Writer and Communications Consultant
Erika Lucas is a writer and communications consultant with a special interest in HR, leadership, management and personal development. Her career has spanned journalism and PR, with previous roles in regional press, BBC Radio, PR consultancy, charities and business schools.
There’s been much debate recently about the need for the HR profession to step up a gear and prove the valuable contribution it can make to a business. But what do HR professionals need to do personally to win the […]
Wouldn’t it be lovely if people generally regarded HR as the ‘superstars’ of the business? Sadly, that’s often not the case, with the profession receiving a serious amount of (often unfair) flak for lacking business nous and taking a reactive […]
If the latest research from the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) is to be believed, we are a nation of workaholics. Its recent study showed that two in five managers did not take their full annual leave allowance in […]
The issue of helping young people make a successful transition from education to work is one that is particularly close to home for me. As the parent of one teenager who’s part way through an apprenticeship and another who’s job […]
SMEs are expected to drive much of the forecast jobs growth over coming months as the economy continues to pick up. But recruiting the right people has always been a challenge for growing businesses, who often can’t compete with larger […]
I had a conversation last week with a colleague who had just started a new job and three weeks in, was frankly feeling pretty miserable. She’d had a rapid-fire induction and after one week both of her co-workers went off […]
The need to streamline people processes and cut down on admin is often the driver behind the purchase of an HR software system. But, the latest generation solutions are much more than an efficient replacement for spreadsheets. Used to their […]
All is not well on the performance management front if the findings of a recent CIPD survey are to be believed. In research conducted amongst 2,500 employees, 30 per cent felt their employer’s appraisal process was unfair, with less than […]
Big changes are afoot on the flexible working front, with new regulations coming into force on 30th June which will extend the right to request flexible working to all employees with 26 weeks service. This is a significant shift from […]
If you’re thinking about investing in HRIS software for the first time, or planning to upgrade from an existing system, the HR Software Show 2014 at Olympia (18th-19th June) is an essential date for your diary. It’s a great opportunity […]
There’s a real sense of optimism in the air as the economy continues to pick up and survey after survey tells us business confidence is on the rise. It looks like small and mid-sized businesses will be driving much of […]
More less than positive press for poor old HR people over the last couple of weeks. It seems however hard it tries, the profession’s image problem just won’t go away. First up was research released by the CIPD, which suggested […]
