Bits and bobs

Out and about at the movies:
Independence Day: Resurgence

Pic from www.radiotimes.com

After 'Independence Day'1 came out, we knew there was going 
to be some kind of sequel and here it is. Part 2, pardon, 
The Resurgence, is the next epic chapter which brings global spectacle on an unimaginable scale. 
Was it intentional or a coincidence to have general release in the UK on the same day of the EU Referendum, 23 June?
Definitely a good marketing ploy.

Pic from www.superherohype.com

The quick summary is:
With recovered alien technology, different countries (on Earth) have collaborated on an defence program to protect the planet, although they don't seem as prepared as they should when the aliens show up with advanced and unprecedented force. 
As usual only a few brave men and women can bring the world back from the brink of extinction.

There are a lot of special effects and action scenes but not much "acting as such", let's say I can't see any Oscars on the horizon. 
It is an entertaining piece for a rainy sunday afternoon/weekend, that's it.

People stuff

Pic from www.symbols-n-emoticons.com

The Staff Handbook is not a book to cure insomnia....

It comes a time in the life of a small business where a set of policies is required (or for bigger companies to update their Staff Handbook or, better still, recognise that their current handbook is not really understood and/or used by employees) and the question then arises:
how can one design a Staff Handbook that is legally compliant, protects the Company, is representative of the Company's culture, but doesn't put people to sleep?


Keep it simple

Write in short sentences, using easy to understand words, not legalese. The Plain English Campaign offers some very good free guides.

And short

The longer it is, the less likely people are to remember its content.

Pic from alder grange.com

Have a content page

Content and index pages ensure that people can easily find the information they need when they need it.

Use pictures

Break up the pages with some colourful images, in line with the Company's branding.

Avoid punitive language

Try to focus on positive nudging rather than negative language.

Make people smile
Even though the Staff Handbook may contain serious information, try to present it in a way that makes people smile and reminds them of the positive aspects of the Company.

Or you can always get some help ;-)

People stuff

Is sisterhood alive or dead?

Pic from www.emanuel.org

The opportunities to progress into leadership roles are few and far between ; furthermore we find ourselves in a world where traditional roles and opportunities are put in question by technology and, as we continue to digitise more and more, there will be fewer and fewer roles for all.

In this climate, is competition between women more and more fierce?

The answer perhaps can be found in our instinctive animal behaviours
which trigger in us the fight for survival.

Pic from phsychlopedia.wikispaces.com

Scarcity has a direct impact on human behaviour; if opportunities or resources are limited and demand is high, genetic programming can trigger behaviours intended to give us an advantage in the battle for survival (or those limited opportunities). The Dominance theory is all about preferential access to opportunities and resources over someone else, dominance is held through competitive behaviour.

The sub dominant animal is critical to the relationship in this theory as it is the ones that maintains the dominance relationship.

In a corporate context we need to consider this theory especially on what it might drive in terms of initiatives on gender balance in the workplace.
Tackling behaviours is important , together with ensuring that the supply of opportunities is sufficient so that dominance is less of an issue.
This is about the fight for survival and resources and the supply lies at the heart of the situation.

Then again if we suggest that women should win more roles, it somehow implies that more men need to lose and more than ever before.
And the dominance theory would start all over again...

Bits and bobs

Week in review

Happy Sunday everyone!
It is a late start for me with my beloved coffee , looking back at the week gone by.
This week has been impossible escaping 2 things in the news:
Euro 2016 and the Referendum.

Well, as we all now know, England,Wales, Northern Ireland AND Ireland have all qualified for the next stage of the tournament:
fabulous and congratulations!!! Unfortunately, it didn't last long for Northern Ireland as they then lost to Wales yesterday (1-0). Very well done Wales now in the quarter finals.

On the other hand, the UK has decided in large numbers to part company with Europe as it stands at the moment. This seems to have caused a bit of chaos together with an on line petition to have a 2nd Referendum . For me, this is one of the things that can happen when voting or in a Referendum, e.g. someone wins and someone loses especially in a Referendum where is either/or while in elections you could end up with a coalition of different parties.

I feel it is highly undemocratic to say:
" I believe in the democratic process but only if it goes my way otherwise I will throw my toys out of the pram until it goes my way".
People have voted and the majority rules, that is the way it is. Otherwise, what is the point of voting?

