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This week's news in brief
Staff in ascendancy
The powers of large employers will diminish as the war for talent places staff firmly in the driving seat, claimed leading academic Charles Handy during the closing address of the HR Forum. He believes that individuals - whose first loyalty is to themselves - will increasingly use large organisations to develop their skills before moving on to cash in on their increased abilities.
Ethics input needed
The productivity and staff retention of companies can be improved by involving employees in developing business ethics. Jane Fiona Cummings, director of ethics consultancy Article 19, cited the example of an IT company that consulted staff in drawing up the company ethics. Its survey shows that all staff were willing to work harder to complete jobs, and 60 per cent of new appointments applied for jobs on recommendations from current staff.
Waiting to be happy
Postponed happiness is the greatest cause of unhappiness, claimed broadcaster Ben Renshaw. Renshaw said people are always waiting to be happy, waiting for the end of work, for the weekend or their next holiday rather making the most of the present. Renshaw told delegates that success is not a destination but a journey and added that people are happier and work better in environments where there is trust and no limits.
Redefine 'safety'
HR should widen the definition of health and safety, claimed an American HR academic. Dr Nancy Post, associate professor of HR at Temple University Philadelphia, said, "Organisations do not look at the mental or spiritual health of an employee, so if companies are to keep to that philosophy they should narrow the title to safety."
Life coaching urged
HR professionals have been urged to implement "life coaching" to improve their companies' turnover. Life coaching aims to develop employees' work-life balance in the belief that it will increase their motivation and increase the company's profits. Carole Gaskell, managing director of The Lifecoaching Company, said, "Personnel problems affect performances at work, just as work-based problem affect home-life."
Body language talks
Managers should maximise the similarities between colleagues in order to increase their influence. Brigitte Summer, training manager of Achievement Concept
