SEO Basics for Recruitment Companies

With millions of people looking for jobs and plenty of employers offering positions, it's no surprise that more and more
entrepreneurs are turning to the recruitment industry for their next business venture.

SEO Basics for Recruitment Companies

How the Gig Economy and Freelancers are Reshaping HR Departments

The gig economy is reshaping today's workforce. Over 50 million Americans worked as freelancers in 2015, according to a study by the Freelancers Union and Upwork. This includes temporary workers, independent contractors, moonlighters, freelance business owners and those with mixed streams of income.

How the Gig Economy and Freelancers are Reshaping HR Departments

The Main Reasons Analytics Systems Are Important in Today's HR Departments

A range of business analytics systems are available that have the potential to transform the fortunes of any business. HR in particular, is an area where these analytics systems could be of great value because each HR department deals directly with past, current and future employees in a business. Below are some of the main reasons every HR department or HR officer should use the latest business analytics systems.

The Main Reasons Analytics Systems Are Important in Today's HR Departments

Canadian Unemployment Rate At 7.0%

Statistics Canada reported that employment rose by 26,000 jobs in August and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1% to 7.0% as more people were looking for work.

Canadian Unemployment Rate At 7.0%

Recruiting For Diversity

Disability and inclusion policies, including blind CVs, often fail in practice because they are seldom supported by an understanding of true inclusion problems.

Business skills are more important than ever post-Brexit

If the people who are supposed to hold the reigns of the business world are unsure of their ground, how on earth must young people feel when faced with the prospect of getting on the corporate job ladder?

Working for your Workers

To put it simply: our relationship to work has changed.

Time to take on the diversity dilemma

Facebook is the latest in a long line of organisations to have a spotlight shone on its diversity performance.

US Unemployment At 4.9%

Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 151,000 in August, and the unemployment rate remained at 4.9 percent. (News Release)

US Unemployment At 4.9%

There are a lot of ways knowledge in accounting can help you perform better as an HR manager.

How Will Accounting Make You a Better HR Manager?

Brexit and Change Management

The certainty of change coming down the line makes this the perfect time to take a look at the challenges inherent in introducing any change within an organisation.

Brexit and Change Management

5 Essential Elements for Optimal Performance Management

The importance of an efficient performance management system is fairly universally accepted in HR circles.

5 Essential Elements for Optimal Performance Management

Australia - Unemployment At 5.8%

Seasonally adjusted, unemployment rose by 0.1% to 5.8% and the number of people in employment rose by 7,900 to 11,939,600.

Australian Employment Statistics

Australia - Benefits of Using SaaS for Payroll

As payroll is one of the largest costs to employers, it is essential to have systems that provide accurate information and payments in line with current legislation.

Benefits of Using SaaS for Payroll

The secret behind successful flexi-working? Culture

When done well, flexi-working can be a game changer and productivity enhancer. The question is, how do you adopt flexi-working in a way that enhances productivity?

The secret behind successful flexi-working? Culture

European Commission Announces Initiative Package

The European Commission is in the process of implementing a wide-ranging strategy to create a genuine ‘Digital Single Market’ across the EU.

Essentially, the Commission’s objective is to enable businesses and consumers across the EU to take advantage of the wide range of available services that are facilitated by new digital technologies, regardless of national borders. More controversially, certain interest groups and some national governments have viewed the ‘DSM agenda’ as an opportunity to increase the regulatory burden placed on new and innovative business models that are threatening incumbents’ existing business models. So far, the Commission appears to be attempting to strike a balance between these two, largely opposing, objectives, rather than coming down firmly on one side or the other.

European Commission Announces Initiative Package

What career success looks like between men and women

A new study with 2000 workers in the UK on gender equality in the workplace, conducted by REED, has revealed some interesting results.

What career success looks like between men and women

How to Persuade Your Boss to Fund Your Training

Education and training is essential if you want to progress your career, but it can be expensive. The problem is that if you do not keep up
with skills training you run the risk of falling behind your peers.

How to Persuade Your Boss to Fund Your Training

Effective Ways to Create a Great Business Reputation

Creating a great business reputation should be the main aim of any entrepreneur. Customers prefer to deal with organizations and individuals they trust. If this trust does not exist, these customers will go elsewhere, where they know they will be treated better. Below are some of the most effective ways you can ensure that your business is the destination your customers go to when they want to deal with someone they can trust.

