Culture
Transforming workplace culture: The opportunity of the Worker Protection Act
From compliance to culture: how the new legislation can truly enhance workplace safety and trust, by Paul O’Donnell HR teams are great at compliance. When a new piece of legislation comes in, like the Worker Protection Act (from October 2024), there will be a list of measures in place. Ready for the board, ready for an employment tribunal to check. Belt and braces. HR teams need to review systems and policies and ask themselves whether they are working, do staff…
How is AI affecting employee learning and development?
Is AI the silver bullet for L&D? How can we take advantage and remain human? In this feature, Jo Cook looks at the evidence and shares her perspective The use of generative AI holds so much for so many people – the promise of productivity gains, the overwhelm of selecting the right technologies, challenges of skilling people and the worry of future repercussions of an independent intelligence. Artificial intelligence is having a big impact on learning and development already, and…
Emotions and impact: How to normalise emotional expression in the workplace and why it’s important
Encouraging emotional expression at work can reduce stress, build trust and enhance overall job satisfaction – Phil Willcox shares practical steps to create a more supportive workplace In the workplace, people lie about how they feel. Daily. And lying is rarely pleasurable. There are several reasons why people often feel the need to conceal their emotions. This can stem from feeling a lack of psychological safety or trust in the environment or team they are in, or it may be…
Leading with empathy: Managing mistakes in the workplace
Encouraging communication around gaffes and oversights, with empathy and continuous improvement, is the leadership superpower says Ravinder Tulsiani Mistakes are inevitable in any organisation. They can range from minor errors to costly blunders, and how leaders respond to these mistakes can significantly impact the company’s culture and the employees’ morale. How a leader handles mistakes can foster a learning environment or create a culture of fear and blame. One key principle in managing mistakes is to recognise that they are…
Practical steps businesses can take to develop a positive and productive workplace
From hiring and training to management and perks, tips to improve workplace motivation and engagement, by Iffi Wahla There is wider recognition in this day and age that a happy workplace is a productive workplace. And yet, according to recent research by Gallup, a staggering £257bn is lost in the UK economy due to a lack of workplace motivation and engagement. That’s a huge sum, and it underscores the importance of cultivating a positive and productive work environment. A motivated…
Leaders are approaching skill building all wrong
It’s time to change “What’s in it for me?” to “What’s in it for them?” Stuart Cheesman explores an employee-centric approach UK leaders will be fully aware of their organisation’s skills gap, and HR’s struggles at filling the void. And with the World Economic Forum, stating that 50% of all employees will need reskilling by 2025, learning and development (L&D) initiatives have never been more important. An ‘employee first’ approach to skill building bolsters inclusion, a sense of community and organisational growth…
Labour’s return: Implications for skills and development
Labour’s election victory reshapes the UK workplace: implications for skills, technology, safety, and mental health The Labour Party will be in Government after the 2024 UK election, for the first time in 14 years. But what does it mean for people, skills and development in organisations? The Labour Party’s win yesterday is an opportunity for the education and skills system Nicola Hay MBE Technology and skills British Safety Council’s Chairman Peter McGettrick said, “We want to see people’s health, safety…
Fostering connection: The antidote to workplace loneliness
A lack of connection at work has impact both for the organisation and the individual. Thom Dennis explores this and shares ways to improve A paradox has emerged in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven work environment: increased connectivity often leads to a sense of disconnection. Social media was supposed to bring us closer together, but it seems we’ve never felt so alone. Collecting ‘friends’ and followers has become a ploy that keeps us engrossed in our technology, yet lost without genuine connection.…
Editor’s blog: Is the people profession unique in the organisation?
Is the role of the supporting and developing the workforce actually unique? Jo Cook reflects. A lot of questions were posed at the HR Leaders Unconference in London yesterday – everything from AI and organisations processes, through to finding time to decide how to “be” a supportive people function. Many things piqued my interest, and one in particular stayed with me: it was the statement that HR is unique in the business, in it’s challenges and responsibilities. We can appropriately…
Performance lessons for organisations from football, tennis and F1
Techniques used in elite sports offer valuable insights for business to improve performance and wellbeing. John McLachlan shares the strategies Our research on organisational performance originated from two key problems. Firstly, that organisations were demanding approaches that balanced performance with employee wellbeing and sustainability. And second, that academic research into organisational performance lacked real-world practical application. Defining what performance means for the organisation or role is essential Elite sports offered us an ideal context to study because it defines performance…
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