Team dynamics are complex and ever-changing, especially when a highly valued and well-connected member departs. It’s a challenging situation that can leave a team feeling unsteady, much like losing a key piece of a puzzle. How do you stabilise the team and ensure it regains momentum without losing its cohesion? A helpful framework for [...]

Neurodiversity is an umbrella term referring to the natural variation in how people’s brains work, encompassing differences in thinking, learning, processing and behaviour. While most people are neurotypical—meaning their brains function and process information in ways society typically expects—it’s estimated that 1 in 7 people in the UK (over 15%) are neurodivergent. Embracing neurodiversity [...]

Did you know that fear of presenting (or glossophobia) frequently appears alongside other fears such as heights, enclosed spaces and failure?   Acquiring the right presentation skills can help overcome this fear. Maybe part of this fear is driven by that the fact that delivering a great presentation is more than just speaking in front [...]

Zero Discrimination Day takes place on 1st March, so let's take a moment to reflect on the significance of this day and the role we all play in creating an inclusive and equitable workplace. Spearheaded by UNAIDS, Zero Discrimination Day is a global movement calling for the eradication of discrimination in all its forms, promoting [...]

Book title:  Neurodiversity at Work  Author: Theo Smith and Amanda Kirby Rating:    *****                                       Category:   Well-rounded read What's it about? Neurodiversity at Work covers the importance of embracing neurodiversity in the workplace. The authors, both experts in [...]

Companies often face the challenge of scaling their workforce and hiring at pace to meet growing demands. Teams wait for months to get the budget signed off, then rush to get someone in as quickly as possible to take the ‘work weight’ off. Speed in hiring should never come at the expense of quality, [...]

National Sickie Day in the UK falls on the first Monday of every February. Statistically this is when most people will phone in sick to work using a range of different excuses to take the day off. Having a cold or flu are the most popular excuses given for taking the day off, but [...]

Since 2000, the global eLearning industry has grown by 900% and by 2025, it is projected to reach $325 billion. This growth is driven by the increasing adoption of online learning platforms across various sectors globally and is set to continue. eLearning - a benefit for employers and employees alike eLearning continues to be [...]

As we step into January, which is recognised globally as Mentoring Month, it’s an ideal time to reflect on the value of mentoring in professional development. Mentoring involves a relationship where a more experienced individual offers guidance, support and knowledge to help another grow and succeed in their role. For busy in-house HR teams [...]

Sometimes it’s not straightforward when seeking consultation with employees, particularly when tackling a sensitive issue or when employees find it hard to engage with the topic. So, how can an organisation encourage constructive consultation in such circumstances? Thinking differently – an example After some organisational changes, an international non-governmental organisation (INGO) needed help with [...]

As the festive season approaches, organisations are getting ready to manage one of the most celebrated yet potentially complex periods of the business calendar. From holiday celebrations to employee wellbeing, the season offers plenty of opportunities to create memorable experiences — but it also comes with its fair share of challenges.  So, how can [...]

In today’s fast-paced and complex work environment, managers are increasingly overwhelmed by the volume and complexity of their responsibilities. Recent studies, such as the 2022 Gartner Building an Organisation of Great Managers employee survey, highlight that it's not just the number of tasks but also the complexity that has significantly increased since the pandemic. [...]

National Black Cat Day, celebrated on October 27th, serves as a reminder of the unfounded preconceptions and unconscious bias that persist in society. Traditionally, black cats have been subjected to various superstitions, often as harbingers of bad luck. This celebration not only aims to dispel these myths but also offers a poignant parallel to [...]

National Parenting Week 2024 (21-25 October) highlights the importance of good parenting in general - the impact on the child and on society. And it's vital that employers understand the role they play in supporting working parents. This year, the week takes on added significance as the Labour Government introduces several key family-focused reforms [...]

Conflict is a natural part of any work environment, but if left unchecked, disagreements in the workplace can escalate into grievances, creating a toxic environment and affecting productivity. For managers, the ability to manage conflict early on is crucial. Not only can effective conflict resolution strategies prevent minor disputes from festering, but they also [...]

National Work Life Week was first established in 2010 as a Working Families annual campaign to get both employers and employees talking about wellbeing at work and work life balance. This year the National Work Life Week takes place from the 7th until the 11th of October, with a particular focus on flexible working.   [...]

With the UK government planning to raise the state pension age to 68*, more older workers will be remaining in the workforce for longer or returning to work after early retirement. It is time to realise the benefits of employing a diverse workforce and valuing older workers. Report shows that managers favour younger talent [...]

