News: engagement key to combat salary and morale doldrums
HR professionals must prioritize employee engagement and strong leadership to combat low morale and stagnant wage growth in 2013. Hay Group research shows many organizations plan to overhaul their talent retention and reward strategies, as salary increases are expected to lag behind inflation.
Case study: AQA improves recruitment process with psychometric testing
Exam board AQA partnered with Talent Q to use psychometric testing to improve recruitment across the organization. By assessing 300 candidates against key behavioral competencies and providing interview frameworks, AQA made more informed hiring decisions based on candidate potential rather than expertise alone.
News: failure to attract and develop talent is undermining business strategy
Many executives fail to prioritize talent development despite recognizing it’s critical to achieving their business strategy. A Harvard Business Publishing survey found that over a third of business leaders wouldn’t increase focus on attracting and developing talent, yet one in five lack confidence their organization has the skills needed to meet strategic goals.
News: workplace bullies targeting disabled employees
UK research reveals disabled employees face twice as much physical bullying at work, with managers most often the perpetrators. The study found disabled workers experience higher rates of insult, ridicule, intimidation and physical violence compared to non-disabled colleagues.
The difference between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ performance management
Good performance management involves regular feedback and appraisals, clear communication across individual, team, and organizational levels, and praising employees publicly while addressing criticism privately. Bad performance management lacks these structured feedback mechanisms, leaving employees uncertain about their performance and contributions.
News: flexible working tightens grip on UK firms
Flexible working has become standard in 94% of UK firms, yet persistent negative attitudes threaten to limit its full business potential, according to an Institute of Leadership & Management report. While managers recognize flexible arrangements boost retention and commitment, some fear career damage and organizational culture barriers remain.
Blog: top tips for training finance staff
Develop your finance team with formal training programs tailored to different skill levels. The NHS Foundation Trust shares practical tips for identifying the right qualifications, training providers, and motivated staff members to maximize training success and career progression.
Six top tips for preventing employee burnout
Prevent employee burnout by managing technology use and workload efficiently. Learn six practical tips including limiting email checks, reducing multitasking, and prioritizing meaningful activities to maintain productivity and well-being.
TUPE reform: Building bridges or creating hurdles?
The UK Coalition Government is consulting on TUPE reform proposals aimed at reducing employer restrictions and encouraging business growth. Key changes include narrowing rules on harmonizing employee terms and conditions post-transfer, though critics argue the proposals may not provide sufficient clarity for employers.
News: HR directors could be left with uninsured employees due to data errors
Data errors are leaving UK employees uninsured, according to research from Punter Southall Health & Protection. The study found 74% of employers tested had data issues that could invalidate claims, with salary changes, relocation, and auto-enrolment among common problems affecting approximately 15.6% of staff per company.
Book review: Global HR by Peter Reilly & Tony Williams
Global HR by Peter Reilly & Tony Williams comprehensively addresses challenges facing HR leaders in multinational corporations through well-researched examples and clear structure. While the book effectively covers key issues, the reviewer notes it relies heavily on traditional corporations and lacks depth in emerging areas like online learning delivery and modern tech company practices.
After ER, HR – the tv series
A new US television pilot called HR follows an uptight HR director played by Alicia Silverstone, who transforms company culture after a brain injury prompts her to abandon corporate rules and pursue more ambitious goals.
News: research suggests high stress levels among UK office workers
New research from Viking reveals that over a quarter of UK office workers experience stress daily, with heavy workloads cited as the primary cause by two-thirds of respondents. Stress levels vary by region and industry, with the North East reporting the highest daily stress rates at 34 percent.
Pension reform falters as workers proclaim they are too poor to save
Pension reform efforts face significant challenges as 45% of British workers cite insufficient funds as their reason for not saving for retirement. Despite increased awareness of automatic pension enrollment, only a third of employees plan to participate, while 37% intend to opt out.
Blog: why Marissa Mayer is right to ban remote working
Marissa Mayer’s Yahoo ban on remote work makes business sense for troubled companies needing innovation and strong communication. Like turnaround efforts at Energis and Chemistry, office-based work enables better collaboration, faster decision-making, and the “collisions” that drive creative solutions.
Ask the Expert: what is harassment and victimisation based on religious belief?
Religious harassment and victimisation claims require objective evidence that unwanted conduct violated dignity or created a hostile environment. Context matters significantly—thoughtless profanity in a busy newsroom, even if offensive to an individual, may not meet the legal threshold for harassment under the Equality Act 2010.
Acas seeks views on flexible working for Code of Practice
Acas is seeking employer and worker feedback on its draft Code of Practice for expanded flexible working rights. From 2014, all employees with 26 weeks’ continuous employment will be eligible to request flexible working, regardless of parental or caring status. Employers will be required to consider requests in a reasonable manner within a reasonable timeframe.
More hoops for job seekers to jump through
Job seekers now face longer hiring processes and more interviews to secure positions, with candidates spending an average of 10 weeks and seven hours on interviews—up significantly from five years ago. Employers are increasingly demanding psychometric testing and evaluating long-term potential, requiring candidates to demonstrate advanced skills and cultural fit beyond basic job requirements.
Poor data hampers HR’s boardroom reputation
HR departments risk losing boardroom credibility by relying on outdated, fragmented analytics that fail to deliver strategic business insights. A KPMG report identifies three key problems: data fragmentation across multiple systems, lack of hypothesis-driven analysis linked to business outcomes, and insufficient statistical skills within HR teams. Addressing these issues through better data integration and predictive analytics is essential for HR to gain executive influence.
Talent Spot: Tim Hadfield, co-founder of Inaccord Engagement Partnership and HRzone blogger
Tim Hadfield, co-founder of engagement specialists Inaccord Engagement Partnership, helps organizations recognize and address employee engagement challenges they often overlook. Drawing on decades of experience in customer and employee engagement, Hadfield works with companies to identify what managers struggle to see from within their own organizations.
