Talent Spot, Andrew Mayo, professor of HCM at Middlesex University
Andrew Mayo does not consider himself an academic – despite his title as professor of human capital management at Middlesex University. Instead for him, HR has to have a business focus. So rather than simply explore abstract theory, his teaching is very much geared towards explaining to masters students the real-life applications of HR, […]
UK to be 450,000 technicians short by 2020
An 18-month review has revealed that the UK will be 450,000 skilled technicians short by 2020 unless action is taken to remedy the situation immediately. Technicians, who are skilled to a professional level, will be needed to fill roles in engineering, science, medicine and other technical occupations, but there are currently only 1,500 people who […]
Talent Spot: Adrian Furnham, professor of psychology at University College London
For Adrian Furnham, professor of psychology at University College London, work is much more than a necessary evil to pay the bills. “Noel Coward said ‘work is more fun than fun’ and he’s right,” he says. A self-professed “well-adjusted workaholic”, Furnham is ready to start grafting by 5am. Alongside his role at the university, […]
Workplace alcohol policies should be mandated, says charity
All UK publicly-listed companies should be obliged to assess and manage the risks posed by employees’ drinking behaviour and to introduce specific alcohol-related policies to deal with it, a charity has said. Alcohol Concern has written to Vince Cable, secretary of state for business, innovation and skills, requesting that a greater focus be given to […]
HRD Summit: The art of becoming a ‘leader’ rather than a ‘manager’
To become effective leaders, HR directors must look at how they think as well as understand both the nature of responsibility and the impact of their communications. But, according to Penny Ferguson, managing partner at The Living Leader, during her keynote speech at the HR Directors’ Summit in Birmingham today, the majority of HR bosses […]
Understanding ‘what good looks like’ when hiring
As discussed in part one of this two-part series of articles, it is important to understand ‘what good looks like’ in your organisation, not least because there is a cost involved in not doing so. But what exactly can do we do in practical terms to make sure that we are on top of the […]
Blog: Can HR devise rules that stimulate not stifle innovation?
When you look at their end products, service and reputation, you can’t help but associate words like innovation and creativity with the US technology firm, Apple. Having revolutionised mobile phone technology, the business has transformed the way we communicate and managed to wrap all kinds of inventions and creations into one handheld device. So […]
Blog: Don’t big bosses need training sometimes too?
Executive level development can be a bit of a touchy topic in some UK businesses – you can see the areas that need polishing but no one is prepared to suggest they get the duster out! At least that’s the case some of the time. In an alternative scenario the suggested development need is highlighted […]
Public sector staff must disclose private emails under FoI law
Under Freedom of Information legislation, public sector workers must hand over private communications to their employer if the messages contain any information relating to official business. The Information Commissioner’s Office has published six-pages worth of guidance in order to clarify that FoI laws cover any pertinent business data “recorded in any form” ranging from email […]
Talking Point: The wimpish manager problem
A recent survey that I saw looked at employees’ views on their managers. One of the horrifying findings of the study, which was published by ‘HR Directors Business Support’, was that 86% of workers believed that their managers had no integrity. And, unfortunately, I feel their views were soundly based. The workforce is, collectively, […]
Blog: Beware the seven most common justifications for bullying
“You are fired, Get out! I am not going to pay you for two weeks! Leave now and I mean right this minute.” Yes, that is the way that it ended. OK, I gave you the ending. Now I will back up and give you the full story. A friend who had been passively looking […]
HRD Insight: HSS’ John Hardman on moving beyond HR theory
What’s important if you want to succeed in an HR context? The first thing is not to get too caught up in text book approaches to people management or too bogged down by the theory. What is far more important is being able to understand the business and your people and, to some extent, […]
Blog: Why do we tolerate jerks at work (and what to do about it)?
Recognise This! – Tolerating badly behaving high performers drives down productivity whilst increasing the level of aggression in the workplace. Do you work with a jerk? Are managers inclined to sweep the jerk’s poor behaviour under the rug saying, “That’s just his personality?” Tony Wilson reported on research showing why this is incredibly […]
Blog: Engagement taskforce update – part one
Hi folks – a couple of weeks ago, a bunch of us met with David MacLeod, Nita Clarke et al to continue encouraging the engagement taskforce. What follows is a transcript of the conversations I heard. I’ll issue part one now and part two tomorrow. Here goes: Part one In groups we were asked […]
From good to great: how to effect positive workplace change
Most people come to work with a set view of themselves and then proceed to work within those pre-defined boundaries. This behaviour is generally perfectly acceptable and there is even value in its consistency. The problem is, however, that it also betrays a certain mentality and state of being in which employees have ceased to […]
Three tips for managing risky employee behaviour
Risk is back on the agenda, not just from the perspective of how organisations operate, but also in terms of how individual employees behave. High profile events at News International and at Swiss banking giant UBS, following the arrest of suspected rogue trader Kweku Adoboli amid accusations of perpetrating a £1.5 billion banking fraud, are […]
Blog: Should HR take responsibility for the phone hacking scandal?
The British tabloid News of the World generated headlines recently after its reporters were found to have routinely hacked into the cell phones of celebrities and murder victims. News Corporation, which owned the newspaper, shut it down after other news organizations found a pattern of wrong-doing among journalists and an out-of-control, anything-goes corporate culture. But […]
‘Outrageous behaviour’ of Microsoft UK bosses exposed in High Court battle
An alleged culture of “outrageous behaviour” characterised by “excessive drunkenness” and lewd behaviour among Microsoft UK’s senior staff has been exposed in a £10 million High Court battle between its boss and former heir apparent. Simon Negus, who was hired as a general manager to eventually succeed UK chief Gordon Frazer, was sacked by the […]
Emotional intelligence is key to exceptional leadership
This article, first published by our sister site www.TrainingZone.co.uk, provides a glimpse into discoveries made by Seven Suphi, founder and MD of Odyssey Solutions Ltd, following more than ten years of behavioural change work with business leaders. His aim is to inform and inspire curiosity because he believes that being curious is the foundation of […]
UK workers: Why good enough is no longer good enough
Kate Russell says that over the last 10-15 years, there’s been a noticeable decline in the British work ethic. HR needs to take control. Recently I was asked to take part in a Five Live debate centring around the findings of Centre for Social Justice think-tank that 82% of employers are concerned about British […]
