The key to creating a great place to work
Long hours, high workloads, out-of-date leadership style and cultures do little to retain staff. Flexibility and good leadership is key to a happy workforce, says Lynne Copp. In the UK we work 46% longer hours than our European neighbours and are 27% less productive. Long hours and high workloads do not create successful businesses […]
Seize the moment: Embrace change and strengthen HR
Dan Ferrandino discusses why the current tough trading conditions present an ideal opportunity to embrace change and reinforce the business relevance of the HR function. 2009 will go down as a year of unprecedented change – from a new political agenda in the US to the global economic crisis. As Barack Obama said: "The world […]
What is your boss really thinking?
Have you ever wondered how your boss interprets your actions? Chester Elton answers questions about what bosses really think when their employees exhibit typical workplace behaviours. What’s my boss thinking when I don’t speak up in a meeting, come in late with an excuse, volunteer to organise all the team private parties and events, or […]
How to be a great HR director
All leaders want it, many aspire to possess it, and without it, few succeed. Having courage is vital if you want to be a successful HR director, says Andrew Leigh. Recently, Battalia Winston International, an organisation that employs over 5,000 people worldwide, wanted to appoint a human resources director. If you had fancied the job, you would need to have been: […]
Power methods for developing HR staff
Are you using the most effective methods to develop the skills and careers of your HR team? Jan Hills discusses which methods work best and how you can combine these to achieve more results for your investment. Recent surveys suggest that some 80 to 85% of medium to large companies have already, are in the process […]
Success in a recession: The kitchen cabinet
Successful people rely on a network of close allies who guide and challenge them. So how do they select those in their cabinet and how can HR professionals encourage the right kinds of teams to form around leaders? Blaire Palmer has the answers. Successful people do not become successful alone. We know this is true, which […]
Colborn’s Corner: Who are the fat cats?
With news about Barclays’ recent profit announcements and headlines about the fat cats being back in town, Quentin Colborn takes a look at fat cat salaries in the light of a recent article in The Times and questions if they are who we were expecting. When you think about it, the expression ‘fat cat’, which is normally used […]
Project management: What a steal!
Matchett’s senior consultant Amanda Brown has taken a novel look at the process of project management and how it relates to George Clooney and Brad Pitt’s Oceans Eleven. Initially, I thought that it was just a good film, she writes, now I realise that it is a case for the well organised project, following the […]
Effective change management: Interims in the driving seat
In these difficult times, businesses need as much help as possible to ensure they are best placed to weather the economic storm, says Paul Botting. The recession has emphasised the need for organisations across the public and private sector to take a fresh look at their inner workings and indeed, their HR policies. There can […]
Undercover Boss: Paying lip service to the skills gap
In the final episode of Channel 4’s Undercover Boss, Steven Martin, CEO of construction giant Clugston goes incognito to find out how his employees really feel about their jobs – and the firm. Penny de Valk shares her views. "Every boss needs to do something like this. Thing is I’m not convinced they want to […]
Undercover boss: It’s worth investing in your people
In a new two-part series on Channel 4, Undercover Boss features a senior executive who goes undercover in their own company to find out what is happening at the coalface and what employees really think about the business. Penny de Valk shares her thoughts on last night’s episode. Channel 4’s new series Undercover Boss, […]
Leaders urged to take their five-a-day in people management
Acas and the CIPD have teamed up to publish a ‘five-a-day’ manual in a bid to encourage business leaders to take a stand against poor people management – a significant factor in the UK’s productivity gap. The joint guidance covers management fundamentals developed from CIPD and Acas research and offers practical experience of management development grouped […]
Exclusive video: Philippa Hird interview
Former group HR director of ITV Philippa Hird talks exclusively to HRzone.co.uk about HR's role within a recession, how it can prepare for the eventual upturn, the role of leadership in driving engagement, and the challenges of working in HR within the television industry.
Seven ways to recession-proof your HR department
A recent report showed 82% of HR staff do not measure the return on investment of their own practices. Denis Barnard reveals seven questions you should be asking to ensure your HR department is recession-proof. It’s an unpalatable truth that some HR directors are failing to make business cases that resonate with their […]
HCM: Using analytics to help organisations fight back
Peter Howes highlights how the use of eight metrics, that have specifically been identified for use in a downturn, can lead to greater workforce insight, improving efficiency and driving cost savings. With the recession in full swing, rapid changes within the global business environment have left many HR directors reeling. Until recently most were […]
Mergers and acquisitions: Creating a stronger HR function
Jan Hills and Stefania Cappello offer practical advice on how merging HR functions can be implemented, and how it should be seen as less of a daunting task and more of an opportunity for a stronger HR function. Most advice on mergers and acquisitions is about HR helping the business. The challenge for HR […]
Adding value through interim management
Raj Tulsiani discusses five things you should know about interim management but perhaps never considered, to help add real value to the business. The growth of interim management over the last three decades has been such that industry best practice has been fighting a losing battle to keep up with the movement of the […]
HR business partnering 2.0: Delivering on the original promise
Simon Constance and Chris O'Brien, from Orion Partners, discuss how HR has missed the real point of Ulrich's work and look at the future for HR business partnering. Research, anecdotal evidence and first hand experience suggests that despite the introduction of the HR business partnering (HRBP) role, HR is still seen as not making […]
HR hits rock bottom in the boredom list
HR is less boring than media or law but not as interesting as accountancy or teaching, according to graduates who work in the profession. The Training and Development Agency for Schools has published its Work Boredom Index which has turned popular myths – such as accountancy being boring and the media being interesting – around. […]
Book review: Why Should Anyone be Led by You? What it Takes to be an Authentic Leader
Title: Why Should Anyone be Led by You? What it Takes to be an Authentic LeaderAuthor: Rob Goffee and Gareth JonesPublisher: Harvard Business School PressISBN: 1 – 57851 – 971 – 3Price: £15.99Reviewer: Rob Sheffield So, if you’re like me and wondering what yet another book on leadership could possibly add to your understanding, pause […]
