We need to learn from Asia – but not by working harder

William Hague’s recent pronouncement that Britons need to “work harder” to solve our current economic woes has certainly sparked an interesting debate. Mr. Hague had just returned from Singapore, where he delivered a key business lecture on “Britain in Asia” and met the country’s Prime Minister – emphasizing that our country was firmly set on a path of forging closer ties with Asia, “with a sense of equal partnership, respect and the desire to see opportunity and development for all”. Continue reading

Do women make riskier bankers?

The Bundesbank recently conducted a study on women in banking and came up with the conclusion that women make riskier bankers. The study looked at board changes at banks which resulted in a higher proportion of female representation. In analysing their findings, it appeared that the women in the study tended to be significantly younger and less experienced than their male counterparts—and that translated into greater risk taking. 

Continue reading

Big picture HR: Chelsea FC – champion role models for diversity?

It started with that group picture in the media of the women who constitute 50 per cent of the new French President’s cabinet (described as “Hollande’s honeys” by the Daily Mail). That in itself is an immense milestone for a big-league European government. But it was the ethnic mix in the line-up that struck me most. Continue reading

HR Reporter: Dr Doom’s forecast flattens out

CIPD economic guru John Philpott, who was speaking at the CIPD Reward conference this week, started his session in lively fashion by asking whether there were any premiership footballers, cabinet ministers or FTSE 100 executives in the room. Unsurprisingly, no hands went up. “Well, in that case I can safely say that in this room at least, we are all in it together,” he joked. Continue reading