Effective Ways to Create a Great Business Reputation

The High Cost of Major Depression In The Workplace

Chances are you can readily name someone you know who suffers from major depression - perhaps even someone you've worked with. It turns out the number of American adults battling the condition exceeds the populations of New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago combined.

The High Cost of Major Depression In The Workplace

Hiring Candidates is Similar to Dating in Today's World?

Just like dating or matchmaking, the goal of recruitment is to find someone who's the perfect fit.

Hiring Candidates is Similar to Dating in Today's World?

Top Tips for Bringing Creativity into the Workplace

For those in the HR world, I believe that creativity is no longer simply a nice-to-have in the workplace. It's a necessity.

Top Tips for Bringing Creativity into the Workplace

UK - Unemployment At 5.1%

The unemployment rate stands at 5.1% - little changed on the quarter and 0.5% down over the year.

UK Employment Statistics

A Convergence of People and Place

New research reveals why the performance of commercial property is key to productivity, wellness and overall employee satisfaction

A Convergence of People and Place

UK immigration - what employers can expect in 2016

2016 is already looking like it may be an annus horribilis for UK immigration.

UK immigration - what employers can expect in 2016

Implementing an effective social media policy

Social media's presence in the workplace grows more prolific by the day, and as such is impacting the way in which managers, employees and even job applicants communicate.

Implementing an effective social media policy

Period Leave: What Does It Mean For Your Company?

How do you continue to promote equality in the workplace while simultaneously meeting the needs of those who suffer from clear gender based ailments?

Period Leave: What Does It Mean For Your Company?

Tinnitus: What employers need to Know

Tinnitus is a debilitating condition, and can be caused by exposure to loud or prolonged noise in the workplace, or a head or neck injury.

Tinnitus: What employers need to Know

Workplace Drinking - Where (And How) To Draw The Line

You may be able to stop a problem before it starts by issuing clear guidelines about when and where drinking is acceptable.

Workplace Drinking - Where (And How) To Draw The Line

Bid Writing: 5 Tips to Increase the Quality of Your Bid

Bid writing is difficult, but writing an effective bid that really stands out is your best bet of getting the job you want, especially if you're a freelancer.

Bid Writing: 5 Tips to Increase the Quality of Your Bid

Let's be honest, plenty of us pull 'sickies' in order to have a Duvet Day. Which is why some companies are
cutting right to the chase and making Duvet Days a legitimate thing.

Duvet Days - What Are They, And Should You Offer Them?

Career in a Saree Store

If you are passionate about retail and want to develop a career in a saree store, you should strive to possess the following qualities.

Qualities you should possess for a successful Career in a Saree Store

UK vs US = Who's Winning the Social Recruitment Battle?

In the UK as many as 60% of recruiters have not used social media in the recruitment process compared to just 6% in the US.

UK vs US = Who's Winning the Social Recruitment Battle?

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a condition which is a mystery to many simply due to the fact that is not easily identified, `is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed, and is also not very well publicised.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Successful Job Search

The first months of the year bring about countless new possibilities, and if you follow our tips, you may just land that new job before you remember to hang up your new calendar.

How to Make Your Job Search Successful in the New Year

Finding the best accountant for your business

There are many reasons why people hire accountants for their business. From simply hiring the 'numbers guy' to finding a solution to financial challenges in the business, an in-house accountant is a vital part of any establishment. Having a local bookkeeper is crucial to business function and you need to look for the right person for the job.

Finding the best accountant for your business

UK - Understanding discrimination in the workplace

Zee Hussain, employment partner at Simpson Millar explains what constitutes discrimination in the workplace whilst providing practical guidance on how to avoid it.

Jonas Gutierrez Case: Understanding discrimination in the workplace and how to avoid it

Global recruiting trends of 2016

What does 2016 have in store for the future of recruitment?

Global recruiting trends of 2016

5 Ways to Cope with Financial and Work Related Stress and Anxiety

Everyone has bad days or feels a bit down from time to time. It's perfectly normal and a typical response to the everyday stress of work and life in general. However, if you are continually under stress because of workplace issues or
financial worries, it will soon begin to impact on your health in a serious way. So if this sounds like your current situation, here are a few tips to help you through this difficult time.

5 Ways to Cope with Financial and Work Related Stress and Anxiety

A manager’s guide to promoting positive mental health

With around one quarter of the UK population expected to encounter a mental health issue within their lifetime, it is clear that managing this societal challenge will require a team effort.

