Blog: Work-life balance is a bottom line issue

"You are a great model of work-life balance, Ron. Thanks for showing me.” Last week I linked to an article titled Why the Work-Life Balance is Now More Important Than Ever.   It was a UK-based article on work-life balance and it cited five countries and how each of them approaches it. The comment was based on […]

Talent Spot: Susie Robinson, DHL’s executive VP of HR for EMEA

Susie Robinson has been with DHL since 1998 but, as the logistics giant has gone through a merger roughly every couple of years, she feels as if she has had to constantly reinvent herself – and the HR department. “Although the business is large, it is still relatively young and changes massively, so trying to […]

Talking Point: If we are what we eat, what kind of workforce have you got?

What we eat has a big impact on our performance at work in relation to everything from mental clarity and energy to stamina and productivity. This is because food governs how well both our bodies and our brains function. Food makes our mood.   Yet all too many employers treat the food issue as an […]

Infographic: HR pros among most unhappy in their career

Credit: City & Guilds

Blog: US election – The need for charismatic leaders during times of austerity

“I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting.” My Vision by Barack Obama.   In Chicago last week a rejuvenated and […]

Relationship building – The power of feedback

Everyone has issues with people at work that make them angry, dissatisfied, annoyed or distracted such as a boss that doesn’t provide clear expectations or appreciation. Work can be a nightmare when relationships are in trouble.   Equally, there are pleasant teams where people are kind, respectful and cheerfully collude with ideas that are ultimately […]

News: CIPD 2012 – Engage for Success movement unveiled

On Monday 12 November, three years after the publication of the MacLeod Report on employee engagement, a series of events around the new ‘Engage for Success’ campaign will be launched in a bid to make the promise a reality. For example, about 30 chief executives have signed a letter that will be published in The […]

News: CIPD 2012 – Four ways to ensure positive industrial relations

Even with just a threat of industrial action, the stakes are high because people are forced to take sides, which is damaging for employee engagement and the credibility of the organisation and its managers. This was just one of the insights provided by Darren Hockaday, HR director for London Overground, at the Chartered Institute of […]

Blog: CIPD 2012 – Impose company values at your own risk

During a Question & Answer session at the CIPD conference yesterday, Simon Jones tweeted something that caught my eye. Peter Cheese, the recently appointed CIPD CEO, asked a gathering of around a hundred people, ‘How many of you can recite your company values?’ Three people raised their hands. There was some surprise about the low response among the audience, but I’m […]

Blog: CIPD 2012 – A view from the fringe

In recent years, the CIPD has put on a number of free mini seminars to attend, which is great for those who can’t afford to attend the ‘full’ conference. I consider this (along with the exhibition) the ‘fringe’ event, and my impressions from this were: 1. Change in emphasis   Last year, I felt like […]

News: CIPD 2012 – ‘Contingency risk-based approach key to Olympics success’

One of the key reasons for the success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in HR terms was the decision to take a contingency risk-based approach, which involved planning for every eventuality. Jean Tomlin, HR director for the London 2012 Organising Committee who took part in the closing keynote panel discussion at the Chartered Institute […]

In a Nutshell: Four tips for raising engagement levels

Successfully raising engagement in an organisation involves more than doing an annual engagement survey. Louise Rooney, head of HR at IT firm, ServiceSource, outlines her top tips for motivating staff to commit to the business. 1. Alignment Identifying and being explicit about the company vision and values definitely helps employees connect with the business. This […]

Blog: Great ideas can come from anywhere – if you’re prepared to listen

“Don’t credit me with that success. That idea came from a janitor at the NFL Films production facility. He suggested that we take all the fumbles and mishaps and put them to music.” That statement was from Steve Sabol, the late co-founder (with his father, Ed) of NFL Films. NFL Films was started by accident […]

News: CIPD 2012 – Four ways to boost your board-level influence

Influence within the executive team is more valuable than a seat on the board as board members simply rubber stamp executive decisions anyway, believes Linda Kennedy, group HR director at Yell. During a presentation at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s annual conference in Manchester this week, she advised HR professionals to put anxiety […]

News: CIPD 2012 – ‘Employers must take more responsibility for skills development’

If the UK is to remain competitive globally, employers must take more responsibility for addressing structural employment and systemic skills issues among the next generation of workers, according to government representatives. Jo Swinson, a Liberal Democrat MP and current minister for employment and Michael Davis, chief executive of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, […]

News: CIPD 2012 – ‘Crowdsourcing is the future of management’

Crowdsourcing is the future of management and organisations that fail to embrace this “management 2.0” model will become increasingly irrelevant, according to leadership guru, Gary Hamel. Speaking yesterday at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s annual conference in Manchester, he described old management 1.0 methods that focused on conformism, standardisation and formal hierarchies as […]

Talent Spot: Community blogger, Emma Littmoden

On Emma Littmoden’s road to the top, you’ll find some loo roll, wet wipes and a jockey’s uniform. Before becoming sales and business development partner at leadership development provider The Living Leader, Littmoden had earned her sales spurs selling hygiene products and been one of the top five female amateur jockeys in the country. In […]

A day in the life of a newly-appointed HR director

The UK Mail Group is the largest independent parcels, mail and logistics services company within the UK, offering innovative delivery solutions both locally and worldwide. With a national network of more than 55 sites and 2500 vehicles, the company offers business customers an integrated service with a full range of time-sensitive and secure delivery options […]

Talent Spot: Louise Rooney, head of HR at ServiceSource

As HR manager at IT firm ServiceSource, Louise Rooney has a major recruitment job on her hands. When she first joined, the company’s headcount was about 120, but in less than a year, it had grown to 165 and there are plans to create another 100 posts over the next few months. “Sourcing the right […]

News: Learning management systems sector is now a “buyer’s market”

A combination of increasing commoditisation and slowing growth in the adoption of learning management systems is making it a buyer’s market, research has indicated. A report conducted by Bersin & Associates predicted that sector growth was likely to drop to 10.4% globally between 2012 and 2013 compared with 14.7% between 2011 and 2012 – although […]