News: PM pledges legal changes to allow crosses at work
Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to change UK law to allow employees to wear religious symbols at work, even if two British Christians lose their case at the European Court of Human Rights. The commitment comes as Nadia Eweida and Shirley Chaplin challenge their employers’ bans on wearing crucifixes.
Blog: Sacked for acting on instinct: Lessons from a lifeguard
A Florida lifeguard was fired for saving someone’s life outside his designated zone, and his coworkers were fired for supporting him. The incident sparked public outrage, forcing management to rehire them and revealing how poor listening skills and rigid rule-enforcement damage workplace relationships and company reputation.
Blog: Is an anti-bullying policy enough?
Workplace bullying is a cultural issue that cannot be solved through policy alone. Research shows that even employees who aren’t directly bullied but work in bullying environments are more likely to leave. Organizations must address this by defining desired behaviors, rewarding positive conduct, and taking decisive action against violations.
Let the Games commence – But make sure you plan for them
As the Olympics approach, businesses face significant challenges from travel disruption, staffing shortages, and holiday requests. Planning ahead is essential to minimize impact, with research showing companies that prepare effectively can boost revenues and employee morale.
News: Pay and promotion not based on merit, believe UK staff
Two-thirds of UK employees doubt that pay and promotion are merit-based, according to a Towers Watson survey of 2,628 workers. The study found that 66% see no clear link between performance and pay, while only 32% believe their employer promotes the most qualified staff, leaving many feeling stuck in their roles.
News: National Grid boss publicly accused of sexual harrassment
National Grid chief executive Steven Holliday was publicly accused of sexual harassment at a shareholders meeting, with a woman claiming he ruined her daughter’s career after she refused his sexual demands. National Grid said it investigated the allegations in 2010 and found them without foundation.
Blog: Debunking 5 employee performance myths
Discover the truth about employee performance management. This article debunks five common myths, from the ineffectiveness of mission statements alone to the importance of translating company vision into individual performance goals and acting on employee engagement survey results.
Blog: The Olympics – A matter of trust?
How companies handle Olympic celebrations reveals their workplace culture and approach to employee trust. Organisations that embrace the Games through shared viewing opportunities and flexible working practices send a powerful message to current staff and future talent, particularly Generation Y who seek transparency and flexibility alongside competitive compensation.
Talent Spot: Stephen Kelly, chief people officer at Logica
Stephen Kelly, chief people officer at Logica, believes HR has significant influence on business success, having shaped talent strategies at major British brands including the BBC, BT, and British Rail. His career demonstrates how strategic people management and employee development drive organizational growth across diverse sectors.
In a Nutshell: Five tips to motivate yourself and others
An HR director shares five practical tips for boosting motivation at work, inspired by a children’s book about a dog who can fly when happy. Her advice emphasizes finding joy in your role, building authentic relationships, and inspiring others through storytelling and engagement.
How to get a seat on the board
HR professionals are severely underrepresented on UK corporate boards, with less than 1% of FTSE 50 board members having HR backgrounds despite the critical importance of talent management. This underrepresentation reflects a broader perception that HR professionals lack strategic business relevance and remain disconnected from senior leadership decision-making.
News: Diamond to receive £2m payoff
Bob Diamond will receive a £2 million payoff following his resignation as Barclays chief executive, though he has forfeited bonuses worth up to £20 million amid the bank’s rate-rigging scandal. The payment equals roughly a year’s salary and pension contributions, approximately double his contractual entitlement.
News: TUC to replace Barber with first female director general
The TUC has appointed Frances O’Grady as its first female general secretary, replacing Brendan Barber at the end of the year. O’Grady, who joined the TUC in the mid-1990s, is regarded as a skilled diplomat with strong grassroots connections and will lead unions through ongoing austerity challenges.
Blog: The importance of seeing the why in what we do
Understanding the “why” behind tasks is crucial for accountability and performance. When people see purpose in their work, they’re more motivated to meet deadlines and deliver quality results, rather than remaining resistant and making excuses about capability or capacity.
Blog: Fact – Improve management practice by 1% or hire 25% more staff
Research shows that improving management practices by just one point is worth as much as hiring 25% more staff or increasing capital investment by 65%. The key isn’t knowing what good management looks like—it’s actually implementing performance planning, coaching, and evaluation consistently.
Podcast: LOCOG’s CEO Paul Deighton talks diversity and inclusion
Paul Deighton, CEO of London 2012 organizers LOCOG, discusses embedding diversity and inclusion in organizational culture. In this exclusive podcast interview, he shares how the Games actively recruited from diverse talent pools and the leadership legacy he aims to leave.
Talking Point: What’s happened to business ethics?
Recent corporate scandals at Barclays, News International, and GlaxoSmithKline reveal deeper issues with business ethics and management standards. Rather than simply replacing executives, organizations must address weak management structures, poor ethical leadership, and lack of professional accountability that enable misconduct throughout companies.
HRD Insight: BP Exploration’s Jane Burt on being a charity trustee
Jane Burt, an HR professional at BP Exploration, explains how her corporate experience as a charity trustee for CLIC Sargent enhances both her career development and the organization’s strategic direction, while helping bridge critical skills gaps in the third sector.
News: Whitehall shared service centres fail to deliver expected savings
Whitehall’s shared service centres have failed to deliver promised savings, with a Public Accounts Committee report revealing that setup costs exceeded £1.4 billion and some departments actually lost money. Of five participating government departments, only the Ministry of Justice broke even, while the Department for Transport and Research Councils UK incurred net costs of £255 million.
Ask the Expert: Is someone sacked for gross misconduct entitled to unused leave?
Employees dismissed for gross misconduct retain statutory rights to payment for unused annual leave under the Working Time Regulations 1998. Handbook clauses forfeiting this entitlement are unenforceable, and relying on them exposes employers to unpaid holiday pay claims.
