Strategic briefings

Many organisations are experiencing the challenge of managing a multigenerational workforce for the first time. Here Claire McCartney and Dianah Worman, who are experts in diversity, challenge the myths around generational stereotypes and provide practical pointers for employers seeking to attract and retain the best workforce — of any age.

In recent times, given the unpredictable nature of the business environment, it has become increasingly clear that people need to be resilient if they are to survive and thrive in today’s fast-changing organisations. Here, Doug Strycharczyk explores the notion of mental toughness, a key element of resilience, together with its links with performance and how it can be developed.

For many HR directors, going digital is one of the biggest challenges they face and the way ahead is often shrouded in mystery. Viki Holton demystifies this complex topic by outlining some of the practices of HR teams at the leading edge of digital. She also provides a handy benchmark tool that can help the reader identify and avoid some of the main stumbling blocks on the journey towards becoming digitally effective.

This briefing examines how HR makes impact, based on the views and practices of leading practitioners. Viki Holton outlines the key qualities, attributes, skills and behaviours, which help an HR director make a real difference to business success.

In this thought-provoking article, diversity and inclusion experts Claire McCartney and Dianah Worman OBE highlight the importance for employers of keeping apace with the relevant legislation and the developing terminology and policies concerning gender identity issues.

In this, the first of a two-article series about HR and risk management, Professor Colin Coulson-Thomas focuses on the role HR could play in assessing and addressing the wide varieties of risk that will increasingly affect organisations.

What leads to sustainable engagement and what is its link to performance? Drawing on research for their new book and highlighting some of the tensions in the literature, authors Reddington and Bakhshalian take an evidence-based approach to the theme, drawing out some of the key ingredients, including the crucial role of line managers.

Major gender pay gaps, previously hidden in plain sight, are emerging in every sector — with the BBC being just one high profile example — as gender pay gap reporting requirements are implemented in the UK in 2018. Here the authors Dianah Worman OBE and Claire McCartney highlight the need for transparency and the potential benefits of complying with the Gender Pay Gap Reporting Regulations for employees as well as for employers themselves, not least in terms of corporate reputation.

Developing and delivering customer-centric strategies is increasingly recognised as key to organisational agility and enduring success. This article outlines how HR can help shift the culture, and the function’s own practices, towards agility. Diane Moody highlights the mindset shifts required for this to become a reality — in employees, leaders and in HR itself.

Mental health issues are on the increase in today’s ever more pressurised workplaces. As coach and author Sharon Brockway points out, the help people need is often lacking. Here she highlights some practical actions that HR and line managers can take to help create a more compassionate work environment in which people are more likely to thrive.