News: Extent of ‘off payroll’ deals in public sector “shocking”
The widespread nature of “off payroll” payments being made to thousands of public servants has been branded “shocking” by a committee of MPs concerned over potential tax avoidance activities. A Public Accounts Committee report singled out the BBC for paying 25,000 employees – 13,000 of whom were broadcasters – a gross amount into a company […]
News: Workmates more important than bosses for job satisfaction
While getting on with the boss certainly helps to keep staff happy at work, it is nowhere near as important as having a good relationship with colleagues, according to research. A survey undertaken among 1,000 UK workers by online recruiters Jobsite.co.uk revealed that seven out of 10 see their ‘nine-to-five buddies’ as being most crucial […]
Blog: Punk Rock HR – HR strategies unplugged
I get many questions about what the main HR Strategies are and how they differ from each other. So, I thought it would be helpful to share the main points from materials I use when conducting HR Strategy reviews in companies or in keynotes on HR excellence. So here are four HR Strategies in a […]
In a Nutshell: Five tips when recruiting for a start-up
The hospitality sector is a people business and poor management can quickly turn customers off, no matter how plush a hotel’s facilities. Caroline Lowe, HR director for Hilton London Heathrow Terminal 5, who was involved in launching the hotel last year, explains how she dealt with recruiting the right 130 staff to try and ensure […]
Working prisons: A new source of affordable labour?
Even though only 20% of employers have knowingly recruited an ex-prisoner, most bosses report that they work as hard, if not harder, than those with no convictions. But employing offenders and ex-offenders isn’t just good for business. It also contributes to creating a safer society. So rather than offshore their operations, we’re calling on […]
News: Lack of HR support means 1/3 senior hires consider quitting in first 3 months
A failure by top managers to work closely enough with HR means that two out of five senior hires consider quitting in their first 90 days and are 50% less productive than they would otherwise be. According to a survey among 283 senior executives and 38 HR directors conducted by recruitment consultancy, Harvey Nash, a […]
News: Fear of fitness-to-work test driving disabled to suicide
Fear of fitness-to-work tests are driving some disabled people to suicide and causing others mental health problems, according to the latest research among GPs. A survey of more than 1,000 family doctors in the UK revealed that more than four out of five had patients who had developed mental health issues such as stress, anxiety […]
Book Review: 90 days 90 ways: Onboard young professionals to peak performance
As a result of today’s changing working practices and economic requirements, many employers are striving to accommodate the needs of four generations of workers: Traditionalists born up to the mid-1940s Baby Boomers to the mid-1960s Generation X to the late 1970s Generation Y or Millennials in the 2000s (which will comprise the largest chunk of […]
Blog: Are British workers really the most idle in the world?
British workers are among the most idle in the world, according to a book written by five Tory MPs. In the book ‘Britannia Unchained: Lessons for Growth and Prosperity’ the authors wrote: “Once they enter the workplace, the British are among the worst idlers in the world. We work among the lowest hours, we retire early and […]
Legal Insight: How to deal with social media defamation
As proved by the viral take-off last week on Twitter of Keiran Allen’s very public resignation email, there are three fundamental concerns that employers should have about social media. These are: It’s a very fast moving environment – things happen in real time Postings are permanent – most of the time (with very few exceptions), […]
News: Staff play with fire bringing hair straighteners to work
UK employees are putting themselves at risk of fire and personal injury because they bring their personal electrical items into work but don’t get them safety checked, a survey has found. Two out of five staff members bring devices ranging from heaters and hair straighteners to fairy lights and even power tools into the workplace, […]
News: Govt plans to post mandarin’s performance goals online “damaging”
Government plans to publish the performance targets of all permanent secretaries online risk damaging the current relationship of trust between ministers and their top civil servants, a union has warned. At a speech for the Institute of Government think-tank yesterday, cabinet office minister, Francis Maude, warned that it was “unacceptable” for senior mandarins to veto […]
Blog: Five ways to move on from a mistake
How did you react the last time you made a mistake at work? Did you hold your hands up and do your best to put the problem right – or did you berate yourself for being a failure but decide there was nothing you could do to rescue the situation? According to an article […]
Blog: Five tips for plucking up the courage to pick up the phone
I was talking with a new client last week, and she explained to me that she wasn’t one of those people who found it easy just to pick up the phone and talk to people – particularly people she had not spoken to in a while. I know that one of the best ways to […]
Talent Spot: Community blogger, Peter Cook
“If I had to reduce my life to three words, they would be science, music and business,” says Peter Cook, management consultant, speaker, author, blogger, music lover and former scientist. Cook is actually managing director of two management consultancies, which he jokingly refers to as his day job and his night job. The day job […]
Talking Point: Why is HR still looking for training silver bullets?
The happy sheet – or, to give it its proper title, the ‘post-course evaluation form’ – has been part of the trainer’s toolbox for years. The problem is that they tend to offer little or no value in the long-run – not because of the feedback itself, but because of the lack of bearing that […]
News: UK workers ‘most depressed in Europe’
UK workers are the most depressed in Europe, with just over a quarter having been diagnosed with the condition, according to research. But because diagnosis levels across the continent are on average about 20%, falling to a mere 12% in Italy, it appears that the country’s dubious position at the top of the polls may […]
News: Knowing the difference between HR and HCM apps can save you money
Although it may seem like semantics, understanding the difference between HR and human capital management applications can save HR departments a lot of money, according to Nucleus Research. In a research note entitled ‘Understanding the difference between HR and HCM solutions’, the company defined the former as traditional systems that deal with personnel management, payroll, […]
Blog: Why HR needs to get out more
This is a particular hobbyhorse of mine. Put simply we don’t spend enough time in the business. HR as a profession has long been criticised for failure to really understand and contribute to business strategy or to align HR to corporate objectives. This is much more than just being able to understand the financials, […]
Blog: Was Europe’s Ryder Cup win the result of emotional intelligence?
Europe’s remarkable comeback from 10-6 down to take the Ryder Cup was not only an incredible sporting achievement, I believe it also illustrated how a great leader made an emotional connection with his team and fueled them with a desire to win. As I was listening to the interviews after the famous win it struck […]