Monday blog

When planning their career too many people focus on the job title when looking for the role that will progress them up the career ladder. Is this useful though?

Tuesday blog

With mental ill health costing the UK economy an estimated £70 billions each year it is time that employers really get serious about dealing with this issue; it makes business sense.

Pic from richmindrichlife.co,uk

Wednesday blog

In one of my previous blog Networking to develop your career  I wrote how networking is one way to help with career development which is frequently overlooked. But is networking working, and if not, why?

Thursday blog
Referendum day in the UK to decide whether to remain or leave
the European Union.
We sometime forget how important voting is and how many struggles people have gone through for centuries, and in some countries still do now, for this basic fundamental right. 
Universal vote has not really been in place that long in the UK. 

Friday blog
Rest day

Saturday blog
 A bit of nostalgia remembering on the best restaurant/hotel experiences in my life, Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons

Follow my posts also on:
Twitter: Laura@PeopleAlchemist
Instagram: @the_alchemist_about_town

About Town

Reminiscing: Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons - Oxfordshire

Le Manoir postcard

Today I am feeling particularly nostalgic; I have been tidying up some paperwork and found a menu I kept from a visit a Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, the fabulous restaurant/hotel   of Raymond Blanc in Oxfordshire.

Le Manoir offers the ultimate blissful dining experience in delightful surroundings and incredible luxury rooms.
If you are planning a trip here, make sure you allow time to visit the gardens.

Pic from www.bbc.co.uk

When he first founded the hotel and restaurant over 30 years ago he was at the vanguard of Britain's food revolutions introducing flavours and techniques of classic French cooking. Today he also embraces world flavours to enrich his food.
The garden is the heart of his gastronomy, the first restaurant gardening school in the UK, with a seasonal menu.
The Blanc kitchen philosophy is "complicated simplicity" with each and every dish featuring the same characteristics: top ingredients whose quality are enhanced by sophisticated cooking techniques .
I was lucky enough to visit and dine there a few years ago, as part of an offer with The Times newspaper "An Evening with Raymond Blanc OBE and Times"; well it was heaven on earth

The Hotel is lavish without being stuffy, the service is 1st class without being intrusive.
I also had the incredible pleasure of meeting Monsieur Blanc and he's certainly a character and charmant as only a French man can, divine.
I must confess that at some point in my life I was dreaming of becoming Mrs Blanc although I quickly gave that up (I would be as big as whale with his cooking).
 I still remember the Risotto aux legumes du jardin, asperges et creme de cerfeuil, without doubt the best risotto I have ever eaten in my life, and I don't even like rice.

It is a definitely a place for one-in-a-lifetime-celebrations; well I'm planning to have many things to celebrate ;-p

Monsieur Blanc mes remerciements les plus sincères pour l'une des experienes les plus mémorables de ma vie.

Bits and bobs

Pic from www.libertarianism.com

It is voting time

Well,  today is D-Day, the day when Great Britain will decide its destiny in relations to remaining or exiting the European Union.

The love-hate-in-out relationship has been a longstanding debate which is coming to its natural conclusion: a referendum for British citizens to finally decide one way or another.

I will not try to persuade anyone how to vote, I strongly believe in personal freedom of choice. I do understand that I might wake up tomorrow morning and not like the result, but that is democracy, the majority of people eligible to vote deciding.
I would though mind if such important decision was made by the majority of people that bothered to turn up.

We sometime forget how important voting is and how many struggles people have gone through for centuries, and in some countries still do now, for this basic fundamental right. 
Universal vote has not really been in place that long in the UK. 

Pic from www.cotyofenglewood.org

In early-19th-century Britain very few people had the right to vote. 

Three parliamentary reform Acts introduced in 1832, 1867 and 1884 respectively helped move things forward with the electorate increasing substantially in size from approximately 366,000 in England and Wales in 1831 to slightly fewer than 8 million in 1885.

Parliamentary seats were also redistributed to give greater weight to larger towns and cities and the Ballot Act of 1872, which introduced secret ballots, made it far more difficult for voters to be bribed or intimidated.

Universal suffrage, including voting rights for women (though not for those under 30), did not arrive in Britain until February 1918.

Whatever your views, IN or OUT, if you are eligible, do not forget to vote. If you don't like the result tomorrow morning, think:
your vote could have made a difference.