In the fast-paced world of business, it's easy for managers to focus solely on performance metrics, deadlines, and productivity. However, there's a crucial element that often gets overlooked but plays a vital role in the long-term success of any organisation: employee happiness at work. Measuring employee satisfaction can typically be done by either taking [...]

In a recent survey by Freeths, they found that 41% of HR managers indicated that employee retention was a top priority in 2024. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, insights can be gained by understanding the key indicators of job dissatisfaction and suggesting strategies to retain employees. Tell-tale signs that people are dissatisfied and [...]

Recent statistics (January to March 2024) show that there has been an increase in the number of young people aged 16 to 24 years old (Gen Z) not in education, employment or training (NEET). The current total is estimated to be 900,000 which is up from 812,000 in January to March 2023. Some of [...]

Each year on 24th July the Samaritans host ‘The Big Listen’ where they encourage communities to run events to raise awareness for the work that the Samaritans do.  The Samaritans are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (hence the chosen date of 24.07) to listen to anyone who is struggling to [...]

Book title: Unlock the hidden leader: become the leader you were destined to be  Author:      Gifford Thomas Rating:    *****                                       Category:   Easy to read What's it about? Unlock the Hidden Leader: become the leader you [...]

The Olympics, the pinnacle of global sporting events, is a vibrant showcase of diversity, inclusion, and belonging. From an HR viewpoint, drawing lessons from the Olympics can provide valuable insights into fostering a workplace environment that celebrates differences, promotes inclusivity, and ensures that every individual feels they belong.  Diversity: celebrating differences  The Olympics brings [...]

Summer weather this year has been a bit hit and miss, but the longer days and (normally) warmer weather lend themselves to increased outdoor activities and socialising. Could your organisation help your employees strike a better work-life balance with a Summer Fridays programme? A Summer Fridays programme could be just the ticket, allowing employees [...]

July 5th saw a shift in the political landscape and as a result Labour is set to make sweeping changes to the labour market and employee rights.  How will these reforms and policy changes impact employers in the immediate future and over the next few years?  Soon it will be time for employers to [...]

Now that Labour has taken the political reins what will this mean to employers and especially SME employers when it comes to employee rights?  The Labour Party’s approach to employee rights centres on significantly enhancing protections and working conditions for employees and workers across the UK. Could fractional HR play a part in your [...]

Carer’s Week 2024 (10th-16th June) is a campaign that ‘Recognises and Supports Carers in the Community’. It focuses on the important and vital role of over 5 million unpaid carers in the UK and the huge contribution they make to families and communities. Individuals and organisations come together to provide support for carers, run [...]

In today’s fast-paced business environment, organisational culture is a critical factor that influences success. Our clients often ask us to work with them as they undergo a cultural shift which they see as critical to stay competitive and relevant. There are many external drivers of organisational change, these include: growth opportunities, economic downturns, challenging [...]

Euro 2024 kicks off on Friday 14th June with Germany playing Scotland at 8pm UK time.  Many a football fan will have had that date and time blocked out in their schedules for months and fortunately for most organisations this will have little impact on employee attendance, but not all matches are so conveniently [...]

What options do we have to create a memorable training workshop that ‘hits the mark’ with the participants and the client? The answer is lots! And introducing a little creativity in your workshops will pay dividends. Where do we start? We start at the end, of course - crafting a memorable training workshop starts [...]

Book title:  Humanocracy: creating organizations as amazing as the people inside them Author:       Gary Hamel and Michele Zanini Rating:    *****                                       Category:   Easy to read What's it about? Humanocracy: creating organizations as amazing as the [...]

2nd April 2024 marked the start of World Autism Acceptance Week.  The Equality Act 2010 places a legal obligation on businesses and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate individuals with disabilities*, including  those with autism and other forms of neurodiversity. Recognising and addressing the specific needs of neurodivergent individuals is crucial for [...]

Quiet promotion is a subtle yet pervasive issue in the workplace, where employees find themselves burdened with additional tasks and responsibilities without commensurate recognition or compensation. While terms like 'quiet quitting' and 'quiet firing' have gained attention, 'quiet promoting' often flies under the radar despite its significant impact on employee morale and productivity. Research [...]

The latest in our People Business interview series is with Lucilla Kearsey, Consulting Director – HR. Lucilla  heads up the HR team here at People Business and among other areas, she has a keen interest in organisational change management, diversity and inclusion, and believes that HR processes should be fair and transparent. With energy, [...]

