Blog: how fiefdoms destroy company cultures
This morning I had breakfast with a friend, Martha. As friends do over coffee and pastry, we filled each other in on the latest happenings in our work and personal lives. I was particularly concerned about Martha’s work experiences as her company has gone through some “right sizing” in recent months. As part of the […]
Talent Spot: Kath Austin, HR and Marketing Director, Pizza Hut
Like so many graduates, when Kath Austin, HR and marketing director at Pizza Hut, left university in 1997, she wasn’t entirely sure which direction to go in. Joining a graduate training scheme seemed like the sensible thing to do and British Airways a good brand to work for. It turned out to be an inspired […]
The changing market for HCM applications
The market for HR applications is in a state of flux as a wealth of systems start coming up for renewal and cloud computing begins to enter the mainstream. Cloud offerings – where users pay a subscription to access software over the internet instead of licencing and running it in-house at a hefty capital cost […]
Business meet HR, HR meet the Business – you’ve got a lot in common!
A failure to demonstrate strategic value is damaging HR’s reputation with business leaders, warns a new Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) report. HR is perceived as implementing rather than devising strategy by business leaders, according to the CIPD survey of 369 business leaders and 107 senior HR professionals. This means […]
Blog: Driver licensing changes – Pushing eyecare up the HR agenda
Employee eyecare. It’s the benefit that always seems to sit at middle or even the bottom of many to do lists. This week’s changes to driver licencing, which mean regular medical certification for lorry and bus drivers, will have pushed eyecare up the agenda for employers whose business involves these vehicles. But for most organisations, eyecare policy […]
Blog: The importance of thorough investigation in staff disputes
The recent case of Stuart v London City Airport has highlighted the importance of undertaking a reasonable investigation before an employer takes action. In this case, the employer failed to investigate the conduct of an employee whom the employer considered had stolen goods. The employee was a grounds services agent who entered the duty-free store […]
The art of change management
When an organisation has to effect fundamental change, it usually implements it from top to bottom. Typically back room operations as well as the products and/or services that it offers will all be affected. As a result, a 360 degree investigation and feedback process can be a good place from which to start. […]
In a Nutshell: Five considerations when setting up an HR department from scratch
When Jennifer Longden joined Cititec, the technology recruitment firm did not have an HR department and she had no experience of HR. Nearly four years later, the HR department that she subsequently set up has become integral to the firm’s business strategy. Longden shares the personal lessons that she’s learned from having to establish an […]
Blog: The key talent trends from 2012 revealed
The latest ‘Talent Think Tank’ kicked off with an introduction from our host about some of the key trends in 2012. The change in expectations, career management and generational shifts highlight that there is a burning platform with talent management today to adapt in order to retain talent. Here are some of the key points […]
Blog: Developing your open-mindedness muscle
Do you sometimes just feel stuck, frustrated or weary of the effort of trying to change either yourself or others? One of the traits of a great leader is open-mindedness. What follows is a simple technique to help you to develop your open-mindedness muscle: I don’t think any of us could be totally open-minded because we […]
Talent Spot: Jennifer Longden, head of HR at Cititec
When Jennifer Longden joined Cititec in 2009, the technology recruitment firm did not have an HR department and she had no experience of HR. From this blank canvas, she has created an HR unit that is helping to shape and support the business as well as adapt to a dramatic shift in focus. Longden had […]
Blog: What’s your communication style?
You communicate in your own particular way – we all do. Over the years you’ve developed your own natural communication style. To come across confidently and to look as though you’re in control, it helps if you’re aware of this style. People with good communication skills already know what’s good and what’s bad about their […]
Blog: Seven career questions to ask yourself for 2013
It’s that time in January when we take stock and decide on our resolutions for the year ahead. So I thought it might be useful to offer my advice on what you should be doing to enhance your career in 2013. Make time to think about your career. There is nothing more important than […]
HRD Insight: GL Hearn’s Susan Wright on graduate intern schemes
The role of the business community in helping to develop new talent is becoming an increasingly topical issue. The economic climate has created an environment in which graduates are now struggling to find jobs that only a few years earlier would have been readily available. It is clear that these days experience counts, which […]
Blog: Discretion denied – The implications of change to indefinite leave to remain rules
Before launching into this article, we’d like to wish all our readers a very Happy New Year! We hope that 2013 brings you all success and thank you for following the Newland Chase blog throughout the last year. As ever, we encourage you to get involved and comment below with your own thoughts and experiences […]
Three ways to make the most of your older workers
Times are changing and, henceforth, employers will need to be smarter. This is because a potentially explosive mixture of issues is starting to bubble under. Older workers now comprise a much bigger cohort than those coming up behind them. The imminent retirement of the Baby Boomer generation has been known about for years as […]
Information security: The role of HR
In 2004, Royal Bank of Scotland found itself and its email policy under scrutiny when an employment tribunal found in favour of an ex-employee. The individual concerned had been dismissed after an investigation into several staff members who had been using the company email system to send pornographic images. Around 30 employees were identified […]
Living Leader Learnings: How can I get my team to trust me?
The challenge A general manager at the distribution division of a national manufacturer says: “We have just completed our annual staff survey and it seems that the basic message coming from HR is that we need to find ways to increase the levels of engagement in our teams. As a manager, of course I […]
Blog: How to receive feedback in an effective manner
Even though most of us recognise the benefits of receiving feedback, it can still be difficult to accept criticism and actually learn from the information. Feedback is important because it keeps us informed and helps us learn how to improve. All feedback is beneficial whether it is positive or negative. Feedback is important to your […]
Blog: Why are annual performance appraisals so stressful?
Recognise This! – The 5 top drivers of stress in the annual performance appraisal process are easily overcome through crowdsourcing with social recognition. Why does the traditional annual performance review continue to fail as both a performance measurement and management device? There are a litany of reasons but by far the greatest, most overriding […]
