Top things an HR professional should consider when moving to the Cloud
HR leaders moving to the Cloud should understand service level agreements, peak usage capacity planning, and security features. Key considerations include verifying the provider’s “headroom” capacity (ideally 30-50%), configuring appropriate session timeout settings for usability, and ensuring a consistent user experience across applications.
Essential HR skills: Project management (part one)
HR managers today need strong project management skills alongside people expertise and business acumen. This article explores why HR programmes require specialized approaches, including managing high-impact organizational change, overcoming resource constraints, and coordinating multiple initiatives under a unified strategy.
Engaging for success with Eric Peacock
Serial entrepreneur Eric Peacock explains why employee engagement drives business success, citing evidence that engaged employees generate 43% more revenue, improved innovation, and competitive advantage. He advises that engagement starts with committed leadership and requires involvement from all levels of the organization.
Budget 2010: our forecast
Alistair Darling’s 2010 budget focused on tackling unemployment through stricter benefit rules, requiring young people to pursue training after six months on the dole, and introducing work experience for school leavers. The budget also saw a bonus tax that raised double its estimated revenue.
Female students rule out career in finance due to perceived discrimination
Top female students at Oxford are rejecting finance careers, citing discrimination concerns and ethical issues with banking. Meanwhile, two-thirds of NHS healthcare workers report high job satisfaction and believe they make a meaningful difference in their roles.
Not enough UK firms are reaping the benefits of flexible working
While nine in ten UK employees want flexible working, only 21% currently have access to it despite a third having caring responsibilities. A survey of 20,000 office workers reveals that government support for flexible working has stalled, causing the UK to miss significant benefits including improved work-life balance and reduced office space costs of up to 30%.
Engagement’s time has come: The MacLeod guidelines are launched
The MacLeod guidelines for employee engagement have been launched to help UK employers boost productivity, innovation, and reduce absenteeism. Developed with input from business leaders and engagement practitioners, the practical guidance aims to answer how companies can effectively engage their workforce.
Ask the expert: Withholding pay
You can withhold pay for unauthorised absence, but not for periods covered by medical certificates you’ve already received. Legal experts advise paying statutory sick pay for certified absences and clarifying withholding reasons with the employee in writing.
Active rest and recovery for competitive advantage at work
Active rest and recovery are essential for workplace performance. Getting adequate sleep—typically seven to eight hours nightly—can boost cognitive function by up to 30%, while sleep deprivation impairs decision-making, increases mistakes, and reduces resilience. Prioritizing quality rest between work periods enables sustained focus and productivity.
The graduate talent pool: A guide to internships
The Government’s Graduate Talent Pool connects employers with graduates for work experience opportunities. Employers must understand employment law requirements, as interns may qualify as workers entitled to minimum wage, annual leave, and legal protections against discrimination and unfair dismissal.
Free resource – Survey helps recruit engaged employees
FindingPotential offers a free psychometric questionnaire called Engage that helps organizations recruit candidates likely to be highly engaged employees. The 10-minute assessment identifies what matters most to individuals across 14 work aspects, enabling better job-fit matches during hiring.
Survey reveals dissatisfaction with recruitment agencies
A survey of UK employers reveals widespread dissatisfaction with recruitment agencies, with nearly 75% struggling to find quality providers and 90% believing hiring processes are too lengthy. Despite plans to hire significantly, most companies limit their use of recruitment agencies due to high management costs.
UK political figures lack leadership qualities – study
A study of 2,000 business leaders found UK political party heads scored poorly on leadership qualities, with Prime Minister Gordon Brown ranked last at 4.5, while Richard Branson topped the poll at 8.06. Over a quarter of managers remained undecided on which party to support ahead of the general election.
Recession continues to strain employee-employer relations
Recession-driven strain on workplace relations is intensifying, with calls to Acas’ conciliation service doubling since September. The service has referred over 8,000 pre-claim cases and prevented approximately 5,000 employment tribunal cases through arbitration, which resolves disputes in about three weeks compared to six to nine months for tribunals.
Workforce poaching: it’s happening
A UK court found bonds dealer BGC Partners guilty of unlawful conspiracy for systematically poaching staff from rival Tullett Prebon. The landmark case highlights legal risks companies face when recruiting competitors’ employees at scale, particularly through coordinated strategies and substantial financial inducements.
HR director raises £40,000 for local charity
Paul Kennedy, HR Director of New Balance, led a team of eight walkers across 140 miles to raise £40,000 for Cumbria flood victims. The “Pound for Cumbria” walk, which began in Cheshire and ended at Dovenby Hall, supported the Cumbria Community Foundation’s relief efforts for families affected by devastating 2009 floods.
Five more skills academies to target priority areas
The UK government is establishing five new National Skills Academies in priority sectors including rail engineering, logistics, and biotechnology, backed by a £50 million Joint Investment Programme. These academies will train over 30,000 people in the next four years, building on 13 existing academies already funded by businesses contributing more than £130 million.
Skills gap worst in leadership, management and technical roles
A government-commissioned report reveals the UK’s most severe skills gaps are in leadership, management, and technical roles, with 1.7 million workers not fully proficient in their jobs. Poor training investment and inadequate manager development threaten Britain’s competitive position globally.
What does service excellence look like for HR?
Service excellence in HR combines nine key criteria beyond technical skills, including passion, positive outlook, self-belief, and health. These characteristics differentiate truly excellent HR functions that deliver superior service while managing costs and enhancing organizational value.
Take five – communicate better (part two)
Michael Richards continues his communication improvement series with five more essential tips, including aligning internal brand messaging with external communications, enforcing professional courtesy standards, establishing clear cultural guidelines, and ensuring dress codes reflect your organizational culture.