GO AND VOTE.

People stuff

Is Networking working?

Pic from www.australianpersianbusiness.networking .com

In one of my previous blog Networking to develop your career  I wrote how networking is one way to help with career development which is frequently overlooked.

However, according to a recent survey by Ernest & Young, only 53% of people view networking as a professional skill.

Has networking developed an image issue?
Does the terminology bring about images of "all-boys"clubs?
What if we changed the name to be more reflective of modern day life?

Pic from blogstrideapp.com

We all know the power of social connectedness: the breadth and quality of our work relationships has a positive impact on health, both physically and psychologically, has impact on
our personal outcomes and achievements,  and on the organisation's performance.

So, what shall we call it?

People stuff

Is Networking working?

Pic from www.australianpersianbusiness.networking .com

In one of my previous blog Networking to develop your career  I wrote how networking is one way to help with career development which is frequently overlooked.

However, according to a recent survey by Ernest & Young, only 53% of people view networking as a professional skill.

Has networking developed an image issue?
Does the terminology bring about images of "all-boys"clubs?
What if we changed the name to be more reflective of modern day life?

Pic from blogstrideapp.com

We all know the power of social connectedness: the breadth and quality of our work relationships has a positive impact on health, both physically and psychologically, has impact on
our personal outcomes and achievements,  and on the organisation's performance.

So, what shall we call it?

People stuff

Pic from www.keyword-suggestions.com

Planning your career

When planning their career too many people focus on the job title when looking for the role that will progress them up the career ladder.

Although job titles can be a reflection of seniority, the more important thing are the experiences and responsibilities the role will provide: it is all about building experience and transferrable skills which, eventually, will help securing that very senior job.

It also does help to build a career map with the next 2 or 3 roles that takes toward the direction wanted whilst building knowledge, experience, skills and profile.

Employers look for the actual previous experience , the depth and breadth of the role and what was achieved rather than a mere job title.

Anybody can be a Director of Paperclips non?

Bits and bobs

A week in review

Pic from www.healthtwit.com

Happy Sunday evening and Happy Father's day to all hardworking dads.
Looking at back at the week gone by with a nice cup of tea.

Monday blog
Globalisation is the economic story of the last half century. The world keeps getting more and more interconnected in terms of people, money, trade and knowledge

Pic from

Tuesday blog
The most valuable asset in any company is its people (it is difficult to find good people and expensive to hire and train them). A good merger and acquisition strategy needs to take people into
consideration.

Wednesday blog
Outsourcing has helped companies grow while shrinking, handling bits of their operations to third parties and focusing on in-house activities on what they are good at. But can the  customer see the difference?


Thursday blog
The number of over-50s in the UK workforce is set to rise by nearly 800,000 by 2022 like most advanced economies while there are less and less younger entries in the workplace. What is the solution?

Pic from www.npg.org

Friday blog
For an alternative evening every Thursday and Friday until 21.00 enjoy drawing classes, talks and discussions, live music, DJs, films and performance in middle of central London.

Saturday 
Day of rest :-)

In the news
This week the news were unfortunately all about the horrific murder of Labour MP Jo Cox. There are no words to describe this act except horrendous, unacceptable, dis-human, whatever the reason. My thoughts and prayers are for the family and friends of this remarkable woman that spent her life serving her community and fighting for what she believed in.

Feel-good story of the week
We always need something to celebrate and be happy about; for me this week was Andy Murray 5th win at the Queen's Tennis Championship, congratulation to Andy and I'm looking forward to watching him winning at Wimbledon too :-)

Follow my posts also on:
Twitter: Laura@PeopleAlchemist
Instagram: @the_alchemist_about_town

People stuff

Is Outsourcing all is cracked up to be?

Pic from www.supplychaindigital.com

Outsourcing has helped companies grow while shrinking, handling bits of their operations to third parties and focusing on in-house activities on what they are good at.

Businesses can make big savings by benefiting from the economies of scale of specialist suppliers.

With outsourcing however the end customers should not be able to tell the difference in the service provided. Unfortunately this is not always the case and the customers sometime do notice and that means, as a business, you have lost something (worth thinking about the backlash of many global organisations outsourcing their customer service departments to other countries)

Pic from www.blogvwriter.com

There are options:

• on-shoring but the key to this is lack of skilled people
• getting smarter and looking at optimising vendor relationships and improving operational flexibility 

People stuff

Paying attention to people in mergers & acquisitions 

Pic from sdtimes.com

The global value of merger and acquisitions deals in 2015 reached a record £3.3 trillion, a 42% up on the previous year  with cross-border deals coming in at £ 1.1 trillion.