The introduction of UK GDPR legislation in 2018 affected everyone – individuals, workers, private companies and public authorities.  In principle, it sounds straightforward – just be careful when processing personal data.  In reality, it’s far more complex – and the penalties can be severe.  Most of us have heard about the biggest breaches and [...]

A manager’s main job is dealing with the personal and professional problems of the people that report to you. While this may feel irrelevant to your work, it’s important to realise that relationship maintenance is a manager’s work. Relationship maintenance should be a top priority when you move into a leadership position. Book title: Radical Candor Author:      [...]

Recently, Gartner published its Top Five Priorities for HR Leaders in 2024 informed by a survey they carried out in July 2023.  One of those priorities was HR technology and AI. It has jumped to third place after ranking only sixth in 2022. So, what has changed and why has HR technology grown in [...]

In the fast-paced world of HR, prioritising employee wellbeing and fostering a positive work culture are essential. The ongoing popularity of hybrid working means that the boundaries between work and personal life can blur.  It’s therefore crucial to create spaces that nurture mental health and encourage open dialogue. Enter Brew Monday, a simple yet [...]

We recently wrote about one of Gartner’s top priorities for HR for 2024 – change management and change fatigue – and this has prompted us to write about another of their important identified priorities - addressing organisational culture and the struggle with alignment and connectedness particularly in a hybrid working world. What is organisational culture [...]

In July 2023 Gartner surveyed 520 HR leaders to gauge their top priorities for 2024 - change management ranked in the top five, so let’s delve into some of the details. A few issues that were mentioned by Gartner included: Managers are not fully equipped to manage change successfully The change process isn’t measured [...]

We all like a good joke, and office banter is great for developing bonds between staff, especially over the festive period. A relaxed environment increases morale, which improves productivity and increased well-being of staff. However, something that one person finds humorous can be humiliating or harassing to others. The impact of not treating others [...]

What does your organisation stand for? What are the important underlying behavioural principles that form the foundation of the culture? What are your organisational values? How do they help you to differentiate and convince people that they should come and work for you? It’s incredibly rare to find a large organisation these days that [...]

When it comes to HR colleagues, we learning professionals must be right up there in our love to quote a theory. Whether it be 55-38-7 (Mehrabian), the fact that everything should now be delivered via a micro-learning session, or that images are 60,000 times better than text, the way we hone our craft is highly [...]

 For women it can be hard to hand over their job before going on maternity leave and then to return when someone has been doing the role for 6-12 months. Maternity coaching can help with the transitions. Recent CIPD article* shows that fewer than one in five women feel confident returning to work after [...]

When talking about wellbeing with clients, something we often hear is, “We have an employee assistance programme (EAP) but nobody uses it”.  Why is this so and how can they increase EAP engagement? There are many reasons why an employee may be discouraged from taking advantage of their employer’s EAP. Here are the most [...]

Continuing with our series of interviews with some of our team here at People Business, let’s introduce Natalie Chotai.  Natalie’s one of our HR consultants and has over 25 years HR experience in house with organisations and as a consultant.   With a degree in Psychology and Sociology, and MCIPD and Chartered Membership of [...]

Psychometric tools: how they can help you to find and define the 'right fit' people The assessment market is awash with a myriad of psychometric tools, all professing to do something better than the others. Do you have a high performing team which you would like to replicate across other parts of the business? [...]

Book review: Coachability - The Leadership Superpower by Kevin D. Wilde While you could fill a large Waterstones with books written about coaching, there is little written from the perspective of the other party, i.e., those who would be coached – or would they? Coachability: The Leadership Superpower gives great insight into this different [...]

Today we talk to our newest People Business recruit, Zoe, who joined People Business in June 2023. As the previous newbie, Daniel Roberts-Green asks the questions focusing on onboarding. So, Zoe tell us a bit about you and your journey that led you to joining us here at People Business I’m Zoe, and I [...]

We are often asked for book recommendations, especially from our coaching clients, so we decided to introduce a series of book reviews, where we share some of our favourite reads and the key messages from the books. For our first book, we’d like to introduce you to is  “Your Brain at Work”, by David [...]

Here is the third instalment of our 2023 series introducing you to some of our team here at People Business.  This time we have interviewed our Senior Learning and Development Consultant and experienced coach, Chrissie Saunders. Chrissie is a qualified learning consultant and coach with over 28 years’ experience in learning, coaching, hr and [...]

We’ve talked in a previous blog about the power of energisers - such activities don’t just boost energy levels they can also engage an audience, aid connection and help communicate key messages. We recently held our People Business team day, which was kicked off with an energiser activity and it got us thinking about [...]

