HR « David Ferrabee’s Blog

Good business, bad business: John Terry and sex at work

PICCADILLY LINE — Sometimes you have to wonder if they say these things just to wind up the Brits. UEFA and FIFA officials that is.

Sepp Blatter, the president of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has commented on the England football captain John Terry losing his job. Terry, who is married with twin babies, was [...]

Work/life imbalance: the joke's on us

WATERLOO — Who worked longer hours: 19th century miners or 21st century Londoners? We think we know the answer, don’t we?

It is easy — and essentially correct — to say that the modern worker also has more choices, more disposable income and a longer life expectancy.

However today’s newspapers also explain that most of us will [...]

How the consulting market has changed

FULHAM ROAD — It’s official. For me anyway. I have come to the conclusion that the market has changed. I recognise that it may only be temporary, but it feels longer-term than that.

Where once businesses were interested in concepts and ideas… most now are being far more practical. “I want you to do something that [...]

HR and Communications -- the uncomfortable relationship

WESTFIELD — Human Resources departments and Corporate Communications departments have a great deal in common. Including a mutual suspicion and occasionally antagonism.

Both:
• focus primarily on people
• believe they can use their systems and processes to make people think / do what they want
• don’t like people much

Someone called last night and said: “What is it about Communications people, [...]

Bring back the Christmas party!

MY HOUSE — Last week the BBC got lots of press for scrapping the last remnants of the company Christmas parties. As you might imagine, no one really complained. Except the staff.

“It’s OUR money!” You can hear the average punter saying. “What are they doing going out and spending it on puddings and party hats!?”

And [...]

Final salary pension schemes…. After the end

CHELSEA — The papers are full of dire predictions about final salary pension schemes (also known as Define Benefit pensions). Watson Wyatt have put out a paper saying the last ones should close in the next few years.

Watson Wyatt (@watsonwyatt) should know. Along with Mercer and Towers Perrin they built a lot of the DB [...]

Retirement communications: Get the hose out

LONDON HEATHROW — As we taxi in to the gate the Captain comes over the PA on my British Airways jet:

“Ladies and gentlemen. Just to let you know you can expect to see some lights flashing, fire engines… and, well, some water… when we get closer to the terminal. I don’t want you to be [...]

HR epiphanies: Marshmallows and maths sets

(Watch only the first 60 seconds… then it’s a flog.)

LONDON — It is the job of all business executives to look for ideas and inspiration wherever they may find them. HR and internal communicators are no different.

I’ve been reading and article this weekend about “delayed gratification”. The essence of which is found in a social [...]

Treating people right… it’s good business

SOUTH WEST LONDON — I was talking to a senior HR person at a client’s conference this week. She was asking about Able and How. I started explaining our HR set up. And she was quite surprised.

“Wow. You do all that for such a small company?! That’s remarkable.”

And I guess she’s right.

We try not to [...]

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