Legal Insight: When the (Christmas) party’s over…
As the festive season takes hold, workplaces around the country have been hanging up the tinsel, sending out corporate Christmas cards and thinking about the end of year knees-up. But both HR departments and the wider workforce should be aware that, just because a Christmas party takes place outside of work hours and in rented […]
Employee engagement – and how to get it
The McLeod Review concluded two years ago that levels of employee engagement in the UK were disappointingly low, largely because managers had failed to realise the importance of the concept. The review, led by David MacLeod and Nita Clarke, was commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Its findings were welcomed by […]
News: Men who wear pink shirts earn more and are better qualified
Men who wear pink cotton shirts earn more and are better qualified than those who prefer traditional colours such as white or blue, according to a study. On average, pink-loving males earn £1,000 more a year than those who prefer blue shirts and are twice as likely to have a Masters degree than those […]
What does the future hold for HR?
The world of work has changed beyond recognition in recent years, with commentators predicting we are on the verge of a seismic shift not seen since the industrial revolution. In her book ‘The Shift: The future of work is already here’, Lynda Gratton highlights five forces that will result in profound changes to the […]
Blog: Punk Rock HR – Christmas countdown part 2
In this mini series, we’re counting down 10 HR tips as seen through the eyes and ears of Punk Rock. No need to pogo whilst reading these unless you must! For more on all this, ping me a note with PUNK in the title to claim your free Christmas HR gift – a […]
In a Nutshell: Five tips for becoming a staff motivation expert
A lot of managers consider themselves to be experts in the area of employee motivation. This is because we are all employees of one type or another and so we believe that everyone feels the same way that we do, explains John Sylvester, executive director of motivation and performance improvement agency, P&MM. However, the […]
The HRZone Interview: David Frost on sickness absence
Every year, around 11 million workers call in sick and 140 million days are lost to sickness absence. The economic cost of ill-health is estimated to be a staggering £100 billion. Moreover, each year around 300,000 employees will not return to work, joining the benefits system instead. Not surprisingly, the government is keen to […]
News: Underlying joblessness worsens despite official figures, warns expert
Despite apparently positive unemployment figures, underlying worklessness is now much higher than it was in May and could jump quite dramatically in the New Year, according to an employment expert. The latest Labour Market Statistics report from the Office for National Statistics indicated that the UK jobless rate now stands at 2.51 million or […]
News: Christmas party hangovers to cost employers £740m this year
Hungover staff will cost employers a huge £740 million in lost productivity this year, with seven out of 10 expecting to party for at least two nights over the next 10 days. According to a survey among 2,000 workers conducted by hotel chain, Travelodge, three times more UK companies (75%) plan to host a […]
Blog: Five ways to ensure your meetings are effective
HR can play a big role in improving organisational communication simply by establishing a precedent for office meetings. Effective office meetings lead to improved communication in the workplace, higher levels of productivity, and increased employee morale. So how can you get the most out of meetings in your company? 1. Establish a Meeting Objective: The meeting organiser should […]
Blog: Getting your champagne stories ready for Christmas
December is a time of celebration, thanks and appreciation for many people in business. For others it’s also the end of a financial year and so appraisals are happening too. One leader I am working with described the appraisal season as the most remarkable time where she’s been reminded of what her team […]
Talking Point: Christmas – Is it really the season to be jolly?
A lot of employees are more likely to be looking for a bit of help and support rather than a party this Christmas. While it’s a rollercoaster time of year for people at the best of times, the financial squeeze is bringing with it new pressures that are generating their own potential problems and stress. […]
Talent Spot: Lynne Graham, HR director at WSH
For Lynne Graham, HR director of high-end catering services firm, Westbury Street Holdings, employee engagement is more than a buzzword – it has seeped into the fabric of the company. “I have a very strong belief in engagement,” she says. “A lot of companies see engagement as an internal PR exercise – reward and recognition […]
News: Investment manager loses £1.7m bonus over poaching lunch
An investment manager lost a £1.7 million bonus claim today after the High Court found that he had breached the terms of his employment contract by trying to poaching another employee over lunch. Fahim Imam-Sadeque had been head of sales for the UK, Middle East and Australia at Royal Bank of Canada’s Bluebay Asset Management […]
Vox Pops: How can you best build a business case for buying HR software?
What's the secret to coming up with a sound business case when purchasing HR applications? Attendees at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's HRD learning and development conference earlier this year share their insights:
News: EU pension change proposals to cost UK employers £350bn
Proposed EU pension changes could cost UK employers £350 billion in additional costs, reducing GDP by an average of 1.5% per annum and cutting 180,000 jobs by the mid-2020s, the CBI has warned. The European Commission is proposing to introduce a new funding regime, which would require final salary pension schemes run by individual employers […]
Blog: Nine questions to ask yourself for a healthy 2013
New Year Wellness Resolutions: Don't reinvent the wheel. Many people we work with claim they'd like more energy and a better balance in their life. But are their actions and approaches consistent with these desires? Take for example how much time they devote to planning success in different areas of life. Do they give enough […]
Blog: Four tips to help stressed out HR pros relax
Stress is common in the workplace and it negatively impacts the performance of employees. HR managers of small businesses often wear many hats and are placed in the position of recruiter, benefits administrator, payroll processor and more. Stress in the workplace makes a big impact. In fact, stress was the most common cause of […]
What can HR learn from the sales team?
Every business professional could improve their performance by adopting tried-and-tested selling techniques. But it is particularly true of those working in HR, a profession that requires top quality people and communication skills and the ability to win boardroom buy-in on often alien concepts ranging from workplace wellbeing strategies to the latest employee benefits. But […]
The changing nature of the workforce: Are jobs obsolete?
We are increasingly defined not by who we are, but by what we do. A combination of flexible working patterns, job insecurity and mobile technology are just three factors that have contributed to our professional lives bleeding into our family and private lives. Perhaps we do it to impersonate royalty? Everyone needs an opening […]