HR on the Offensive

In this podcast episode, Chris and LACE payroll experts Adrian Axtell and Sara Thompson discuss national minimum wage breaches. After delving into recent press coverage around companies facing allegations of underpaying their employees, the conversation moves on to the payroll teams’ responsibility in ensuring compliance and explores strategies for businesses to address this issue. Overall, the discussion underscores the multifaceted nature of national minimum wage compliance. Listen now for proactive steps you can take to uphold ethical and legal standards while prioritising employee welfare and ensuring minimum wage compliance.

In the latest episode Chris introduces co-host, Debbie Mitchell, and guest Graham Norris, an Organisational Psychologist and Speaker. The focus of this episode is on HR professionals’ abilities to think strategically and long-term. The summary delves into various aptitudes necessary for navigating future HR challenges. HR professionals need to confidently engage in strategic conversations about the future, thereby positioning themselves as drivers of change and innovation within their organisations. Listen now to learn how to cultivate a mindset that embraces uncertainty and anticipates change

In the latest episode Chris is joined by LACE people analytics experts Becki Lovelady and Nancy Allen, as they discuss the importance of maintaining accurate and reliable people data in organisations. Listen now to learn how you can unlock the full potential of your people data and drive organisational success.

In this episode Chris is joined by LACErs Debbie Mitchell and Ffion Bennett as they speak to guest Susan Binnersley, Director at h2h Limited. The discussion revolves around the complexities of outplacement, shedding light on its significance during times of organisational change. Outplacement, often included in a severance package, is a benefit offered by employers to assist terminated or laid-off employees in transitioning to new jobs or careers. Listen now for valuable insights into best practices for managing transitions with empathy and professionalism.

In this podcast we discuss our newly released HR Shared Services Trends 2024 report. Chris is joined by the authors of the report, Emma Leonis-Hughes and Dawn Goodall, as well as guest Nadia Hutchinson, Global Director HR Services and Operation from the Cabot Corporation. Together, they chat through the evolving landscape of HR shared services.

In this episode of our HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris introduces the topic of discussion, the HR operating model, particularly focusing on the payroll aspect. He is joined by Chris Kirby, a senior manager specialising in Payroll at LACE, to delve into the intricacies of payroll operating models. Listen now to learn how you can evaluate your organisation’s payroll operating model.

In this episode Chris and Cathy Acrotopulo welcome their special guest, Dr. Lucy Ryan, an Amazon best-selling author and founding director of Mindspring Consulting. Dr. Ryan's latest book, "Revolting Women: Why Midlife Women Walk Out and What to Do About It," is the focal point of this podcast. Listen now to learn how you can create a more inclusive and supportive work environment for midlife professionals.

In this episode Chris and LACEr Debbie Mitchell are joined by two guests, Charlotte Watmore the Inclusion and Diversity Project Manager at Wates Group and Charly Young, the CEO and co-founder of both the Girls Network and the Equilibrium Gender Collective. The episode focuses on the core topic of mentoring and the importance of creating an equitable work environment for all employees. Listen now to learn how to incorporate mentoring programs into your organisation effectively.

In this episode we delve into the intricate relationship between energy, culture, and productivity within organisations. The conversation explores how organisational culture and leadership play a crucial role in shaping energy levels and driving productivity at scale. Chris is joined by fellow LACEr Jess Herniman and returning guests from Dragonfish; Strategy and Research Director, Andree Gowar and Managing Director, Niall Cluley. Listen now to learn how you can empower your teams to understand and leverage their unique energy dynamics for greater productivity and innovation.

We have recently launched our newest whitepaper, CPOs: From HR to Workforce Transformation. In this episode Chris is joined by two of the authors of our recent whitepaper, Julian Homes and Alice McCormack to discuss the challenges of terms such as ‘workforce transformation’ and its implications, and to also discuss the key themes. Listen now for the key takeaways from our latest workforce transformation whitepaper.

In the latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris dives into the fascinating topic of storytelling and its important use case in HR. Joined by fellow LACEr Gemma Ryall and guest Karen Eber, author of "The Perfect Story", the discussion revolves around leveraging storytelling to enhance employee experience and communication and Karen shares some examples of impactful storytelling from her book. Stories are not only memorable but also instrumental in shaping organisational culture, fostering engagement, and driving meaningful change. Listen now to learn the transformative power of storytelling in HR.