We are in an environment of very low interest rates and companies are chasing opportunities that will offer returns better than zero. Some companies have been using international mergers and acquisitions (M&A) for tax avoidance/reduction by re-establishing their headquarters in the overseas location of an acquisition or buying technology as an alternative to investing in risky research & development.

Pic from doerencapital.com

The most valuable asset in any company is its people ( it is difficult to find good people and expensive to hire and train them).
A M&A strategy needs to consider who are the critical people that needs to stay in the transaction and what they need.
Time pressure sometime lead to the wrong decision being made about people with the pressure of making cost saving quickly.

Culture, management, leadership and cross-border or multinational move need to be considered to achieve a successful M&A transaction and a single company culture.

People stuff

Globalisation - the world is getting smaller..

Pic from www.culturaldiversitynetwork.co.uk

Globalisation is the economic story of the last half century. The world keeps getting more and more interconnected in terms of people, money, trade and knowledge.

This has been happening since the industrial revolution and accelerated in the last few decades by the rise of the internet.
Globalisation means businesses are more likely to have suppliers, customers or colleagues on the other side of the world, and have economic fortunes more tied to other countries which we have all seen so clearly in the last financial crisis.

For employers, globalisation means dealing with diversity and flexibility.
Companies that embrace and understand different cultures look at things in a different way which helps them making the best out of the workforce and consequently better understanding of their customers, current or future. It makes business sense.

Reflection

A Week in Review

It is Sunday late afternoon sitting down relaxing and thinking back at the week just gone by.

Monday blog
It comes a time in the life of an entrepreneur/small business owner where growth leads to more staff and the consequent need to have someone else helping with managing staff. So how do you support a new manager?

Tuesday blog
Is your company flexible? Non? Then you are missing out ...



Wednesday blog
European employment regulations and the free movement of labour have shaped the UK economy for decades now, so the implication of a potential Brexit are big. What if we left?

Thursday blog
While labour productivity in other countries has grown in the last few years, UK businesses aren't as productive as they should be and it is still lower than it was before the recession. So how do you improve it?

Friday blog
The corporate tax system is becoming more intertwined with employment  and it is likely to increase.

The OECD) has come up with proposals to fix tax avoidance, big part of which is that an organisation's tax should be paid where there is economic activity e.g. where the key people are employed.

Saturday blog
An exciting weekend full of sport with the start of the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament and the Queen's 90th birthday weekend celebrations.

This week in the news
The Brexit debate is hotting up now with more live debates and speculations from all side which unfortunately are contributing to wobbles in the pound.
Mohammad Ali's funeral was a great example of interfaith unity and a clear example of how one man, with determination, can change the world. We can all take example from "The Greatest" and do our bit in our everyday life.

Feel-good story of the week
The Queen's weekend celebrations especially the Patron's lunch and parade were an amazing spectacle, truly quintessentially British, a great tribute to an amazing woman, sovereign who has devoted and continues to devote her life to serving her Country and the Commonwealth but also a tribute  to the importance of family, unity and all that makes Great Britain well Great.


Follow my posts also on:
Twitter: Laura@PeopleAlchemist
Instagram: @the_alchemist_about_town

About Town

An exciting weekend of sport and celebrations

It is an exciting weekend full of sport with the kick-off of the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament.
The opening ceremony last night in Paris Stade de France was full of joie de vivre,  especially relevant in view of recent events.

La Marseillaise was sounding particularly defiant and France did a convincing job (2-1) after a nervous start in the first 45 minutes.
Today and tomorrow are jam packed with interesting features and a real feast for the footie aficionados.


However it is not all: in the UK this weekend we are also celebrating , beside England, Wales and Northern Ireland smashing victories ;-), the Queen's official and "special" birthday.


The 90th birthday celebrations are in full bloom with yesterday's Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral, today with the Trooping the Colour ceremony and tomorrow with the Patron's Lunch.
This year's Big Lunch, where people are encouraged to sit down to eat with their neighbours in streets and community spaces, is also taking place tomorrow, June 12.