A manager’s guide to promoting positive mental health

How to Spice Up Your Resume for a Holiday Job Search

Scores of people try to land a holiday job, so it's a good idea to do everything you can to make yourself stand out from the competition.

How to Spice Up Your Resume for a Holiday Job Search

6 Ways to Retooling your Recruitment Process

For financial services recruiters, hiring new staff and replacing existing ones can be an expensive process.

6 Ways to Retooling your Recruitment Process

Physio Med Helps John Lewis Partnership Save 41,000 Working Days

Physio Med Helps John Lewis Partnership Save 41,000 Working Days

Case Study - 96% of staff maintained at or returned to work.

Top Financial Careers to Aspire for

There are some absolutely brilliant, interesting and rewarding jobs in the finance sector including financial planning, corporate finance, insurance, investment banking, and real estate.

Top Financial Careers to Aspire for

UK - Gender Pay Gap

Kate Winslet has been heavily criticised for her unhelpful comments and outdated opinions as gender inequality is still a big issue.

Millionaire actress calls gender pay gap discussions "vulgar"

How to Eliminate Accidents in the Office

Workplace safety policies can often be a source of annoyance or the butt of jokes, but we still understand that they're a vital part of any thriving work environment.

How to Eliminate Accidents in the Office

Health Benefit Packages

Research has shown that not only does a good health benefits package both help to attract employees to a company, it also helps to retain existing staff.

The Importance Of Offering Health Benefit Packages To Improve Employee Efficiency

10 Reasons Why You Should Always Listen To Your Customers

It is more important than ever to listen to your customers - and if you've ever checked TripAdvisor you'll realise why. These days, thanks to social media and the internet, customers have a louder voice than ever before. Sites like Twitter also enable angry customers to make their thoughts heard, and it's
important that businesses deal with these grievances, acknowledge, and act if they are going to keep their customers happy. So why should businesses listen to their customers? Here are 10 reasons:

10 Reasons Why You Should Always Listen To Your Customers

USA - Cybersecurity and Privacy

For any cybersecurity or privacy expert coming to work in the United States (US) from the European Union (EU), there are some key differences in privacy and security matters to keep in mind.

Cybersecurity professionals and businesses in the field seeking to set up in the US

Careers in the Entertainment Industry

It may not necessarily be that you're camera shy, but that you prefer the space and privacy to create great work that others can bring to life.

Career: Don’t Want The Spotlight? Okay. There Are Plenty Of Options In The Entertainment Business.

A career in data management- how lucrative is it?

Management of data is a very complex process that involves a lot of planning and organizing.

A career in data management- how lucrative is it?

Now is the Time for Mobile Recruitment

Humanity is addicted to phones. Almost every person in the UK owns one and a recent study revealed that 91% of adults have a mobile phone within arms reach twenty-four hours a day.

So, if these devices are so central to humanity's lives, then why are so many recruiters and HR professionals not putting mobile at the core of their recruitment strategy?

Now is the Time for Mobile Recruitment

Career as Energy Efficiency Program Manager

One of the ways you can be involved in energy saving programs is as a program manager.

Career as Energy Efficiency Program Manager

X Personality Traits That Make an Effective Leader

Wondering whether you have the personality traits of an effective leader? Keep reading for the top four.

X Personality Traits That Make an Effective Leader

Top five ambitious career paths for graduates

We've picked out five ambitious paths that show you can aim high and thrive as a graduate in the jobs market.

Top five ambitious career paths for graduates

4 plain reasons why you should choose a career in SEO

You stand to gain so many things when you are a SEO practitioner.

4 plain reasons why you should choose a career in SEO

Popular career paths in finance that are really good

Contrary to popular opinion, careers in finance and business are not always about money.

Popular career paths in finance that are really good

Travel agents assist their clients to make all the arrangements required for the best possible experience in business and leisure travel.

Feed Your Passion for Adventure - Become a Travel Agent

Avoid These Start Up HR Mistakes

So, you have a great business idea and you want to follow it through. You are smart, and you have a good team behind you. What could possibly go wrong?

Avoid These Start Up HR Mistakes

Travel Incentives - Why HR must get them right

Money spent on incentivising staff is an investment and it's an investment in the most important aspect of any company, the people who work for it.

Travel Incentives - Why HR must get them right

Retaining your talent through flexible working

The office has changed dramatically over the past decade. The days of employees adapting to suit the needs of the company are well and truly over. Today people want their office lives to mould around their working lives, not the other way around. Employees desire and strive for a work/life balance.