Continuing our series introducing you to our team here at People Business, we have chatted to our Senior Talent Consultant, Daniel Roberts-Green who joined us at the end of 2022, about his mediation experience.  Daniel is a passionate advocate for people and organisational development, and his experience leading HR departments in national and global [...]

Carers Week (5-11th June) is a campaign that ‘recognises and supports carers in the community’. It focuses on the important and vital role of over 5.7 million unpaid carers in the UK and the huge contribution they make to families and communities. Individuals and organisations come together to provide support for carers, run activities [...]

This year, 1st to 7th June marks Volunteers' Week. It exists to highlight that our diversity is our strength, show that there’s more than one way to volunteer and encourage people to be the change we want to see. The focus on volunteering this year has been sharpened as our new King, Charles III, [...]

As part of a 2023 series introducing you to some of our team here at People Business, we have had a chat with our Business Consulting Director and experienced coach, Graeme Rainbird. Graeme has over 25 years of consulting experience in leadership and team development, culture change, organisational development and, of course, coaching. Graeme, [...]

On Saturday 6th May 2023 King Charles III will be coronated at Westminster Abbey in London. The ceremony, as stated by the BBC, will “formalise the monarch’s role as the head of the Church of England and marks the transfer of their title and powers.” The grandeur and importance of such a day will no [...]

It is estimated that up to 15 percent of the UK population are neurodivergent. Individuals living with neurodivergent conditions, also known as processing disorders, have a different way of experiencing the world to the neurotypical. How informed are we about neurodivergence (really)? Awareness of neurodiverse conditions is now discussed with children as young as [...]

The contents of any first aid kit should be based on your needs; the only difference with a mental health first aid kit is that the items aren’t physical. Instead, they are learned strategies, so you can carry your kit with you wherever you go. Regular first aid kits are used for treating sudden [...]

People engage with a coach for numerous reasons – a leader requiring the confidence to carry out major changes, a newly promoted manager needing support in their new role, a recently redundant employee looking for guidance tackling the job market. Given time, we’d all be able to list several more, but would coaching towards [...]

At People Business we know from experience the dedication and passion individuals have for their roles, but we also know that when people have too much on their plate they can become burnt out. In 2019, The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognised ‘burnout’ as an ‘occupational phenomenon’. What is burnout? Mentalhealth UK defines burnout [...]

Redundancy can be a daunting and overwhelming experience, and it’s important to support employees through the process. A recent CIPD article revealed a slight reduction in planned redundancies, quarter on quarter in 2022. However, the forecast is that one in five employers are still planning to make staff redundant in 2023. Key challenges employers [...]

You are likely familiar with the term ‘quiet quitting’ which in August 2022 the BBC referred to as “doing only what your job demands and nothing more. Quitting doing anything extra.” There’s been much debate around the term, raising questions such as should people be expected to do more than they are paid for? [...]

"It’s my performance review soon, will you please give me some feedback?" - a common request, especially where your company might operate a 360 review process. What’s the best way of approaching performance feedback for a colleague? If you have something tricky to say, how could you convey it constructively without negatively impacting the [...]

Valentine’s Day is a day for expressing love and appreciation… so maybe it’s time to look at how we extend that appreciation towards our colleagues and staff. We already know that job satisfaction is a key factor in employee retention - when employees are satisfied, they are less likely to consider leaving their current [...]

"It’s my performance review soon, will you please give me some feedback?" A common request, especially where your company might operate a 360 review process. What’s the best way of approaching this? If you have something tricky to say, how could you convey it constructively without negatively impacting the working relationship? Even if your [...]

What’s the first thing that goes through your mind when you are asked to prepare for your annual performance review? It could be fear, concern or denial. Generally, we avoid feedback because we hate being criticised. Whatever the cause of your discomfort, it’s important to your professional and personal development to prepare well for [...]

Let's talk about the power of energisers! Christmas has passed and spring’s not yet arrived - we could all do with a little energy boost! We at People Business are big fans of using energisers both in our own meetings and in the training we deliver for many reasons. Energisers help to: reduce fatigue [...]

The cost of living and the current economic environment is affecting everyone.  A recent CIPD survey revealed that one in four employees said that money worries affect their ability to do their jobs. Many organisations are thinking about what support they can give to their employees and workers at this time. Ways to support [...]

January – notably the month of change and improvement. The first month of the year for many feels like a clean slate – a time of looking for opportunities, refreshing visions and committing to new goals and objectives. Many businesses will be stepping into January with a new focus for the year ahead and [...]

