HR Means Business

Fostering Diversity and Inclusion: How Employee Resource Groups Drive Change

In this episode Mervyn talks to Paul Modley, Director Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at talent solutions business AMS about how to move DEI initiatives up the corporate agenda and the key role that Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) play.
They discuss:
Delivering value from DEI initiatives
What are Employee Resource Groups and what value can they give
Getting ERGs on the corporate agenda
How you can reward and incentivise ERGs
Importance of intersectional thinking between ERGs
Best approaches to gain leadership support and sponsorship for ERGs and DEI initiatives

Mastering the Dynamics of Hybrid Work

In this episode Mervyn talks to Gary Cookson, author of the book ‘HR For Hybrid Working’ about how hybrid working is different and why HR professionals need to adapt their approaches to make sure that it works for everyone.
They discuss:
Redesigning work to meet employees’ needs, and why we shouldn’t be led by tasks
Importance of defining hybrid working
Impact on organisational design
Designing home as a co-working space
Maintaining relationships and connectivity with team members while supporting our people

Productivity Drag and How to Improve Performance and Profitability

Mervyn talks to Zena Everett, whose book The Crazy Busy Cure was a Business Book of the Year winner for 2022 about how to combat the systemic factors that reduce productivity and profitability per head within organisations.
Why do waste the time and energy of our talent?
What really gets in the way of getting our work done?
How can we maintain concentration in a digital world?

EVP and the Engagement Equation

Mervyn Dinnen talks to Kat Bernardes from Lace Partners, about her work on Employee Value Proposition (EVP)
They cover:
What EVP is 
Role it plays in retention
Who has responsibility for EVP
Internal conversations around ECP
Common mistakes businesses make
Difference between EVP and employees’ lived experiences  
Impact of flexible working
Link between EVP, Engagement, Productivity & Retention

Helping Business Leaders to Understand the Power of Recognition

In this episode Mervyn Dinnen speaks to Practice Leader Brenda Pohlman at #WorkhumanLive2023 about creating a business case to help leaders better understand the power of recognition.
During the conversation they cover:
How technology can erode the personal
Why recognition needs its own currency
The problem with cash awards
Specificity of recognition messages
Creating recognition experiences
Detail matters for real engagement

What Experience Are Our Employees Getting at Work?

In this episode Mervyn Dinnen talks to Workhuman's Isha Vicaria at #WorkhumanLive2023 about their latest Evolution of Work research. Amongst the findings they cover:
Importance of recognising employee work preferences
Finding flow when mixing office & remote locations
The value of Employee Resource Groups
The need for psychological safety at work
Being human at work
Managing stress

HR and Hashtag Outrage - Which Trends Will Really Have Impact

In this episode Mervyn talks to Allie Nawrat, - award winning senior journalist producing content to help HR leaders make the right decisions
They discuss
‘Quiet Quitting’ & ‘Bare Minimum Mondays’ - real trends? What do HR managers see in their businesses
ChatGPT & conversational AI – friend or foe for HR
What’s the reality for HR in the debate on Remote, Flexible and Hybrid working
What are the big HR trends of 2023?

The Role of Employers in Supporting their Employees’ Wellbeing

In this episode Mervyn Dinnen talks to March Holl, Head of Primary Care for Nuffield Health (the UK’s largest healthcare charity) about their latest Healthier Nation Index research.
They discuss:
Mental health in the workplace and how to best support it
Recognising when employees may need help
Dealing with anxiety, stress and sleep loss in the face of economic uncertainty
Menopause and the workplace

Why Belonging and Purpose are So Important for HR

What are the challenges for HR professionals who work in very public facing organisations, that carry high customer and community expectations, in creating engaging cultures? 
In this episode Mervyn Dinnen talks to Robert Ordever about how he has been able to foster cultures of purpose led engagement and belonging in organisations that are very much in the public eye. They also discuss the best ways to create a thriving, connected and winning workplace culture.

Making Remote and Flexible Work Successful for our People

In this episode Mervyn talks to Gemma Dale, who is a senior HR lecturer and researcher at Liverpool John Moores University and previously a senior HR professional. She is also regarded as one of the UKs most Influential HR thinkers and is a two time author of books about remote and flexible working.
Evolution of remote, flexible, and hybrid work
Impact remote work has on wellbeing
How managers can address the transition to flexible work