From ‘ready now’ to ‘ready in a lifetime’ – the baby boomers are here to stay
The abolition of mandatory retirement age means Baby Boomers are staying in the workforce longer, disrupting succession plans and creating fewer promotion opportunities for younger employees. Combined with economic stagnation and skill shortages, organizations now face challenges balancing aging workers with limited advancement pathways for emerging talent.
Supporting senior leaders with mental health issues
From April, UK employers can no longer legally remove company directors due to mental health problems. This shift reflects changing attitudes toward mental illness in the workplace, though organizations must now provide better support for senior leaders facing mental health challenges beyond traditional financial compensation.
Blog: Doing that Pope thing!
Pope Benedict XVI’s 2013 resignation after 600 years without papal resignations prompted HR insights about career decisions. The author reflects on resigning from a job without another lined up, exploring the emotional journey and the moment that finally triggered the decision to leave.
Are you ready for people to walk out?
HR departments must prepare comprehensive exit processes beyond standard paperwork, including leaver forms, ePayslip systems, training records access, and company property returns to ensure smooth departures while maintaining compliance and reducing turnover costs.
News: Top 10 talent trends for 2013
Discover the top 10 talent management trends reshaping HR in 2013, from workforce outsourcing decisions and global talent planning to employer branding and emerging recruitment battlefields amid economic challenges.
That was the HR year that was
2012 was marked by austerity measures that squeezed middle-income families as wages failed to keep pace with inflation. Despite economic hardship, employers focused on cost-cutting while maintaining key personnel, though rising employee disengagement emerged as a critical HR challenge requiring improved manager-colleague relations and communication.
The emerging discipline of workforce planning
Workforce planning and HR data analytics are becoming essential tools as companies face growing complexity in managing diverse workforces, skills shortages, and changing labor dynamics. By analyzing employee data across recruitment, performance, compensation, and retention, organizations can better understand what drives productivity and retention while optimizing their most valuable asset: human capital.
News: Gen Y will lead to workforce management shake-up
Generation Y’s entry into the workforce is reshaping employment practices, from staff retention to succession planning. Research reveals significant gaps between Millennials and managers in work priorities and expectations, with Gen Y staying an average of just two years per job and prioritizing flexible working and personal ideals over traditional career advancement.
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.
Blog: The HR lessons to be learned from the BBC crisis
The BBC director-general’s resignation after 54 days highlights critical HR lessons: the importance of succession planning, the value of hiring external candidates to challenge group think, and the complexity of senior-level recruitment decisions.
News: NHS “sleepwalking” into workforce crisis within 3 years
The Royal College of Nursing warns the NHS faces a workforce crisis within three years due to staff cuts and reduced nurse training posts. Since 2010, the health service has lost nearly 21,000 staff including 6,150 qualified nurses, with another 40,000 jobs at risk and nurse training numbers down 14% in two years.
Blog: Workforce planning – The answer to train operators’ prayers?
London Midland trains faces driver shortages causing service cancellations on the Northampton-Birmingham line. Workforce planning—a strategic approach involving succession planning, skills development, and role design—could help train operators anticipate staffing needs and retain qualified drivers long-term, addressing both immediate gaps and future demand.
Blog: Do you undertake workforce planning?
A survey of 900 UK companies reveals that while 81% plan no redundancies, 41% lack workforce planning strategies. Despite economic challenges and skills gaps in key sectors, businesses must align talent management with growth objectives to remain competitive.
News: UK employers do little to tackle poor internal management skills
Most UK employers recognize that poor management skills threaten business performance, yet few invest in developing managers, particularly at first-line level. A survey reveals that 43% lack succession plans, while only 55% fill management vacancies internally, missing opportunities to promote talent and build stronger company culture.
Let the Games commence – But make sure you plan for them
As the Olympics approach, businesses face significant challenges from travel disruption, staffing shortages, and holiday requests. Planning ahead is essential to minimize impact, with research showing companies that prepare effectively can boost revenues and employee morale.
Barclays and the value of succession planning
Barclays’ executive departures following the Libor scandal highlight the critical importance of succession planning. Organizations face growing challenges filling leadership roles due to talent shortages and skills gaps, making proactive succession strategies essential for business continuity and employee engagement.
Blog: The followers guide to what your leaders want
Leaders often overlook defining what they need from followers. This guide explores the expectations great leaders have of their teams—from taking responsibility and understanding organizational goals to supporting colleagues and maintaining commitment during challenges.
Blog: When laying off staff, remember – people are watching
When laying off staff, executives must remember that employees are watching how leadership handles the decision. Survivors plan their exits while the company’s employer brand suffers, making it crucial to address retention and rebuild confidence in the organization’s direction.
News: 60% of workers plan to watch Olympics – with or without consent
Nearly 60% of UK employees plan to watch the Olympics during work hours, prompting many employers to offer flexible working arrangements. A CIPD and Hays survey found that over half of organizations will accommodate homeworking or flexible schedules, though some restrict leave and warn staff about unauthorized absences and disciplinary consequences.
Six steps for succession planning success
Succession planning is critical for organizational success, yet many employers lack the expertise to implement it effectively. This six-step guide helps organizations identify future management needs, develop talent, and ensure key positions are filled efficiently while improving employee retention and engagement.