It is National Grief Awareness Week - six days dedicated to raising public awareness of grief and loss. Besides the numerous personal losses experienced this year by several of us, we have mourned many others globally, and grief has become a shared emotion - the passing of the late Queen in September, the ongoing [...]

3rd December marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. In this article, we celebrate four advantages of employing people with disabilities and answer some frequently asked questions. Four advantages to employing people with disabilities High work quality: a study carried out by the Institute of Corporate Productivity shows that 3 out of 4 [...]

As a leader or manager, do you know how you would respond if an employee came to you raising an allegation of bullying in the workplace? You may be fortunate enough to have never experienced this so far in your career. However, in a survey of 2,000 employees across the UK by SME Loans, [...]

Bullying in the school playground may be easy to see and describe, but adult bullying and harassment can be subtle, leaving people questioning, “Is it me, am I being over-sensitive?”. Is it banter or bullying? Humour or harassment? Maybe it’s overt, or maybe you just 'feel' you’re being treated differently to others. We’ve written [...]

The start of the Qatar World Cup is days away, but it’s not too late to give thought to how your organisation should approach it and communicate with staff about it. Here are some top tips for your HR team on how to handle the FIFA World Cup 2022. For a few reasons this [...]

The four-day work week has its positives and challenges, but is it right for your organisation? In June 2022, 70 UK companies and over 3,300 workers began working a four-day week with no loss of pay in the biggest ever four-day week pilot to take place anywhere in the world so far. Participating organisations [...]

The cost-of-living crisis is the latest challenge faced by everyone - employers and employees. Employers are experiencing leaner organisational structure, budget revisions and increased pressures in attracting and retaining talent. And employees are finding their health and wellbeing are impacted, as bills and living costs increase. How do we approach post-pandemic employee wellbeing? Disparities [...]

Taking holiday is necessary for employee wellbeing. Working Families' annual campaign, National Work Life Week, is aimed at getting employers and employees discussing wellbeing and work-life balance – this year it will take place 2-6 October. With research last year stating over half of employees (60%) have said their employer actively discourages them from taking [...]

There is a famous quote by Verna Myers, a leading diversity and inclusion expert that says, “Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” But who wants to passively wait to be asked to dance? True belonging means being asked for input into the playlist and feeling free to [...]

An Employee Experience Report from pulse survey provider Officevibe has recently highlighted how changes in employee expectations mean that employers must adjust and amplify their retention strategies to stay competitive in a fierce market for talent. Recognition for a job well done can hold great power. The report shows that: 75% of employees who [...]

Neurodiversity in the workplace is becoming increasingly common. The term neurodiversity refers to the way that everyone’s brains naturally work differently from one another. Just as you may be born right-handed, or have green eyes, how your brain works and where you sit on the cognitive spectrum will be unique to you. Examples of [...]

To attract and retain top talent, focus on your Employee Value Proposition (EVP). What do we mean when referring to an EVP? It’s the WHY, as in why should an employee work for your company? Put simply it’s what you have to offer new and existing recruits and we’re talking more than just salary [...]

Every year in May we celebrate Learning At Work Week, aimed at building and celebrating learning cultures at work. At People Business we pride ourselves on our commitment to development, always exploring ways to strengthen our skillset both collectively and as individuals. This year’s Learning At Work Week theme is ‘Create the Future' and [...]

Loneliness is experienced across all ages. As well as being an undesirable experience in itself, chronic loneliness increases risk of mental and physical ill-health. Addressing loneliness and supporting social connections as part of workplace wellbeing has benefits for both employers and employees. The cost of loneliness to UK employers has been estimated to be [...]

Most of us enjoy a good joke, but jokes and pranks in the workplace sometimes backfire… Here’s a true story of when a manager went too far An employee felt overwhelmed by their workload in the finance department of an NHS trust and had taken time off sick, suffering from stress. Against that background, [...]

Spring is upon us… a time to open the windows and let in the fresh air. It’s not just physical windows we should be opening though – there’s a great tool we’d like to share with you called “The Johari Window”. It’s a simple and useful tool that we often use in coaching sessions [...]

When interviewing a candidate, you have approximately one hour to decide whether they’re the right person for the job and for your company. So you need to do everything possible to make the most of that hour. Interviewing is a bit like driving a car – we all think we’re better than we really [...]

Do you – or do you know of a co-worker – who thinks they’re a failure, or not good enough, despite all evidence indicating a skilled and quite successful person? It’s a common misperception estimated to be held by 70% of people, and it’s called Imposter Syndrome. Since the start of the COVID pandemic [...]