Why HR teams should recognise and reward a ‘mission-centric’ work ethic
Academic research highlights the need for HR departments to focus on the positive impact individuals can have on an organisation when they are genuinely motivated by its central mission. My co-author Professor Howard H. Yu (IMD) and I have taken a fresh look at research previously undertaken between the 1970s and 1990s by Joseph Bower (Harvard), Henry Mintzberg (McGill) […]
How data can enhance employee wellbeing
Imagine if there was a way to measure levels of happiness in the workplace and improve them? Well, advances in technology are enabling employers to do just that by monitoring employee behaviour through smart devices. Research has found that employee happiness in the workplace has a direct impact on productivity. Put simply, the happier someone is, the better […]
Embracing the shadow side of organisational life
Corridor conversations, power struggles and personality clashes are realities of organisation life. Often referred to as the shadow side, these behaviours are perceived as wholly negative and unhelpful to organisation effectiveness. I challenge this ‘always bad’ perspective. In the shadow lies the real work of getting along with each other. It is where human beings […]
Why better employee relations starts with learning and development
There are many reasons why employee relations needs to be the new focus of training, all of which stem from organisations moving to flatter structures and informality, without equipping themselves with the conversation and relationship skills needed for this new world of work. The latest figures from the Ministry of Justice show an overwhelming demand […]
The blockchain effect: why businesses need to prepare employees
Blockchain will soon be disrupting the business world in ways that are difficult to fathom. To prepare for the changes ahead, organisations need to upskill, retool and transform their workforce. But how? How much do you know about blockchain? Perhaps your mind instantly moves to bitcoin, the most widely known of the hundreds of ‘cryptocurrencies’ […]
Are you a horrible boss? How to tell if your team is engaged
You may think you’re a good manager, but have you sat down with each member of your team and directly asked? The answers you recieve may difficult to swallow, but they will also be key to improving your team’s engagement and productivity. No one sets out to become a bad boss. However, it is almost inevitable […]
Money worries and mental health: what can businesses do?
We are a nation that heavily relies on borrowing money – and this does not look set to change anytime soon. But what is the impact of financial debt on health and wellbeing? It’s not uncommon for people to feel stressed as a result of their financial situation. And this in turn has been strongly […]
Come on, just get on and do it! Breaking apart a broken organisational structure
Blaire Palmer is CEO of That People Thing, a consultancy dedicated to inspiring leaders in fast-paced, ambitious businesses to drive change in their organisations in partnership with their people. Blaire has been described as a “secret weapon”, a “business muse” and “that lady who does the leadership and team stuff”. She is a regular guest expert […]
HR automation: why real-time reporting is about more than accuracy
Removing the margin for human error through automation improves reporting accuracy and enables time for strategic and creative thinking Debenhams will have been dismayed to hit the headlines earlier this year when it emerged that the retailer had been paying almost 12,000 employees less than the minimum wage. Following an investigation, the combination of a £63,000 fine and settlement […]
Do transformational leaders make you sick?
There’s so much rich insight coming out of the academic sector that HR professionals need to know. At Academics’ Corner we feature the best HR researchers that tell you what they’ve found and what you need to do differently on the back of the research. Transformational leaders communicate a clear positive vision for their teams […]
It’s time to tackle the race pay gap
The gender pay gap received a lot of press coverage in the wake of the BBC salary scandal, but there is another significant group who are also victims of pay inequality and it’s time they were recognised. Over the past year, it feels as though a lot has been said about the gender pay gap. Whether it […]
Leadership: six reasons why HR should be considered in top level management
For too long HR professionals have been denied a seat the top table – but it’s time that people skills took centre stage in the boardroom again. Let’s face it, and if we were to be strict about it, there is only one reason why HR should be considered in top level management and it’s […]
Why HR needs to get to grips with the gig economy
We spoke with Stuart Chamberlain, senior employment law specialist and author at Croner-i Limited, to get up to speed with the latest developments concerning the gig economy. What exactly is the gig economy? There is no single agreed definition. The term is usually used to refer to a range of different types and models of […]
Workplace trends 2019: Jason Corsello at UNLEASH World Conference & Expo
On day two of UNLEASH World Conference & Expo 2018 Jason Corsello, Managing Partner at Acadian Ventures, outlined the upcoming trends that are reshaping how companies are embracing the future of work. With 15 years’ experience in the HR tech space, Jason Corsello provided a snapshot of what will be emerging and evolving in HR in […]
Relationship intelligence: “We need to put the human element back into the workplace,” says Esther Perel
In her closing keynote session on day one of UNLEASH 2018, renowned psychotherapist and author Esther Perel warned us not to forget the value that human relationships bring to our professional and personal lives. What better way to illustrate the importance of humans as social, collaborative beings in today’s technology-driven workplace than to have renowned […]
Workplace technology: is BYOD worth the risk?
BYOD (bring your own device) is a rapidly growing trend in modern workplaces, but there are inherent challenges for employers to overcome to make it work. With today’s consumerisation of IT products, it’s no surprise that potential talent is now gravitating towards organisations permitting the use of personal electronic devices for work. This movement, dubbed […]
How mindfulness practice has changed my life – a personal story
I have dreadful memories from when I was 4 or 5 and onwards of feeling terribly frightened and anxious about anything and everything. Going to sleep was the worst. Ideally I would have liked to stay at my mother’s side day and night. I didn’t want to go to school because I was feeling scared […]
Recruitment: why age-friendly employment is a win-win for everyone
As numbers of mature employees increase in coming years, businesses will need to up their game when it comes to engaging older workers. By 2025, there will be a million more people over the age of 50 in the workplace, but 300,000 fewer workers under the age of 30. Job vacancies and numbers in work […]
Strengths-based recruitment: are you hiring people for the wrong jobs?
HR departments across the country are faced with the tricky task of sifting through CVs every day. Employers need someone who loves their job and is going to excel; going above and beyond, in addition to having all the right competences. This is even more important when you consider that staff turnover is costing British businesses across a […]
No more guilt: new research shows common assumptions about working mothers are all wrong
At Academics’ Corner we explore the latest HR research coming out of the academic sector that HR professionals need to know about. Here, Jan Hills, Partner at Head Heart + Brian, outlines research on common assumptions about working mums. It’s time for working mothers to stop feeling guilty and start celebrating – new research shows that the children of working mothers […]
