News: Male boards ‘appoint candidates in their own image’
Male-dominated boards are holding back women’s advancement to senior positions by hiring candidates similar to themselves, according to Cranfield University research. The study found that while women reach candidate long-lists, subjective selection processes disadvantage them at later recruitment stages, with boards favoring those who “fit in” with existing directors.
News: Food employers join campaign to tackle youth unemployment
Major food retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer have joined a campaign to provide pre-employment skills training to unemployed young people. The “Feeding Britain’s Future – Skills for Work Week” initiative, launched by thinktank IGD, will see 23 food and grocery organisations offer training sessions from September 17-21 to help 16-to-24-year-olds develop the skills needed for employment.
Blog: How Malmaison’s employee incentive scheme ‘Wow’-ed customers
Malmaison’s ‘Wow’ employee incentive scheme drove over 8,000 customer recognition moments by empowering staff to deliver exceptional service and give complimentary items. The program reduced service complaints from 69% to 17%, lowered staff turnover by 17%, and increased repeat business by 51% for a cost of just £6,500.
Blog: Seven tips for navigating murky M&A waters
Mike Lynch’s departure from Hewlett-Packard a year after HP’s £7bn acquisition of Autonomy highlights critical HR challenges in mergers and acquisitions. A robust HR strategy and early employee engagement are essential to navigate cultural differences, retain talent, and maximize post-merger success.
Legal Insight: Homeworking during the Olympics
Employers allowing staff to work from home during the Olympics must ensure compliance with employment law and health and safety regulations. This includes conducting risk assessments, providing adequate equipment, and maintaining the same employee protections as office-based workers, even for temporary arrangements.
Analysis: A Rypple effect – Spotify goes social
Spotify deployed Rypple, Salesforce’s HR system, to help its globally distributed workforce collaborate more effectively. The platform enables employees to share quarterly targets, give real-time feedback, and publicly recognize colleagues’ achievements through gamification features.
Ask the Expert: What is the holiday situation for sick workers going through redundancy?
When a redundant employee has been on long-term sick leave and didn’t take accrued holidays, they may be entitled to carry over untaken leave from the previous year under the Working Time Regulations, though the legal position remains uncertain. Employers should consider a risk-averse approach by paying out both years’ accrued holiday entitlements upon termination.
News: Three police forces adopt shared HR services for first time
Three UK police forces—Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire—are adopting a shared HR system called Origin for the first time, a £2.3 million deal with Capita expected to save approximately £900,000 annually once fully implemented.
News: Unions call for urgent talks with HP to save UK jobs
UK unions are calling for urgent talks with HP to protect up to 1,600 jobs threatened by the company’s global restructuring plan. HP has announced plans to cut 8% of its workforce worldwide by the end of 2014, prompting Unite and the Public and Commercial Services Union to pledge resistance using “every means possible.”
Analysis: SAP outlines its cloud-based HCM apps strategy
SAP is expanding its cloud-based HR strategy by combining its core HR capabilities with SuccessFactors’ talent management expertise following the acquisition. The company now offers cloud global payroll, Employee Central, and integration tools, with built-in data privacy features to address regulatory concerns.
Blog: You may call yourself an HR business partner, but are you – really?
Simply changing an HR generalist’s title to Business Partner without redefining responsibilities and organizational alignment fails to create genuine value. True HR business partners must demonstrate measurable impact, build real relationships with stakeholders, and align HR strategies with overall business priorities.
Blog: Would you win top prize at the Chelsea Flower Show?
Cleve West won best in show at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for the second year running with his garden celebrating Brewin Dolphin’s 250th anniversary. His success resulted from passion, teamwork, meticulous design, attention to detail, and exceptional plant care—offering lessons in leadership and project management.
Case Study: Managing seasonal workers
Heritage Attractions, which operates UK landmarks like Land’s End and John O’Groats, manages seasonal workforce challenges by implementing time-and-attendance software. The system streamlines payroll processing for over 100 temporary summer staff across multiple shift patterns, saving significant administrative time and reducing payroll errors.
TV Review: The Apprentice Week 10 – Explain the benefits
In Week 10 of The Apprentice, contestants must partner with businesses to offer discounted deals, emulating services like Groupon. The task tests their sales skills and ability to convince restaurant owners and spa operators to cut prices by 50%, with poor preparation undermining most teams’ efforts.
Blog: Four managerial traits to ensure flexible working works
Successful flexible working depends on four key managerial traits: emotional intelligence, organization, technology proficiency, and effective communication. Managers must adapt their leadership style to monitor employee wellbeing and productivity without direct oversight, ensuring flexible arrangements benefit both workers and employers.
Legal Insight: Pre-Olympic casual worker considerations
Businesses preparing for the Olympics increasingly use casual workers and zero-hours contracts to manage seasonal demand. However, employers should understand the legal implications, including holiday entitlements under umbrella contracts and the risks of worker inexperience or lack of commitment.
In a Nutshell: Five suggestions to make your meetings more effective
Improve your meeting effectiveness with five practical strategies: clearly define objectives beforehand, ensure attendees understand the purpose, set a structured agenda, control discussion flow, and document decisions and action items. These learnable skills help leaders run productive meetings that leave colleagues feeling purposeful and accomplished.
Video Interview: Top tips for dealing with a stressful work environment
Steve Smith and Gayle Robling share expert strategies for managing workplace stress, building mental resilience, and improving employee performance in high-pressure environments.
News: Youth locked out of jobs due to employers’ changing needs
Over 450,000 young people in the UK lack sustained employment experience because the education system hasn’t adapted to employers’ growing demand for soft skills like communication and teamwork. A Work Foundation report warns that early unemployment can damage long-term career prospects, calling for better coordination between schools, employers, and local services.
News: M&S staff up in arms as bonuses cut by two thirds
Marks & Spencer staff are furious after bonuses were slashed by up to two thirds due to falling profits, while Dutch chief executive Marc Bolland remains in line for over £4 million in pay and perks. Full-time employees’ maximum bonus dropped from £350 to £100, sparking angry staff meetings about what workers describe as shabby treatment.
