Is leadership development really the answer to your problems?
The idea that there is a key requirement for ‘better leadership’ as the ‘answer’ to most, if not all, business and organisational problems remains prevalent. Numerous surveys by management consultancies reinforce the notion that there is a leadership talent ‘gap’ and, by extension, a need for more and better leadership development activity. This idea […]
News: Union welcomes Fujitsu’s move to tackle low pay
Unite has welcomed steps taken by Fujitsu towards tackling low pay after the IT services giant pledged to boost its UK-wide minimum wage to £14,000 per annum for all of its staff. As part of an agreement reached with the union in 2010, Fujitsu had already set a £12,000 company-wide minimum wage, but committed to review […]
News: Employers in jobless blackspots to get ‘speeded up’ youth subsidies
Employers in 20 areas of high unemployment across the UK are to be given wage subsidies in order to encourage them to hire 18-to-24 year olds who have been out-of-work for six months. The initiative is part of the government’s £1 billion Youth Contract announced in November in a bid to tackle record levels of […]
Are you being paid what you’re worth?
Most people have a reasonable feel for what they should be paid, though for some it’s not the most important thing keeping them in their role. For many others, however, falling disposable incomes make salary a question of increasing significance. In most organisations, prospects for pay rises look bleak and even if you’re lucky […]
In a Nutshell: Five considerations when creating a welcome pack for new hires
When lastminute.com moved its group headquarters to a swanky new Farringdon office in April, it seemed like a good chance to revamp its welcome pack for new joiners. As a result, it turned to us, the same language consultancy that had worked on the ‘tone of voice’ of its marketing collateral a few years before, […]
News: Junior IT technician blamed for RBS debacle
A junior IT technician who was hired after RBS laid off more than 20,000 UK staff and outsourced their work to India was to blame for the bank’s massive computer failure last week, it is being claimed. According to a source at tech website, The Register, the “inexperienced operative” who is understood to be part […]
Blog: An anti-engagement manifesto
A few weeks ago, in my Alien Abduction blog, I promised a bit more on the topic of employee engagement. So here is the employee anti-engagement guide…It is a pretty well-established fact that when it comes to keeping people enthusiastic, money is surprisingly far down the list of effective motivators! Fat salaries and bonuses […]
Blog: Crisis stories – What RBS’ Stephen Hester can teach us
RBS‘ Stephen Hester has emerged to apologise to his customers for the ‘technical issues’ that have left millions of customers frozen out of their accounts. Interestingly, he used the analogy of delayed planes waiting to clear after heavy rain to highlight the fact that the backlog of problems needs time to be fixed. I’ve talked […]
Editor’s Letter: The art of engagement
Two years on from the McLeod Review and it seems that engagement levels still remain worryingly low among the UK workforce. A recent survey conducted by ORC International – and there are many similar such polls – revealed that only 43% of respondents believe they have a positive relationship with their managers. Less than […]
Talent Spot: Charles Elvin, chief executive at the ILM
As chief executive at the Institute of Leadership & Management, Charles Elvin is responsible for setting the UK’s largest management body’s agenda and striving to improve skills through a focus on qualifications. He is a lifelong believer in the transformational power of education, an idea that was drummed into him from his earliest years by […]
News: Redundancies to leap as employers bid to cut staff costs
Amid warnings of a deteriorating economic situation, UK employers are shifting their focus towards making voluntary redundancies and outsourcing loss-making services in a bid to cut staffing costs. Sir Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England, told MPs on the Treasury Committee today that the economic situation had now worsened to such an extent […]
News: Seeking part-time zombies
Looking for: Part-time, temporary zombies. Skills required: Groaning, shuffling, scaring people, murmuring ‘BRAAAAINS’, seeking/eating brains and battling human survivors. In what must be one of the first ever job adverts to be targeted directly at the living dead, Wish.co.uk is seeking ‘bright, responsible, rotting individuals’ to play zombies at its Zombie Manor House in […]
Blog: Still waters run deep – Never underestimate an introvert
Google is one incredible business. Not just because it has revolutionised the way we search for ‘things’ on the internet, but because of how the company’s progression is fuelled by great ideas and innovative thinking. The search engine gives staff free time to develop their own ideas for the business, and many of the […]
Blog: 5 ways to get creative with fundraising in the workplace
If you think fundraising means suffering through yet another temptation-filled bake sale, think again. There are a number of ways to get creative with fundraising in the workplace. Doing so will benefit not just the charity but your company as well, building morale and injecting a bit of fun into the everyday routine. We’ve […]
Talking Point: Do HR pros need to get back to basics?
HR is not just a job – it’s a career. As a vocation, it often attracts people who want to help employee communities feel wanted and understood. To this end, scores of HR operational models have been adopted, practiced and adapted over the years, many of which include the core ideal of ‘staff engagement’. […]
A typical HRD: Part 6 – Local government
We are all aware of just how challenging the current economic situation is and the impact it is having on organisations across all sectors. But nowhere is this ongoing era of austerity having a more significant impact than on the public sector in general and local government in particular. The sector is facing a […]
Ask the Expert: What should I include in a data protection policy?
The question I need to write a Data Protection policy for both staff and clients. What are the key legal points that I need to bear in mind and how can we best undertake enforcement – internally at least? The legal verdict Esther Smith, a partner at Thomas Eggar Before […]
Blog: How can you make performance management more social?
The workplace today has changed beyond recognition; new technology is continuously bringing efficiencies to our way of working. However, one thing remains constant – the performance appraisal process. Now, consider Generation Y for a moment, will they be content to wait for their annual or bi-annual review to find out how they’re doing? Probably not! […]
Blog: Is HR really out of touch?
The study by Kenexa reported on HRZone last week has some interesting findings but I doubt it comes as a huge shock to HR. HR has a massive role to play in building a high-performing culture and contributing to the bottom line – but at the moment so many HR professionals are managing the nuts […]
Dealing with the stress factor
Once upon a time, musculoskeletal problems such as bad backs brought on by physical labour were the main cause of long-term sickness absence. But not any more. According to the latest survey from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, stress is now – for the first time ever – the most common cause of […]