News: NHS Trust fined £175,000 for publishing staff details online
Torbay Care Trust was fined £175,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office after accidentally publishing sensitive personal details of over 1,000 staff members online, including sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and national insurance numbers. The spreadsheet remained publicly accessible for 19 weeks before removal.
Lessons from Olympians: Seb Coe, the ultimate expert-turned-leader
Seb Coe exemplifies how expert knowledge combined with strategic career development creates effective leadership. His progression from Olympic athlete through sports administration and politics equipped him with diverse skills—from media relations to political acumen—that proved essential in leading the London 2012 Olympic Games. His success demonstrates that the best leaders balance deep expertise with broader organizational and interpersonal capabilities.
Blog: Lessons from Mars – How to prevent staff burn-out
Learn from NASA’s Mars mission success to prevent workplace burnout. Discover three key strategies to re-engage employees: establish healthy work-life boundaries, acknowledge employees’ dedication while protecting their downtime, and listen to constructive feedback from engaged staff who care about your company’s culture.
Book Review: How not to worry by Paul McGee
Paul McGee’s “How Not to Worry” offers practical strategies for “normal worriers” to reduce anxiety and stress through small changes. The book divides worry into constructive and destructive types, helping readers understand how worry becomes a default thinking pattern and offering techniques to manage it effectively.
Case Study: LV= focuses on staff enagement to negotiate change
LV= prioritizes staff engagement to manage rapid growth and organizational change. The car insurer uses comprehensive recruitment, reward systems, recognition programs, and leadership development to maintain employee morale and navigate expansion from 2,000 to 5,600 staff members.
News: Prisoners allegedly paid £3 per day to replace call centre staff
A Welsh roofing company has sparked controversy by paying inmates from an open prison just £3 per day to work in its call centre, with former employees claiming staff were dismissed to make way for cheaper prison labour.
Blog: How to stop your talent from becoming tea leaves
Economic pressures are driving employees to commit fraud and petty theft against employers, according to CIFAS research showing a 52% increase in incidents. Employers must address underlying causes like pay freezes and job insecurity while establishing clear policies to prevent workplace dishonesty and rebuild trust.
Blog: Lessons from Olympians – The danger of perverse incentives
Olympians’ badminton scandal illustrates why after-the-fact recognition works better than if/then incentives. Structured incentives can be gamed—athletes intentionally lost matches to secure easier bracket positions. Recognition and motivation are distinct from incentives, which often produce unintended consequences when rules create perverse outcomes.
Talent Spot: Caroline Waters, BT’s director of people and policy
Caroline Waters has spent 33 years at BT, progressing from clerical assistant to director of people and policy. Her diverse early roles across HR, PR, and accounting provided crucial grounding, while her current position extends far beyond traditional HR duties to include government relations, media, diversity, and compliance.
News: UK employers do little to tackle poor internal management skills
Most UK employers recognize that poor management skills threaten business performance, yet few invest in developing managers, particularly at first-line level. A survey reveals that 43% lack succession plans, while only 55% fill management vacancies internally, missing opportunities to promote talent and build stronger company culture.
News: Liberty threatens to sue ICO over blacklisted construction workers
Liberty threatens to sue the Information Commissioner’s Office unless it investigates a secret database of 3,200 blacklisted construction workers, comparing the scandal to phone hacking and citing failures to protect fundamental human rights.
News: Sainbury’s evaluates value of “micro-exercise” in cutting sickness rates
Sainsbury’s is testing whether brief “micro-exercise” breaks using vibration machines can reduce employee sickness absence. In a six-month pilot at its Coventry office, 85 workers performed three-minute stretches throughout the day, with 70% reporting fewer sick days and nine out of 10 noting increased energy and productivity.
Blog: Entertainment, media and tech are HR hiring hotspots
Entertainment, media, and tech sectors are seeing strong HR hiring growth despite economic challenges. High-end retail and digital companies, particularly in London’s Tech City, are actively recruiting HR professionals for strategic roles in talent acquisition and employee engagement.
Blog: The secret of good networking
Effective networking succeeds through reciprocity and generosity—helping others without expecting immediate returns builds social capital and increases opportunities. Good networkers are accessible, responsive, and share valuable information while introducing contacts to one another.
Diary of a misfit: For hire – One creative/HR director hybrid
A creative director transitions unexpectedly into HR, bringing fresh perspective to employee engagement and organizational culture. This unconventional career shift challenges traditional HR practices and demonstrates the value of lateral moves that combine commercial creativity with human resources expertise.
In a Nutshell: Five ways to nurture your own career
HR professionals can enhance their career value by developing business acumen, building technical expertise through formal qualifications, gaining diverse sector experience, networking with peers and mentors, and maintaining disciplined skill development. These five strategies help HR leaders become indispensable strategic partners in their organizations.
News: Unpaid back-to-work schemes declared lawful
A UK court ruled that unpaid back-to-work schemes are lawful, but criticized the Department for Work and Pensions for providing unclear information to jobseekers. The ruling could expose the government to millions of pounds in reimbursement claims from thousands of people who lost benefits for non-participation.
News: Surrey contract bidders asked to offer NEET apprenticeships
Surrey County Council is requiring contractors to hire apprentices as part of efforts to reduce NEET numbers among young people. The council is offering £3,000 grants to small-to-medium enterprises and plans to hire 100 apprentices itself, while establishing skill centres at youth facilities.
Blog: Training needs analysis – How to choose the right option
After conducting a Training Needs Analysis, choosing the right training method is crucial for your organization’s success. Before comparing training options, consider key logistics including delivery format (in-house or outsourced), available budget, time constraints, number of trainees, and desired learning outcomes to ensure maximum ROI.
Blog: Kite Foundation encourages learning transfer through charitable donations
The Kite Foundation’s Kite® platform combines social networks with charitable donations to encourage learning transfer from training programs to workplace performance. The solution addresses a widespread problem where less than 20% of training is typically applied on the job, offering incentives through charitable giving to motivate sustained behavior change.
