The four facets of communication at work
Ask ten people what they think contributes to a successful working environment and you can bet your bottom dollar the majority will agree on one factor – communication. We recognise and value communication for its contribution to a better workplace through the efficiencies it brings, performances it enhances, trust it builds and morale it nurtures. […]
Big Data and talent acquisition – what’s the link?
This article was written by David Bernstein, Vice President of Big Data for eQuest. You can’t throw a rock in the business world these days without hitting the topic of Big Data. Why? Because it’s the key to impacting business results. As Virginia Rometty, Chairman and CEO of IBM, recently stated, “Data will be […]
The key characteristics of ethical business culture
The business case for ethical culture and operations is clear – increased customer loyalty. There’s also evidence that employees feel a greater stake in company conformity and success when the business is run ethically. Organisational culture is key to the success of an ethically-driven organisation, but what parts of the culture, and why? HR directors […]
Top 50 tips to achieving customer service excellence
This piece was written by Chris Tyrrell, Senior Assessor with standards organisation Customer Service Excellence (CSE). Customer Service Excellence was set up and trade marked by the Cabinet Office. With the economy still as unpredictable as ever, with major organisations going into administration every week, good customer service is more important now than it ever […]
Bad work-life balance? Strengthen the separation, don’t destroy it
The original work-life balance debate emerged as gender roles broke down and the number of women in work, particularly mothers, increased dramatically. The debate was driven by equal opportunities – women with established domestic duties suddenly had professional responsibilities as well. The work-life balance has evolved – it’s now about self-actualisation. We need to be […]
UK heat wave – what does HR need to be aware of?
Travel disruptions Trains: train tracks can buckle under intense heat, causing delays to services Roads: road surfaces can expand and break up, which can cause severe delays before maintenance services can start repairs Stations: many stations operate at full capacity, which means the added demand of delays can cause havoc Cars and bicycles: both are […]
Leadership for the Knowledge Worker Age
This article was written by Kevin Vaughan-Smith, managing director of leadership consultancy FranklinCovey UK & Ireland. The rise of the knowledge worker Mention the industrial age and many will think of the bustling factories and shipyards of the nineteenth or early twentieth centuries – more Brunel than Branson. Whilst the UK still remains an important […]
Beyond ‘omnichannel’ – customer experience in the retail sector
‘The path to purchase is evolving. Digital is empowering and informing shoppers as they make their purchasing decisions. The key to success is satisfying shopper needs for convenience, choice, and value for money.’ That’s the opinion of consumer research giant Nielsen. And as they regularly talk to more than 250,000 households around the world about […]
How to take your employee benefits package to the next level
This was written by Amanda Flint, Reward and Incentive Partner, Grant Thornton UK LLP. With the deadlines for the government’s pension auto-enrolment scheme fast approaching for many businesses, now is a great time for organisations to review the benefits packages they offer. Rather than just being a token gesture, flexible and creative employee remuneration packages can […]
Managing in a low-engagement environment is exhausting – what can you do?
This article was written by Fraser Marlow, VP of Marketing & Head of Research, Chris Rice, CEO, and Mary-Ann Masarech, Engagement Practice Lead at leadership development and engagement consultancy BlessingWhite. Picture, if you will, each employee as a spinning plate. You can see your organisation as a large space with 100, 1,000, or even 50,000 plates […]
Six steps employers can take to lessen the impact of redundancies
This article was written by Steve Preston, Director or career management organisation SMP Solutions. 1. Managing the ExecutionManaging restructuring and redundancies is a daunting task, especially for managers who have never had to deal with these issues first hand. By getting the execution right, you stand to gain respect and also engage employees staying and […]
HR guide to depression in the workplace
We have been working with mental health charity Mind on a series of articles exploring mental health in the workplace. Take a look at the full content series today to get insight and advice on how to improve mental wellbeing throughout your organisation. We all have mental health just as we have physical health – it moves up […]
Why did the Knicker Queen give up her throne…?
This article was written by Sofia Syed, employment solicitor at Mundays LLP. The UK’s so-called knicker queen Janie Schaffer has been in the news this week for taking legal action against her former employer Marks & Spencer for over £1 million in compensation after quitting her job after just three months. Janie, who launched lingerie chain Knickerbox, […]
Want to get your HR initiative agreed? How understanding the brain can help you
‘The goal of a presentation to your boss is not to get him to think you're smart, but to get him to think he's smart to support your idea’. This is a tweet (the new form of quote) from Tom Peters. It struck me as perfect for this article on how understanding the brain can […]
HR tips 2003
All our HR tips from 2003: click on the links to read any of the HR tips. December 2003 Deductions from wagesChildren on siteWorkplace affairsDisabled workers November 2003Attitude problemsRedundancy selectionCustom and practiceWorking Bank holidays October 2003Disciplinary and dismissal proceduresTime off work for funeralsReferencesTranslating rulesBanning smoking at work September 2003Burden of proofContracts of employment
Doing business in India – cultural considerations for HR
The second most populous country in the world, the Republic of India has gone through an economic transformation over the past 20 years to become one of the world’s fastest developing economies. India’s long and rich history has formed a strong cultural identity amongst an extraordinarily diverse group of people. However, whilst India is modernising […]
Workers unions and people-centric HR policies contribute to GDP
Countries where workers are protected by strong unions and good work and safety policies that acknowledge the importance of psychologically safe work environments have a higher GDP. This is according to new academic research which explores whether work-related stress factors can explain national differences in health and economic productivity, measured by GDP. The study, which […]
Get ready for the introduction of fees in the employment tribunal. It is happening!
This was written by Steven Eckett, employment lawyer at Bishop & Sewell LLP. Employment Tribunal fees are scheduled to commence from July 29th 2013, for the first time ever. There are going to be two types of claim attracting a minimum of two types of fee:- Firstly a ‘Type A’ claim for relatively straight-forward claims such […]
Talent spot: Claire Balmforth, operations director at Carpetright
When Claire Balmforth joined Carpetright, HR was not on the agenda. Despite it already being an established and successful high-street retail brand, Balmforth was the first HR person the company had ever hired. Until then, the growth had been so fast, that the company had not had the time – or the need – to […]
Reach & Teach: How to support women in leadership roles
This article was written by Geraldine Bown, who has spent 27 years working in the areas of women’s development, diversity and spirituality. A former President of the European Women's Management Development Network, she specialises in empowerment and leadership programmes for women. You can find out more about Geraldine at www.powerfulwoman.net. Introduction Organisations recognise the need to support […]
