How to… break the sickness cycle
‘Tis the season to be sniffly – if the number of people who’ve been ‘off sick’ when I’ve tried to contact them this week is anything to go by. Now of course it’s not uncommon for employees to succumb to […]
How telling stories can help your business grow
Story-telling is probably not a technique that immediately springs to mind when it comes to managing a growing SME. But it was the ability to capture compelling stories that helped propel Fittleworth Medical to success in the recent People Management […]
How to become a high growth business
It’s the ambition of most SMEs to grow …. but according to a recent report from Goldman Sachs, only a small minority (one per cent) are likely to demonstrate the high growth that will create new jobs and drive economic […]
How to turn your customers into your biggest fans
Last week I was interviewing one of Cezanne HR’s clients for a press release and asked her what she thought about the help desk. “I want to marry them”, she replied, before going on to wax lyrical about the great service […]
5 ways to encourage digital collaboration in your business
What is your business doing to give employees the freedom to connect with each other, create new ideas and challenge conventional thinking? This was the question posed last week by management guru Gary Hamel as he launched his ‘digital freedom […]
How to boost your business with well thought-out training
How to boost your business with well thought-out training in summary: Keeping staff skills up-to-date is vital for any business that wants to expand and out-perform its competitors. But how can this be done effectively? To ensure training remains effective […]
Five ways to build trust within your business
The issue of trust (or lack of it) has been the subject of several surveys that have crossed my desk recently. The 13th annual Trust Barometer conducted by Edelman uncovered what it described as a ‘crisis in leadership’, with less […]
Zero Hours Contracts – The Debate
Zero Hours Contracts – The Debate in Summary: Zero hours contracts have sparked debate due to concerns about exploitation and lack of benefits, with over a million workers affected. They offer flexibility for businesses with fluctuating staffing needs and can […]
How to drive performance and productivity in your SME
The important role that SMEs have to play in driving economic growth is increasingly being recognised – and as a result there’s been a noticeable rise in HR circles of efforts to help small businesses manage their people more effectively.
As the employers of over 14 million people in the UK, it is important that SMEs get their HR management right.
Have great conversations with your team
In a small business, having a ‘happy ship’ is vital. There simply isn’t time for the minor spats, grudges and resentment that can so easily arise simply because someone has been misunderstood or hasn’t got their message across clearly.
Indeed research has shown that a negative interaction with someone has a real impact on productivity – it can take someone several hours to recover not just their good spirits but also their concentration after a difficult or unpleasant exchange with a colleague or their manager.
Sickness absence in the UK is changing… are you prepared?
£29 billion is the annual cost of sickness absence to UK businesses according to a recent study by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
At a time when organisations are under more pressure than ever to control costs, it is vital they find the right solution for minimising employee absence. Many forward thinking companies are looking at ways to improve employees’ health, morale and motivation, whilst also tackling the issues of sickness absence and unauthorised leave.
How to leave the office behind when you’re on holiday
There’s a definite whiff of suncream in the air this week as the pace of work starts to wind down and employees get ready to head off for their summer break.
Research from the Institute of Leadership and Management suggests, however, that the lead-up to the summer holidays is actually one of the most stressful times of the year and that many managers won’t be fully switching off when they take their well-earned break.