Creating a sustainable people strategy
A sustainable people strategy requires HR professionals to develop a comprehensive approach that embeds environmental considerations into corporate culture and business operations, rather than simply creating documentation. Like the internet’s evolution, sustainability will become essential to organizational success, necessitating employee engagement and genuine behavioral change across all levels.
Talent Spot: Dean Hunter – HRD turned MD at Hunter Adams
Dean Hunter transformed his career from police officer to HR director, then managing director at Hunter Adams. After early experience in recruitment at an oil and gas company, he led a management buyout team and successfully reduced staff turnover from 50% to 7% by restoring benefits, implementing flexible working, and creating clear career paths.
HP axes second leader in a year
Hewlett-Packard has replaced CEO Leo Apotheker with former eBay leader Meg Whitman after less than a year in the role, marking the company’s second executive leadership change in a year. Apotheker’s tenure was marked by declining sales and a $60 billion drop in HP’s market value.
Talent Spot: Nicholas Connell, head of HR at The Antique Wine Company
Nicholas Connell, head of HR at The Antique Wine Company, emphasizes the importance of understanding colleagues’ individual motivations to drive effective management. The commercial manager and qualified property lawyer assumed HR responsibilities 18 months ago and is pursuing formal HR qualifications to strengthen his expertise.
Microsoft paid £1 million to silence female exec passed over for top UK job
Microsoft paid over £1 million to a female executive who was allegedly passed over for the UK managing director role in 2006, despite being considered the top candidate. The executive left after signing a confidentiality agreement, joining other recent revelations about misconduct at the software giant.
HRD Insight: Paul Duncan on managing change at Swissport
Paul Duncan shares how he managed organizational change at Swissport International during a 2008 turnaround, implementing cost reductions, upskilling managers through business simulations, and rebuilding employee trust through improved communication and leadership coaching.
Richard Branson’s ex-PA on the art of delegation
Richard Branson’s former executive assistant Penni Pike shares practical strategies for effective delegation, including getting to know your delegate, setting clear priorities, and maintaining regular communication to free up time for important business tasks.
Blog: Lessons from Yahoo – where was HR?
Yahoo’s CEO was fired over the phone by the board chairman, then publicly criticized the company in emotionally charged language. The incident highlighted how poor executive conduct affects employee morale and trust, demonstrating that leaders at all levels serve as role models for organizational culture.
Talent Spot: Michael Stirrup, head of HR at Waterstons
Michael Stirrup, finance director at IT consultancy Waterstons, has taken on his first HR role while maintaining his financial responsibilities. With support from an HR consultant, he is developing a new HR strategy and appraisal system focused on company values and people development.
Microsoft loses second top US manager amid fresh UK revelations
Microsoft has lost its second senior US executive in two weeks amid revelations of inappropriate behavior during a UK High Court sexual harassment case. Linda Zecher, vice president of worldwide public sector business, departed to lead Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, following Simon Witts’s sudden exit. The departures coincide with allegations of misconduct and excessive drinking culture involving former UK executive Simon Negus.
Blog: Should HR take responsibility for the phone hacking scandal?
A business ethicist argues that HR departments bear responsibility for the News of the World phone-hacking scandal, claiming they failed to monitor for unethical behavior and alert senior leadership before the crisis spiraled out of control.
Talent Spot: Guy Pink, HR director of Addaction
Guy Pink, HR director of drug and alcohol treatment charity Addaction, plays a vital supporting role in managing staff costs and creating an optimal work environment. His efforts have helped the organization achieve a place on the Sunday Times 100 Best Places to Work list, despite recent mergers and redundancies.
Blog: HR must not let uninspiring company cultures set in
HR leaders must identify and address pockets of negative company culture where underachievement and lack of development have taken root. Without strong leadership, training, and visible role models for progression, employees struggle to improve and advance within the organization.
Female unemployment to jump again from 23-year high
Female unemployment is rising to 23-year highs, with the TUC warning of further increases as public sector job cuts begin. Women make up a disproportionate share of public sector workers, making them vulnerable to upcoming government redundancies across health, education, and local government.
Holcim cements behaviour metrics into leadership development scheme
Holcim embedded behavioral metrics into its global leadership development program to measure the impact of training on business outcomes. The LEAP program tracked learning objectives and behavioral indicators across 775 managers in 21 territories, with feedback from 1,049 observers to assess how effectively training translated into improved performance.
New boss hacks back on Everything Everywhere management team
New CEO Olaf Swantee reduced Everything Everywhere’s management team from 26 to 10 on his first day, forcing out six senior managers including the vice president of HR and deputy chief executive. The restructuring is the latest round of cuts at the merged Orange and T-Mobile company, which has already shed over 1,200 positions since combining.
Leadership development programmes not up to snuff in too many organisations
Only 38% of UK leaders and HR professionals rate their organisations’ leadership development programmes as highly effective, while 20-24% consider them ineffective. Research from CIPD and DDI highlights the critical need for better leadership development to equip leaders with essential skills for driving change and executing strategy.
Female bosses to wait a century for equal pay, says CMI
At current rates of salary growth, female bosses in the UK will need nearly a century to achieve equal pay with men, according to a survey of over 34,000 executives. The gender pay gap stands at £10,546, though junior female managers now earn slightly more than their male counterparts.
Tate trustees take action to stop bullying
Tate galleries’ trustees have intervened following bullying complaints, implementing a zero-tolerance policy and appointing an independent monitor. A November survey found 13% of staff experienced harassment, prompting leadership training and whistle-blowing policies to ensure a safer workplace.
Blog: Apple loses Jobs – so what does it mean for the people?
Steve Jobs’s departure as Apple CEO raises significant questions about internal management and workforce dynamics. While external focus centers on share prices and customer impact, HR must address how the organization maintains its culture and momentum without its iconic leader. Employee engagement and effective change management are now critical priorities.
