How can organisations manage their relationships with unions to prevent strikes?
Rewiring traditional HR policies and repairing relations with unions are key to the future success of businesses
How to solve the diversity crisis in local government leadership
Local government faces a diversity crisis, with Black, Asian and minority ethnic leaders representing just 3% of council CEOs and 3.7% of top senior management positions—far below representation in the private sector. Austerity, lack of investment in talent development, and a shortage of BAME professionals in middle management roles create barriers to reaching senior leadership positions.
German workplaces: what can businesses learn?
German workplaces face pressure to modernize labor laws and embrace flexible working to compete with other European countries. Despite rigid regulations, evidence shows remote work increases productivity and employee satisfaction, requiring a redefinition of traditional work concepts for the future economy.
“We must be different by design,” says Thames Valley Police’s Director of People
Thames Valley Police’s Director of People explains how agile leadership enables officers to respond confidently to unpredictable situations, discusses talent identification across multiple career pathways, and outlines how modern leadership models apply to policing while accounting for its unique operational demands.
The HR of today v the HR of tomorrow
Human Resources must evolve beyond internal operations to support entire businesses through corporate communications, sales strategies, and customer service. Modern HR should align with industry changes and organizational goals while learning from business practices across departments and cultures.
NHS and employee engagement – what works?
Effective employee engagement in NHS Trusts is linked to better staff wellbeing, patient satisfaction, and clinical outcomes. Research into high-performing trusts reveals that strong organizational values, visible senior leadership, and supportive line managers are key factors driving engagement success.
Should whistleblowers receive rewards or awards?
The UK is reconsidering how to recognize whistleblowers who expose wrongdoing. While the US uses financial rewards, a UK Whistleblowing Commission argues awards rather than monetary incentives better protect integrity and credibility while celebrating courage.
Which jobs make you happy?
Cabinet Office research reveals which jobs are most likely to make people happy, with clergy, chief executives, and agricultural proprietors ranking highest, while publicans, construction workers, and debt collectors report the lowest job satisfaction levels.
What’s the most embarrassing mistake you have made at work?
A concrete leak damaged London Underground’s Victoria Line control room, disrupting thousands of commuters. The Guardian explores workplace mishaps, featuring stories from readers about embarrassing professional mistakes—from branding critiques on day one to accidental chemical reactions and lost signage errors.
“We are robots,” says undercover Amazon worker
A BBC undercover investigation at an Amazon warehouse reveals workers walking up to 11 miles per shift while collecting orders every 33 seconds, conditions a stress expert says could cause “mental and physical illness.” Workers report feeling like “robots” under constant electronic monitoring and performance tracking.
How should HRDs protect their position in light of the BBC HR scandal?
HR Directors face increased scrutiny over severance packages and corporate governance, particularly following high-profile scandals. To protect their position, HR professionals should maintain careful documentation, avoid informal language in communications, and ensure legal sign-off on exit settlements involving significant payments beyond contractual entitlements.
Enabling a culture of compassionate accountability in the NHS
The Berwick report calls for systemic change in the NHS, highlighting that building a culture of trust and transparency—rather than punishing human error—is essential for patient safety. However, achieving this requires balancing organizational systems with human needs through compassionate accountability principles like openness and awareness.
Blog: top tips for training finance staff
Develop your finance team with formal training programs tailored to different skill levels. The NHS Foundation Trust shares practical tips for identifying the right qualifications, training providers, and motivated staff members to maximize training success and career progression.
Mid-Staffordshire: a challenge to HR to show its mettle
The Francis Report into Stafford Hospital’s patient deaths highlights widespread NHS failures and calls on HR professionals to drive urgent cultural change. HR leaders must use recruitment, training, and engagement strategies to rebuild staff confidence and prevent future scandals.
Final pensions RIP for the private sector?
Private sector final salary pensions closed to new staff at a record rate in 2012, with only 13% remaining open to new joiners, down from 19% the previous year. A NAPF survey reveals employers increasingly shutting schemes to existing staff too, while shifting workers toward defined contribution pensions instead.
News: Public sector is still a good place to work, say staff
Despite recent cuts and job losses, 90% of public sector workers would recommend careers in public service, citing positive workplace culture as the main attraction. However, real-term pay cuts are prompting over a quarter to seek higher wages in the private sector.
News: Low income NHS staff “not paid properly” since transfer to outsourcer
Low-income NHS staff at Brighton’s Royal Sussex County Hospital have experienced payment problems since being transferred to contractor Sodexo, with some workers missing wages and overtime payments. The GMB union reports employees have had to collect emergency cash at company offices, though Sodexo says it remains committed to resolving the issues.
Blog: Hiring migrant workers is now a boardroom issue…
Immigration compliance has become a critical boardroom issue after the UK Border Agency increased focus on employer sponsor licence compliance. HR leaders must ensure senior management understands that modern immigration compliance extends beyond visas to include strict record-keeping requirements, recruitment standards, and third-party oversight, with failure to comply resulting in severe financial and criminal penalties.
News: First employers accredited under London Healthy Workplace Charter
Fourteen employers have been accredited under the London Healthy Workplace Charter, a new initiative designed to improve employee health and well-being through measures like subsidised gym memberships, fresh fruit, and workplace wellness programs.
Three considerations for effective succession planning
Effective succession planning requires organizations to know their talent, prepare contingency strategies, and communicate clearly with stakeholders. Learn three key considerations that help HR navigate leadership transitions smoothly and minimize disruption.