Retaining your talent through flexible working

Pursue a Bright Career in Conveyancing

If you are interested in pursuing a career in property related law and if you get immense satisfaction in assisting people in fulfilling their dreams and aspirations, you could consider pursuing a career in conveyancing.

Pursue a Bright Career in Conveyancing

Five weird but wonderful careers

Dream jobs are often unique, somewhat unconventional and can be a little wild and they make people wonder about how much fun it would be to do them compared to what they usually do on their daily grind.

Five weird but wonderful careers

USA - Digital innovations being welcomed news for the immigration system

Last month, the Office of Management and Budget released a plan for modernizing and streamlining the legal immigration system. Much of the focus was on the potential positive impact of digital innovation.

Digital innovations being welcomed news for the immigration system

Thought Provoking Leadership

Business owners and executives beware, if you are not constantly refining how you think and how well you think, you are probably falling behind.

Thought Provoking Leadership

The Luxury Of Open Innovation

Open innovation looks beyond internal ideas for innovation, exploring new and external routes to market and means of demarcating brands from competitors.

The Luxury Of Open Innovation

The Senior-Level Interview: the Pitfalls and Red Herrings

Recruiting a new employee is not always easy, and it's made even more difficult if the company is looking to fill senior roles such as finance jobs.

The Senior-Level Interview: the Pitfalls and Red Herrings

The Female Addiction Trap that is killing your career

Susie Heath argues that women have been holding themselves back with excuses whilst men 'grab the bull by the horns' and it's time for us to change.

The Female Addiction Trap that is killing your career

Choosing a Career as a Hosting Reseller: Important Things to Know

There are many types of web hosting careers you can choose from and hosting reseller is one of the best.

Choosing a Career as a Hosting Reseller: Important Things to Know

Tip for Internet Marketers: Don't Build your Career on a Single Skill

Every team can do better with copywriters - their instant creativity and ability to come up with content at the drop of a hat is amazing.

Tip for Internet Marketers: Don't Build your Career on a Single Skill

Two Surprising Skills That Can Help You Excel in a Customer Service Center Role

When you think of a role in customer service what sort of skills do you tend to imagine would be necessary?

Two Surprising Skills That Can Help You Excel in a Customer Service Center Role

Recruiting For Call Centers - Skills to Look For

When recruiting for a call center, look out for people with these skills and traits, as they are the kind who will do very well on this career path!

Recruiting For Call Centers - Skills to Look For

The Best Careers in the Software Product Industry

Which are the best software product industry careers out there?

The Best Careers in the Software Product Industry

How leaving the EU could affect British business’ recruitment

Following the Conservative Party’s surprise victory in the recent UK general election, Prime Minister David Cameron moved quickly to introduce a raft of reforms outlined in his party’s manifesto and pre-election pledges. Amongst these changes, and perhaps most controversial both at home and abroad, is Mr Cameron’s ambition to renegotiate the terms of the UK’s relationship with the European Union in anticipation of the promised in-out referendum by 2017.

How leaving the EU could affect British business’ recruitment

Five US immigration obstacles faced by companies expanding to the US

Attracted to its vast market, creative class and entrepreneurial spirit, many foreign companies identify expanding to the US as the next logical, and often necessary, step in the growth of their businesses. This can be an exciting, yet demanding, undertaking. One challenge often overlooked until late into the
process is the US visa and immigration aspect. It is critical to understand that a foreign business owner or employee will need the appropriate visa in place prior to traveling to the US to be able to work. This is true not only for those who will stay in the US for the long-term, but also for those who will be present only for the start-up phase of the expansion.

Five US immigration obstacles faced by companies expanding to the US

Skills Required For Building a Career in Healthcare IT Solutions

Nowadays, the demand for automating healthcare processes is on the rise as patients need quick recovery.

Skills Required For Building a Career in Healthcare IT Solutions

UK - The 1st July Rule Change on Holiday Pay Claims

The recent case of Bear Scotland Ltd v Fulton has been responsible for two important developments in the law relating to holiday pay.

The 1st July Rule Change on Holiday Pay Claims

A new approach: Leadership IS relationship

In his new book, Nigel Purse talks about the critical need for leaders to build trusting relationships with employees of all levels, and reveals the key conversations they need to have to do this.

