Blog: Social media and the workforce – Can you hear me now?
Social media has become a critical force in business and workforce engagement, as demonstrated by major companies like Netflix and Verizon that were forced to reverse decisions after public backlash. Organizations can no longer ignore social media’s role in internal communications, employee engagement, and corporate culture, as employees will engage with these platforms regardless of company control.
Trends 2012: The talent issue
As UK economic austerity tightens in 2012, employers face critical talent challenges. Companies are shifting toward short-term contracts and contractors to manage hiring cautiously, while prioritizing staff engagement through improved communication, objective-setting, and performance coaching to maximize productivity.
Coral bets on SaaS-based workforce management system
Coral, the UK’s third-largest bookmaker, deployed WorkPlace System’s SaaS-based workforce management platform across 1,700 betting shops to manage 10,000 employees. The cloud-based system streamlines scheduling, attendance tracking, and staff allocation to reduce costs and improve customer service consistency.
Analysis: Increasingly fragile UK jobs market set to get “much worse”
UK unemployment rose to 8.4% in November, the highest since 1996, with 118,000 job losses in three months. Underemployment and youth joblessness surged while full-time employment fell, signaling a fragile labor market expected to worsen significantly ahead.
Blog: Global recognition stereotyping – don’t believe the lie
Employee recognition transcends cultural boundaries and geographic stereotypes. Research and real-world experience show that workers worldwide, including in Asia/Pacific regions, value appreciation and recognition just as much as Western employees, making global recognition programs equally effective everywhere.
Book Review: How to be good at performance appraisals by Dick Grote
Dick Grote’s “How to be Good at Performance Appraisals” offers practical guidance for managers on conducting effective appraisals and improving employee performance. While his US-based approach is more direct than UK methods, the book provides valuable case studies and emphasizes the importance of preparation, documentation, and constructive feedback. However, a collaborative rather than purely authoritative approach may yield better results.
Update: Unilever workers start 11 days of strikes
Thousands of Unilever workers are striking for 11 days starting January 18 over company plans to close their final salary pension scheme. The action will disrupt production of major brands including Marmite and Dove, with unions claiming the pension changes could cut retirement income by up to 40%.
Talent Spot: Darren Hockaday, HR director at London Overground
Darren Hockaday, HR director at London Overground, emphasizes the importance of staying deeply involved in operations and understanding every role within the organization. His hands-on approach has been essential for managing industrial relations and driving business success in the highly unionized rail industry.
Survey: Do you engage in training and if not, why not?
Nearly two-thirds of HR, payroll, finance and accounting professionals engage in regular training and CPD, according to a survey by The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals. The Institute is seeking to understand why some practitioners don’t pursue ongoing learning and development opportunities.
Tweeter allegedly sacked after admitting depression
A Twitter user claims he was fired three hours after disclosing his depression to his employer, with the company citing poor performance and lack of sales. The dismissal raised questions about workplace discrimination and mental health stigma.
Blog: Is there a link between staff resilience and engagement levels?
Research finds significant links between employee resilience and work engagement, with five resilience components accounting for a third of engagement variance. The study suggests that building resilience—including self-belief, optimism, purposeful direction, challenge orientation, and support-seeking—may help organizations improve employee engagement.
1000s of private sector jobs ‘at risk’ across all industries
The Ministry of Defence plans a second round of military redundancies affecting 2,900 Army positions, 1,000 RAF jobs, and 300 Navy roles. Alongside armed forces cuts, thousands of private sector jobs are also at risk as the MoD outsources operations to private contractors.
Accord Energy Solutions: Becoming an employee-owned company
Accord Energy Solutions transitioned to an employee-owned business model to boost productivity and attract talent in the hydrocarbon accounting sector. Research shows employee-owned companies achieve 19% higher worker productivity and contribute significantly to the economy, making the model both sustainable and beneficial for growth.
Update: Public sector job cuts ‘only just beginning’
The TUC forecasts 710,000 public sector job losses by 2017, up from earlier estimates of 400,000, with the poorest UK regions facing the most devastating impact on employment and local economies.
Health worker fined after illegally accessing patient records
A former health care assistant at Royal Liverpool University Hospital has been fined £500 for illegally accessing patient records of her ex-husband’s family members to obtain their phone numbers. Juliah Kechil was convicted under the Data Protection Act after an investigation revealed she used her smartcard ID to breach confidentiality.
Unemployment to hit 9.3% by 2013, warns economic think tank
Economic think tanks warn the UK may already be in recession, with unemployment expected to reach 9.3% by 2013 as GDP stagnates due to Eurozone uncertainty and weak business confidence. The ITEM Club forecasts only 0.2% growth this year before recovery in 2013.
HMRC staff stage series of lightning strikes
HMRC call centre staff and tax officers staged lightning strikes over concerns about privatisation plans, with the PCS union warning of significant service disruption. Further action is planned for January 31st, coinciding with the Self Assessment tax return deadline.
Understanding ‘what good looks like’ when hiring
Defining what good looks like in hiring means understanding your organization’s specific business, culture, and systems. Performance is situational—the best talent succeeds in the right environment, not everywhere. By identifying the traits and values that drive success in your unique context, you can hire more effectively and reduce costly turnover.
Blog: Why you need a mobile recruitment strategy – today
Nearly half of UK internet users access the web via mobile devices, with 2.8 million job seekers using mobile in their search. Despite this, 96% of top companies lack mobile recruitment websites, making a mobile career site an essential recruitment marketing strategy today.
Tax reform in works to create “John Lewis economy”
The Deputy Prime Minister unveiled tax reform plans to encourage employee share ownership, aiming to create a “John Lewis economy” where workers own stakes in their companies. The government plans to introduce a right for employees to request shares, citing research showing that companies with employee ownership have higher productivity, lower turnover, and better resilience during economic downturns.
