Eight strategies to improve quality and balance in life
Regularly we read news stories about how many hours staff work beyond those they are contracted for. It’s claimed that one in five employees in the UK regularly worked unpaid overtime last year, worth over £33bn pounds to the economy. There’s even a day dedicated to working your proper hours, which this year was February […]
Engage and retain staff in 2014 and beyond
It’s a common misconception that an individual’s performance at work is based solely on just their capability. Whilst possessing the right skills and abilities is important, in today’s competitive business world, it is based on so much more than this. The silent threat of ghost turnover The period of economic recession played host to […]
Mobile manners – make sure you’re minding yours!
A while ago I was doing some work in Geneva and talking to one of the participants in my group about the importance of the relationship with their line manager. She looked at me rather sadly and said “Well my line manager certainly doesn’t value or respect me.” I asked her for an example of […]
Wellbeing at work – new report looks at how far we’ve come and where we’re going
What are leading companies doing on employee well-being and health at work? What have been the key developments in the last year on important topics such as employee engagement and mental health? These questions are answered in the latest report from Good Day at Work, who each year compile in-depth analysis and insight from some […]
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 […]
Interview: Adrian Furnham, Professor of Psychology, UCL
Q: Can you outline what staff go through during times of upheaval and turbulence? Those made redundant or even moved to a new position often experience a well known shock cycle. There are many version of this stage-wise or cycle theory based on the death and dying literature. There are different, but related concepts or […]
Outsourced HR: valuable or suffering from performance issues?
The rise of process outsourcing There has been a boom in recent years within the business process outsourcing (BPO) market, with an increasing number of organisations outsourcing or offshoring functions to specialist agencies in an attempt to drive efficiency during the global economic crisis. For HR departments, administratively burdensome tasks were the first in line […]
LIVE COVERAGE: CIPD HR Analytics 2014 conference
How can you better use people metrics in your organisation? What do you need to know about HR analytics and what it will bring to business? On Wednesday February 12th these questions will be answered at the CIPD’s HR Analytics Conference 2014, held near King’s Cross, London. HRZone will be in attendance and will be […]
Emotional Intelligence – the dark side is in the detail, not the concept
In response to the very interesting article by Adam Grant entitled ‘The Dark Side of Emotional Intelligence.’ It’s true when people get to know their emotional capacity and understand their own emotions they can use them more effectively for both good or bad. However… Emotional intelligence (EI) is a tool used to build communication skills […]
Early Conciliation – what does it mean for employers?
Anne Sharp, Chief Executive at workplace experts Acas, explains how the introduction of a new service called Early Conciliation in April this year will change how workplace disputes are dealt with in future. From 6 April this year anyone thinking of making an employment tribunal claim will need to contact Acas first. We will then […]
Global business growth jeopardised by lack of adaptability
The results of Deloitte’s Global Human Capital Trends 2014 were just released. The main finding is a significant gap between the talent and leadership challenges that organisations face and their readiness and ability to respond. A majority (86%) of the 2500 business and HR leaders surveyed recognised the need to take action on critical issues […]
Workplace harmony – how to improve it
Disharmony at work can be an unfortunate fact of life. Whilst every organisation will vary, as an overview, the key causes are: Poor communication and consultation Absence of shared vision (in the big picture or within a team or project) Mistrust leading to interpersonal conflict Poor leadership Lack of emotional intelligence If you’re looking to […]
A checklist saved your life
I love checklists. They’re simple. They help you remember the milk, build a bridge or even save a life. “Discipline is hard–harder than trustworthiness and skill and perhaps even than selflessness. We are by nature flawed and inconstant creatures.”- Atul Gawande, The Checklist Manifesto: How To Get Things Right Checklists – the missing link? Human […]
Change management: convincing, delivering & sustaining effective change
Regardless of business size or sector, there are three key aspects to consider when approaching change management. Intellectual Understanding – why the change is necessary Emotional Engagement – stakeholder discussions and the perceived ownership of the changes Sustained Action – how to implement long-term transformative benefits that provide value Ignoring these principles can have an […]
National Apprenticeship Week 2014 – round-up of content
Facts & figures: The National Apprenticeship Service released research that finds almost half (44%) of businesses in the country plan to take on apprentices in the next five years. Around a third (32%) of those that plan to take on apprentices say this is because they are a core part of their growth strategy. RatedPeople.com put out […]
What we’ve learnt from 80 years of taking on apprentices
Engineering, IT and facilities services business NG Bailey have been recruiting apprentices for 80 years. In recognition of National Apprenticeship Week, we reached out Frank Clayton, the company’s Head of L&D, and asked for 10 lessons they’ve learnt from the 5000 apprentices they’ve trained since 1934. “You have to invest, even when it’s tough out […]
Mental health in women – greater incidence or more likely to report problems?
“Mental health is inextricably linked to our status in society.” New figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre suggest that women – and especially those under 50 – are the group at the greatest risk of suffering from mental health problems. But is this a case of greater reporting of problems by women, […]
Unmanned ships could soon be a reality, says Rolls-Royce
Every time something gets automated, the type of skills people need changes. The drone operator, for example, didn't exist until unmanned planes were introduced. According to manufacturer Rolls-Royce, unmanned cargo ships could become a reality on our oceans within the decade. The FTSE100-listed company recently unveiled designs for its concept crewless vessels. The BBC report […]
Talent mobility – essential to organisational success
In the first of a four part series of articles, Matt Russell, Head of Talent at Lee Hecht Harrison, introduces his concept of ‘talent mobility’ and the results of an in-depth research programme into the subject and looks in brief at what HR professionals need to do in order to ensure and benefit from talent […]
Office dogs – the pros and cons
It’s early on a busy Wednesday morning, phones are ringing, internal meetings are starting, the courier is at the door and the team is getting set for another frantic day in the office. Clients are expected mid-morning and there’s a fabulous buzz about the place. However, amongst the hum of activity I can’t (for a […]
