Can we please stop blaming women for diversity problems?

Why is it always assumed that gender diversity is all about women? Too often female under-representation in senior positions is blamed on motherhood, women shying from responsibility and failing to behave like men. It’s time to stop blaming supposed ‘women issues’ for the lack of diversity in business. The solution does not lie in asking […]

Why don’t employee engagement surveys work?

‘The fundamental element required for an organisation to thrive and grow is having employees who are committed, motivated and engaged’. That was the conclusion of the UK government’s 2009 review on employee engagement[1]. This and other research studies – such as those by Gallup[2] and the Corporate Leadership Council[3] – champion the transformational possibilities of engagement and […]

Interview: Gary Luffman, Director, thinkchange consulting

Gary Luffman is an Occupational Psychologist and Director of think. change. consulting. Gary and the think. change. team focus on bringing together business expertise, neuroscience and psychology to help understand more about our own and others’ brains. This forms the basis of practical and tangible applications in the workplace to help individuals and organisation succeed […]

Diversity and recruitment – a necessity for the modern organisation

For any HR professional or hiring manager, the recruitment process can sometimes appear time-consuming, but in fact it is incredibly simple. When on a journey to find the right talent for your business, it is essential that you find the best person for the job, someone who can contribute positively and add value to your […]

Neuroscience and leadership development – what can we learn?

Pilots, surgeons, F1 drivers and astronauts regularly use simulation exercises to prepare them for challenging situations. But new research from Ashridge suggests that simulations can also help business leaders think more clearly under stress and make effective decisions in volatile and uncertain situations. Ashridge has been working alongside the University of Reading on a pioneering […]

Interview: Susanne Given, Chief Operating Officer, SuperGroup

What does a typical day look like? I work in Europe, the States and the Far East and so work across a range of different time zones. When I’m in the UK I’m office based. I start work around 8am and work through to 7.30pm. It’s been two years of investment and change. I look […]

The HR of today v the HR of tomorrow

This article is based on submissions to a new academic journal, the Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance, by Paul Sparrow and Cary L. Cooper. The journal is published by Emerald Group Publishing and provides insight into best practice and how HR can add value in a sustainable way. The journal covers a range of […]

Employee goal-setting – why not?

Why do so many employees start out so well – highly focused on their ambitions within the company – and then, after a year or so, become just one-more drone in the workplace? Listless, time-serving, unambitious and uninterested. Other than the attrition of time and familiarity, what is it the sucks the enthusiasm and appetite […]

Employee development through CSR programmes

Employees are increasingly demanding that their workplaces not only provide opportunities for them to develop within the business, but outside of it too. With CSR remaining high on the agenda and workers craving the challenges and learning that come via volunteering and community-based initiatives, organisations must master the world of ‘intelligent volunteering’ that not only […]

Talent analytics to transform recruitment and onboarding

It is often said that ‘our people are our most important asset’ but as organisations what are we doing to encourage and nurture our high performers and ensure attrition rates remains low? Are we recruiting more people like them to plug skills gaps, support growth opportunities, as well as engaging with them at the right […]

NHS and employee engagement – what works?

Employee engagement is increasingly being seen as a priority by employers. Nowhere more so than in the NHS. Research has shown that NHS Trusts which effectively engage their employees have higher levels of staff wellbeing and more satisfied patients; they have better clinical outcomes and they are more efficient. It’s increasingly clear that engagement is […]

Social recruitment to find top talent

The upsurge in social media use continues to promote the growth of online communities around the world. For businesses today, the expanding role that these channels play in peoples’ daily lives has made them increasingly attractive talent harvesting tools. We spend more time than ever on social networks, and forward-thinking businesses looking to capitalise on […]

“The HR department is not on my side.”

There was an interesting thread recently on social sharing site reddit. The author asked: “What's the biggest incorrect fact you've always believed and insisted you were right, until you learnt how wrong you were?” There were some very interesting responses. Did you know, for example, that all different tastes can be detected on all parts […]

Gender bias in HR recognition programmes

Recognition is a key tool for driving engagement and can range from a simple ‘thank you’ to a large financial bonus. However if it is to be effective, HR teams need to understand what drives behaviours and align these with the desired organisational goals. Compelling evidence exists that points to clear differences between how men […]

25 useful business travel apps for HR

The modern business traveller doesn't have to rely on flight numbers written on bits of paper or printing out maps as there are lots of apps to help make a trip go smoothly. With our sister communities BusinessZone and AccountingWEB, we asked our social media followers for their business travel app recommendations. We've also suggested […]

Meeting the mobile recruitment challenge

According to the Mobile Operators Association, the use of mobile phones by UK adults has soared over the past decade and a half. In 2000, just half of UK adults had a mobile phone – in 2013 that figure stands at 94%. Consumers are hugely connected to their devices, and recruiters need to be aware […]

Building HR readiness – are you ready?

Frank M. Horwitz is Professor of Global HRM specialising in emerging markets. He is Director of the Cranfield School of Management’s Executive MSc Programme in International Human Resource Management. He has lived and worked on four continents. Human Resource Readiness – what is it? How ready are our people to create customer value in a […]

Talent Identification – a never ending evolution

For the first time in nearly a decade the issues of retention, engagement and attraction of talent will rise to the top of the talent management agenda and unsurprisingly the demands for top quality leadership will feature strongly in the mix. With global economies showing signs of growth, opportunities for employees to move on are […]

What the HR profession can learn from the advertising industry

Two different worlds with two very different outlooks. But that’s why advertising has interesting insights to offer the enlightened HR professional. Even the hard-drinking, chain-smoking, misogynist world of 1960s advertising from the classic American series, Mad Men, has something to teach the HR profession of today. Kodak visit the agency to discuss their innovative new […]

Social media screening – is it ethical?

Social media is one of the most popular forms of communication in the 21st century, with over 1.6 billion monthly users. Anyone can connect with anyone else, or find out information about them that may not otherwise be available. Social media and recruitment With this in mind, it was only a matter of time before […]