Communication: the secret to recruitment success
Effective communication throughout the hiring process is crucial to recruitment success. Many candidates withdraw after experiencing delays, poor coordination, or lack of updates during lengthy recruitment periods. Keeping candidates informed and maintaining professionalism at every stage—from interviews to contract—directly impacts hiring outcomes and organizational reputation.
Talent Spot: David Smith, HR director at LV=
David Smith transformed HR at LV=, bringing the function in-house in 2008 and helping the company grow from 2,000 to 5,000 employees while becoming a top-four UK car insurer. He shifted recruitment from 80% agency-based to 80% direct hiring, reducing costs by £1 million despite doubling staff numbers.
News Analysis: Two thirds of workers suffering high stress levels
A survey of 1,500 workers worldwide shows two-thirds suffer high stress levels, causing significant productivity losses and absenteeism. Workload, interpersonal conflicts, and work-life balance are the leading causes, with over half missing one to two days of work annually due to stress.
Ask the Expert: How long do I need to keep emails for?
Email retention requirements vary by data type and industry. The Data Protection Act states personal data shouldn’t be kept longer than necessary, while specific sectors like finance require six-year retention periods. Retention decisions should balance legal obligations with business needs on a case-by-case basis.
CEO Insight: Company Shortcuts’ Lara Morgan on staff retention
Lara Morgan, CEO of Company Shortcuts, shares her approach to staff retention through open communication, flexible work culture, and team bonding. She emphasizes that strong company culture, built on honesty and appreciation, directly impacts employee loyalty and business success.
Mediation: Part One – When to use it and why
Mediation offers an effective alternative to formal workplace dispute procedures, facilitating confidential conversations between conflicting parties to improve understanding and working relationships. This first part of a series explains when mediation is suitable and why organizations should consider it for resolving conflicts based on differing perceptions rather than clear misconduct.
‘Humanising’ HR through social media
HR departments are expanding beyond policy enforcement to use social media for recruitment and internal communication. With 80% of employers using LinkedIn to recruit, HR can strengthen employer branding through employee testimonials and company culture content. Enterprise social media platforms also facilitate internal dialogue and help humanize the organization to staff.
Three tips for managing risky employee behaviour
Manage risky employee behavior by shifting organizational attitudes toward risk, using positive language to frame discussions around uncertainty and opportunity, and aligning risk strategies with commercial objectives. These three strategies help HR directors create consistent approaches to identifying and mitigating workplace risks effectively.
Blog: It’s not just about the money
Employee retention during economic downturns depends on more than salary increases. While a recent survey shows workers increasingly prioritize pay and benefits, effective reward communication and promoting existing benefits can maintain staff loyalty and job satisfaction without requiring additional spending.
The downside of nepotism
Nepotism in leadership appointments undermines trust and damages organizational morale, as public scrutiny increases for high-profile hires. Fair, transparent, and merit-based recruitment processes are essential for maintaining employee confidence and ensuring leaders are equipped to succeed.
Blog: The internal superinjunction
Organizations have long operated internal “superinjunctions” that restrict employees from speaking candidly about their workplaces, but social media is eroding this control. As employees increasingly voice opinions online, companies must shift from managing communications defensively to embracing internal social dialogue as a strategic opportunity for insight and innovation.
Blog: From riot to clean-up – a reminder for HR
Recent civil unrest demonstrates the immense power of people, a crucial reminder for HR professionals about the importance of effective employee communication and people management. Understanding workforce dynamics and maintaining open dialogue can prevent destructive behavior while harnessing collective energy constructively.
Managers failing to motivate and communicate
Poor management communication and lack of motivation are leaving two-thirds of UK workers unable to understand their company’s vision, resulting in only 36% working to their full potential. Employees cite managers’ ability to communicate passion and provide meaningful engagement as key factors that could significantly boost productivity and workplace satisfaction.
Communicating with your employees – don’t be anti-social!
Effective employee communication and benefits packages are crucial for engagement, especially during economic uncertainty. Social media offers a cost-effective channel for leaders to dialogue with staff and boost morale, though many companies remain hesitant about workplace access despite evidence that restrictions reduce productivity and employee satisfaction.
Gender issues: Effective workplace communication
Effective workplace communication depends more on emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills than gender differences alone. Success requires recognizing and accepting diverse perspectives among all colleagues, adapting communication styles, and fostering inclusive teamwork beyond oversimplified gender-focused approaches.
Better communication with the DISC system
The DISC profiling system—measuring Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Compliance—helps communicators understand different personality types and their body language cues. By recognizing these four distinct behavioral patterns, you can tailor your communication approach whether training managers, presenting to boards, or addressing HR audiences.
Bad communication real culprit of high staff turnover
Poor communication and unsupportive company culture drive staff turnover more than economic recession, according to performance management specialists. A survey of 4,000 employees found that one in four workers are disengaged and planning to leave, with 13% intending to quit immediately and 11% within the next year.
Would you ban email in the office?
SuccessFactors CEO Lars Dalgaard banned internal email for a week to encourage face-to-face communication and reduce depersonalization among employees. The company aimed to replace email with alternative collaboration tools while addressing information overload and improving authentic workplace interactions.
Take five – communicate better (part two)
Michael Richards continues his communication improvement series with five more essential tips, including aligning internal brand messaging with external communications, enforcing professional courtesy standards, establishing clear cultural guidelines, and ensuring dress codes reflect your organizational culture.
Take five – communicate better
Improve workplace communication by breaking five common bad habits: over-reliance on email, lack of transparency, and excessive jargon. This first part of a two-part series offers practical tips for HR professionals and leaders to foster more effective employee interactions and reduce misunderstandings.
