An introduction to our blog series: developing a new employment deal for local government
This blog series explores the Employment Deal Diagnostic (TEDD®), a model that conceptualizes the employment relationship as a balanced exchange between employer and employee. Drawing on academic research, the series examines how quality employment relationships are shaped by contributions, conversational practices, and workplace dynamics in local government.
Five ways to ensure your feedback has impact
Learn five practical strategies for delivering feedback that actually improves performance. Effective feedback closes the gap between actions and results while building motivation and engagement, but requires careful planning, keen observation, and balancing guidance with inquiry to drive meaningful change.
“I believe we need to be ensuring learning is practical and real for those in the workplace.”
Fiona McBride, a freelance L&D consultant, shares her typical workday and emphasizes the importance of practical, real-world learning for workplace professionals. From designing workshops on social media and professional development to balancing remote and client-site work, she advocates for learning experiences grounded in actual business needs.
Tie real consequences to performance to create empowerment and accountability
Effective accountability requires setting clear expectations upfront, consistently tracking performance, and following through with real consequences tied to actual results. This ongoing process, practiced frequently rather than annually, empowers employees by creating a fair system where they understand what’s expected and how their work will be measured and rewarded.
Workers care more about others during organisational change
Research on organizational change reveals that employees often prioritize the welfare of colleagues and organizational health over personal gain. A study analyzing 23 change projects in a police organization found workers expressed genuine concern for coworkers’ career prospects and service quality, challenging the assumption that self-interest drives resistance to change.
“Planning has become vital for me so I mix my week up so I don’t go stir crazy disappearing into my laptop.”
HR consultant Jo balances client work, workshops, and strategic planning by mixing her week between office days, client visits, and remote work to stay focused and avoid burnout. She prioritizes health and financial wellbeing education, helping employees feel more confident managing money.
The case for and against: L&D Accreditation
Explore both sides of L&D accreditation’s value in closing the UK skills gap. This balanced debate examines how credentials can verify employee capabilities and support workforce development, while considering potential counterarguments to formal qualification requirements.
Moonshot thinking: disrupting the norm in business
A moonshot is a bold, long-term business goal that tackles major problems with radical, innovative solutions. Unlike traditional mission statements, moonshots disrupt organizations and inspire future-focused thinking by addressing the hardest challenges first and celebrating failures as learning opportunities.
“There has never been a better time than today for candidates to find a job in which they can truly be themselves.”
Predictive recruitment technology is transforming how companies identify top candidates by focusing on key performance drivers rather than traditional qualifications, enabling greater workplace diversity while helping recruitment agencies evolve their roles in the digital hiring landscape.
Why it’s HR’s job to kill organisational complexity
HR leaders can reduce organisational complexity by identifying and eliminating unnecessary activities that drain productivity and employee engagement. Complexity manifests in excessive meetings, emails, reporting, and processes—many of which add no value and frustrate staff trying to accomplish meaningful work.
Me Inc: the rise of the freelancer
The UK freelancer workforce has grown 25% since 2009, with over 2 million people now working as independent contractors. This shift reflects changing employee priorities—flexibility and autonomy now matter more than salary and linear career paths, particularly in technology sectors facing talent shortages.
How to transfer accountability when giving autonomy: Part 2
Learn how to transfer accountability alongside autonomy with five practical strategies. This part-two guide explores why “do” and “tell” leadership approaches undermine responsibility, and how to empower staff to feel genuinely accountable for their work.
Dave Ulrich: “50% of who we can become is nurture and can be changed through learning.”
Dave Ulrich explains how competencies—knowledge, skills, and attitudes—drive business outcomes and can be developed through learning and experience. Research shows 50% of competencies are innate while 50% can be changed through nurture, education, and pushing beyond comfort zones.
Remote workers – out of sight, out of mind?
Remote work offers flexibility for work-life balance and significant cost savings, but research reveals potential downsides including employee isolation, reduced career visibility, and intensified work hours. Communication challenges and trust issues in virtual teams may require new management approaches rather than traditional solutions.
Trust is what makes digital workplaces – and organisations – a success
Research from 113 organizations shows that digital workplaces drive business value when built on trust and integrated connectivity. High-performing companies design physical spaces, digital tools, and social networks to enable employee collaboration across silos, leading to increased market share, profit growth, and employee satisfaction.
In Praise of Know: lessons from #HRTechWorld
HR Tech World highlights the critical need for HR professionals to understand emerging technologies shaping the industry. Rather than resisting change, HR leaders should embrace knowledge of modern tools in analytics, talent management, and employee experience to stay competitive in an accelerating market.
Say hello to… Ian Johnston, Group HRD, Johnston Press
Ian Johnston takes on the role of Group HRD at Johnston Press, bringing over 10 years of executive-level HR experience. His priorities include understanding company culture across 3,000 employees, building stakeholder trust during business transformation, and developing a comprehensive people strategy aligned with business objectives.
Is this the best time to work in HR?
The HR industry is experiencing unprecedented opportunity as organizations struggle to attract and retain talent in a competitive market. Modern HR technology can free professionals from administrative tasks, provide valuable workforce insights, and enable them to become strategic business partners focused on employee engagement and culture.
HR analytics – the most important thing? Get started
Most organizations underperform in HR analytics, with over two-thirds of HR leaders saying they lack competence. Successful HR analytics requires strategic positioning, specific roles and capabilities, strong governance, quality data, and senior management support to drive business impact.
5 steps to support mental wellbeing in the workplace
Discover five evidence-based strategies to support mental wellbeing in your workplace, from prevention techniques and stress management to fostering open conversations. Creating a supportive environment helps reduce burnout, improve employee performance, and address mental health as a priority equal to physical health.
