The missing middle
Middle managers are a crucial cog in the wheels of any business. Their day-to-day dealings with their team have a ‘make or break’ impact on the way people feel about work and the effort they put into their job. Developing […]
So, you think you’re a great manager?
Some uncomfortable reading for managers this week in the shape of a CIPD survey which suggests many are somewhat ‘deluded’ about the effectiveness of their leadership style. Three quarters of employees questioned for the research said they rated their managers […]
Low cost staff learning
When budgets are tight, staff learning and development activities are often the first to come under the axe. Only recently, an Accenture survey has shown that despite continuing concern over skills shortages, nine out of 10 European employers have cut […]
Stress in the workplace: HR under pressure
I can’t help feeling it’s apt that I should be blogging about stress in the workplace on a day when the computer’s been condemned by the repair man and I’ve just had to climb into a communal bin to retrieve […]
Are you a family-friendly employer?
Another week, another industry award – and this time the search is on for the top employer for working families. Now the arguments for being a flexible, family-friendly employer are well-rehearsed. Access to a wider talent pool. Engaged and loyal employees. […]
Are you a great company to work for?
There are no doubt some happy faces at the clutch of SMEs who’ve made it onto the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For. The run-down of successful contenders makes interesting reading. There’s a real variety of businesses, with everything […]
Employee engagement: how to keep it going year-round
Valentine’s Day is upon us and what I’d like to know: is your employee engagement strategy really working and your employees feeling the love? Now this isn’t a blog about the do’s and don’ts of office romances – but rather […]
Employee rewards: is it better to give than to receive?
The whole issue of pay, performance and employee rewards is very much in the news this week with RBS chief Stephen Hester bowing to public and political pressure and agreeing to waive his £1 million bonus. Now most of us […]
Motivating employees without spending money
More gloomy predictions about the economy this week, with figures showing that people in the UK are borrowing more on credit cards, overdrafts and loans than at the height of the 2009 recession.
How a good laugh can do wonders for workplace cultures
Recent research has proved that laughter really is the best medicine when it comes to positive workplace cultures. According to a University of Oxford study, people actually feel less pain after a good laugh, because it causes the body to […]