New Starter Training Could Save Billions
Poor employee induction processes is costing UK business £2 billion in lost productivity, sapping a valuable skills pool.According to learning solutions provider Thomson NETg, failing to prepare a new employee can create low morale and productivity and can cost companies billions of pounds in recruitment costs.Mike Summers, director of Thomson NETg, suggested that by providing […]
What Are ‘Proper’ Working Hours? By Sarah Fletcher
Sarah Fletcher asked training professionals for their views on the TUC’s recent research claiming that five million workers in the UK work unpaid and uncompensated overtime. The TUC encouraged employees to challenge the UK’s “long hours” culture by working only their contractually designated hours on Friday 24 Feb as part of their “Work Your Proper […]
Feature: Coaching to Change
Aparna Uberoy, chartered occupational psychologist and head of coaching at Blue Edge Consulting, looks at the effectiveness of coaching in equipping managers and leaders to effectively adapt to change. Across almost all sectors, the ability to manage and adapt to change is frequently quoted as the single most important challenge facing managers and leaders. Having […]
The Way I See It… Secrets of Employee Engagement
Engaged employees estimated to increase their efforts at work by up to 30%, which can only be good news for productivity. Simon Hayward, CEO of Academee, looks at how to create a workforce that is willing to put in that extra effort. Engaged employees tend to be more content in their work, and therefore tend […]
Weak Management Blamed for Poor Productivity
The government must rethink its approach to workplace efficiency if it is to allow the UK to close the productivity gap with other countries, warns the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).The UK still lags behind France, Germany and the US in terms of productivity, according to figures due to be published this Thursday […]
The Way I See It: The Top Pitfalls of 360 Reviews
Used well, a 360° review can be a useful development tool, but the wrong model could have a negative impact and drive poor performance. Claudine McClean, of Predaptive OD, offers some advice on how to make sure you implement a model that works for your organisation. Feedback using the 360° model has been made accessible […]
Feature: Emotional Intelligence in Practice
In this case study, Maureen Bowes, specialist in Emotional Intelligence (EI), looks at the difference EI made to one management team. In June 2004 Weymouth and Portland Housing (WPH) were looking for a management development programme that would make a difference for their top management team. Faced with changing times ahead they wanted a programme […]
Feature: Beat the Retirement Brain Drain
One of the crucial organisational challenges facing of 2006, and beyond, is the fact that a lot of the working population is coming up to retirement age or already eligible for companies’ retirement schemes. Michael Kelleher looks at how the traditional exit interview can be used to help keep some of that crucial knowledge that […]
The Way I See It… The Truth About Training Claw-Back
While development is often cited as something that improves staff retention, Peter Hunter argues that attaching conditions and claw back to courses can have the opposite outcome. When you invest in training for the workforce you are sending a message that tells them they are valuable and that you believe they can be more valuable […]
Feature: Managing Remote Teams
Managing a remote team presents a clear challenge. While remote working often attracts independent types, there is a risk of isolation. Simon Hayward, CEO Academee takes a look at the issues and offers some advice. A remote team, where team members are geographically dispersed rather than located in one place, presents tremendous opportunities for flexibility, […]
The Way I See It… Is the UK Facing an Under-Management Epidemic?
Endless efficiency drives have seen the cull of large layers of management but what impact is it having on UK plc? Peter Casebow, CEO of goodpractice.net looks at claims that we are facing an epidemic of under-management. According to US HR consultancy RainMaker Thinking the US is suffering from an under-management epidemic which is leading […]
Feature: Maximise Your Budget
In today’s business environment companies demand so much more for so much less. Amanda Clarke, managing director of Optimum Training, offers some pointers on how to maximise your training budget. When things are tough, one of the first things that the average company does is cut their training budget. Yet everyone knows that training is […]
Management Development – The Business Imperative
Nick Foster, VP Human Resources UK, Ireland & South Africa for the Oracle Corporation and plenary speaker at Learning Technologies 2006, talks to TrainingZONE about aligning management development to the needs of the business. TrainingZONE: In the preview of your plenary session, “Aligning management development to the needs of the business”, it mentions that training […]
RNID Launches Telephone Hearing Test
The leading charity for the deaf and hard of hearing has launched a phone-based hearing test.The RNID is targeting the estimated four million people in the UK who could benefit from wearing a hearing aid, but currently do nothing about it with its Break the sound barrier campaign, run jointly with the TUC.General secretary of […]
Guide to Employee References and Data Protection
A new guide to how the Data Protection Act applies to employee references is available from the Information Commissioner’s Office.The online guide includes good practice recommendations to help employers decide when employment references should and should not be released.It states that in most cases individuals have a right to a copy of information held about […]
The Way I See It… Stretch Your Training Budget in 2006
If the Board has been less than generous or you have simply resolved to get more for your money in 2006, these tips from Amanda Pearce-Burton, Managing Director of Formation Training and Development Ltd, will help you make the most of your training budget. 1. Do a thorough staff skills audit and cross reference skill […]
Scrooge Banished to Christmas Past
Traditional values are returning to the workplace with many executives banishing the ‘Scrooge mentality’ to Christmas past. The annual Christmas Outlook survey, published by the Chartered Management Institute, of 639 managers shows that less than one in five believed Christmas celebrations were “a chore”. The figure is in sharp contrast to Christmas 2004, when only […]
Managers Resolve to Chase Pay and Promotion in 2006
Promotion and pay rises top managers’ wish lists for 2006, a new poll has found.The survey by PTP Training & Marketing found that over half the 300 managers questioned (54%) had made work related New Year’s resolutions to improve their working lives. Almost a third (30%) wanted to ‘be promoted’, ‘get a pay rise’ or […]
Teamwork is Most Sought After Skill
Interpersonal and teamwork skills are the most highly sought after, according to a survey of 4,500 employers.A report, by Job Centre Plus, found that regardless of occupation, whether unskilled or professional, teamworking and interpersonal skills were highly sought after by employers.Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus Lesley Strathie said that the research would help the organisation […]
The Way I See It… Changing Times for Succession Planning
John Fay, of SFL, argues that succession planning is too often over-looked in UK organisations. If we accept that people are genuinely our most important asset then we must accept as our responsibility that making sure there is a clear succession plan in place is vital to enable our companies to sustain performance and, with […]