Book Review: Stretch: Leading Beyond Boundaries by James Brook & Dr Paul Brewerton

Title: Stretch: Leading Beyond BoundariesAuthors: James Brook & Dr Paul BrewertonISBN: 978-1780884189 This book was reviewed by Michael Farry, Human Resources Director at PhotoBox. There are numerous leadership books on the market today. What sets this one apart from others I have read is the fact that it is written as an engaging fable full of practical ideas, tips […]

When pennies get pinched, training mustn’t suffer

This article was written by Thomas Brown, Head of Insights at The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). In times of economic uncertainty businesses need to do more with less. Each and every pound spent has to travel further, last longer and offer a greater return on investment. As the recession rumbles on and budgets remain tight, […]

News: ‘Best practice’ damages talent management efforts

Focusing on ‘best practice’ rather than business needs is preventing organisations from finding and nurturing staff that can drive progress. This inflexibility is also killing organisations’ ability to manage talent effectively, according to Anna Marie Detert, Head of People & Talent at KPMG. She argues in a new whitepaper that organisations are failing to take […]

News: Skills strategy brings £214m of investment to tackle poor performance

Skills Minister Matthew Hancock recently unveiled £214m investment in 47 colleges across the country, alongside plans for a more rigorous and responsive skills system. These measures form part of the Government’s new skills strategy, Rigour and Responsiveness in Skills, which also includes action to support good and outstanding colleges and step in where colleges are […]

Invisible glass ceiling – the hidden side of gender discrimination

This article was written by Tara Daynes, director of HR consultancy Tara Daynes HR. “She’ll never be a senior manager, because she’ll always put her children before the business.” These words said to me once about a very competent, long-serving middle manager who was also a single mum, but incredibly, they were spoken by a […]

Effective employee monitoring… or snooping?

This article was written by Mike Gillespie, MD of security consultancy Advent IM. Monitoring employees for potential disciplinary reasons is a standard part of the HR role, however a lack of awareness of how to do this within ICO guidelines and Data Protection best practice could end up in a costly tribunal for employers. Do […]

News: HR and payroll to share auto-enrolment burden

Payroll and HR departments are likely to share responsibility for implementing pensions auto-enrolment, according to a report from the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP). The report, the second from the CIPP to analyse employer readiness for automatic enrolment, gathered responses from 95 employers, pension providers, payroll software developers and payroll providers from different sectors. […]

Talent spot: Hari Thalapalli, chief people officer at IT services firm Mahindra Satyam

Hari Thalapalli, chief people officer at IT services firm Mahindra Satyam, has worked for technology firms since the 1980s, joining each organisation when they were at the cusp of a huge growth cycle. “This is the third IT organisation in my career,” he says, “and I’ve had the opportunity to join them when they were […]

News: UK employees demotivated by rise of ‘crisis’ leadership

Overstretched UK leaders are creating demotivating working environments by failing to adapt their leadership styles to the situation at hand. A rise in the use of ‘just do it’ approaches, useful in a crisis but incompatible with long-term engagement and motivation, is responsible, according to new research from global management consultancy Hay Group. The study […]

Short-term thinking – a plague on British businesses

This article was written by Tom Quayle, Consultant at The Chemistry Group. The Germans, as a group of people, are seen as efficient, long-term thinkers. They do it in business and as a country. They are known for efficiency and quality; they think about sustainability and the long-term and implement accordingly.  It’s an obvious point […]

Hidden in the noise? Key Budget take-aways for HR professionals

This article was written by Steve Herbert, Head of Benefits Strategy at Jelf Employee Benefits. Every year The Chancellor’s annual budget statement is reduced by the media to only a few headline messages. This year is no different, with help for homebuyers, personal tax thresholds, and a penny off the pint all trending as the key […]

Is Gamification HR’s New Best Friend?

This article was written by Peter Grant, CEO of CloudApps. Gone are the days of passive employee engagement techniques, such as coffee room poster campaigns and intranet information sites. They are simply no longer able to hold the attention of employees long enough to make any impact other than to waste HR budgets. The posters […]

News: First quarter of 2013 sees accelerated jobs growth

The UK jobs market grew in March, continuing positive growth seen throughout the first quarter of 2013. Reed Job Index’s monthly measure of conditions and trends in employment opportunities stands at 156, its highest ever level, eclipsing last month’s previous high by one percent. In total there were nine percent more job opportunities on offer […]

News: Nine out of ten executives label talent management a priority

Eighty-nine percent of UK executives responding to a new survey said that talent management is their most important corporate strategy, ahead of marketing (11 percent), financial management (0 percent) and capitalisation (0 percent). These are the findings of a survey of UK executives conducted from February 6 to March 8, 2013 by Korn/Ferry International, a […]

Death of the summer party?

This article was written by Dina Green, MD of inVNT UK. The summer party, once an established event in all office diaries, has become something of a rarity. It used to be the essential six month breather; celebrating the successes of spring while preparing for the autumn and winter. But with the financial crisis it became the […]

News: Competitive salary replaces job security as top priority for employees

Employees are increasingly prioritising a competitive salary over job security when it comes to employment requirements, according to new research from recruiter Randstad. The survey found that pay and benefits are now the top priorities for UK employees, ahead of job security – the top factor for the last three years. In 2012, 27 percent […]

Six top lifestyle changes for reducing stress in the workplace

This article was written by Jeff Archer, Director of The Tonic Corporate Wellness.  On any given day, in any office around the country, you’ll hear staff complain about how stressed they are. It’s a phrase that trips off the tongue and has become a catch all term for all manner of frustrations at work and beyond. […]

Talent spot: Annabel Jones, Head of HR at Framestore

Fans of Skyfall and the Harry Potter movies will be familiar with the work of Framestore, even if they’ve never heard of the company itself. The visual effects house is responsible for crafting some of the most mind-blowing effects in film, TV and music videos. As head of HR, it’s Annabel Jones’s job to attract […]

News: organisations use career opportunities to reward talent

New research from Mercer suggests organisations are increasingly using career frameworks to more effectively develop, manage and reward talent. Career frameworks are organisation-wide series of career levels including accountabilities and competencies that guide individual growth. They provide effective rewards management as well as helping to identify paths that prepare employees for more senior roles. Within […]

News: Firms turn to tech for employee health engagement

Employers have an appetite for new technologies to promote health engagement and positive behavioural change in the workplace, according to new research. “Emerging Technology in Health Engagement,” released by Buck Consultants and WorldatWork, examined current use and future potential of gamification, mobile apps and social media. Gamification was the most prevalent solution (62 percent) and […]