Blog: Workplace relationships – just like in personal life, you want a good match
Successful workplace relationships require the same ingredients as strong marriages: shared goals, open communication, mutual support, and a fun environment. Like in personal life, creating a culture where people feel valued and engaged—through coaching, listening, and good-natured humor—builds lasting loyalty and satisfaction in organizations.
Horrible bosses: how to spot them and handle them
Authentic leaders prioritize organizational success, while horrible bosses prioritize themselves. This article identifies eight core traits of horrible bosses—including habitual lying, belittling behavior, and promoting divisive workplace cultures—and provides four strategies to help you manage them effectively.
Bonuses and allowances compensate council bosses for pay cuts
Council chief executives received inflated bonuses and allowances to offset promised salary cuts, according to analysis of local authority accounts. Despite government calls for 10% pay reductions, senior leaders’ total compensation packages increased, with top earners exceeding £280,000 annually.
Workers uninspired by business leaders, finds study
A UK survey of over 1,000 employees found that few workers believe their bosses display key leadership qualities like communication skills, integrity, and the ability to motivate. Just 10% consider their top manager inspirational, while only 12% see them as charismatic.
The secret to staff satisfaction
Employee satisfaction is at its lowest since 2009, with stress and lack of managerial support affecting workplace morale. HR leaders can boost staff satisfaction through open communication, accessibility, acknowledging achievements, and setting clear targets to help employees feel valued and engaged.
No ‘time to train’ in SMEs, say Government
The coalition government has delayed extending training request rights to small and medium-sized business employees until at least 2015, citing implementation challenges. The consultation found 77% of small firms opposed the legislation, with concerns that smaller organizations lack dedicated HR resources to manage training requests consistently.
Difference in earnings between public and private sector widens in poor job market
Public sector workers earned 7.8% more than private sector workers by April 2010, with the wage gap widening 47% since 2007. However, job growth in both sectors slowed to a 22-month low, reflecting employer caution in a weakening jobs market.
Employees have too much holiday, say 25% of SMEs
A quarter of UK SMEs believe employees receive too much holiday and want to cut entitlements by around four days to reduce costs, according to a MetLife survey. However, experts warn that reducing benefits without compensation could undermine employee commitment and retention.
Wanted: HR mentors to support SMEs
The UK government is launching a nationwide network of 40,000 business mentors to support small-to-medium enterprises with HR, marketing, and finance advice, replacing the closed Business Link centres. Major banks including Barclays, HSBC, and RBS are recruiting 1,000 volunteer mentors, with SMEs able to find local support through a new website.
Leadership forecast gloomy – development needed
Leadership quality hasn’t improved despite £14 billion in annual global investment, according to a survey of 12,000 leaders and HR professionals. Only 38% of managers rate their organization’s leadership as high, with most leaders finding development ineffective and lacking skills for future challenges.
Coalition to spend £60 million on private sector apprenticeships
The UK coalition government launched a £60 million apprenticeship scheme to create 250,000 work placements for young people aged 16-24 over four years. The ‘Supporting Youth Employment’ initiative also includes a pilot program offering intensive job-search support, though opposition critics argue it’s an inadequate response to rising youth unemployment.
Recruitment ROI in the ‘new normal’
HR leaders increasingly demand higher recruitment ROI following the financial crisis, requiring recruitment partners to deliver greater accountability through thorough job briefs, candidate pre-qualification, and strategic alignment with organizational goals.
Financial Times to offer first non-exec director post grad course
The Financial Times is launching the UK’s first accredited post-graduate certificate for non-executive directors starting September, a six-month course based on the UK Corporate Governance Code and accredited by Edexcel to professionalise the sector.
Organisations could use social tools to aid ROI and engagement
Enterprise social media and collaboration tools could help organisations improve knowledge worker engagement and return on investment by increasing visibility of accomplishments and information quality. A Forrester study found that despite significant investment, many companies lack clarity on worker productivity and struggle with employee disengagement.
New study highlights decision-making differences between genders
A Warwick University study finds that men tend to make definitive judgments when categorizing objects, while women are more likely to acknowledge ambiguity and partial categories. The research suggests these cognitive differences may suit men for roles requiring quick decisions and women for positions demanding nuanced analysis.
HR at a crossroads: can we collaborate to improve business execution?
A new study reveals 80% of organizations struggle to communicate strategy effectively, with only 18% excelling at converting corporate strategy into employee goals. HR leaders must collaborate with IT to implement systems that align workforce performance with business execution, yet most lack adequate tools and processes.
Finding new roles for existing staff within your organisation
Retaining talented employees through internal role transitions is more cost-effective than external recruitment. Organizations can reduce turnover and maximize training investment by developing existing staff into new positions, rather than relying on external hiring and temporary contracts.
Exclusive: Alan Sugar to star in next ‘Undercover Boss’ TV series
Alan Sugar is going undercover at Amstrad for the next series of the popular TV show Undercover Boss. The businessman will disguise himself with a beard, glasses, and a baseball cap while taking on various roles, from fixing set-top boxes to working in customer service and the canteen.
Skills Active funding cut despite employer satisfaction
Skills Active criticizes the government’s decision to cut funding for its Young Apprenticeship scheme despite strong employer satisfaction ratings and evidence of program success. The sports and leisure sector body argues the decision was based on a flawed vocational training review, contradicting its own evaluation showing 100% employer approval and high apprentice satisfaction rates.
SMEs claim coalition bad for business
Nearly half of small-to-medium employers believe coalition government policies have negatively impacted their business, with 29% expecting the Budget to worsen conditions. A YouGov survey reveals SMEs prioritize easier bank funding and competitive tax regimes over current policy initiatives.
