Business has an appalling reputation with the British public and HR
directors can play a major role in changing perceptions and enthusing the
workforce on wealth creation.
This was the combined message from Michael Portillo MP and Digby Jones,
director general of the CBI, who shared a platform as speakers at the first
Personnel Today HR Directors Club breakfast briefing last week.
Held at The Crypt, St Paul’s Cathedral, the event was supported by 75 HR
directors from the country’s largest employer organisations who had come
together for business inspiration and networking.
Michael Portillo said there was not enough idealism in business, with few
people seeing the creation of wealth as a noble task. "The efficiency of
our enterprise will be hampered if we don’t have respect for the
proletariat."
Digby Jones agreed employers must take the lead in improving the image of
business. He also warned that in addition to public concerns about fat cat pay
and corporate governance, there could also be future problems with the economy
over public spending and over-regulation.
The Personnel Today HR Directors Club is organised specifically for senior
HR executives in organisations with 1,000-plus employees. It includes breakfast
brief-ings with guest speakers and a website – HRdirectorsclub.com – where
members can communicate with each other and keep up-to-date with Club
activities. The Club is supported by six sponsors offering services to the HR
profession: Arinso, DDI, DBM, PWC, PeopleSoft and Xchanging.
