt if we held a referendum on who is fed-up with the 9-5 there would be a majority eager to embrace […]
Inclusive surveys: bedrock of engagement?
In the past the staff survey has come under attack as some organisations have cobbled together a set of questions, sent them out via Mail Chimp and sat upon the results. Fortunately the industry has moved on since then, but there’s still work to be done to ensure your survey is fully inclusive and gives […]
Have degrees had their day?
Once upon a time a degree used to be a rite of passage into a great job for University graduates, but with accountancy firm Ernst and Young, and now publishers Penguin Random House dropping the degree requirement, it's time to ask if degrees have finally had their day. This could be the best news ever for […]
Will Zuckerberg’s move shake up paternity culture?
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO, Facebook recently announced he is taking two months paternity leave. His move has been met with much praise, especially in the States, where neither paid maternity or paternity leave is a legal requirement. What’s happening in the world of paternity leave? Are big brand digital companies, such as Facebook, leading the way in […]
The world’s happiest jobs and what they tell us
The Guardian recently conducted an analysis of nine different occupational surveys to find out which professions report the highest levels of happiness. What do the results tell us and how does poor managerial direction can interfere with natural engagement? The jobs that appeared the most often in the top 10 of each survey analysed were […]
Shift workers risk mental and physical health
Staff working shifts outside the hours of 0700-1900 hours are at higher risk of developing chronic health conditions and serious illness, and could even be risking a decline in cognitive function a recent survey revealed. In this article, Gary Cattermole, director at award winning employee engagement consultancy and staff survey specialist, The Survey Initiative, explains […]
Onshoring and employee engagement – is there a link?
Over the past few decades China has become the manufacturing centre of the world, but a trend that started in the US is filtering to UK shores as businesses are starting to bring their manufacturing bases back home. This on-shoring shift in business behaviour is of course great news for the UK economy, and has […]
Embracing employee engagement in 2014
Employee engagement may have been the new ‘buzz word’ from America just a few years ago but now businesses large and small are buying into it in some shape or form. However, in many companies it still seems to be a side project or a matter on the agenda, rather than an intrinsic part of […]
Senior leader buy-in is fundamental to employee engagement
This piece was written by Gary Cattermole, co-founder and director of staff survey provider The Survey Initiative. It’s a common issue, organisations are eager to run an employee engagement programme but find it tricky to get their Chief Exec or members of the board to buy-in to employee engagement. Some board members may think it’s […]
The secret to employee engagement? Just listen
Most people know that engaged employees are much more productive than disaffected ones, but HR professionals also understand the amount of damage that the latter can wreak on the company’s bottom line. You’ll be familiar with the research, but it’s worth a recap. Staff members who are engaged with their jobs will: Generate 43% […]