News: Lessons from IBM in going social
IBM’s social business strategy emphasizes culture, leadership, and embedding social practices into daily workflows. With 4 million IBMers using social media internally, the company prioritizes engagement, reputation management, and analytics to drive business impact across the enterprise.
News: Hospital staff stick two fingers up to Kit Kat reward
Torbay Hospital faced backlash after rewarding staff with 60p Kit Kat vouchers for winning a prestigious NHS award, while managers who attended the ceremony received a meal. Union representatives reported dozens of complaints about what workers called an insensitive token of appreciation.
Blog: When laying off staff, remember – people are watching
When laying off staff, executives must remember that employees are watching how leadership handles the decision. Survivors plan their exits while the company’s employer brand suffers, making it crucial to address retention and rebuild confidence in the organization’s direction.
TV Review: The Apprentice Week 11 – Think strategically
In The Apprentice’s penultimate episode, the five remaining candidates create affordable luxury product ranges. Team Stirling develops a male grooming brand with a solid business plan but uninspired branding, while Team Phoenix struggles with focus on their confectionery concept despite creative execution.
Legal Insight: Expect the unexpected when hiring
Even well-organized recruitment processes can face unexpected challenges. From reference disputes and discrimination claims to unauthorized job announcements, employers must plan ahead and establish clear policies—including probationary periods—to handle hiring complications professionally.
Blog: Can you really learn to have confidence?
Confidence is not innate—it’s a learnable skill that develops through attitude and mindset. Everyone starts on equal footing, and you can build self-confidence at any life stage by controlling your thoughts, improving body language, and developing a positive self-image.
Blog: Steve Jobs and valuing the ‘B’ players
Steve Jobs’ demanding leadership style motivated top performers but alienated B players, who constitute the majority of organizational capacity. While A players are crucial, B players are essential for grinding out the work that enables stars to succeed, making their engagement and support vital for long-term success.
The value of networking
Networking builds valuable professional relationships beyond traditional face-to-face interactions, with success depending on the value you create for others rather than follower counts. Effective networkers share knowledge, offer expertise, and strengthen both strong and weak ties to unlock career opportunities and innovation.
In a Nutshell: Five tips for doing an MBA while working full-time
Balancing an MBA with full-time work requires strategic planning and support. An HR professional who recently completed her Open University MBA shares five essential tips: align your studies with career goals, leverage online resources and support networks, secure commitment from family and employer, apply theories to your workplace, and embrace the learning journey.
Book Review: Doing the right thing: The importance of wellbeing in the workplace
Theo Theobald and Cary Cooper’s book explores how workplace wellbeing has become essential to counteract decades of pursuing wealth and status at any cost. The authors provide practical strategies for recognizing workplace toxicity and implementing positive change, emphasizing individual responsibility in reshaping workplace culture and relationships.
Talent Spot: Lisa Sarjeant, HR director at the CIPD
Lisa Sarjeant is HR director at the CIPD, Europe’s largest chartered professional HR body, where she sits on the executive team and shapes organizational strategy. She has been with the organization since 1990, witnessing its evolution through mergers and gaining its royal charter in 2000, while her own role has expanded to include oversight of facilities and HR.
News: Former Olympus CEO settles unfair dismissal case out-of-court
Former Olympus CEO Michael Woodford has settled his unfair dismissal case against the Japanese company out of court. Woodford was fired two weeks after exposing a $1.7bn accounting scandal. The settlement terms remain undisclosed, though reports suggest he could receive up to £10m in remaining contract pay.
News: 60% of workers plan to watch Olympics – with or without consent
Nearly 60% of UK employees plan to watch the Olympics during work hours, prompting many employers to offer flexible working arrangements. A CIPD and Hays survey found that over half of organizations will accommodate homeworking or flexible schedules, though some restrict leave and warn staff about unauthorized absences and disciplinary consequences.
News: Latest raft of employer-backed technical colleges unveiled
The number of employer-backed University Technical Colleges is expanding to 34, nearly doubling current numbers to offer vocational training in engineering, manufacturing, construction, and digital technology. Students can transfer from age 14, with local employers shaping curricula and providing industry-relevant skills training alongside traditional GCSEs and A-levels.
Blog: The disciplinary power of slapping someone’s legs with a wet fish
Disciplinary procedures can be more effective by pairing formal warnings with tailored actions like stricter supervision, training requirements, or withdrawal of privileges—rather than relying solely on written warnings that employees may dismiss as meaningless paperwork.
Blog: Punk rock HR – A no-nonsense guide to hiring, inspiring and firing
Discover “Punk Rock People Management,” a no-nonsense guide to hiring, inspiring, and firing that strips HR leadership down to simplicity, brevity, and authenticity. This practical resource covers the essential HR cycle in concise, two-page chapters ideal for busy professionals.
Investing in your career with an MBA
An MBA strengthens your ability to advance in management careers by developing strategic financial skills, enhancing communication abilities, and providing access to leading academics and peer networks. This credential helps professionals overcome career ceilings and gain competitive advantages in job markets while improving both personal satisfaction and organizational impact.
A typical HRD: Part 3 – Small-to-medium enterprises
HR directors in small-to-medium enterprises typically possess entrepreneurial mindsets and self-sufficiency, handling diverse responsibilities from talent management to strategic planning without specialist support. The SME sector increasingly attracts ambitious HR professionals seeking greater autonomy and direct business impact, though career advancement often requires eventual transition to larger organizations.
News: Olympus whistleblower hearing gets under way
Former Olympus CEO Michael Woodford is seeking up to $60 million in compensation after exposing a $1.7 billion accounting scandal. A five-day employment tribunal hearing begins this week in London to determine why he was dismissed after just two weeks of leading the company.
News: HMRC proposes to tighten IR35 contractor rules
HMRC proposes new IR35 rules requiring organizations to deduct income tax and national insurance from fees paid to personal services companies of “controlling persons”—defined as those with managerial control over significant staff or budgets. Microbusinesses with fewer than 10 employees will be exempted from the measure.
