Gig economy and HR: how to make it work
The gig economy is reshaping workforce composition, with contingent workers projected to outnumber permanent employees by 2027. HR leaders must rethink fundamental practices around job structures, performance metrics, and value propositions to effectively manage mixed permanent and flexible workforces while driving strategic business value.
GDPR: how HR can embrace it as a catalyst for positive change
GDPR compliance can help HR departments improve data processes, strengthen employee trust, and identify business opportunities like untapped staff skills. By embracing better data practices and transparent communication, organizations can turn regulatory requirements into a competitive advantage.
Book review: Designing the Purposeful World
Clive Wilson’s “Designing the Purposeful World” explores how the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals can serve as a blueprint for creating positive global change. The book combines emotional appeal with logical arguments and evidence from thought leaders to demonstrate how purpose-driven thinking can unite people across cultures and professions to build a better future.
German workplaces: what can businesses learn?
German workplaces face pressure to modernize labor laws and embrace flexible working to compete with other European countries. Despite rigid regulations, evidence shows remote work increases productivity and employee satisfaction, requiring a redefinition of traditional work concepts for the future economy.
HR and acquisitions: what role should HR be playing?
HR plays a critical role in mergers and acquisitions that often goes overlooked. Beyond financial due diligence, HR must assess cultural integration and employee engagement, as failure to plan for cultural alignment causes roughly 30% of failed acquisitions.
Prof Alexander Betts puts an optimistic spin on Brexit for UK businesses
Professor Alexander Betts argues that businesses should view Brexit as an opportunity for transformation rather than a threat. He identifies talent recruitment, social mobility, and engagement with underrepresented communities as key areas where UK businesses can innovate and strengthen their workforce despite economic uncertainty.
What will leadership look like in the future?
Future leadership will shift from command-and-control to facilitation and empowerment as technological change accelerates and younger generations demand autonomy and trust. Leaders must adapt to virtual work environments, emerging job roles, and a digitally native workforce, or risk becoming obsolete like outdated management styles.
UK productivity: HR need to be praised for the boost
UK productivity has reached its fastest rate in six years, and HR professionals deserve significant credit for driving this boost through employee engagement initiatives and workplace transformation strategies that enabled more output with fewer hours worked.
Stressed out Britain: How to manage work-related stress in your organisation
Work-related stress costs the British economy £5.2 billion annually and affects over half a million workers, making it a leading cause of sickness absence. Organizations can reduce this impact by identifying excessive pressures and implementing stress management strategies that distinguish between motivating pressure and harmful prolonged stress.
“The HR function historically has been miscalculated and underestimated.”
Economist Daniel Thorniley argues the HR function has been historically miscalculated and underestimated. Speaking at UNLEASH 2018, he discusses how HR must navigate uncertainty around Brexit and broader challenges including unsustainable business models focused on short-term shareholder value rather than long-term workforce sustainability.
2 minutes with… Helen Williams, HR Leader, Statoil
Helen Williams, HR Leader at Statoil, discusses her focus on diversity, inclusive culture, and empowering leaders to unlock team potential. She shares insights on leadership development, performance management trends, and lessons learned from implementing organizational change initiatives.
GDPR compliance: practical steps to take control of your HR data
Ensure your HR data meets GDPR requirements by securing employee information, maintaining accuracy, responding to access requests, managing consent properly, and deleting data when no longer needed. HR departments must implement technical and organizational measures to control how personal data is collected, stored, and managed.
Do we need more HR support for SMEs?
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) lack sufficient HR support and education on employment status and worker rights, creating widespread confusion among business advisors and owners. Expert HR guidance could help SMEs avoid costly tribunal cases and ensure compliance with employment law.
Book review: Flawed but Willing: Leading Large Organizations in the Age of Connection, by Khurshed Dehnugara
This book review evaluates Khurshed Dehnugara’s leadership guide for connecting with large organizations. The conversational, anecdotal writing style challenges readers to rethink how they engage with their workforce, emphasizing that modern business success depends on discretionary effort beyond contractual obligations. Rated 4 out of 5, it’s suited for HR leaders and senior business professionals seeking practical approaches to organizational connection.
Credit scores: how employers can help employees improve it
Employers can help improve employee financial wellbeing by educating staff about credit scores. Research shows 40% of employees lack understanding of credit scores, which impacts their ability to access favorable financial offers and make informed decisions about their finances.
Book review: The Future of the Professions by Daniel & Richard Susskind
In this review of “The Future of the Professions,” Kate Wadia examines how the Susskinds argue technology will transform professional work by democratizing knowledge. While the book presents compelling evidence about disruption in law, medicine, and journalism, Wadia finds the theoretical second half unnecessarily complex and academic, giving it 3 out of 5 stars.
The 7 best leaders of the 21st century- and what you can learn from them
Discover seven leadership lessons from influential 21st century leaders including Warren Buffett, Barack Obama, Bill Marriott, Shirin Ebadi, Queen Elizabeth II, Richard Branson, and Sheryl Sandberg. Learn key insights on handling mistakes, compromise, people skills, equality, change, autonomy, and adversity.
Tackling Taylor: “Good Work” deserves defence
The Taylor review promotes “good work” standards across modern employment practices, including gig economy roles and atypical contracts. Rather than banning zero-hours work outright, it emphasizes fairness, clarity, and individual choice while addressing vulnerability in the workforce.
Book review: Employee Engagement – A Little Book of Big Ideas
This book review examines “Employee Engagement – A Little Book of Big Ideas” by Jamsine Gartner, rating it 4 out of 5 stars. The book addresses widespread workplace disengagement by exploring five spheres of engagement—company, work, team, network, and society—offering practical checklists for HR directors and business professionals seeking to boost employee commitment and productivity.
Let’s get political: harnessing post-election office debates
A recent study found 72% of UK employees feel comfortable discussing politics at work. Employers can harness these conversations constructively by creating open, respectful workplace environments that encourage productive debate and build trust among colleagues.
