Blog: Business innovation – your talent management strategy is key
Successful business innovation depends on talent management strategy and employee engagement. Companies like Amazon thrive by attracting innovative talent and fostering invention, while others like Kodak failed due to slow adaptation. Organizations must align their human capital strategy with business goals or risk being left behind.
Ask the Expert: Is nicking something from the fridge corporate theft?
Taking food from a colleague’s lunch without permission can constitute theft and may be treated as gross misconduct. However, you should conduct a fair investigation and follow proper disciplinary procedures before deciding whether to dismiss, suspend, or issue a warning based on the circumstances.
Personal touch is key to talent management success
Personalised talent management significantly improves shareholder returns, yet many organisations misunderstand what motivates their employees. Research identifies six distinct talent groups with different needs, from career advancement seekers to those valuing strong company reputation, requiring employers to tailor development plans accordingly.
HRD Insight: M&S’ Tanith Dodge on boosting customer service via staff engagement
M&S HR director Tanith Dodge explains how employee engagement directly impacts customer service quality. The retailer implemented wellbeing schemes and recognition programs to boost staff morale and motivation, finding that engaged employees deliver better customer experiences and strengthen brand loyalty.
Steve Jobs: ‘Insanely great, he created a nursery for young talent’
Steve Jobs, who died at 56, co-founded Apple and revolutionized the technology industry by bringing innovative products like the Macintosh, iMac, and iPhone to mainstream audiences. Known for his catchphrase “insanely great,” Jobs created a distinctive work culture that nurtured young talent while maintaining an unwavering commitment to making products that would “put a dent in the universe.”
Blog: Dumb things managers say and what to do about it
Managers significantly impact employee engagement through their words and actions. This article examines three damaging management statements—discouraging risk-taking, rewarding favoritism, and dismissing employee concerns—and offers better alternatives that foster innovation, fairness, and team commitment.
HR must become more strategic, warns study
A global study warns that HR professionals must transition from transactional functions to strategic business partners to remain relevant in complex, globalized markets. The research identifies three key elements: aligning with business strategy, delivering personalized services, and improving cost efficiency through process streamlining.
Talent management – broadening out the talent pool
Effective talent management doesn’t require expensive systems focused solely on top performers. By expanding your view beyond current metrics and assessing potential in overlooked employees, you can uncover hidden talent and build a stronger leadership pipeline.
HRD Insight: McDonalds’ head of people on staff engagement
McDonald’s integrated its people strategy with business strategy, discovering that investing in staff engagement directly drives sales and profitability. By surveying 85,000 UK employees, the company identified three key priorities—team belonging, flexible working, and career futures—and implemented initiatives like an intranet platform to address these needs and boost engagement levels.
Tory Conference: Fujitsu strike called off at eleventh hour
Fujitsu workers called off a planned strike at the Conservative Party Conference after Unite union reached a last-minute agreement with the company. The suspension includes further industrial action while talks continue over disputed agreements on pay, benefits, pensions, and redundancy terms.
Stress now most common cause of sickness absence at work
Stress has become the leading cause of long-term sickness absence among UK workers, surpassing cancer. A new survey reveals the problem is most acute in the public sector, where half of organisations report stress-related absences linked to job security concerns and workplace changes.
Blog: Strategies for dealing with a workplace bully
Learn practical strategies for addressing workplace bullying, including reviewing your organization’s policies, documenting incidents, and deciding whether to confront the bully directly or report to HR based on your safety and support system.
Talent Spot: Dominic Ceraldi, head of HR at Pimlico Plumbers
Dominic Ceraldi, HR and general manager at Pimlico Plumbers, has transformed the family-run business by building an HR department from scratch over four years. His efforts in recruitment, learning and development have significantly improved staff retention rates among plumbers and call centre employees.
Does management by metrics work?
Management by metrics has significant limitations. While measuring key performance areas can be useful, over-emphasizing targets often leads to distorted priorities, gaming of statistics, and unintended consequences. Effective management requires discretion and balance across multiple objectives, not rigid adherence to metrics.
Tory Conference: Employers invited to voice employment law concerns
The UK coalition Government is launching a three-week Red Tape Challenge inviting employers to suggest ways to simplify or remove employment law regulations. The initiative aims to reduce burdens on businesses and encourage job creation, including changes that will extend the unfair dismissal claim period from one to two years starting April 2012.
Blog: Engagement taskforce update – part two
This post continues a discussion following a meeting with engagement taskforce leaders David MacLeod and Nita Clarke. The author shares key findings about workplace engagement, including the importance of authentic communication, inclusive management practices, and addressing barriers like redundancy handling and executive pay disparities.
Legal Insight: M&A rule changes – an HRD guide to getting it right
New M&A rule changes effective September 19 require HR involvement earlier in the due diligence process. The updated regulations impose a 28-day timeline for bids and give employee representatives formal response rights, while TUPE regulations govern the transfer of employment terms and protections during acquisitions.
HCM technology heads for the clouds in generation refresh
HCM systems are shifting to the cloud as organizations refresh their technology and prioritize strategic goals. A Tower Watson survey found 54% of companies are using or planning SaaS-based HR solutions, driven by cost pressures and the need for modern capabilities like self-service and analytics.
Blog: Engagement taskforce update – part one
The engagement taskforce explores how organizations can move beyond traditional metrics like profit and productivity to focus on consultation, trust, and visible leadership. Key themes include creating accessible senior management, acknowledging individual behavior and differences, and fostering emotional connections with employees and communities.
Case Study: NHS Trust saves £500,000 by managing nurses more efficiently
Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust saved £500,000 annually by implementing e-rostering and time and attendance software to manage nurses’ shifts and expenses. The system reduced rosters from 300 to 80, improved compliance with working time regulations, and cut payroll administration costs significantly.
