The problem with modern leadership: diversity, inclusion and the ‘hero’ complex
The world is facing a leadership crisis. We need to radically refocus the way we think about leadership to focus less on the individual and more on collective responsibility. Only a diverse and inclusive approach to leadership can solve the mess we’re in. How many times have you heard someone say, “diversity and inclusion are […]
Three trends gleaned from gender pay gap reporting round two
We’re all aware by now that the second round of gender pay gap reporting has brought disappointing results. But by investigating the data a bit deeper, useful insights have emerged as to how employers can put their best foot forward as we head into the third year of reporting. April 1st marked the second annual […]
Wellbeing initiatives: are employers expected to be life coaches?
Workplace wellbeing initiatives have boomed in recent years, but are employers going too far in what they are offering? Organisations are not responsible for managing every aspect of each employee’s life, yet the move towards nanny territory is fast approaching. Employee wellbeing is becoming a more prominent feature on organisations’ agendas. What used to be […]
Wellbeing at work: how self-care and success work hand-in-hand
It is undeniable that our outlook on life and our interaction with those around us has a direct effect on our experience at work. We so often hear of the importance of taking better care of ourselves, both physically and mentally, and yet putting this into practice at work might seem unfeasible. Faced with the […]
How can HR meet challenges along the many routes to future work?
If, as an HR professional, you believe the often used quip ‘one size does not fit all’, then accepting the need for multiple paths, bridges and contingencies to future work should not be that difficult. In part three of this series on crossing the chasms to future work, Mike Hammer – aka ‘The Gig Doctor’ – […]
Talent retention: giving employees what they want (part two)
In the race to attract and retain talent, employers need to consider their company culture and how others perceive it. Here’s how to read their responses and make the changes needed to make your organisation a great place to work. My last article looked at some of the aspects of working environments that put off prospective […]
Talent attraction and retention: what employees want, what they really, really want (part one)
UK employers are facing a talent shortage, which is making it harder to attract and retain employees. If your employee turnover is concerning, here’s what you need to consider to make positive changes. Most of us don’t start a job thinking that it or the company we will work for sucks. Despite this, the overall […]
Soft skills: how to increase empathy in business
Greater empathy within organisations has been linked to improved business performance, so isn’t it time we all injected a bit more empathy into our day-to-day business practices? Digital transformation is a bandwagon many companies continue to try and jump on. Last year alone, a purported $1.3 trillion was spent globally on digital projects. Despite this, […]
HR technology: how smart feedback transforms employee engagement and retention
The traditional approach to gathering employee feedback is no longer fit for purpose in today’s ‘always on’ work culture. It’s time we reinvented this process for the modern world. With a strengthening global economy and unemployment at record lows, today’s employees have abundant options when it comes to where they want to work and why […]
The future of HR: three things companies must do to attract and retain top talent
As more and more elements of our everyday working lives become automated, nurturing the ‘human’ element in the workplace has become increasingly important. The way we work has changed, putting a greater emphasis on how organisations interact with their employees than ever before. With rapid developments in technology such as AI, and an increase in […]
Onboarding: why new starters need a ‘travel guide’
Joining a new company can be a bit like entering a foreign country, so how can we better translate the new language, customs and traditions for new starters during the onboarding process? When we go on holidays to a different country, we usually take a travel guide with us. We want to know the basics […]
Is your team suffering from innovation stress?
As more businesses seek to transform and disrupt, the under-explored phenomenon of innovation stress is likely to increase. To mark National Stress Awareness Month 2019, we shine a spotlight on the detrimental impact of pushing employees to innovate without clear guidance. Although others have used the term ‘innovation stress’ before me, it is not a […]
Recruitment: four common hiring mistakes and how to avoid them
When hiring new candidates, employers need to carry out their due diligence checks – but there are a number of things that can go wrong. Here’s how to avoid them. Performing background checks on candidates is a crucial part of the hiring process for many employers. However, it can also be complex, especially when it […]
Leading the savings revolution: why it’s time to change perceptions on pensions
This April saw total minimum auto-enrolment contributions rise from 5% to 8%. While this is a step in the right direction for turning the dial on pensions, we must not get complacent in our efforts to change perceptions on saving for the future. Since its introduction in 2012, auto-enrolment has slowly increased its impact on […]
Stress Awareness Month: managing stress in a modern ‘always on’ work environment
With technology and an always-on culture contributing to our highly stressed workforce, Stress Awareness Month is the perfect time for HR professionals to remind themselves of the multi-faceted approach to combatting stress among employees. In the modern world of work there are times when we need to work outside of our normal hours; meaning early mornings, late […]
The future of HR: from human resources to human revolutionaries
Artificial intelligence may be able to take on certain tasks in the workplace, but human soft skills will always be in demand – it’s up to HR to champion and support them. The tech revolution dominates most conversations about the changing face of our world and, inevitably, business. The consequence of digital transformation is that the […]
Disability discrimination at work: how to protect your business and employees
Disability discrimination is still a widespread problem, and there’s much that can be done to address this. Here, we outline how to help protect your business from accusations of disability discrimination. Under the Equality Act 2010, it is illegal for employers to discriminate against someone on the basis of their race, religion, sex, disability, sexual […]
Leadership: confidence is king when it comes to crowning successful leaders
A lack of confidence is a career killer for those in leadership positions, so it’s essential that others see you as confident if you want to get ahead, according to new research. Confidence is a critical state for leaders. Whilst competency criteria may not explicitly require it, confidence is the prerequisite for success. An apparent […]
Soft skills: how different perceptions impact workplace conflict
Workplace conflicts are often about differences in perception. Getting around this is about figuring out how to reconcile the two perspectives. Interpersonal conflict at work is surprisingly common and yet this can be a difficult fact to swallow, for employees and managers alike. Where is the conflict coming from? What is fueling it? What can […]
Solving the flight risk issue: can people analytics tell the difference between employees, inmates and livestock?
The way we use people analytics to track the movements and behaviours of employees has alarming similarities to the way farmers monitor herds and prison officers guard their convicts. Below is a compelling argument for why this needs to change in order to drive more positive outcomes for both employees and businesses. By Max Blumberg and James […]