Blog: Lessons from Mars – How to prevent staff burn-out
Learn from NASA’s Mars mission success to prevent workplace burnout. Discover three key strategies to re-engage employees: establish healthy work-life boundaries, acknowledge employees’ dedication while protecting their downtime, and listen to constructive feedback from engaged staff who care about your company’s culture.
Case Study: LV= focuses on staff enagement to negotiate change
LV= prioritizes staff engagement to manage rapid growth and organizational change. The car insurer uses comprehensive recruitment, reward systems, recognition programs, and leadership development to maintain employee morale and navigate expansion from 2,000 to 5,600 staff members.
Blog: Four considerations when learning to manage upwards
Managing up—building an effective relationship with your boss—is a critical skill not taught in school but essential for career success. This deliberate effort to connect with your manager, regardless of personality differences, directly impacts productivity and organizational results.
Blog: Do you have an employee value proposition?
An Employee Value Proposition defines “the deal” between employers and employees—encompassing compensation, benefits, and workplace culture. With many organizations experiencing significant changes to employee benefits post-recession, HR leaders and communicators should formally define their EVP to attract and retain talent effectively.
In a Nutshell: Five ways to ensure a positive relationship with the unions
Building positive union relationships requires respect, clear communication, and professionalism. Philippe Ferrie, an employee relations coordinator, shares five key strategies: listen carefully, follow through on commitments, focus on individual concerns, master your subject matter, and maintain authentic transparency to establish trust and productive partnerships.
How to administer pay cuts in times of austerity
Learn how governments and businesses are implementing pay cuts during austerity, from Spain’s royal family taking 7% reductions to NHS managers cutting wages 5%. Discover strategies for managing controversial cost-cutting measures while maintaining employee acceptance.
Christina’s Counsel: Managing attitude problems remotely
When managing remote employees, addressing attitude problems requires immediate action even without direct evidence. A manager must investigate complaints confidentially, support affected staff, enforce company policy consistently, and establish regular face-to-face check-ins to maintain team cohesion and accountability in satellite offices.
Talent Spot: Philippe Ferrie, head of HR at Vallourec
Philippe Ferrie, head of HR at Vallourec, successfully led the implementation of a global HR information system across the company’s decentralized operations in just five months. Drawing on principles of respect and active listening, Ferrie has built a career navigating major organizational challenges at manufacturing and pharmaceutical giants including Rio Tinto, Sanofi, and DuPont.
Blog: Cracking employee communication codes QR-style
QR codes offer a simple yet effective way to enhance employee communication by linking printed materials directly to online content. When used strategically with clear calls to action, these free barcodes can boost engagement and drive employees to key resources via smartphone scans.
Ask the Expert: Can we recruit a leader if a team member is off sick?
Employers can recruit a team leader while an employee is on sick leave, but should communicate openly with the absent employee about the temporary nature of the role and ensure they have equal opportunity to apply for the position to avoid potential discrimination claims.
Blog: How to have a high impact interview – From both sides of the desk
Learn how to excel in interviews from both perspectives. Discover why competency-based interviews are effective, how to structure your answers using the Circumstances-Behaviour-Impact technique, and tips for both candidates and interviewers to make a strong impression.
Blog: Seeing eye-to-eye
Poor eye contact sends negative signals that undermine credibility and confidence, whether in social or professional settings. Improving your eye contact through deliberate practice—such as looking people in the eye before speaking and maintaining balanced engagement while talking—can significantly enhance how others perceive your trustworthiness and confidence.
The art of influencing and making your ideas stick
Discover how to make your ideas stick using six proven principles of influence: reciprocity, scarcity, authority, liking, social proof, and consistency. Learn from behavioral science expert Steve Martin why information alone isn’t enough to persuade others, and actionable strategies to influence people’s decisions and actions effectively.
Three tips to ensure your social recruitment strategy is effective
Discover three essential tips to improve your social recruitment strategy and attract top talent. Learn how to optimize your website, enhance candidate experience, and effectively use social media platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook to identify and engage qualified job candidates while reducing recruitment costs.
Blog: Performance and teamwork tips from Olympian Steve Williams
Olympic rower Steve Williams shares insights on performance and teamwork from his experience winning double gold medals. His talk emphasizes the importance of hard work, blind trust within teams, constructive feedback, and meticulous preparation over years of training rather than talent alone.
In a Nutshell: Five considerations when creating a welcome pack for new hires
Creating an effective welcome pack for new hires requires clear objectives, input from across your organization, and messaging that reflects your brand’s true culture. Separate essential information from nice-to-know content, prioritize what matters most to new starters, and ensure your tone authentically represents your company’s values and personality.
Blog: Crisis stories – What RBS’ Stephen Hester can teach us
RBS CEO Stephen Hester’s apology for technical issues that locked millions out of their accounts demonstrates how leaders use storytelling during crises. While his plane delay analogy provided context, experts say effective crisis communication requires stronger empathy and immediacy to truly connect with affected customers.
Blog: Is HR really out of touch?
A Kenexa study reveals HR professionals often lack time to deeply connect with employees due to managing operational demands. To rebuild trust and impact performance, HR must be more visible and intentional about engaging with staff through regular interactions and floor presence.
Social media trends: Moving into the mainstream
Social media adoption in HR is moving beyond recruitment toward structured, systematic use. Organizations increasingly leverage platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook for talent acquisition and internal communications, while social media’s collaborative potential is transforming change management and employee engagement strategies.
Employee engagement on the rise?
Employee engagement rose to 58% in 2011 from 56% in 2010, according to Aon Hewitt’s Global Engagement report analyzing 9.7 million employees. The study identified improvements in leadership and HR practices, though communication and innovation declined across organizations worldwide.
