This week marked the start of Ramadan for many of our colleagues, meaning they will be fasting between sunrise and sunset, which is around 14 hours in the UK.   I’ve always been amazed when I’ve talked with Muslim colleagues about how they manage to carry out their job role whilst fasting. For many of us, there is so much to learn about Ramadan: the purpose of the month, what happens and how we, as non observers, can truly support our colleagues throughout it.   It’s difficult to support our colleagues without understanding their personal experiences. With this in mind, today, I spe ..read more

In today's workplaces, it’s more important than ever for organisations to recognise what motivates individuals to perform at their best.   Motivation serves as the engine that propels employees toward achieving their goals. It drives innovation and fosters a positive culture. However, the factors that fuel motivation can vary widely from person to person. These factors are influenced by a variety of internal and external dynamics. Identifying these motivations within your team will inevitably boost overall engagement with your organisation. But how are motivations identified and understo ..read more

The landscape for small charities as we move into 2024 continues to be challenging; as much as ever there is a greater demand for services coupled with shrinking resources. 22% of charities didn’t meet their fundraising target in 2023 according to Blackbaud’s 2023 Status of UK Fundraising Report and inevitably some senior leaders will be really feeling the pressure. It’s not all bad news though, more than three in five charities (63%) are optimistic they will be able to retain donors and 56% expect to reach new audiences.   We have some ideas about some of the HR challenges that may crop ..read more

Establishing a robust framework for managing and enhancing the performance of your staff is crucial for any employer. A well-designed performance development framework not only ensures that individuals are meeting expectations but also fosters motivation and alignment within the team. It serves as a mechanism for acknowledging and rewarding high performers while also addressing and rectifying instances of poor performance. So, why should the Chief Executive be any different? Some charities have really clear frameworks for managing their CEO. But plenty don’t. Being a volunteer trustee can be h ..read more

Black History Month (BHM) in the UK ,started in 1987 by a Akyaa Addai-Sebo, who wanted to challenge racism, celebrate the history of black people and instil pride in young black learners. That is definitely what BHM has done for me growing up! It was the first time I learnt that we are not only subjugated peoples and prompted me to dig into my own east African background. All types of work places now celebrate Black History Month by spotlighting black employees, relevant CSR (corporate social responsibility) and facilitating learning events to challenge bias and knowledge gaps on black history ..read more

You may get a heart-sink when you are asked to support with a disagreement between employees. It may land on your desk as a fully-fledged conflict and you wonder how on earth the situation escalated in this way. It may be time to bring in a mediator to support with a facilitated discussion to get ‘Rosie’ and ‘Bob’ talking. It’s true that this situation may have been inevitable - but let’s step back with some tips about what you could do to keep the mediator away… Spend time listening to informal complaints Your first instinct may be to step back when ‘Bob,’ who reports to you, comes to complai ..read more

A lot of the focus when discussing the causes of the Gender Pay Gap is on part-time work, fewer and lower-paid female managers, and career choices influenced by family responsibilities. But little is said about the impact of the menopause. Menopause is a natural phase in every woman's life, and its effects can be profound, affecting physical and emotional wellbeing. It is essential that employers are prepared to be proactive and act with compassion, to retain valuable female staff, close the gender pay gap, and foster a supportive work environment. Menopause at Work Menopause can bring about ..read more

In order for charities to flourish it is essential that its employees align their work with the vision and values of the organisation. This means applying for organisation’s that are aligned with your values from the start, and not basing your recruitment search purely around qualifications, instead look at organisation’s values and mission statements. By doing so you’ll save yourself a lot of valuable time and energy from applying for roles in organisations that have very different principles to your own. A recent study from the International Journal of HR Management found that using shared v ..read more

Trying to avoid another wellbeing strategy that's nothing more than poorly-attended yoga classes and a sorry-looking fruit bowl? Read our guide on designing a meaningful workplace well-being strategy that will genuinely enhance employee health, engagement, and productivity. In this article: How to write a workplace wellbeing strategy 5 steps to implementing a meaningful wellbeing strategy What to include in your workplace wellbeing plan How to promote wellbeing at work How to promote wellbeing at work How can you prevent poor wellbeing at work? Providing wellbeing support to employees Generati ..read more

Over the last 6 weeks it has felt like summer has arrived in the UK, with May having multiple bank holiday weekends and the sun shining gloriously so far throughout June. In many organisations people will be starting to take annual leave as the summer holiday season kicks in. With longer days, lighter nights and an increase in people socialising, there’s more temptation for people to ease off, which reports have found can lead to a decline in productivity by up to 20%. With all of this in mind, it’s worth thinking about how to keep your teams engaged during the summer months. So, what should e ..read more