Blog: The power of story-telling
Storytelling captivates audiences in ways that PowerPoint presentations often cannot. By removing visual aids and relying on narrative, speakers connect more authentically with listeners, making their messages more memorable and impactful.
Talent Spot: Philippe Ferrie, head of HR at Vallourec
Philippe Ferrie, head of HR at Vallourec, successfully led the implementation of a global HR information system across the company’s decentralized operations in just five months. Drawing on principles of respect and active listening, Ferrie has built a career navigating major organizational challenges at manufacturing and pharmaceutical giants including Rio Tinto, Sanofi, and DuPont.
Blog: Seven reasons to employ a pregnant CEO
Employing a pregnant woman in a senior leadership role challenges gender bias in corporate decision-making and creates significant organizational benefits, from increased employee loyalty to improved meritocracy and valuable stretch opportunities for teams.
In a Nutshell: Four tips for creating a positive company culture
Hilti’s head of people and culture development shares four essential tips for building positive company culture: engaging employees’ emotions and values, keeping practices simple and pragmatic, welcoming critical feedback as a gift, and developing self-awareness among leaders and staff.
News: Number of women on FTSE 100 boards leaps by a third
Female board representation at FTSE 100 companies surged by a third in one year to 16.7%, driven by Lord Davies’s voluntary targets aimed at reaching 25% by 2015. The improvement comes as UK companies seek to avoid potential EU-imposed mandatory quotas on board diversity.
News: Sick days cost UK employers £89m per year
UK employers lose £89 million annually to sick days, though absence rates have declined over the past five years. A survey found employees took an average of 6.4 days off due to illness in 2011, down from 8.3 days in 2007, with public sector absence rates remaining higher than the private sector.
Talking Point: Is it better to outsource training or offer it in-house?
HR directors report that while employee performance has improved, many staff aren’t working to full potential. This article examines the pros and cons of in-house training versus outsourcing to help organizations maximize their training ROI and boost productivity effectively.
Blog: Are employers offering fathers enough support?
Research reveals that many fathers feel insufficient support from employers, with 54% of fathers with children under one feeling they don’t spend enough time with their kids. New studies show fathers who lack work-life balance policies experience low engagement, high stress, and reduced job motivation, suggesting organizations could benefit from implementing stronger parental support policies.
Blog: Three ideas for retaining young talent when career paths are scarce
Organizations facing career path scarcity can retain young talent through meaningful recognition and feedback, continued skill development, and creative work opportunities like dedicated innovation time. As Baby Boomers increasingly dominate the workforce, these strategies help keep motivated Gen Y employees engaged despite limited advancement opportunities.
Academic Insight: Charles Handy on leadership, work and well-being
Charles Handy, a renowned organizational behavior philosopher, discusses how capitalism must evolve to serve society while balancing self-interest with altruism. He argues that modern corporations prioritize shareholders over community, and advocates for a new capitalism driven by entrepreneurs creating genuine value and jobs.
How to tackle your first 100 days as HR director – Part 1
New HR directors face significant pressure to deliver results in their first 100 days. Success requires stepping back from immediate firefighting to create an intelligent plan that anticipates challenges, establishes clear priorities, and positions you as a strategic leader rather than a task-focused operator.
News: HMRC to probe recruitment industry’s £390m tax avoidance scheme
HMRC is launching an investigation into UK recruitment agencies accused of running a £390 million annual tax avoidance scheme involving “travel and subsistence” expenses for temporary workers. The practice allows recruiters to claim excessive tax relief while paying temps a fraction of their entitled wages, potentially violating minimum wage laws.
News: Employers delude themselves over staff engagement levels
A new survey reveals a stark disconnect: while most employers claim positive workplace relations, only 36% of employees trust senior leaders and 58% feel indifferent about their work. The gap highlights the erosion of trust and the urgent need for organizations to improve corporate culture from the top down.
Blog: Cracking employee communication codes QR-style
QR codes offer a simple yet effective way to enhance employee communication by linking printed materials directly to online content. When used strategically with clear calls to action, these free barcodes can boost engagement and drive employees to key resources via smartphone scans.
Blog: Five ego traits to drop if you want to become a better team player
Identify five negative ego traits—needing to be right, feeling entitled, gossiping, and others—that undermine teamwork. Learn how to recognize and overcome these behaviors to become a more collaborative and effective team member.
Legal Insight: The protected conversation issue
Protected conversations are a proposed legal measure allowing UK employers to discuss severance and termination deals with employees without those conversations being used as evidence in subsequent unfair dismissal tribunal claims, providing significant protection in constructive dismissal scenarios.
Ask the Expert: Can we recruit a leader if a team member is off sick?
Employers can recruit a team leader while an employee is on sick leave, but should communicate openly with the absent employee about the temporary nature of the role and ensure they have equal opportunity to apply for the position to avoid potential discrimination claims.
News: Shop floor workers make better leaders than general managers
Research from Cass Business School and the University of Sheffield shows that leaders with hands-on experience in their industry outperform career general managers. A 60-year analysis of Formula One revealed teams led by former drivers or mechanics won twice as many races, suggesting expert leaders with deep technical knowledge are more effective than pure generalists.
News: Police forces consider canning G4S shared services deal
Three UK police forces are reconsidering a £73 million deal to outsource back office jobs to G4S, following the company’s Olympic security staffing failures. The chief constables of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire police are reviewing whether to proceed with the plan to outsource 1,100 HR, finance and IT positions.
News: RIP Jackie Orme, former head of the CIPD
Jackie Orme, former chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, has died at age 46 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Orme led the CIPD from 2008 until her diagnosis in 2011, and had spent 17 years working in HR across major organizations including PepsiCo.
