In a Nutshell: Seven tips for managing stress-related illness
Discover seven practical strategies for managing stress-related illness in the workplace, from giving genuine positive feedback to staff and preventing long hours culture to ensuring regular breaks and communicating effectively with employees.
Blog: Most employers spend more on office cleaning than staff motivation
Many employers invest more in office cleaning than employee motivation, despite research showing that motivated staff directly drive business success. Recognition remains the most effective tool for boosting employee motivation, yet 65% of workers report feeling unappreciated by their employers.
Blog: Would you consider crowdsourcing staff performance feedback?
Crowdsourcing employee feedback offers a continuous, organic alternative to traditional annual reviews, allowing peers and managers to share real-time praise and insights. This approach addresses the anxiety and fear surrounding conventional performance reviews by creating an ongoing dialogue rather than a single stressful evaluation event.
News Analysis: Could Ceridian give SAP and Oracle a run for their HCM money?
Ceridian’s acquisition of Dayforce positions the cloud-based HR and payroll provider to compete with SAP and Oracle in the HCM market. The combined offering will provide workforce management, HR services, payroll, and benefits functionality, with talent management modules expected in 2013, though analysts warn gaps remain in talent acquisition and social capabilities.
Talent Spot: Rebekah Wallis, HR director at Ricoh
Rebekah Wallis, HR director at Ricoh, has led multiple company integration programmes over four years, supporting staff transitions as the printing and IT services firm expanded through acquisitions. Her career in HR began at British Gas during privatisation and has focused on applying psychology insights to organizational change.
Book Review: Beyond performance management by Jeremy Hope and Steve Player
Beyond Performance Management by Jeremy Hope and Steve Player challenges conventional management tools, revealing that only 30% of change programs using them succeed. The book examines 40 popular management approaches and five critical issues including strategic planning, performance measurement, and learning development, with particular insights on why performance appraisals often fail.
MP lobbies to permit maternity leave for mums with surrogate babies
An MP is campaigning to close a legal loophole that denies mothers of surrogate-born children maternity leave entitlements that adoptive mothers receive. The push came after a constituent was told by her employer she wasn’t eligible for maternity leave or pay, despite adopting children carrying such rights.
EC campaign unveiled to promote funded international work placements
The European Commission is launching its ‘We Mean Business’ campaign to encourage employers to offer fully-funded international work placements to young people. The initiative aims to fund 280,000 placements over two years through existing vocational and higher education programs, boosting skills and employability amid high youth unemployment across Europe.
Blog: Career development part one – Why employers are investing in it
Employers invest in career development to attract top talent, improve retention, and boost organizational performance. Leading professional services firms prioritize career advancement as a key talent management strategy that enables employees to progress quickly and fulfill their potential.
Blog: 10 tips for minimising unfair dismissal claims
Employers can reduce unfair dismissal claims by implementing fair workplace policies, comprehensive employee handbooks, consistent discipline procedures, and regular manager training on employment laws. As of April 2012, employees must work two years before claiming unfair dismissal, though some protected grounds remain unaffected.
Tube maintenance staff to strike next week
London Underground maintenance staff on Tube Lines contracts will strike for 72 hours starting April 17 over a pension and benefits dispute. The RMT union, representing about 1,000 workers on the Piccadilly, Northern, and Jubilee lines, is demanding access to Transport for London’s pension scheme and equal travel concessions.
Is there such a thing as a typical HR career path?
There is no single typical HR career path. Entry routes vary widely, from graduate schemes to career changes from other sectors, and HR professionals often bring experience from operations, consultancy, customer service, or administration backgrounds.
Graduate starting salaries lowest for nearly a decade
Graduate starting salaries are predicted to reach their lowest level in nearly a decade, with median pay frozen at £25,000 as employers take advantage of a buyer’s market and high competition for jobs among graduates.
Inequalities watchdog slammed over pay gap
The UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission admitted it pays male workers more than females and white employees more than ethnic minorities, breaching its own pay discrimination guidelines. The watchdog faces criticism for the disparities revealed through Freedom of Information payroll data.
Blog: Crappy performance management rule 3 – Set objectives that staff can never hit
Setting unachievable objectives that fall outside employees’ control is a common performance management mistake. This practice undermines motivation and accountability while failing to drive organizational success.
Blog: Boris and Ken – Lessons in leadership
The London mayoral race between Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone reveals a critical leadership failure: both candidates prioritize personal ego and political attacks over serving the public good. Outstanding leadership requires focusing on developing others and team performance, not individual achievement and rivalry.
The secret to employee engagement? Just listen
Engaged employees generate significantly more revenue and take fewer sick days than disengaged staff. However, many organizations struggle to understand what employees truly feel about their work. The solution? Listen to your workforce through focus groups and surveys to boost engagement and morale.
Does affirmative action in recruitment work?
Research comparing UK and US employment data shows affirmative action has significantly reduced African-American unemployment, while the UK’s lack of equivalent policies correlates with higher joblessness among black workers. Analysis of 2.7 million survey responses reveals greater ethnic inequality persists in Britain than America across gender lines.
Mini workers threaten strikes after claims of being denied loo breaks
Mini workers at BMW’s Oxford plant are threatening their first strike in 30 years after rejecting a pay deal by 97%, citing disputes over the actual percentage increase and claims they must ask permission to use toilets during shifts.
Living Leader Learnings: Why saying ‘well done’ just isn’t enough
Generic praise like “well done” lacks impact because it’s often perceived as insincere and fails to clarify what specifically deserves recognition. Effective leaders deliver specific, genuine feedback that highlights exact behaviors or outcomes they value, helping team members understand what to repeat and feel truly appreciated.
