“So, what do you do?” (i.e. “What’s your job?”) A common question, but rarely, if ever, will anyone ask you about your ‘career’, and far less how you’re actually managing it. In fact the majority of people rarely think in terms of career; they tend to think instead about their ‘job’. So why, when our career is probably one of the most important aspects of our lives, do we spend so little time attending to it? If you ask people if they are happy with their job, very few would actually say yes. Some might say ‘content’, but most would...

What is gender pay gap reporting? As  you will probably be aware, the recent obligations on all companies, charities and public sector bodies with 250 or more employees to report statistics on gender pay gaps within their organisation are now in force and more than 10,000 firms have now complied. Gender pay gap reporting is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate where gender pay differences are really happening and highlights where we need to take actions to improve. It gives us an indication of the differences in men and women’s working patterns i.e. part-time roles being predominantly female and the lack...

Why do we need it? It has often been said that one of the most effective ways of grabbing someone’s attention is to ask for their advice; essentially, it appeals to their ego. “Mm, you need my advice, eh? Why of course, I’d be delighted to help.” And the topics upon which we’re prepared to admit that we do, actually, need the advice are endless: “How do I make a good soufflé?” “Which tie do you think I should wear?” “What book would you recommend for my 12 year-old?” “What would you say is the best way to drive to...

Katie is a Connector (with a bit of Nurturer), Debbie is a Nurturer, and I’m mostly a Connector with a bit of Nurturer and Pioneer thrown in.  If you’re wondering what on earth I’m talking about, follow the link and take the free assessment yourself https://5voices.com/ . The 5 Voices is a tool developed by GiANT Worldwide (a global leadership consultancy) to help leaders communicate effectively with everyone they lead.  Can you remember the last team or Board meeting you attended?  What did you notice?  Were some people heard more than others even though everyone was speaking?  Did you come...

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is an EU regulation which will replace the UK Data Protection Act 1988. The aim of this Regulation is to guarantee the fundamental right to personal data protection across the EU.  The Regulation will likely have an impact on the ways that employers store and gain consent to retain information about employees.  In this blog, we shall provide a brief outline of the Regulation, and the main ways that it shall affect Employment Law and HR.  Background The application of the Regulation extends to organisations which carry out processing outwith the EU but offer...