A new approach: Leadership IS relationship

UK - Handling Accusations of Discrimination in the Workplace

Important points for employers to consider if ever faced with a discrimination or harassment case within their organisation.

Handling Accusations of Discrimination in the Workplace

Must Have Skills for a Human Resources Manager

Do you feel you have what it takes to guide the development and growth of a company's human resources? Read on to see which skills are not negotiable for someone in HR.

Must Have Skills for a Human Resources Manager

Changing Nature of Human Resource Management

Here are some ways in which HR has changed in past years.

The Changing Nature of Human Resource Management

Employees Behaving Badly: UK Study Uncovers Office Habits

Surfing social media, printing CVs out at work and browsing the net are just some of the things that UK employees get up to during work hours, according to a study.

Employees Behaving Badly: UK Study Uncovers Office Habits

Fitness Instructor Courses- Career as a Fitness Expert

The demand for fitness related activities has increased nowadays but, at the same time, the demand for proficient fitness trainers has also increased.

Fitness Instructor Courses- Career as a Fitness Expert

How to Build a Career as an Electrician in the UK

Being an electrician is a very practical and good career to choose because there will always be work to do either for yourself or for others.

How to Build a Career as an Electrician in the UK

How to Find the Right Management Qualification for your Career

Lift yourself out of a professional rut by attending a course or studying for a recognised qualification. Here’s how to find the course that best suits you and your career aspirations.

How to Find the Right Management Qualification for your Career

What HR/Management professionals can learn from the likes of Gucci

What is the real story about management in the fashion industry? How is it that they achieve and maintain such high levels of performance in such a demanding environment?

What HR/Management professionals can learn from the likes of Gucci

An engineering career

An undergraduate or graduate engineering degree equips you with a transferable skill set. These skills are applicable in a wide range of career paths and are effective in various industries. Skills such as quantitative analysis and critical thinking are highly sought-after by employers, hence engineers are very much in demand and easily employable.

A Glimpse into Engineering as a Career

UK - National Minimum Wage Increases

The adult (aged 21 and over) minimum wage rate will increase from £6.50 to £6.70 an hour in October.

National Minimum Wage Increases

Looking to the future - are your feet on the ground or in the clouds?

In this article, Mark McKergow explores the various ways in which managers and leaders view the future including the dreamer, the realist, the business planner and the host.

Looking to the future - are your feet on the ground or in the clouds?

A Career in Writing Wills

Careers in will writing can be really fruitful if you have the ability to multi-task well and be a complete team player.

A Career in Writing Wills

Essential Skills for Joining and Maintaining Salesforce Jobs

Are you just starting your career, or do you want to upgrade your career within Salesforce jobs?

Essential Skills for Joining and Maintaining Salesforce Jobs

Stress Factors

Stress Factors

Review of some of the factors linked to stress

How to have a great first day at the new job

Finding a job can be tough. It takes forever to search for the right position, apply, interview and finally get an offer. Perhaps that’s why the first day at your new job can be exciting or even nerve-wracking.

How to have a great first day at the new job

Shape a Strong Career in the Field of Reselling Retail Digital Signage

Are you in a dilemma about your career and still have not decided? You can think of a profession as a reseller in retail digital signage.

Shape a Strong Career in the Field of Reselling Retail Digital Signage

What Does Building a Strong Career as a Remote DBA Expert Entail?

Database Administration is an IT profession in which all the work involved relates to the database of a particular organization.

What Does Building a Strong Career as a Remote DBA Expert Entail?

9 Tips to Advance Your Career and Rise in the Corporate Ladder

If you want to progress within the corporate ladder and rise within your company, or in a different company, you have to start thinking about how to consciously go about accomplishing that goal.

9 Tips to Advance Your Career and Rise in the Corporate Ladder

Recruitment - Is Retention the Real Minefield?

In the third of a series of articles, Tony Brookes, Sales Director, Vacancy Filler Recruitment Software argues that effective Performance and Talent Management systems should be in place so that the candidate, who has been carefully selected, can be nurtured throughout their career.

Recruitment - Is Retention the Real Minefield?

USA - Sleep and Stress

A new GCC Insights study, compiled by international employee health and performance organisation Global Corporate Challenge (GCC), reveals that 1 in every 5 workers is sleep deprived*, and that those who sleep poorly are 54% more likely to experience stress in their job. (News Release)

Stress, fatigue and reduced productivity: the true cost of sleepless workers revealed

UK - The Freelance Factor

The working environment has changed drastically in the last ten years as technological advances have increasingly empowered today's workers to become increasingly global, mobile and flexible.

