News: Boardroom divide over who owns people management
A boardroom divide over people management responsibility is threatening organizational growth, with 83% of HR directors believing talent management is their role while fewer than 30% of CEOs and CFOs agree. This disagreement extends to strategy, with 77% of CEOs favoring cuts to training and development against only 18% of HR leaders, despite 43% of executives acknowledging that poor people management directly impacts financial performance.
Blog: Just what is an executive coach exactly?
An executive coach works with business leaders to improve performance, much like sports coaches do with athletes. Unlike mentors, executive coaches diagnose strengths and weaknesses, ask challenging questions, and hold clients accountable to help them find solutions to workplace challenges.
Blog: Working your business skills on the dating scene
Apply your professional business skills to dating: research conversation topics, be authentic rather than over-polished, dress appropriately to reflect your personality, network genuinely, and negotiate flexibly on date plans. Expert advice from Match.com’s clinical psychologist on translating workplace expertise into dating success.
Talking Point: Is trust the future of learning?
Trust forms the foundation of effective learning in organizations, yet many companies struggle with content retention rates as low as 10% after 12 months. Digital technology and new learning models offer solutions to this efficiency problem while building the employee trust necessary for modern workplace development.
Diary of a misfit: The perfect place??!!
A job seeker awaits news from recruitment agencies after progressing through multiple interview stages at two companies. With unemployment looming, the multi-stage modern hiring process tests patience as he battles anxiety reminiscent of teenage years.
News: Call centre workers in East Anglia most likely to throw a sickie…
A UK survey reveals that 35% of workers admit to calling in sick dishonestly, with call centre staff most likely to fake illness. East Anglia leads regional figures at 40%, though 55% of employees actually work while ill due to job security fears.
News: Lack of first aid skills leads to death of 140,000 workers each year
Annually, 140,000 workers die from lack of first aid access, yet half of UK employers lack formal emergency assessment processes. Research shows less than 20% of workers know basic first aid, and four in five have experienced shifts with no first aid cover.
Ask the Expert: What legal issues do well-being initiatives generate?
Workplace well-being initiatives require careful planning to avoid legal pitfalls. Key considerations include whether benefits are contractual or discretionary, ensuring proper risk assessments, and involving employees in program design to maximize uptake and compliance.
Blog: How ‘big data’ can help you maximise your people investment
Big data can transform how organizations maximize employee investment, which typically represents 65-85% of total business costs. By implementing strategic, social recognition programs, companies can gather, analyze, and act on employee performance data to drive engagement and competitive advantage.
Infographic: Overall staffing levels down despite Olympics boost
Overall staffing levels have declined despite a temporary boost from Olympic-related hiring. The infographic illustrates employment trends across various sectors during this period.
In a Nutshell: Six considerations when devising an HR strategy
Develop an effective HR strategy by understanding your business and people, focusing on five key priorities, and securing broad buy-in through clear communication. Expert guidance emphasizes simplicity, measuring progress with SMART criteria, and presenting your plan in accessible language that drives actual implementation.
The Retail Distribution Review: How will it affect you?
The Retail Distribution Review, effective January 1, 2013, modernizes financial advice by improving transparency, adviser qualifications, and charging structures. Key changes include banning commission-based advice for corporate pensions and implementing consultancy charging for new schemes, affecting how employers and employees receive pension guidance.
News: Lawyers disagree over impact of tribunal “shake-up” proposals
Lawyers are divided over the significance of Vince Cable’s tribunal reform proposals, which drop a controversial “no fault dismissal” plan but introduce new measures to cap unfair dismissal compensation. While some warn the changes could increase discrimination claims and affect hiring practices, others argue the impact will be minimal since most awards are already below the proposed limits.
News: Heart attack risk higher for disempowered workers under stress
Workers experiencing job strain—high stress combined with little control over their work—face a 23% increased risk of heart attack or coronary death, according to research from University College London. The condition is most common among lower-skilled workers and often leads to unhealthy lifestyle choices like smoking and inactivity.
Blog: Five ways to encourage a proper workplace dialogue
Discover five practical strategies for fostering genuine two-way dialogue in your workplace, from climate feedback sessions and story-swapping to coffee break conversations with leaders. Modern employees expect to have their voice heard—learn how to create the right blend of communication approaches for your organization’s culture.
Living Leader Learnings: Longer hours for less pay – How can I motivate my team?
When salaries are frozen and staff are stretched thin, leaders can’t simply motivate teams from the outside. Instead, create space for employees to take ownership of their working conditions by involving them in solving problems together and finding ways to work more efficiently.
Legal Insight: National Minumum Wage – How to avoid being named and shamed
The UK government’s “naming and shaming” scheme publicly identifies employers who breach National Minimum Wage laws. Employers must pay the NMW to most workers regardless of size, with different rates for adults, younger workers, and apprentices, though some categories like non-executive directors are exempt.
News: Govt rush to offload public sector jobs leads to hike in tribunal claims
Government outsourcing of public sector jobs triggered a 37% surge in TUPE-related employment tribunal claims, jumping from 1,900 to 2,600 cases between 2010/11 and 2011/12. Legal experts warn that employers often overlook Transfer of Undertakings regulations when moving jobs to the private sector, resulting in costly disputes over redundancies and employment terms.
News: TUC boss to receive six figure “golden goodbye”
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber is set to receive a six-figure “golden goodbye” of over £100,000 upon his retirement at year’s end, plus a final salary pension worth approximately £62,000 annually. The announcement has drawn criticism from union sources and taxpayer advocates who view the substantial severance as hypocritical for a union leader who recently warned of rising UK inequality.
Blog: The future of HR – Statistics, analytics and marketing
The future of HR depends on analytics, statistics, and data-driven decision-making rather than traditional administrative practices. Emerging HR professionals now combine expertise in analytics, marketing, and finance to address talent management and organizational strategy. This shift represents a critical inflection point for the HR profession.
