Ageism Rife in UK Workplaces
Age discrimination is widespread in the UK and many workers hold unrealistic perceptions about their own career prospects, according to research by the Chartered Management Institute and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.A survey of 2682 managers and personnel professionals found that 60% felt they have been personally disadvantaged at work because of their […]
Business Link Publishes Free Staff Development Guides
Business Link helps has released a series of staff development guides to help businesses get the most out of their employees. Getting the best out of your people at work identifies the key business benefits of a strong workforce, what is legally required of employers together with the recommended steps that businesses of all sizes […]
The Way I See It… Honesty is the Best Policy
Following on from last week’s opinion piece Motivation is not a Commodity, Peter Hunter explains why honest, straight talking can be a great motivator. Throughout our industries, both public and private, there persists a perception that motivation is a commodity to be handed out by the manager at his own discretion. Nobody seems to consider […]
E-Learning at O2 Aims to Boost Staff Fitness
Mobile phone company O2 is offering its employees online fitnesss coaching to improve their health.Known as the Balance programme, O2 aims to increase staff awareness of health and wellbeing at home and at work, which consequently contributes towards a healthy work environment.The system, provided by Fitbug.co.uk, uses a combination of an interactive pedometer and web […]
Development Opportunities Attract Managers
Forty per cent of managers say they joined their current company because of the development package on offer, according to a study by the Chartered Management Institute.But while managers may be actively seeking companies that offer opportunities for learning, 41% of respondents said that their employer had no specific training and development budget.This lack of […]
The Way I See It… Motivation is not a Commodity
In a world of quick fixes, motivational seminars may seem like a way of getting results, fast. But can motivation really be turned on like a tap? Peter Hunter maintains that staff motivation problems are generally too deep-seated for a simple cure-all. Motivation is seen as something to be supplied to the workforce in discrete […]
Flexible Working Highlights Skills Need for Managers
Line managers need training to help them implement successful flexible working practices, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). In a survey the CIPD found that almost half (45%) of line managers reported difficulties in implementing flexible working practices. The factors most likely to cause problems were demonstrating fairness between employees, communicating […]
New Induction Standards for Care Sector
Skills for Care, the strategic development body for the adult social care workforce in England, has launched a new set of Common Induction Standards (CIS). The new standards are designed for people entering social care, and those changing roles or employers within adult social care and were developed to reflect recent changes to the NVQ […]
Feature: The Secrets of Engaging Employees
Having employees who are thoroughly motivated and truly engaged with what they are doing is the “holy grail” for many organisations. Dr Charles Woodruffe explains why, and offers advice on how to achieve this ideal condition. Engaging employees is important whatever the potential of the employee, but it is especially crucial for truly talented people […]
The Way I See It … The Mobile Phone is Damaging Professionalism
How did we cope without the mobile phone? It has revolutionised the way we work and play, allowing people to keep in touch 24/7. But with the trends for texting in sick and changing business plans at the last minute, has the mobile resulted in a working culture that lacks professionalism? Nick Hood, senior London […]
The Way I See It… Realise their Potential
In light of the serious skills shortages faced by many UK organisations, Godfrey Owen, Deputy Chief Executive of people development consultancy Brathay, looks at how developing talent is critical to the improved business performance and success. He argues that in order to address the skills shortage, UK companies would do well to adopt a structured […]
Case Study: Supporting Future Leaders at the Learning and Skills Council
The Learning and Skills Council – which aims to make England better skilled and more competitive – has saved over £100,000 on external recruitment costs, in six months, with a new system to develop its next generation of leaders. Now, the LSC plans to run development centres for the next level down in the organisation. […]
Value of Strategy Workshops in Question
Strategy workshops or away days have become common place, but the findings of a new survey raise questions for UK organisations about how much real value they deliver.Despite the expense and time spent on strategy workshops by senior management teams, few measure the impact of these events, according to the study by the Chartered Management […]
The Way I See It… The Motivational Customer
Sophie Ejsmond of Attiva contests that customers can be the key to boosting team motivation levels. Put the key of despair into the lock of apathy. Turn the knob of mediocrity slowly and open the gates of despondency – welcome to a day in an average office. – David Brent, The Office.We’re all meant to […]
Trainer’s Tip: The Induction
This week Clive Boorman offers some advice on how to conduct a rolling induction. I have extensive experience of managing an accredited rolling induction process – here’s what we do. People will simply not retain volumes of information delivered in only one way. Whatever you do, you need to have different people involved in delivery, […]
Trainer’s Tip: Stress Management
This week Joanna Howard offers some advice on how to make the case for stress management training in a high-pressure environment. If you’re in a high stress environment, people can get sucked into a “when the going gets tough…” set of assumptions. This means that few people like to acknowledge they’re under stress some people […]
The Way I See It… Having a Laugh
Used by organisations as diverse as HSBC, Scottish Equitable and Continental Airlines, positive appreciation and humour in the workplace is a method of boosting team and indivisual morale. Joe Hoare makes the case for injecting some humour into the office (but please no David Brent-style gags). In the old days, work was work, work was […]
Parkin Space: The Retirement Brain Drain
With an ageing population, Godfrey Parkin wonders why so many companies have no formal process for passing on the knowledge of their most experienced workers at retirement. In most Western countries, the baby boomer bubble is causing concern for those planning pension and social security services. It should also be worrying employers. A quarter of […]
Feature: Management Development – What’s the Need?
Joe España Managing Director, Performance Equations Ltd, explains how to plan management development that aligns to the businesses strategic needs. HRD professionals generally agree that management and leadership development is crucial to the delivery of business strategy. However, the measurable impact of this development is at best tentatively linked to strategic organisational performance, and at […]
Feature: Speaking their Language
Simon Court, Chief Executive of Value Partnership, looks at how a business, organisation and management review (BOMR) can be used to address the development needs of senior managers within an organisation. Senior managers are still not involved in implementing management development policies. In January, the Chartered Management Institute published a report showing that senior managers […]
