In a Nutshell: Five ways to boost employee performance
Boost employee performance by aligning individual goals with business objectives. This five-step approach—clarify organizational targets, cascade goals to teams, develop manager skills, focus on results, and embed performance management—helps employees understand how their work impacts the bottom line.
CEO Insight: Stinkyink’s John Sollars on staff motivation and development
Stinkyink CEO John Sollars prioritizes staff development over rigid performance goals, allowing employees to grow through varied responsibilities and mentoring. He emphasizes pushing team members beyond their comfort zones, citing success stories of employees advancing into management roles and discovering new career directions.
The art of influencing and making your ideas stick
Discover how to make your ideas stick using six proven principles of influence: reciprocity, scarcity, authority, liking, social proof, and consistency. Learn from behavioral science expert Steve Martin why information alone isn’t enough to persuade others, and actionable strategies to influence people’s decisions and actions effectively.
News: NHS “pay cartel” proposes staff pay cuts and longer hours
NHS managers across 19 South West trusts have formed a “pay cartel” proposing staff pay cuts of up to 5%, longer working hours, and reduced holiday entitlement to address financial pressures. The scheme could affect 1.5 million health service employees, potentially ending the national Agenda for Change contract.
News: Pressure mounts on Adidas over alleged worker exploitation
Adidas faces mounting pressure from protesters and campaigners over allegations of worker exploitation at its factories in developing countries. The Olympic sponsor’s suppliers pay workers as little as 34p per hour, according to anti-poverty groups, violating agreements to provide living wages for merchandise manufacturers.
News: Start-up scheme targeted at redundant public sector workers
A new government-backed scheme is offering redundant public sector workers support to start their own businesses, including mentoring, business planning advice, and access to Barclays-backed financing across economically disadvantaged regions.
Ask the Expert: Can a pregnant worker sue for unfair dismissal after 4 month’s employment?
A pregnant employee dismissed after four months can sue for unfair dismissal despite not meeting the standard one-year employment requirement. Pregnancy-related dismissals are automatically unfair under UK law and exempt from length-of-service requirements, allowing her to pursue both unfair dismissal and discrimination claims.
Blog: Why ‘The town that never retired’ should be compulsory viewing for HR pros
BBC’s ‘The town that never retired’ offers HR professionals crucial insights into age diversity, workplace stereotypes, and the challenges of an aging workforce. The programme reveals key issues including skills gaps, generational dynamics, and the need to prepare older workers for longer careers.
Blog: Crappy performance management rule 4 – Job descriptions should be old and vague
Outdated and vague job descriptions undermine performance management effectiveness. Clear, regularly updated job descriptions with accurate titles serve as a foundation for engaging employees and attracting the right candidates to your organization.
Blog: Punk rock HR – Top 10 HR tips from music
Discover 10 punk rock-inspired HR tips covering relationships, motivation, innovation, and strategy. Learn unconventional business lessons from iconic music artists to transform your leadership approach and workplace culture.
Legal Insight: How to accommodate Ramadan
Employers should reasonably accommodate Muslim employees observing Ramadan, which runs July 20-August 18 this year. While no legal right to religious time off exists, fair treatment requires considering flexible shifts, adjusted hours, or meal breaks to support staff during the fasting month and maintain workplace morale.
How to cope with Friday the 13th (and other superstitions)
Fear of Friday the 13th, known as triskaidekaphobia, affects many people’s decisions and behavior despite evidence showing no increase in accidents on this day. Cognitive behavioral techniques combined with acceptance-based approaches can help overcome superstitious beliefs that limit work performance and daily life.
News: New tribunal fees spark outrage across political spectrum
New employment tribunal fees of up to £1,200 have triggered criticism from unions and employers alike. While labor groups warn the charges will prevent vulnerable workers from pursuing valid claims, business representatives argue many claimants will be exempt anyway, undermining the policy’s effectiveness.
News: Whitehall cleaners demand living wage from ministers
Over 150 Whitehall cleaners delivered letters to government ministers and the UK’s most senior judge demanding payment of the London Living Wage of £8.30 per hour, more than double the national minimum wage. The campaign aims to improve pay for outsourced cleaning staff working in government buildings.
Three tips to ensure your social recruitment strategy is effective
Discover three essential tips to improve your social recruitment strategy and attract top talent. Learn how to optimize your website, enhance candidate experience, and effectively use social media platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook to identify and engage qualified job candidates while reducing recruitment costs.
Blog: How to offer a benefits package that staff actually want
Creating an effective employee benefits package requires understanding what your staff actually values. While employers often prioritize pensions, younger employees prioritize bonuses and flexibility, while older workers focus on retirement savings. Tailoring benefits to your workforce’s age and preferences improves retention and engagement.
TV Review: Show Me Your Money
Channel 4’s “Show Me Your Money” follows Pimlico Plumbers’ radical experiment where employees publicly disclose salaries and negotiate fair pay redistribution. The documentary reveals tensions, wage gaps, and conflicting priorities as workers decide their own worth.
Blog: Exclusive HRzone survey – What’s your leadership style?
Discover your leadership style through an exclusive HRzone survey exploring five key management roles—Prophet, Storyteller, Coach, Strategist, and Pilot. Learn which leadership competencies are strongest among HR professionals and identify areas for development to build high-performance cultures.
News: Equal pay TV experiment branded “risky” by legal expert
An employment lawyer has warned that a Channel 4 programme featuring Pimlico Plumbers employees sharing salary information was risky and could harm the business. The expert cautioned that wage transparency may trigger staff unhappiness and increased turnover, though the company’s founder defended the equal pay experiment as beneficial.
News: G4S to face penalties over Olympic staffing failures
G4S faces financial penalties after failing to recruit and train enough security staff for the London 2012 Olympics, forcing the government to deploy an additional 3,500 soldiers. The private contractor delivered only 4,000 of its contracted 10,400 guards, citing recruitment and training challenges.