X'ploring the freelance factor: why your best workers may not always be your employees

UK - TUC New Year Message

Full text of TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady's New Year message.


"2015 must bring living standards boost as average wage fell £500 in 2014"

Women in Communications Top Jobs


Women in the communications sector fail to achieve boardroom positions because of differences in communications styles between men and women.

Recruitment - Now Less of a Minefield?

In this, the second article, Tony Brookes, Sales Director, Vacancy Filler Recruitment Software examines the vital next steps and takes a look at additional ways to ensure a recruitment strategy really delivers.

Recruitment - Now Less of a Minefield?

UK - Eight tips to making your company Christmas video stand out

As the Christmas season draws closer, company Christmas videos start to circulate to employees, customers, partners and associates.

Eight tips to making your company Christmas video stand out

UK - Recruitment - Still a Minefield?

In the first of a series of articles, Tony Brookes, Sales Director, Vacancy Filler Recruitment Software looks at implementing an HR Strategy that Delivers Optimum Results.

Recruitment - Still a Minefield?

Managing age-diversity in the workplace

Dealing With An Ageing Workforce

Managing age-diversity in the workplace

A modern business needs a mobile workforce

The modern employee is no longer tied to an office desktop. Whether it is on a smartphone, a laptop or a tablet, employees are increasingly taking their work with them wherever they go.

A modern business needs a mobile workforce

UK - Candidate Care

Unfortunately the negative feeling and publicity surrounding recruitment agencies is largely self inflicted. Like any industry there are great practitioners and there are cowboys operating in the space.

It's time to focus on Candidate care

UK - ACAS Early Conciliation - Is it Working?

Ian Abel of Michael Lewin Solicitors comments on ACAS statistics regarding the first quarter of Early Conciliation.

ACAS Early Conciliation - Is it Working?

USA - Leadership Skills

As of July 2014, log on to Amazon and you'll find 116,796 titles under the heading "Leadership". But if you're in too big of a hurry to read a book, open up the American Heritage Dictionary. A careful examination of the various definitions of "leader" presents a fascinating and brief explanation of great leadership.

Six Essential Leadership Skills For Today's Leader

Can software make better hiring decisions than people?

A new breed of software claims to be able to select employees who perform better. Based on behavioural research, the software means that in the long run people may no longer be needed in the selection process in order to assess whether a candidate is the best fit for a given role or job. But how realistic is this shift? And will software ever replace human selection?

Can software make better hiring decisions than people?

UK - Illegal Working

On 16 May 2014, a number of important changes to the UK's prevention of illegal working requirements and associated civil penalty scheme took force.

Changes to the UK's prevention of illegal working and civil penalty system

UK - Managing an Expanding Retail Workforce

Roger Moore, General Manager, Bond Teamspirit outlines the key requirements for minimising payroll overhead and maximising employee cost visibility
in a continually changing retail market.

Managing an Expanding Retail Workforce

Competencies: Developing a Culture of Employee Accountability

Now with the increased talk of a skills gap, the focus on training couldn't happen soon enough.

A major challenge for modern HR professionals is to grow learning environments so that it works to help employees understand the competencies for their role. Due to the introduction of new, automated performance management software into the mass market, companies of all sizes have an opportunity to develop their workforces.

Competencies: Developing a Culture of Employee Accountability

Company Culture: Giving Your Employees The Tools To Succeed

Helping employees set and reach goals is a critical part of every manager's job.

Employees want to understand how their work contributes to wider corporate objectives, and setting the right activities, goals and plans makes this connection explicit for them, and for you, as their manager.

Goal-setting is particularly important as a mechanism for providing ongoing and year-round feedback.

Company Culture: Giving Your Employees The Tools To Succeed

Belgium - Five steps to unlock Big Data for SMEs

New guidelines from Vlerick Business School highlight four steps SMEs need to take to unlock the full potential of Big Data. (News Release)

Five steps to unlock Big Data for SMEs

Canada - Ontario Minimum Wage

Ontario's minimum wage increases to $11.

Ontario Minimum Wage

Substance misuse in the workplace

Nearly one third of UK employers (32%) admit to not having enough knowledge or training to identify workers under the influence of recreational drugs. This is despite 16% having suspected an employee of taking a substance.