It is a weekend for unity, for celebrations, for thanks and to be proud of.

Happy Birthday Ma'am and thank you for your service.

People stuff

Pay attention to your tax policy   

The corporate tax system is becoming more intertwined with employment  and it is likely to increase.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimates that annual losses to tax avoidance by multinationals stands at £68-£164bn and has come up with proposals to fix it, big part of which is that an organisation's tax should be paid where there is economic activity.

One way to identify the economic activity is where the key people are employed so the location of a workforce could/would have a bigger influence on a company's tax bill.
This type of measure would make it trickier for organisations to benefit from being based in low-tax countries or tax havens where they actually do little business.

The European Commission has also proposed a system where multinationals' tax bills would be divided up between member states based on  factors including the size of the wage bill.

Pic from www.shinimax.com

In the next couple of years most governments will formulate a response to the OECD proposals and we will need to see how the responses and consequent legislation will affect businesses' tax strategies.

Corporate taxation is both high on the political agenda and a very sensitive subject for the public as a whole.

Legalities and economics are obviously very important for organisations but equally important should be their external reputation in both their "consumer & employer" brand.

People stuff

How do you improve productivity ?

Pic from www.managers.org.uk

How do you characterise productivity in economic terms? It is more complex than just measuring how much you are doing in a given time.
While labour productivity in other countries has grown in the last few years, UK businesses aren't as productive as they should be and it is still lower than it was before the recession.

The lack of productivity growth is particularly worrying in view of the national living wage which could jeopardise jobs if productivity doesn't catch up.

So, what is the problem?
Well, it depends who you ask...

Here just a few potential causes:

1. low investment
2. lack of credit
3. diminishing skills
4. UK strong employment rate during and since the recession

Pic from www.productivity501.com

One thing is sure, it is not laziness: working long hours is not the same as working more productively so comparing a middle income country like China with the UK is like comparing apples and pears.

If a business has an internal culture that is aligned with the strategic direction together with a balanced approach to investment in capital, equipment and people, it is also likely to have higher productivity. If a business also equips their people to change and acquire more skills through time, it can really then influence productivity.

People stuff

Is your company flexible? Non? 
1,9  workers are waiting for you...

Pic from www.business2community.com

Many organisations use flexible working as a retention tool or just because , due to legislation, they have to but they are really missing out on untapped potential.
There is a flexible labour market of around 1,9 million highly qualified workers that British employers are missing out on because they haven't got their flexible working practices in order.
Just 6,2% of quality jobs are advertised with the option to work flexible hours which is a deterrant to 47% of parents, older workers and disable candidates to name just a few.
Inserting the phrase "open to flexibility " into job adverts could fix this issue.

A study published by the American Sociological Association suggests that flexi-workers have higher level of job satisfaction, reduced levels of psychological stress and burnout and, consequently , are more productive and effective on the job.

Pic from www.rec.UK.com

In today's day and age , with the advancement in technology where jobs can practically be carried out from almost anywhere, beside in some specific industries, there is no reason not to take advantage of flexible working.

It is not a favour or special treatment to an employee, it is just business sense.

People stuff

How do you support a new manager? 

Pic from www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk

It comes a time in the life of an entrepreneur/small business owner where growth leads to more staff and the consequent need to have someone else helping with managing staff.

It is important that new managers know all about the day-to-day nuts and bolts of their role as manager of a department/team,  being a functional experts and having had perhaps long(er) service, doesn't necessarily mean this knowledge is there.

People who have not managed employees before can run into difficulties for examples staff that need consistent motivation and direction, conducting appraisals or preparing budgets.

Small companies need to be even more on point with developing and supporting new managers because there is more visibility and impact on the business if they don't; this does not mean necessarily huge investment of cash or time just some creativity.

Thanks to changes in technology it is now possible to access learning via social media platforms and build a network you can call on and get the knowledge you need very quickly.With the almost ubiquitous smartphones and tablets we have also at our disposal the almost perfect environment for pieces of e-learning (games, small bites of audio/video etc.) that staff could tap into whenever it suits or it is needed (check previous posts on Accelerated practical learning ,  Just in Time Learning for more information).

A very good resource for new managers is the excellent "On Time Manager" book series from Ken Blanchard, very practical and useful mini guides.