The Ernst & Young Australian Productivity PulseTMi began checking Australian Workers ‘sentiments’ about individual and organisational productivity 18 months ago. The latest findings report that 85% of workers could be more productive, and 21% said that just a few things would need to change. These things were: poor staff management, lack of motivation & reward and…

Look carefully at the center circles on both the left and right. Which circle is bigger?

Are you sure they aren’t both the same size?  This relative size illusion is called the Ebbinghaus illusion.  It was discovered by Hermann Ebbinghaus, a German psychologist, in the early…

I have employed thousands of people over the years. And every time one resigned, a little part of me died. (OK, I lie. I have actually danced a celebratory jig around my desk on the odd occasion, but that’s another blog!)

Mostly, my natural reaction has always been a human one I suppose. “What possible reason would they have to do that?” or “What’s wrong with them?” or even, “She must be leaving for money. The fool!”

But I grew wiser as the years rolled by.

Mostly,…

Do Engagement Surveys in your organisation meet with yawns and complacence? Do you create space in your leadership planning schedules to work through your survey results with a view to making impactful changes? Or is your annual Engagement Survey just ticking an HR To-Do box?

Whilst an excellent starting point, an Engagement…

Last week, you told us that whilst you would like to see stricter rules on …

Next month sees the start of plain packaging laws for all tobacco products sold in Australia. From December all tobacco must be sold in olive green plain packets featuring no commercial logos. Australia is the world’s first to try this approach to stamping out smoking; but we wonder how much further this fight can go and whether the…

What is positive psychology? A switch of focus from when things go wrong to when things go right.…

Bullying in the Workplace

As an employer from an OH&S perspective, it is a requirement that they must provide a safe and healthy workplace for your workers and contractors. This includes:

• Providing and maintaining a safe work environment along with safe plant & equipment. Safe systems of work are also required;
• Making sure workers have adequate…

Recently I returned from volunteering my skills in Singapore at the Singapore F1 Grand Prix (SGP). Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motor sport. Just like in Australia, motor sport in Singapore is supported by hundreds of volunteers. Track marshals, flag and recovery specialists, medical, fire specialists ensure safe and fair racing for all.

This was my 5^th Singaporean Grand Prix having been one of a select group of Australians in 2008 who trained the Singaporeans to run…

Is there a correlation between high engagement and high productivity levels?

There is ongoing debate as to whether workplace productivity levels can be directly improved by increasing employee engagement, however, the correlation between low engagement and low productivity levels is clear. Employee engagement is a critical aspect of any workplace, yet many workplaces do not actively concern themselves with engagement levels.  Correlations between improved engagement…

“Although the goals in this book are important, it’s really your ideas, talent, and energy that will keep Valve shining in the years ahead. Thanks for being here. Let’s make great things.”

Valve, the company responsible for the ever-popular “Half Life”, “Portal” and digital shopfront, “Stream” has released their new employee handbook for public viewing. Read it here:  …

A new report by Randstad suggests that female and male employees have different priorities when considering a job role. While this may not come as a surprise, the strong divide of priorities is worth bearing in mind when thinking of recruitment and retainment. Meeting the needs of all employees will help to…

There are multiple, worldwide organisations which are solely dedicated to bringing results to businesses that are desperate to motivate their employees. Whether it’s in order to drive sales higher or improve customer service relationships, all corporate objectives can be linked back to the will to pump up…

With engagement levels and retention rates remaining high on the list of priorities for HR managers and employers, research continues to develop valuable insights into these problematic areas. The CIPD has recently released quarterly findings as part of its ‘Employee Outlook’ series; the results…

“People join companies, but leave people.” What does this mean when it comes to your workplace culture?

Firstly, it means that leading by example is always a good idea. If you want to see punctuality, enthusiasm and team player behaviour then you will need to display them yourself…

Generational theories are commonplace in today’s working world, as workplaces fast approach…

We all already know that disengaged employees cost much more than a wage, but what about your engaged employees, how do you make sure they stay engaged and satisfied in their role?

Keeping hold of that perfectly engaged employee is vital for the long term health of your business. It is a key challenge for employers today with retention rates falling; particularly within generation X and Y where employees have different values than previous age brackets. The SHRM…

A recent study has shown that office workers can work up to an extra 16 days a year if they eat lunch at their desks and do not take a break.

The research, performed by a UK university, also discovered that:

-       Half of the 1,000 employees surveyed claimed that they felt guilty if they took a full hour

-       60% of employees surveyed say they eat lunch at their desks

-       Two thirds take 30 minutes or less, even though they are entitled to a full…

Whilst the focus has always been on the all-important high level of engagement in employees, (and the subsequent positives outcomes for your business); a new report suggests that the correlation is not as simple as previously thought. The research identifies that there are actually…