Substance Abuse in the Workplace

Canada - Ontario Family Caregivers Leave

Bill 21, the Employment Standards Amendments Act (Leaves to Help Families), 2014, passed its third reading in the Ontario legislature with all party support.

Ontario Family Caregivers Bill

USA - Preventing Workplace Violence

Employers should positively engage a small but dangerous minority of employees, supervise them closely and make sure they get the help they need, according to a paper from professors at the the University of Texas at Arlington and Oklahoma State University. The researchers analyzed FBI reports, case studies and HR records focused on the estimated 1-3% of employees prone to aggressive behavior such as homicide, suicide or destruction of property in the workplace.

Preventing Workplace Violence

Canada - Nova Scotia Minimum Wage

On April 1, Nova Scotia's minimum wage rose by 10 cents, to $10.40 an hour.

Nova Scotia Minimum Wage

Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA), the leading provider of mental health workplace training, has today released figures which demonstrate a significant increase in spend by UK employers on mental health awareness training. The company has reported a 400 per cent increase in business spending on MHFA Workplace training since the start of this financial year. These figures are released in the wake of a new report, published by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and King’s College London[i], which reveals the cost of mental health to businesses across Europe at a substantial £77 billion.


UK workplaces show significant increased spend on mental health training

Next-generation Worker and the Modern Employer

This is a question that gets asked a lot but the answer is simple: the next-generation worker expects use of state-of-the-art technology, mobile working and the adoption of social media within the enterprise.

What Does the Next-generation Worker Expect from the Modern Employer?

Paperless HR

HR is an area beset by processes, workflows, procedures, compliance and legal requirements. These are traditionally all very much paper-based, which could at least partially explain why HR departments are such a long way from embracing the 'paperless office'. Yet the technology is in place to solve these issues, the process
improvements are obvious, and the environmental and cost benefits are hard to dispute, so isn't it time that HR managers took a serious look at eliminating - or at least reducing - paper?

Paperless HR?

Flexibility and resilience can boost the bottom line

Flexibility and resilience can boost the bottom line

Resilient managers who can choose when and how they work perform significantly better than 9-5 colleagues.

UK - Top tips for new management consultants

Whether you're a beginner or an expert in your field, there are always new elements that can be added to your role to improve your outlook on your business. Being the point of call for your team of employees, or investing time in your personal development as a freelancer means more time to be spent on developing your skills and the role itself. Below are some tips that will always be useful, particularly so if you're getting started as a management consultant.

Top tips for new management consultants

India - What NOT TO DO in a Team Offsite

"Teambuilding" is a much maligned word. From our experience, here are a few things that Teambuilding providers need to keep in mind.

What NOT TO DO in a Team Offsite

UK - Big Work Survey Reveals UK is Nation of Stressed Staff

According to new research, we are a nation of stressed staff. While a certain level of stress can certainly be a good thing, unmanageable levels of stress can have a very negative impact on both performance and employee health.

Big Work Survey Reveals UK is Nation of Stressed Staff

UK - Tupe Regulations Changes

The reforms which come into force on January 31 2014 are intended to reduce bureaucracy and increase flexibility surrounding the regulations. For many employers though, particularly small businesses, the new TUPE rules still do not go nearly far enough.

TUPE Regulations changes 31st January 2014

A Business Accounting Career Provides Options

If you are looking for a career (outside of HR) that has lots of possibilities for jobs and gives you the option to try different things, then a career in business accounting might be the right choice for you.

A Business Accounting Career Provides Options

UK - Coaching to improve youth employability

A recent presentation at the Annual Conference of the British Psychological Society’s Division of Occupational Psychology in Brighton put forward the view that when young people have a positive outlook, self-belief and skills for the workplace they are happier, sleep better and are more well-behaved.

Coaching to improve youth employability

UK Employment law - what to expect in 2014

Happy New Employment Year! 2014 promises to be another year of substantial change in UK employment law.

Employment law - what to expect in 2014

Men still earning more than women Australia wide

Women earn a mere 64% of the average man's wage and salary income across Australia, according to a recent report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Men still earning more than women Australia wide

UK - HR needs stronger partnership with Finance teams

A survey of over 290 HR Directors, professionals and company managers has revealed that 94% believe HR and finance teams should work together more closely to help optimise company performance and profits. A further 87% stated that Finance Directors could do more to approve and drive the implementation of HR technologies. (News Release)

New HR survey reveals need for stronger partnership with finance teams and more investment

UK - Settlement Agreements

A Settlement Agreement (previously known as a compromise agreement) is a legally binding confidential agreement between you and your employee.

