Blog: 7 guidelines for employee engagement – lessons from Stryker
Stryker’s success in employee engagement stems from seven key guidelines: securing unwavering organizational commitment and executive support, following up on employee surveys, training managers, and ensuring engagement responsibility is shared across all levels.
Book Review: The Hedgehog Effect by Manfred Kets de Vries
Leadership expert Manfred Kets de Vries explores why teams become dysfunctional in The Hedgehog Effect, using Schopenhauer’s hedgehog metaphor to explain interpersonal dynamics. He presents group coaching techniques to build trust and create high-performing teams in an increasingly interdependent world.
Eradicating human trafficking from the recruitment supply chain
Over 27 million people are trafficked annually, making modern slavery a £20 billion illegal industry. Companies can help eradicate human trafficking from supply chains by adopting ethical recruitment practices and supporting initiatives like the Athens Ethical Principles, which establish zero-tolerance policies toward organizations benefiting from exploitation.
70,000 charity jobs lost last year due to Government spending cuts
Government spending cuts have resulted in 70,000 charity sector job losses over the past year, according to a new study. Employment in the voluntary sector fell 8.7%, marking the third consecutive quarter of decline, with female workers disproportionately affected.
Trends 2012: Employment tribunals
An employment tribunal awarded a record £4.5 million in compensation to Dr Eva Michalak for prolonged sex and race discrimination by Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. The tribunal found she suffered devastating psychological illness from false allegations and harassment following her maternity leave and equal pay request.
Blog: Question for 2102 – why would someone work for you?
IBM’s former chief Samuel Palmisano identified four strategic questions for business growth, with “Why would somebody work for you?” being crucial for HR leaders. Organizations must clearly articulate their employee value proposition to attract and retain talent in competitive markets.
PM U-turns on plans to scrap 50p tax rate – till 2015 at least
Prime Minister David Cameron will delay scrapping the 50p income tax rate until at least 2015, citing political concerns about appearing to favor the wealthy during economic difficulties. Simultaneously, he announced plans to give shareholders binding votes on executive pay to address excessive bonuses.
20,000 financial services jobs to be axed by end of quarter
UK financial services firms plan to cut 11,000 jobs in the first quarter amid Eurozone crisis concerns and economic uncertainty, accelerating layoffs that have eliminated 101,000 positions since 2008.
Ask the Expert: Can we sack someone for performing badly?
Employees with over one year’s service have legal protection against unfair dismissal for poor performance. Dismissal requires following a fair process including investigation, documented performance issues, reasonable timeframe for improvement, and support—not immediate termination.
Salesforce to Rypple gamification and social media out into HCM space
Salesforce acquired Toronto-based HR software provider Rypple, renaming it SuccessForce to compete in the human capital management space. The acquisition extends Salesforce’s Social Enterprise strategy, emphasizing gamification and social media capabilities within HCM applications rather than traditional payroll and benefits functions.
Blog: Should banks cut executive pay?
UK insurers are pressuring major banks to cut executive pay to restore investor confidence and rebalance shareholder dividends. The move aims to address public concerns about banker compensation and help rebuild trust in the financial sector.
PM’s “war” on health and safety branded “appalling and unhelpful”
Prime Minister David Cameron’s pledges to dismantle health and safety regulations have been criticized as “appalling and unhelpful” by industry experts who argue the legislative system exists to prevent workplace deaths and injuries, not burden businesses.
Former CEO turned whistleblower to sue Olympus for unfair dismissal
Former Olympus CEO Michael Woodford, who exposed a $1.7 billion accounting scandal, plans to sue the company for unfair dismissal after failing to regain shareholder support. Woodford says there are no grounds for his October termination and will seek damages in UK courts.
Start-up NI holiday created only 1,000 jobs, admits PM
The Coalition Government’s start-up National Insurance holiday scheme created only 1,000 jobs since its launch, Prime Minister David Cameron has admitted. Introduced to encourage new companies to hire employees, the initiative proved too complicated and overly targeted, falling far short of expectations with just 7,000 participating businesses instead of the predicted 400,000.
UK’s largest employer bodies endorse ‘Youth Contract’
The UK’s four largest employer organisations have endorsed the Government’s Youth Contract scheme, which aims to ensure every young person is earning or learning. The initiative provides nearly half-a-million placements including apprenticeships, work experience, and cash incentives to encourage youth employment.
Trends 2012: Health and wellbeing
Workplace wellbeing has shifted from a discretionary expense to a strategic business investment focused on productivity and reducing absenteeism. In 2012, organizations are scrutinizing wellbeing spending more closely and expanding outsourced services beyond reactive support to include broader health and organizational development initiatives.
Blog: Tackling organisational career management
Organisational career management aligns employee aspirations with business objectives to boost commitment, productivity, and retention. However, HR faces five key challenges in implementation, including conflicting organisational and individual needs, competing employee interests, and role constraints that limit development opportunities.
Analysis: Did the public sector pensions battle really need to be fought?
A pensions consultant argues the government’s public sector pension reforms may save little money overall, as the cost per worker remains virtually unchanged despite raising the retirement age from 60 to 67. However, the Treasury disputes this analysis, claiming it overlooks higher employee contributions and other reform measures that will deliver billions in savings.
EU proposals could “kill off” workplace pensions
Proposed EU regulations requiring higher funding levels for pension schemes could force UK employers to inject up to £500 billion, potentially causing them to close occupational pensions altogether, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers and industry groups.
HR exec sues for constructive dismissal over LinkedIn profile
HR executive John Flexman has sued gas exploration firm BG Group for constructive dismissal after being disciplined for uploading his CV to LinkedIn and indicating interest in other job opportunities, in what’s believed to be the first UK case of its kind.
