We welcome your letters, requests to other readers for research assistance
and announcements of people moves relating to HR executives with international
responsibilities. E-mail details to: [email protected] or
write to globalhr, Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS, UK.
People
Alan Cairns has joined Exide Motive Power as European HR director. Exide
Motive Power manufactures and sells batteries for use on trucks and mining vehicles
and Cairns will have responsibility for providing a complete HR strategy to the
business across Europe. He wants to establish the credibility of HR as a
valuable business tool and hopes to be part of the mainstream business
objectives. However, he still wants people issues at the top of the agenda.
Andrea Chivers has been appointed HR director of F&C Management, the
pan-European asset manager. Based at the company’s London office, Chivers will
work with Peter Cole, head of HR, in managing the major group-wide initiatives.
The appointment is part of an initiative to give stronger HR leadership and
improve the delivery and contribution of the function.
Cheryl Francis has been elected to Morningstar’s board of directors. Francis
brings more than 20 years of experience to Morningstar’s board. In addition to
her position at Morningstar, Francis currently serves as head of the audit
committee for the board of directors of Hewitt Associates, an HR outsourcing
and consulting firm. Chicago-based Morningstar is a global investment research
firm that provides financial data, research, online advice, consulting
services, and investment solutions for individuals, financial advisors,
institutions, and the media worldwide.
Michael Linder has been appointed vice-president of European operations of
Serena Software. He will head sales, support and professional services
activities throughout Europe and have responsibility for strategic direction
and continued business development within European markets. Lindner joined
Serena in 2001, bringing more than 17 years marketing, organisation and sales
experience, as well as a successful track record of sales management within IT.
Serena Software provides change management solutions to worldwide customers.
Nigel Morton has joined Canon Europe as its new chief of HR in a bid to make
it a more consistent pan-European entity. Fresh from a stint managing a global
team for Cable & Wireless with employees across Europe, Japan and the US,
he will attempt to create a fully integrated European organisation. Canon’s
existing HR framework is being re-focused to help create a more effective
organisation with a high performance culture. Morton is a veteran of several
companies and 20 years service in HR and is confident that the function has a
major impact on the bottom line.
Letters
Truly global content
I appreciate receiving globalhr in
its new format. In particular, I find the newsround, workplace issues and
leader sections valuable. Also, the addition of (Stephen) Covey, (Ken)
Blanchard and other noteworthy business visionaries makes globalhr a special
read.
Your content is truly global and please continue this
perspective. Net, net – a great format and content – please keep it up!
Bill Maxwell
Senior vice-president global GR, Cendant Mobility, Danbury, Connecticut, US
The perils of poor gift selection
As an employment tribunal in the UK
over the former personal assistant of crime writer Lord Jeffrey Archer’s wife
Mary has demonstrated, a poorly-selected employee gift can cause long-term
demotivation for staff and haunt bosses for a long time.
Lady Archer faces the employment tribunal over unfair dismissal
claims from her PA, Jane Williams. Williams revealed to the tribunal that
Archer presented her with an inch of flat champagne from a previously opened
bottle on her birthday. Williams also claims that Archer presented her with an
authentic designer watch from Calvin Klein – with ‘Made in China’ etched on the
back. Williams labelled the gifts ‘insulting and embarrassing’.
It is no surprise Williams felt unappreciated, and the
employee/boss relationship continued to deteriorate until Archer sacked
Williams last year.The case shows that bosses who take a lazy approach to
employee gift selection, or make ‘cheap’ choices, often cause more harm than
good.
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
Archer is not alone – thousands of companies around the world
continue to inconvenience and irritate employees with poor gifts. Feedback from
my clients shows that staff much prefer to choose their own gifts, instead of
being subjected to unimaginative gold watches, flashy pens or Christmas turkeys.
Jonathan Haskell
Managing director, Longservice.com