What implications could AI have for the HR functions? Chris speaks to LACErs Tim Ringo and Charlie Frost as they delve into the world of AI and its impact on the future of work. Charlie is our AI lead here at LACE so direct any AI questions his way! Listen now to hear the full discussion about how the People function can leverage AI for informed decision making, boosting productivity and more.

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris and Cathy Acratopulo introduce the co-founders of Engage Andy Brown and Sarah Jordan to discuss the evolution from descriptive engagement data to a more strategic, outcome-driven approach in the field of employee experience. Listen now to learn how data-driven insights contribute to a more nuanced understanding of your employee needs.

In this podcast, Kevin Green, Chief People Officer of First Bus, shares his HR transformation journey and some of the lessons learnt. First Bus is the second-largest bus company in the UK, with approximately 13,500 employees and is undergoing a significant transformation from an asset-driven to a service-oriented organisation. Hear Kevin talk about the changes he's made to First Bus's employee value proposition, emphasising strategic investments, effective storytelling, and aligning short-term changes with long-term goals.

In the latest HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris introduces guest Sharon Green from Chiara Consultancy Ltd. The focus of this episode is on communities and their significance, from an HR perspective. Sharon, an experienced HR professional, shares insights into the power of communities, emphasising their impact not only on HR but also on a business as a whole. Listen now for valuable insights into the role of communities in the HR landscape, emphasising the importance of authenticity, purpose, and a balanced approach to community engagement for HR professionals.

What challenges do organisations face in managing DEI – particularly when it comes to focusing more on inclusion than diversity? In the latest episode, Chris talks to Jig Ramji, senior human resources professional who has worked at some of the biggest brands including the London Stock Exchange Group, Bloomberg and Fujitsu. They look at questions like: - How do you create a sense of belonging for everyone within an organisation? - How can you break the cycle of hiring similar profiles in leadership roles to deliver true diversity and inclusion? - What can HR and marketing learn from each other when it comes to selling and communicating HR solutions to employees? Jig and Chris also discussed the links to LACE’s current campaign around employee experience and how the utopia organisations should strive for is one that encompasses inclusion, belonging, respect, empathy, and employee experience. Should there be a shift in language from diversity to more inclusive terms, with a focus on creating environments where everyone feels valued and accountable for fostering a positive workplace culture? Additionally, how essential is the importance of measuring success through more nuanced and intersectional data rather than simplistic metrics?

How can HR and Marketing alignment help to deliver amazing employee experiences? In the latest podcast and as part of our Employee experience revolution campaign, we spoke ton Chief Marketing Officer Gonzalo Garcia Villanueva from Nielsen about the importance of having a closely aligned Marketing and HR function and the impact it can have on driving amazing employee experiences. Gonzalo spoke to Chris Howard and Chris Horton about his own lessons from the C-Suite on experience, employer brand, as well as how closely what marketing delivers for customers can be aligned to what HR delivers to employees. What does best practice look like? How vital is it that the CHRO and the CMO are aligned in delivering the best possible employee experience? How integral is it that mission, vision and values are so closely linked to delivering great employee experience? What can HR learn from Marketing and vice-versa? We explore all of this in this latest edition.

The Employee Experience Revolution: The importance of human interactions in delivering amazing experiences. OpenBlend Performance Enablement 2022: Full Academic Findings: https://www.openblend.com/performance-enablement-report-2022-academic-report Performance Enablement 2022: Webinar: https://www.openblend.com/performance-enablement-report-2022-webinar

In a recent HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Nelson Sivalingam, the CEO of HowNow, exploring the concept of the death of the LMS (learning management system) as presented in HowNow's latest whitepaper, and emphasising the necessity of making learning an integral and meaningful part of the work experience.

Chris and LACE Manager Georgina Sutton speak to guest Jocelynne Thompson, Director of People Strategy and Transformation at Virgin Media O2 to discuss a pressing issue within the HR field. The conversation centres around the perception of HR within the business world and addresses the challenge of enhancing HR’s branding and communication. Overall, this podcast episode delves into the challenges HR faces in branding and positioning itself as a strategic partner within organisations.