Settlement Agreements - a guide for employers

UK - Parental Leave

New statutory rules first trailed last year, have now been announced as coming into force in April 2015, which allow working mothers to effectively share their statutory maternity leave and pay entitlement with their partners.

'The New Parental Leave rules - what they mean for the workplace

UK - Measuring Employee Attitudes

John Telfer, managing director at IBP looks at alternative methods for obtaining employee feedback and explains why a healthy dose of gaming theory can bring surprising results.

HR app asks workers "how d'you feel right now?"

USA - Unpaid Interns - a HR Legal Issue for 2014

One of the leading issues that will be facing many US HR teams in 2014 is the topic of unpaid interns.

Unpaid Interns - a HR Legal Issue for 2014

Big Data - Turning the Data Deluge into Strategic Value

While the focus in many companies is on long term projects to improve customer understanding, there are other areas of the business, most notably employee recruitment and development, where big data should be making a real difference.

Big Data - Turning the Data Deluge into Strategic Value

UK - Living Wage

Over 30,000 low paid workers stand to benefit from a rise in the 'UK Living Wage' rate worth up to £400 a year recently announced during Living Wage Week at the start of November.

Rise in UK Living Wage good news for low paid workers

Why Employers Should Ensure Employees are Prepared for the Future

Employment surveys have indicated that after health insurance, employee retirement plans are the most desired benefit of workers. In spite of that, a large number of small businesses still do not offer employee retirement plans.

Why Employers Should Ensure Employees are Prepared for the Future

Multicultural Business Meetings

Culture impacts everything you do. This follows on into areas of business such as the meeting - how cultures approach, run and conclude meetings differ.

Multicultural Business Meetings: How to Avoid Getting Lost in Translation

UK - Government's consultation on the prevention of illegal working regime

Nearly 500 individuals, employers and representative organisations responded to the Government's consultation indicating broad support for the Government's aims to get tough on rogue employers whilst supporting compliant employers.

Implications for business following the findings of the Government's consultation on the prevention of illegal working regime

UK - Further Changes to Employment Law - October 2013

2013 has been a significant year where changes to employment law and tribunal rules are concerned; but the change is still on-going. October brought further amendments to the law regarding executive pay, national minimum wage, third party harassment provisions and pension protection from TUPE.

Further Changes to Employment Law - October 2013

How HR leaders can get CEO sign-off for HR expenditures

Human resources expenditures often fall to the bottom of the list when organizations evaluate priorities and allocate funds. But as the HR leader, it’s your job to communicate the importance of your initiatives and secure the resources you need to drive results for your department and the organization.

Make Your Case: How HR leaders can get CEO sign-off for HR expenditures

How Culture Impacts Teamwork

A lack of attention to cross-cultural communication in a team setting can bury your organisation in strife, muted conflict, poor motivation and worse.

How Culture Impacts Teamwork and What You Can Do About it

NZ - Women SME owners doing better than men

Women SME (small and medium enterprises) owners in New Zealand are outperforming their male counterparts in a number of important areas according to a national survey.

Women SME owners doing better than men

B Lab Awards 79 Companies for Positive Impact on Workforce

Study after study shows that being ‘best for workers’ means being best for shareholders because the name of the game is winning the war for talent

B Lab Awards 79 Companies for Positive Impact on Workforce

USA - InterviewStream Transforms Video Interviews with WebRTC

Today's video platforms allow recruiters and hiring managers to conduct live and pre-recorded interviews with any candidate in any location, at any time - significantly reducing travel costs and scheduling hassles.

InterviewStream Transforms Video Interviews with WebRTC

UK - Law and Religious Clothing

Following the recent ruling that a Muslim woman must remove her face veil while giving evidence in her trial, and the investigation by the Daily Telegraph which revealed that the wearing of a full face veil has been banned for staff dealing with patients in 17 NHS hospitals, there has been much discussion about the wearing of face veils in public and particularly in the workplace.

Religious Clothing and the Rights of Employees - What Should an Employer do if an employee wishes to wear a veil/ other religious clothing?

UK - Summer changes to employment law and tribunal rules

2013 has been an important year for business owners, HR specialists and employment law practitioners. This is because we all have witnessed staged implementation of various changes to employment law and tribunal rules.

Summer changes to employment law and tribunal rules