HR Practitioner’s Diary: Standards
Sue Kingston looks back over her intrepid HR adventures of the last month including rescuing a business from failing its Investors in People reassessment, practical tips on how to manage those World Cup sickies and thoughts on whether HR qualification is all that is needed plus those vital wine, chocolate and boyfriend stats. Month: April […]
How Did I Get Here? Laraine Levin, Head of HR, QA
Laraine Levin discusses HR as the guiding force behind business strategy, falling victim to unpopular managerial decisions and motivational musicals. 1. How strategic is your current role and what does it involve? There is a strong strategic element to my role and, as an important part of this, I work closely with our CEO to […]
How Did I Get Here? Amanda Shaw, Head of Human Resources, Cottrills
Amanda Shaw explains why she believes HR is all about fostering a positive culture and why donning an ambassador’s hat is part and parcel of the job. 1. How strategic is your current role and what does it involve?My current role is a new step for the business and covers broad HR across three business […]
How Did I Get Here? Tom Russell, Director of Strategic Resourcing and Reward, Cancer Research UK
Tom Russell, Director of Strategic Resourcing and Reward at Cancer Research UK, talks “fluffy” personnel, liaising with world class scientists … and 1980s pop. 1. How strategic is your current role and what does it involve?My role is responsible for leading the organisation’s strategy for attracting and retaining high quality people. This primarily involves the […]
How Did I Get Here? Cathy Wilcher, HR Director, CFS
Former Abbey HR Director, Cathy Wilcher reveals the importance of courageous decision making and achieving what no one thought possible. 1. How strategic is your current role and what does it involve?I will be starting my new job with CFS on 18 April and joining their Executive Committee. One of the attractions to the job […]
Linking Training to Business Needs: The Secrets of HMRC Revealed. By Sarah Fletcher
Linda Martin, Head of Learning at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) spoke to Sarah Fletcher about HMRC’s learning and development challenges, how they measure the success of their training investment and crucially just how they tie in their training to business needs. HR Zone Q1: How has the learning and development (L&D) strategy at HM […]
How Did I Get Here? Massimo Macarti, HR Director, Canon Europe
HR Director of Canon Europe Massimo Macarti talks about achieving credibility through business expertise, and why his career history gives inspiration to his staff. 1. How strategic is your current role and what does it involve? As chief of HR for Canon Europe and covering the Middle East and Africa, strategy is highly involved. I’m […]
How Did I Get Here? Anne Harley, HR Director, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
HR Director of RSPB Anne Harley reveals her feelings on having to do “horrid things” to people, and why HR is perceived as a “no” culture. 1. How strategic is your current role and what does it involve? I am a member of the management board and participate in all strategic decisions. In particular I […]
From bad to worst: Can HR rise above the taunts?
HR was recently cited by one survey as one of the worst performing business functions – it even fell below the IT department in terms of appreciation. So what’s going on? John Mazted, CEO of Digby Morgan, a leading HR recruitment firm, presents his thoughts. The recent Economist Intelligence Unit survey of over 500 board […]
How Did I Get Here continued … Gabrielle de Wardener, Human Resources Director, Loyalty Management Group (LMG)
Read on to discover more about the worst things about working in HR, and how to get HR professionals on the board. 8. What's the worst thing about working in HR and the best? You run the risk of being accused of creating needless bureaucracy and, when managers do a poor job, you’re the one […]
How Did I Get Here? Gabrielle de Wardener, Human Resources Director, Loyalty Management Group (LMG)
Gabrielle de Wardener reveals the secrets of excellent people management and how to rebuff accusations of "needless bureaucracy" from HR. 1. How strategic is your current role and what does it involve? My role is to interpret our business strategy in people terms and translate that via innovative ideas into practical solutions. That means hiring […]
Book review: Tom Peters Essentials: Leadership, Aspire, Liberate, Achieve
Tom Peters Essentials: Leadership: Aspire, Liberate, Achieve Title: Tom Peters Essentials: Leadership: Aspire, Liberate, AchieveEditor: Tom PetersPublisher: Dorling KindersleyISBN: 1-4053-0257-7Price: £7.99Reviewer: Desiree Cox In this book, Peters recognises that the focus of leadership has shifted significantly over the past few years, driven by the workplace revolution that is taking place. As individuals accept more responsibility […]
The HR Business Partner: Panacea or impossible role?
Most large organisations have undergone HR transformation following the classic Ulrich model of HR shared services; however, practitioners who have implemented the structure often highlight teething problems and acknowledge they have some way to go before the role of HR Business Partner is operating as they would like within their organisation. The Ulrich model of […]
HR Business Partnering – What does it really mean?
More and more people are describing themselves as ‘HR Business Partners’ and the job adverts are increasing along with salaries for many of these lucrative posts. Is it just a change of name, or is it really a different role? These Frequently Asked Questions, should help you decide. What is an HR Business Partner?A business […]
Diary of an Advertising Manager
How did attending the event affect your life?It reaffirmed some new positive beliefs and was a crucial next step on my journey of self discovery and self improvement. I gained a couple of major insights into negative behaviour patterns I had been exhibiting for some time without realising it. What changes did you make to […]
The Couch?! HR Nightmares
Who would be an HR Manager? In an effort to soothe the profession's seething resentments we thought it would be nice to share those deep dark moments in HR we all dread! It takes years of study and application to get where you are today. You spend your life absorbing and interpreting employment law detail […]
Diary of a Sales Manager
Day 1Rather sceptical to say the least…..or am I just scared? What does he know about my problems, a yank? Why am I here anyway? Is this going to be some voodoo/occult weekend? A night out with my mates and a bottle of vodka is what I normally use as release….go on try something different, […]
Firms failing to align business strategy with HR
Firms are failing to align their managers' personal goals and reward packages with the strategic people management objectives of their organisations, according to research published today. The IRS research, based on a survey of 49 public and private sector organisations, found that while senior managers' goals and reward packages are closely linked to the delivery […]
Women workers are key to filling long-term skills gap
Failure to tap the potential of a growing number of women workers will stifle the prospects of many UK businesses – according to the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT). With the number of women workers projected to rise over the next 10 years (whilst rates for men fall)*, the AAT believes that organisations will need […]
Charles Handy: Humane Management
Charles Handy is one of the most respected, if not the most respected business thinker of modern times. This week sees Charles Handy interviewed by FTdynamo for HR Zone. Charles Handy has long been regarded as Europe's pre-eminent business thinker, a position confirmed in January by the first-ever global ranking of business gurus. Now […]
